Google reviews are one of the highest-leverage things a local business can have. A business with 100+ reviews and a 4.7 rating is going to outrank and out-convert a competitor with 8 reviews at 3.9 — almost every time.
Ask at the right moment
The best time to ask for a review is right after you’ve delivered something they’re genuinely happy with. For service businesses, that’s usually right after the job is done and before they’ve moved on to the next thing.
Make it frictionless
Most customers who’d leave a review won’t hunt down your Google listing to do it. Send them a direct link to your review form via text or email immediately after the job. The easier you make it, the higher your completion rate.
What not to do
Don’t offer incentives for reviews — Google prohibits it and it devalues the signal. Don’t ask employees to post reviews. Don’t use review-gating tools that only route happy customers to Google. All of these violate Google’s policies and can result in review removal or worse.
Responding to reviews matters
Responding to every review — positive and negative — signals to both Google and potential customers that you’re engaged. For negative reviews, a professional, calm response often neutralizes the damage and can actually increase trust with readers who see you handle it well.