Most happy customers never leave a review. Not because they don't want to, but because nobody asked. The fix is simple, but there are rules.
Do this
- Ask every customer. Right after the job, while it's fresh.
- Send the direct link. In your Google profile, look for "Ask for reviews" to get a link that opens the review box. One tap is better than "search for us on Google."
- Ask for an honest review. Not a 5-star review. Just an honest one.
- Reply to every review. Thank people for good ones. For bad ones, stay calm, own what you can, and offer to make it right. Future customers read your replies.
Never do this
- Don't pick and choose. Asking only happy customers, or sending unhappy ones somewhere else first, is called review gating. Google doesn't allow it.
- Don't offer anything for a review. No discounts, gift cards, or contest entries. Google's policy bans rewards for reviews.
- Don't ask family, friends, or employees. Google treats those as a conflict of interest and can remove them.
- Don't buy reviews or write fake ones. It breaks Google's rules and federal law.
Keep it steady. A few new reviews every month looks better to customers than 30 in one week and then nothing. Recent reviews show you're busy right now.