adminFor roofers, builders, cleaners, landscapers and other trades, Google reviews are one of the most powerful ways to win new work. They help you stand out in the local map results, and they give nervous homeowners the reassurance they need to pick up the phone. The good news is that getting more reviews is mostly about asking at the right time, in the right way.
Start with a complete Google Business Profile
Reviews are attached to your Google Business Profile, so make sure it is claimed, verified and complete, with the right category, your service areas, contact details and photos of your work. Our local SEO checklist explains how to set it up.
Ask at the right moment
The best time to ask is when the customer is happiest – usually just after the job is finished and they have seen the result. If you wait weeks, most people will forget.
Make it as easy as possible
In your Google Business Profile, you can get a short link that takes customers straight to the review form. Send it by text or WhatsApp with a short, friendly message, for example:
“Hi Sarah, thanks again for choosing us for your new roof. If you are happy with the work, would you mind leaving us a quick Google review? It really helps a small business like ours: [your review link]. Thanks, Dan”
- Add the review link to your invoices and email signature
- Print it as a QR code on a small card to leave with customers
- Include it on your website’s contact and thank-you pages
Reply to every review
Thank customers for positive reviews and mention the job where you can. If you receive a negative review, reply calmly and professionally, and offer to put things right. Future customers read your replies as well as the reviews.
What not to do
Google has clear rules about reviews, and breaking them can get reviews removed or your profile restricted. Avoid:
- Offering discounts, gifts or payment in exchange for reviews
- Writing reviews yourself, or asking friends and family to post fake ones
- Buying reviews from any service
- Only asking customers you think will leave a positive review
- Asking customers to change or remove honest negative reviews
Make reviews part of your routine
The trades with the most reviews simply ask every customer, every time. Build it into the end of every job – a quick message the same day – and within a few months you will have a steady stream of fresh reviews.
Show your reviews on your website
Once you have genuine reviews, show them on your website too, alongside photos of your work. If you need a website that makes the most of your reviews and brings in more enquiries, see our websites for roofers, builders, cleaning companies, paving contractors, landscapers and tree surgeons, or our SEO for trades service.