Reviews are the cheapest trust you can build, and most businesses ask badly or not at all. The difference between twelve reviews and eighty is almost never the quality of the work. It is the habit of asking.
Ask at the moment of relief
The best time is immediately after the problem is solved, while the customer is still pleased: the leak is fixed, the car is back, the hair is fresh.
Ask in person, then send one message with a direct link. A single follow-up within a day is enough. Chasing beyond that annoys people.
Make it one tap
Send the review link from your Google profile, not your homepage. Every extra step loses a percentage of people who meant to help.
A short link in a text message or a QR code on the invoice both work. Keep the wording plain, not a script.
What to ask them to mention
You cannot script a review, but you can prompt useful detail: the job, the area and how quickly you came. Reviews naming a service help the next person searching for that service.
Never offer an incentive for a review. It breaks Google's rules and it reads as dishonest to everyone who notices.
Reply, including to the bad ones
A calm, specific reply to a one-star review often does more for conversion than five positive ones. It shows how you behave when something goes wrong.
Keep it short, factual and free of blame. Offer to put it right, then stop typing.
The short version
Ask at the moment of relief, send a direct link, prompt useful detail without scripting it, and reply calmly to every review.
Common questions
How many reviews do I need?
Enough to look established for your trade and area. Consistency matters more than a round number, so aim for a steady trickle rather than a burst.
Can I delete a bad review?
Only if it breaks Google's policies. Otherwise reply professionally, because that reply is what future customers judge you on.
Should I ask by text or email?
Text converts better for local services. Use email only where you already have a working relationship.
Want this done for your business?
Tell us your trade and your area. We'll tell you honestly what would move the needle first.