How do I get more Google reviews?
Ask every customer the same day the job wraps, by text, with the direct link. Then reply to every review. That is most of it. No buying, no filtering, no rewards, because Google removes those and can suspend the profile.
The text that works
Something like: 'Hey Mike, thanks for letting us build your fence. If you were happy with how it turned out, would you leave us a quick Google review? It is the main way folks around Crossville find us. Takes about a minute: [link]'. Short, personal, one link. Google gives you that link inside your Business Profile dashboard. Save it as a text shortcut on your phone.
Timing
Same day, while they are still happy and the truck is still in the driveway. One reminder a week later if nothing happened, then let it go. Spread the asks out over weeks. A pile of reviews landing in one day after years of silence looks fake to Google, even when it is not.
Reply to every one
A short thank-you on the good ones. On a bad one, brief facts, no arguing, and an offer to sort it out off Google. You are not writing for the reviewer. You are writing for the next hundred people who read it.
What not to do
Each of these can get reviews removed or the whole profile suspended:
- Paying for reviews, or offering discounts for them. The FTC treats that as a violation now, not just Google.
- Sending happy customers to Google and unhappy ones to a private form. Google calls this gating and prohibits it.
- Reviews from family or employees.
How many you need
Enough to be in the same range as the businesses above you on the map, then a steady couple a month to stay there. I will pull the exact numbers for your competition in the audit.
Want this checked on your site?
Send me your website address and I will write up what is broken and what it would take to fix. Free, no pressure.
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