Q.01
What makes a good review request text?
A good review text is short, personal and has one clear link. It names the customer and the job, says thanks, and asks for an honest review without telling them what to write or offering anything in return.
Think of the text as a continuation of the job, not a marketing blast. The customer knows you. They just talked to your tech or your office. A message that sounds like that same person keeps the relationship warm and makes the request feel natural.
Keep it to a few sentences that fit on one phone screen. Put the thanks first, the ask second, and the link last. Skip long explanations about how reviews help your business. People respond to a quick, friendly ask far more than to a pitch.
Each message needs one link and one action. If you add a second link, a coupon, a social page or a survey, you give the customer a reason to stop halfway. Send the direct link to your Google review box and nothing else.
- Use the customer's first name
- Mention the type of job in a few words
- Say thanks before you ask
- Include one direct link to your Google review box
- Say who is texting, with your company name
- Invite honest feedback and do not script it
Q.02
What are some sample texts you can use?
Here are several that work for different situations. Change the names, the job and the wording so each one sounds like your company. Always send from a number your customers recognize.
Same-day follow-up after a service call: 'Hi Tom, this is Alex at Coastal Air. Thanks for having us out today to fix your AC. If you have a minute, an honest Google review helps other homeowners find us: [link]. Thanks again.' Swap in your own company and trade.
For a larger project: 'Hi Maria, it was a pleasure finishing your new roof this week. If you are happy with the work, would you share a quick Google review? It means a lot to a small crew like ours: [link]. If anything needs attention, just reply to this text and we will take care of it.' The last line invites problems to come to you privately without hiding the review link.
For a repeat customer: 'Hi Dave, thanks for trusting us with the repipe again. If you have a minute, would you share your experience on Google? [link]'. For a customer you met in person: 'Great meeting you, Linda. As mentioned, here is the link to leave a Google review if you would like to: [link]. Thanks for choosing us.'
For a gentle reminder, a few days after the first text: 'Hi Tom, just a quick reminder in case it got buried. No pressure, but if you have a minute, here is the review link: [link]. Thanks.' Send it once and then stop.
Q.03
What must you leave out to stay within Google's rules?
Leave out any reward, any filtering and any script. Do not offer discounts, gifts or entries for a review, do not send the link only to customers you expect to be happy, and do not tell people what to say. Check Google's current guidelines for the full list.
Incentives are the most common mistake. Lines like 'leave a review and get a discount on your next visit' break the rules, and so does a thank-you gift tied to posting. Even a casual promise from a tech in person can cause trouble. Keep the thanks genuine and unconditional.
Gating means asking customers privately how they felt and then sending the review link only to the happy ones. Google prohibits that practice. The clean version is simple: send the same message to every customer you serve, and let the reviews land where they land.
Do not write the review for the customer or hand them suggested sentences to paste. 'Please mention our fast response' is a nudge you do not want. Invite them to share their own experience in their own words.
You also cannot post reviews yourself or have staff and family do it on your behalf. If you are unsure whether an idea crosses a line, skip it.
- No discounts, gifts, raffles or anything tied to posting
- No sending the link only to customers you expect to be positive
- No suggested wording for the customer to paste
- No reviews from your own staff or family about your company
- No buying or trading reviews
Q.04
What are the SMS consent basics for review requests?
Only text people who gave you their number for the job, keep the message tied to the service they asked for, identify your company, and honor opt-outs right away. Texting rules are real and they are enforced, so check current requirements and ask a qualified professional if you are unsure.
A customer who calls you and gives their number to schedule a visit has a different relationship with you than a stranger on a purchased list. Never text numbers you bought or scraped. Keep a record of how and when each customer gave you their number, such as the work order or the booking form.
Include your company name in the message so the customer knows who is texting. If someone replies STOP or asks not to be contacted, stop at once and mark the number in your system. Do not send follow-ups to that person, even if you did not think they were a customer you would lose.
Some software platforms add an opt-out line automatically. If yours does, leave it in. If you send from your own phone, handle opt-outs by hand and keep a short do-not-text list. Read our post on Florida text message consent rules for a broader overview, and check current rules, since requirements can change. This is general information, not legal advice.
Q.05
When should you send the text, and how do you track results?
Send it the same day the job is finished, during normal daytime hours, and never late at night. Then check a week later which jobs got a review and adjust your wording or timing if responses are low.
The same-day text works because the work is fresh. For emergency repairs, wait until the next morning so the customer has time to recover. Avoid sending messages early in the morning or late in the evening, since that feels intrusive and can also run into texting-hour rules. Pick a reasonable window within the working day.
Keep a simple log: job, date, whether you asked, whether you sent the link, and whether a review appeared. You do not need software. A shared spreadsheet is enough. After a month, you will see which message and which timing work for your customers.
If few people respond, test one change at a time. Try a shorter message, a different send time, or a verbal mention from the tech before the text. Do not add rewards to get more responses. That is the one change that can cost you your reviews.
Finally, reply to every review once it lands. A thank-you shows the next customer you read what they wrote, and it keeps the habit going on your end.
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