How to Get More Google Reviews (and How Many You Actually Need)
Short answer: Ask every customer, every job, right after the work is done, and send a one-tap link so it takes them 30 seconds. As for how many you need, there’s no magic number: aim to pass the review count of the three businesses ranking above you on Google Maps, and keep new reviews coming every month.
How to get more reviews without being awkward
- Ask every customer, every job. The best moment is right after the work is done and they’re happy.
- Make it one tap. Text or email your direct review link. Every extra step loses people.
- Have the tech ask. Customers say yes to the person who did the work.
- Follow up once. A single reminder two or three days later catches people who meant to.
- Ask them to mention the job. “If you have a second, mention what we did and where.” Reviews like “replaced our water heater in Rogers” help with both trust and search.
Never offer discounts or gifts for reviews. Google’s rules prohibit it, and it can get reviews removed.
How to find your number in five minutes
- Search your main service and city on your phone, like “roof repair Bentonville.”
- Look at the three businesses in the map results.
- Note their star rating, total reviews, and how recent their newest reviews are.
- Your target: a rating at or above theirs, a count that passes theirs, and fresh reviews every month.
That’s your real benchmark. A plumber in a small town might need 40. A roofer in a metro might need several hundred.
Why recent reviews beat a big total
Homeowners scroll to see what people said lately, and Google weighs recent activity too. A shop with 300 reviews and nothing new in a year can lose ground to one with 60 that adds a few every week.
Steady beats bursts. Ten reviews in one weekend and then nothing looks odd. Four to eight a month, every month, looks like a healthy business, because it is.
What to do about bad reviews
Every real business gets one eventually. Reply within a few days, keep it short and calm, and offer to fix it offline. A thoughtful reply to a bad review often earns more trust than another five-star review.
Put it on autopilot
The shops that win reviews don’t rely on memory. An automated request sent after every job keeps reviews coming in without anyone having to remember to ask.
That’s what our Google Business Profile and review management service does for trades businesses, from automated requests to monitoring and reply templates. See pricing for details.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay customers or offer discounts for Google reviews?
No. Google’s policies prohibit offering incentives for reviews, and it can remove reviews or penalize your profile. Ask every customer instead and make it easy.
Should I respond to negative reviews?
Yes, calmly and briefly. Acknowledge the issue, offer to make it right offline, and don’t argue. Future customers read your reply as much as the review.
Do review replies help ranking?
Replies show Google and customers that the business is active and cares. They’re worth doing on every review, good or bad.