Getting Reviews

Build social proof that turns strangers into customers.

Why Reviews Are Everything

Here's the truth about local service businesses: reviews are your most powerful marketing tool.

Consider this scenario:

Someone searches "lawn care near me" and sees two businesses:

Business A: 4.8 stars, 47 reviews
Business B: No reviews

Who do they call? It's not even close.

Reviews do three things:

Build trust with strangers
Improve your Google ranking (more visibility)
Give you feedback to improve your service

You need reviews. A lot of them. Starting now.

The Review Mindset

Many new business owners feel awkward asking for reviews. Get over it.

The reality:

Happy customers usually don't think to leave reviews
They're not opposed to it—they just need prompting
Asking is not pushy, it's professional
You're helping future customers make a good decision

Reframe it: You're not asking for a favor. You're giving them an easy way to support a local business they liked.

When to Ask for Reviews

Timing matters. Ask at the right moment:

The Perfect Moment

Right after you complete a job and the customer expresses satisfaction.

Customer: "Wow, the yard looks great!" You: "Thanks! I'm really glad you're happy. Hey, would you mind leaving me a quick review on Google? It really helps my business."

Too Early

Don't ask before the job is done or before they've seen the results.

Too Late

A week later, they've forgotten the details and the emotional high of satisfaction has faded. Ask within 24 hours.

How to Ask for Reviews

In Person (Best)

Ask face-to-face right after the job:

"I'm so glad you're happy with how it turned out. Would you mind leaving me a Google review? It really helps me get more customers in the neighborhood."

If they say yes: "Great! I'll text you a link right now so it's easy to find."

If they seem hesitant: "No worries at all, thanks again for giving me a chance."

Via Text (Second Best)

Text within a few hours of completing the job:

"Hi [Name], thanks again for letting me take care of your [lawn/house/driveway] today! If you have a minute, I'd really appreciate a Google review—it helps other people find my business. Here's the link: [link]. Thanks!"

Via Email (Works but Lower Response)

Same message as text, but open rates are lower. Use if you don't have their phone number.

Making It Easy

The easier you make it, the more reviews you'll get.

Get Your Direct Review Link

Google your business name
Click on your business profile
Click "Get more reviews" or look for "Share review form"
Copy that link

Or go to: business.google.com → Your business → Get more reviews

Shorten the Link

The raw Google link is ugly and long. Shorten it:

Use bit.ly (free)
Create a simple redirect: yourbusiness.com/review

Create a Review Card

Make a simple business card or flyer with:

"We'd love your feedback!"
QR code linking to your review page
Simple instructions

Hand this out with every completed job.

What to Say When Asking

Simple and Direct

"Would you mind leaving me a Google review? It really helps my business."

Explain the Impact

"Reviews help me show up when people search for [service] in the area. If you have a minute, I'd really appreciate it."

Make It Easy

"I'll text you a link—takes about 30 seconds."

Give Them an Out

"No pressure at all, but if you're willing, it would mean a lot."

Following Up (Without Being Annoying)

Some people will say yes and then forget. One follow-up is acceptable.

The One Follow-Up Rule

Wait 2-3 days. Send one reminder:

"Hi [Name], just following up—if you get a chance to leave that Google review, I'd really appreciate it. Here's the link again: [link]. Thanks!"

If they don't respond, let it go. Don't ask again.

Getting Your First Five Reviews

Your first five reviews are the hardest. Here's the accelerated plan:

Review Sources for New Businesses

First customers (Tier 1 from previous lesson): Friends and family who hired you
Trade reviews: Other business owners who can vouch for your work ethic
Past employers/coworkers: People who know your character
People you've done favors for: Maybe you helped a neighbor informally

The Ask for Friends/Family

"Hey, you know I just started my [service] business. Would you mind leaving me a Google review? You can say something like 'I've known [Name] for years and they do great work.' It would really help me get started."

Legitimate Character Reviews

Google's guidelines prefer reviews from actual customers. But reviews from people who can speak to your work ethic and character are still valuable, especially early on.

"[Name] helped me with yard work several times and always did an excellent job. Now that they've started their own business, I'd highly recommend them."

Handling Reviews

Respond to Every Review

Every single one. Positive and negative.

Responding to positive reviews:

Keep it short and genuine: "Thanks so much, [Name]! I really enjoyed working on your yard. Let me know when you need help again!"

"Really appreciate the kind words! Glad your windows are sparkling."

Why respond to positive reviews:

Shows you're engaged
Encourages others to leave reviews
Adds more content to your profile
Makes the reviewer feel appreciated

Responding to Negative Reviews

This will happen eventually. How you respond matters more than the review itself.

The formula:

Thank them for the feedback
Apologize for their experience (without admitting fault if you disagree)
Offer to make it right
Take it offline

Example:

"Hi [Name], I'm sorry to hear you weren't satisfied with the service. I take feedback seriously and would love the chance to make this right. Please call or text me at [number] so we can discuss. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to improve."

What NOT to do:

Get defensive
Argue publicly
Blame the customer
Ignore it

Potential customers read negative reviews—but they also read your responses. A professional response to a negative review can actually help you.

Getting More Reviews Over Time

Systematize It

Make asking for reviews part of your standard process:

Complete job
Confirm satisfaction
Ask for review
Send link via text
Follow up once if needed

Do this for every job, and reviews accumulate automatically.

Track Your Reviews

Keep a simple list:

Date
Customer name
Review left? (Yes/No)
Follow up sent?

Aim for a 30-50% conversion rate (people who leave reviews vs. people you ask).

Milestones

5 reviews: You look real
10 reviews: You look established
20 reviews: You're competitive
50 reviews: You're a market leader
100 reviews: You dominate local search

Review Velocity

Google also cares about how recently you've gotten reviews. A business with 50 reviews from two years ago ranks lower than one with 30 reviews from the past six months.

Keep the reviews coming consistently.

What NOT to Do

Don't Buy Fake Reviews

Google detects and removes them. You could get your profile suspended. Not worth it.

Don't Offer Incentives for Reviews

"Leave a review and get $10 off" violates Google's terms. You can ask for reviews, but you can't pay for them.

Don't Review Your Own Business

It's obvious and pathetic. Don't do it.

Don't Ask for Only 5-Star Reviews

"Please leave me a 5-star review" is tacky. Just ask for honest feedback. If you do good work, the stars follow.

Beyond Google

Google reviews matter most, but consider other platforms too:

Yelp

Some people check Yelp
Set up a profile
Yelp is aggressive about filtering reviews—don't ask for reviews explicitly (they'll get removed)

Facebook

Good for social proof
Ask happy customers to recommend you on Facebook
Less impact on search rankings but still valuable

Nextdoor

Recommendations on Nextdoor are powerful
Neighbors trust neighbor recommendations
Ask customers who use Nextdoor to recommend you there

Industry-Specific Sites

Angi (formerly Angie's List)
HomeAdvisor
Thumbtack

These matter more once you're established. Focus on Google first.

Action Steps

Get your Google review link and shorten it
Ask your first 3 customers for reviews this week
Text the link to make it easy
Follow up once if they don't leave one
Respond to every review you receive
Systematize the ask so it happens every time

Next lesson: Low-cost tactics to become the go-to provider in your neighborhood.