Before most people buy from a business they have not used before, they check what other customers say. Reviews are one of the strongest trust signals you have, and they also help local businesses show up in map results. The good news is that getting more of them is mostly about asking, in the right way, at the right time.

Ask at the right moment

Ask right after a good experience: when a customer thanks you, pays an invoice, picks up an order or gives positive feedback. The longer you wait, the less likely they will do it.

Make it a one-tap job

Do not ask people to “find us on Google”. Send them the direct review link from your Google Business Profile, and put it in a message they can open on their phone. The fewer steps, the more reviews you get.

Use a friendly message

Keep it short, personal and honest. For example:

Hi Thandi, thank you for choosing us. If you were happy with the work, would you mind leaving a short Google review? It helps other customers find us. Here is the link: [your review link]. Thank you!

Build it into your process

• Add a line with the review link to your invoice emails.
• Put a QR code on your counter or packaging.
• Set a reminder to message every customer a day or two after the job.
• Ask your team to mention it when they see a happy customer.

Reply to every review

Thank positive reviewers by name and mention a detail from their job. For negative reviews, stay calm and professional: apologise for the experience, state the facts briefly, and invite them to contact you directly to fix it. Future customers read your replies as much as the reviews themselves.

What not to do

• Do not buy reviews or write fake ones.
• Do not offer discounts or gifts in exchange for a review. Many platforms forbid it.
• Do not ask only your happiest customers and hide the rest; just treat everyone well.
• Do not argue in public.

Use reviews across your marketing

Show the best reviews on your website, your WhatsApp catalogue, your quotes and your social media pages. A short quote next to a “Request a quote” button can lift enquiries. Always get permission before using a customer’s full name or photo.

Set a simple target

If you complete 20 jobs a month, aim for three or four new reviews. A steady trickle of recent reviews looks more trustworthy than a big batch followed by silence.

Fix the cause of bad reviews

If the same complaint appears more than once, such as slow replies or unclear pricing, fix the process. Reviews are free feedback on how to improve.

Need a website that shows your reviews well? See our web design packages or get in touch.