How To Get Reviews
This guide was created to give you all you need to know to become an expert at getting reviews – including who to ask, how to ask, how to respond to reviews, and pro tips to maximize your review success. This guide also includes scripts for asking for reviews – in person or over the phone, as well as text and email templates that are proven to bring you success.
Why Reviews Matter
Google reviews are one of the most important factors in your success in local SEO. Google wants to serve up popular and successful businesses, and high consumer ratings are one of the top factors that Google considers. There are many other factors involved in local SEO success, but Google is known to reward businesses that have more reviews and higher star ratings.
In addition to building confidence with potential clients, your reviews directly influence two of Google’s top criteria – relevance and prominence. A consistent flow of high-quality reviews improves your local search rankings by signaling to Google that your business is relevant, and a high star rating signals prominence.
Getting reviews should not be viewed as a one time project, but an ongoing process. It is recommended that you prioritize and integrate getting reviews into your business on a permanent and ongoing basis. Envision your business in the future with hundreds of positive reviews!
Many of today’s consumers trust reviews as much as a personal recommendation. If a company has a lot of reviews and a high star rating, most people trust that business. If there are only a few reviews, and/or a low star rating, consumers may not trust the company. Bottom line: Strong reviews – and lots of them, help generate revenue by converting your leads into customers. Not only do reviews help convert prospects to buyers, but they also have a huge impact on where you appear in Google search results.
Pro Tip 1
Spread them out! It is much better to get one review a week for 10 weeks than it is to get 10 reviews in one week.
Who To Ask
Your Personal Clients
This is the fastest way to get a quick base of positive reviews! These are clients that you have a personal relationship with, and/or clients that you have gone the extra mile for. This group is defined as anyone that you feel you can ask a favor from, and you know they’ll be likely to help. Any clients who are family or friends are definitely part of this category. The best way to get reviews from this group is to personally call them, explain that you are building your Google reviews, and ask them to give you a review. See how to ask below! (And follow up with a text with your review link!)
Your Existing Clients List
Systematically call, text or email all of the customers in your database and ask them for a review. Work your customer list in groups to spread out the workload over weeks or even months. This also spreads the reviews that you get over time. Keep a list of who you have asked and who left a review. Send a second request, one to two weeks later, to anyone who does not give you a review. Make this a priority for you or someone on your team to block some time each week in your calendar to send out new requests. Work on this until you have requested reviews from your entire customer list!
Your Future Customers
At the end of your interaction, ask clients how their experience was. If they’re enthusiastic about their experience, ask them if they would help you out by giving you some feedback. Asking for “feedback” is more effective than asking for a review. Always enhance your request with a text or email with a link to your review page.
Pro Tip 2
Important: Whenever you ask someone to give you a review, ALWAYS send them a link to your review page immediately!
How To Ask: On The Phone Or In Person
Personally asking for reviews – in person or via phone call – will bring you the highest success rate in getting reviews. It takes a bit more time than sending emails or texts, but you will have better success. If you get a voicemail, consider leaving a message asking for the review and then send the accompanying text or email (with the link to your review page).
Pro Tip 3
Asking personally is most effective. (In person or over the phone) After that, text is more effective than email.
First step, if you have less than 10 reviews:
Reach out personally to your top personal clients – get your first 10 reviews!
Personal Clients
Script for phone call or in-person ask:
“Hi _____ , I have a quick favor to ask. I’m/we’re working on establishing my reviews on Google, and I wanted to ask you to be one of the first to give me/us a review. I/we recently got my Google review platform optimized, so I’m just asking a couple of key clients to review me/us first. Nothing big – just a sentence or two is great, it would really help me/us. I’ll text (or email) you a link right now, if you could do this right away, I would really appreciate it! Thank you!”
All Clients
Script for phone call or in-person ask:
“Hi _____ , I wanted to check in and make sure that your experience with us was great – was everything good? I/we appreciate your business, and I’d like to ask you to give us some feedback on your experience – can I send you a link to our Google review page? If you could give me/us a rating and just add a quick sentence or two of feedback, it would really help me/us. I’ll text (or email) you the link right now – if you could do this right away, I would really appreciate it! Thank you!”
* Immediately follow up with a text or email with a link to your review page *
How To Ask: Email Template
Personalize the email slightly if you can. (Using their name or mentioning what service your provided).
Pro Tip 4
If you have less than 10 reviews: Prioritize asking your personal clients to get your first 10+ reviews!
Personal Clients
Email if you have under 10 reviews on Google
Sole Proprietor / Owner-Operated Businesses
Subject line: Checking In
Hi _____ , I have a quick favor to ask. I recently got my Google Profile optimized, and I’m working on establishing my reviews on Google and want to ask you to be one of the first to give me a review. I’m just asking a couple of key clients to take a minute and review me first. Nothing big, just a couple of quick sentences. If you could click the link below and just write a sentence or two, it would really help me. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
Here’s the link: [ Link to your review page ]
Respectfully,
Joe Smith
Owner, XYZ Company
Multi-Employee Business
Subject line: Checking In
Hi _____ , I have a quick favor to ask. We recently got our Google Profile optimized, and we’re working on establishing our reviews on Google and want to ask you to be one of the first to give us a review. We’re just asking a couple of key clients to take a minute to review us first. Nothing big, just a star rating and a couple of quick sentences. If you could click the link below and just write a sentence or two, it would really help us. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
Here’s the link: [ Link to your review page ]
Respectfully,
Joe Smith
Owner, XYZ Company
Email if you have under 10 reviews on Google
Sole Proprietor / Owner-Operated Businesses
Subject line: Checking In
Hi _____ , I am following up to let you know that I appreciate your business. I want to make sure that your experience has met and hopefully exceeded your expectations. If so, I would appreciate it if you could take a minute and give me some quick feedback on your experience. Click here to leave a review: [ Link to your review page ] Thank you in advance, your positive reviews help me to build my business!
If for any reason your experience was less than stellar, please reply to this email directly so I can personally ensure your satisfaction.
Respectfully,
Joe Smith
Owner, XYZ Company
Multi-Employee Business
Subject line: Checking In
Hi _____ , I am following up to let you know that we appreciate your business. I want to make sure that your experience has met and hopefully exceeded your expectations. If so, I would appreciate it if you could take a minute and give us some quick feedback on your experience. Click here to leave a review: [ Link to your review page ] Thank you in advance, your positive reviews help us to build our business!
If for any reason your experience was less than stellar, please reply to this email directly so I can personally ensure your satisfaction.
Respectfully,
Joe Smith
Owner, XYZ Company
Pro Tip 5
Don’t offer rewards or incentives for review – it is against Google’s policy
How To Ask: Text Template
Personalize the email slightly if you can. (Using their name or mentioning what service your provided).
Hi _____ , thanks for choosing us! Could you please leave us a quick Google review? If you could take a minute and just write a couple of quick sentences, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, it would mean a lot. To leave a review, click here: [ Link to your review page ] Thank you!, Joe Smith, XYZ Company
Pro Tip 6
Ask for reviews within a few days or right after a positive interaction has occurred.
10 Tips to Success with Google Reviews
Ask Every Happy Customer!
Make review requests part of your process. Train your team to ask after every positive service experience.
Timing is Critical
Ask when satisfaction is highest, like right after the service is delivered or during a positive conversation. Don’t wait more than a few days.
Use Direct Google Review Links
Make it easy – send a direct link to your Google review form immediately after you ask them. (or include it in email or text requests).
Make It Personal
When possible, use the customer’s name and reference the work performed. Personal requests work better.
Ask Through Multiple Channels
Use text, email, over the phone, and in-person asks. A quick text often gets the fastest results.
Set a Weekly Goal
Aim for a consistent review cadence – 2 to 3 reviews per week is ideal. Track progress and celebrate wins.
Respond to All Reviews
Reply to reviews to show appreciation and professionalism. Google sees this engagement as a ranking factor.
Never Incentivize
Do not offer discounts, gifts, or compensation in exchange for reviews. This violates Google’s guidelines and can lead to penalties.
Educate Your Team
Everyone who interacts with customers should know how and when to ask for reviews. Create talking points and reminders.
Make Reviews a Priority
Add review generation to your workflows – invoicing, service follow-up, email campaigns, or thank-you notes.
Need Help Getting Reviews?
For help setting up your link or for review request strategy or support, contact your ZDigital Account Manager. We’re here to help!