Google reviews are the modern word-of-mouth for tradies. 87% of people read online reviews for local businesses, and most won't call a tradie with less than 4 stars. More reviews = more trust = more calls. Simple as that.
Whilst this is a comprehensive guide, you can use Cliqe to do all this for you. Get in touch and we'll set up your review system from start to finish.
Why Reviews Matter More Than You Think
Reviews aren't just about reputation — they directly impact whether Google shows your business in search results. Reviews are one of the top 3 ranking factors for the Google Map Pack.
Reviews affect your business in three ways:
- 1.
Rankings
More reviews (especially recent ones) help you rank higher in local search and Maps.
- 2.
Click-through rate
A business with 50 reviews at 4.8 stars gets way more clicks than one with 3 reviews at 5 stars.
- 3.
Conversion
People read reviews to decide whether to call. Good reviews close the deal before you even answer the phone.
How to Ask (Without Being Awkward)
Most happy customers will leave a review — they just need to be asked. The trick is asking at the right time and making it effortless.
The right way to ask:
When to ask
Right after finishing the job, when the customer is happiest. Don't wait days. If they say "great job mate" — that's your cue.
How to ask in person
"Glad we could help! If you've got a minute, a Google review would really help us out. I'll text you the link so it's easy."
The follow-up text
"Hey [Name], thanks for choosing us today! If you have a sec, a quick Google review would mean the world: [link]. Cheers, [Your name]"
One follow-up
If they haven't reviewed after 2-3 days, one gentle reminder is fine. After that, move on. Never pester.
Getting Your Review Link
Make it as easy as possible by sending a direct link to your Google review page:
- 1.Go to your Google Business Profile dashboard
- 2.Click "Ask for reviews" (or "Share review form")
- 3.Copy the link — this opens Google Reviews directly with the review form ready
- 4.Save it in your phone so you can text it to customers on the spot
Pro tip:
Save the review link as a text shortcut on your phone. On iPhone, go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement. Set "reviewlink" to expand to your full Google review URL. One word, instant link.
Responding to Reviews (All of Them)
Responding to reviews shows potential customers you're engaged and care. Respond to every review — positive and negative.
For positive reviews:
- ✓Thank them by name
- ✓Mention something specific about the job
- ✓Keep it brief and genuine
For negative reviews:
- !Never argue or get defensive
- !Acknowledge their frustration
- !Offer to resolve it offline
Example negative review response:
"Hi [Name], sorry to hear about your experience. That's not the standard we hold ourselves to. We'd like to make this right — could you give us a call on [number] so we can sort it out? Thanks, [Your name]"
What NOT to Do
Don't buy fake reviews
Google is getting better at detecting them. Getting caught means penalties or profile suspension. It's not worth it.
Don't offer incentives for reviews
"Leave a review and get 10% off" violates Google's terms. Ask genuinely, not transactionally.
Don't review-gate
Asking for a rating first, then only sending happy customers to Google, violates guidelines. Send everyone the same link.
Don't ignore negative reviews
An unanswered negative review looks far worse than one with a professional response. Always respond.
Making Reviews Part of Your System
The tradies who consistently get reviews aren't doing anything magic — they've just built it into their process. Ask after every job, send the link, follow up once. That's the system.
Where it gets harder is consistency. Most tradies remember to ask for a week, then get busy and forget. Weeks turn into months and your last review is from six months ago. Google notices.
Building a proper review generation system — automated follow-ups, monitoring, and response management — takes the thinking out of it. But at minimum, make asking for reviews a non-negotiable part of finishing every job.
Quick Wins You Can Do Today
- 1.Get your Google review link and save it in your phone
- 2.Text it to your last 5 happy customers right now
- 3.Respond to any reviews you haven't replied to yet
- 4.Set a phone reminder to ask for a review after your next 3 jobs