The service industry is a competitive marketplace. You can stand out with plenty of positive online reviews that show you’re a trustworthy business providing quality services.
87% of consumers read reviews when searching for local businesses. When they see positive feedback from people like them, they’ll feel confident that your business can solve their problem.
In this article, we’ll explore different ways to gather reviews—and useful scripts to help you confidently ask for the positive reviews you deserve.
8 ways to ask for customer reviews (with templates)
- How to ask for a review on Google
- How to ask for a review on Facebook
- How to ask for a review on lead generation and review sites
- How to ask for a review in person
- How to ask for a review over the phone
- How to ask for reviews via SMS
- How to ask for a five-star review via email
- How to ask for customer reviews on your website
How to ask for a review on Google
Google Business reviews are essential if you want to attract customers online. They act as social proof for potential customers and improve your SEO ranking, making your business easier to find on Google.
Your Google Business listing will look something like this:
Getting these reviews is easy—just ask, and make it easy for customers by sending instructions and providing a direct link to your review page.
Then pair your link with this template to ask for a Google review via email or text message:
How to ask for a Google review template
Hi [First Name],
Thanks for trusting [Business Name] with your [Service]. If you were satisfied with the job we completed for you today, please consider leaving your feedback in a Google review: [Link]
All you need to do is click the link, choose a star rating, and share any details about your experience. (We would really appreciate a five-star review, or feedback that can help us get one in the future!)
Thank you,
[Your Name] [Business Name]
Or, instead of manually sending this to every customer, set up automatic review collection in Jobber. Jobber automatically sends a text to the customers you want reviews from.
When you make an invoice in Jobber, you can choose if you want to send the customer a review request.
After paying their invoice, those customers will automatically get a direct link to leave a review on your Google Business Profile.
From your reviews dashboard in Jobber, you can keep an eye on your average Google rating. You’ll also see your latest reviews and resources on how to manage your business’s reputation.
Pro Tip: Not every review will be positive, but you might be able to change that. Respond to negative reviews, fix the problem that earned a poor review, and ask the customer to update their review afterwards.
How to ask a customer for a review on Facebook
With a massive 2.89 billion monthly active users, Facebook is one of the most common social media platforms for businesses to reach and communicate with customers.
Facebook is also a common place for customers to leave reviews about your services. Asking for reviews from Facebook users can go a long way in building your social reputation.
Limit your Facebook review requests to customers who have followed your Facebook page, commented on your business’s posts, or tagged you in an image of a completed job. This will help you get the greatest number of responses.
Use this template to send your customers a direct message asking for a Facebook review:
Template: ask for reviews on Facebook
Hi [First Name],
Thanks for choosing [Business Name] for your [Service]! If you’re happy with our work, would you consider taking a few moments to leave a Facebook review for us?
All you have to do is visit our business page, choose a star rating, and share any details about your experience: [Link] If you were especially happy with any part of our service, or if there’s anything we can do to improve in future, please let us know.
Thank you,
[Your Name] [Business Name]
Pro Tip: Send a thank-you note after a customer leaves a positive review. That way they know how much you appreciate their time and effort.
How to ask for a review on lead generation and review sites
Most of your home service reviews will come from Google or Facebook, but don’t overlook the importance of other review and lead generation websites available to your business, like:
- Yelp: Yelp doesn’t allow businesses to ask for reviews, but you can still draw eyes to your profile. Add a Yelp badge to your website, share Yelp reviews on social media, or tell customers you have a Yelp profile. The more visits your profile gets, the better your odds of earning a review.
- Thumbtack: Requesting reviews directly from Thumbtack can help you attract new customers to your service business. Make it easier for your customers to write reviews by sharing your link in an email, on social media, or through a text message.
- Angi: Ask your customers to visit your Angi profile and leave a review after a job, or add your profile link when you send a review request by email or text. Keep in mind that only registered Angi members can leave reviews for your business.
- HomeAdvisor: HomeAdvisor lets service providers easily share reviews on their platform so homeowners can make informed decisions. To collect feedback stress-free, copy your review link from your HomeAdvisor profile and paste it into any of the templates in this article.
READ MORE: HomeAdvisor vs. Angi: which lead generation site is right for you?
Use this template to ask for reviews on lead generation and review sites:
Template: asking for reviews on lead generation and review sites
Hi [First Name],
Thank you for choosing [Business Name] to provide your [Service]. If our work made you smile, please consider leaving a HomeAdvisor review for us. It really helps other homeowners find our services!
Just visit our business page here and tell us how we did: [Link]
Thank you,
[Your Name] [Business Name]
How to ask for a review in person
Asking a customer for a review face-to-face can be intimidating. But if you find the right opportunity, requesting a review in person can actually feel natural—and be extremely effective.
Instead of asking right after the job’s done, wait for the customer to give you a positive cue like:
- “You did amazing work, thank you! I’m so pleased with the result.”
- “I’m really happy with what you’ve done here. Let’s talk about our next project.”
- “Your employee Rebecca was really helpful throughout this entire process.”
- “I shared photos of your work on social media and I’m getting lots of positive comments.”
- “I told my friend about your business and he’ll contact you soon about a new project.”
READ MORE: How to build a customer referral program that wins more clients
If you can’t find a natural opportunity, ask open-ended questions like “How was your experience with our company?” or “Would you use our services again?”
Hearing a thank you, getting positive feedback, or receiving a referral is your green light to ask for a review. Here’s what you can say:
Template: how to ask for a Google review in person
Thanks for [your positive feedback/referring me]! I really appreciate it. If you have a minute, would you mind leaving a review on Google or Facebook? It really helps customers like you find my business and services.
When the customer agrees to leave a review, you can email them the link to your review page, along with instructions to make the process easier.
When is the best time to ask for a review?
It’s common to wait a few days after finishing a job before asking a customer for a review. This gives them time to process the work that’s been done before they evaluate your services.
But that’s not a strict rule. You can ask a repeat customer for a review when the opportunity comes up naturally in conversation. Just make sure they’re happy with your work first.
How to ask for a review over the phone
Make a point of following up with every customer after every job. Your day is likely jam-packed, so find a few minutes between visits to make phone calls and gather customer feedback.
If they’re satisfied with your work, most customers will make that clear right away. Take this opportunity to ask for a Google review using this phone script:
Template: how to ask for reviews in phone calls
Hi [Customer Name]! This is [Your Name] from [Business Name]. How are you today? [Wait for an answer and respond appropriately.]
The reason I’m calling today is because I wanted to learn more about your experience with [Business Name]. I recently provided [Service] and am interested in knowing how that went for you. [Listen to response]
I’m glad we could help you out! We truly appreciate your business. Would you mind taking 30 seconds to leave us a short review on [Review Platform]? It really helps other customers find [Business Name] and trust our services.
As soon as you hang up the phone, send the customer an email with review instructions. Your customers are busy, too, so don’t give them time to forget about writing a review.
Be aware of the context of your phone calls, too. If your customer needs you to fix a mistake or complain about an employee, it’s not the right moment to ask for a review.
How to ask for reviews via SMS
Some of your customers may be just as busy as you are. In these situations, it’s a good idea to contact customers by text message so you can reach them on the go.
SMS review requests make it easy for customers to leave a quick review right from their mobile phone. Use one of these scripts to send SMS messages asking for reviews:
Template: asking for reviews via SMS
- Hi [First Name], this is [Your Name] from [Business Name]. If you have a few moments, please tell us how we did with your recent [Service]: [Link]
- Hi [First Name], thanks for choosing [Business Name] for your [Service]. If you have 30 seconds, please leave us a review here: [Link]
- Hi [First Name], thanks for being a loyal customer! Let us know how we did today: [Link]
Pro Tip: Only ask for reviews through text messaging if the customer’s already communicated with you this way. Otherwise they may not trust your message and won’t respond to it.
Asking for reviews: first-time customers vs. repeat customers
Approach first-time customers and repeat customers differently when you’re asking for reviews:
- Return customers already trust you—that’s why they’ve asked for your services again. They may be more willing to provide a review at any time during or after the job.
- New customers haven’t experienced your services yet and need more convincing. Wait till the job’s done, then request feedback with a text or phone call before asking for a review. This ensures they’re satisfied before they rate your business online.
Use your field service CRM to track sent and completed review requests. This helps you avoid asking for reviews too often or re-asking customers who have already written a review.
How to ask for a five-star review via email
Email review requests give your customers the option to leave a review right away or save it for a later time. It’s also convenient for you because you can automate most of the process and use repeatable templates.
There are typically two ways to send review requests by email:
- Email campaigns let you send a single templated email to a larger group of customers at once. This is an effective and efficient way to get the job done.
- Personalized emails make your customers feel appreciated and help build a lasting relationship, but they also take time to write one at a time. These are a better option for repeat customers, or customers with jobs at higher price points.
Whichever type of email you choose, keep it short and include your service business branding. Choose an easy way for customers to leave a review, like a link to your Google Business profile or Facebook page.
Here’s an example of an email template you can use:
Template: how to ask for a good review via email
Subject: Tell us how we did!
Hi [First Name],
Thank you for choosing [Business Name]! Now that the job is complete, we wanted to make sure you’re 100% satisfied with our services. If you have a minute, please let us know how we did by leaving us a review here: [Link]
Thank you,
[Your Name], [Business Name]
Pro Tip: If you’d like to customize this template, add a personal comment about something you enjoyed on-site—for example, the customer’s child, their dog, or the coffee they gave you.
It’s a good idea to send a follow-up email if you don’t receive a review. Just make sure to wait a reasonable amount of time, like a week or two. The customer may be busy and not appreciate too many reminders too often.
READ MORE: How to write better customer service follow-up emails
What to avoid when requesting reviews
Asking for reviews can help your small business build a strong reputation and attract new customers. To get the most out of your online review strategy, make sure to avoid:
- Sticking to only one strategy. If customers prefer to communicate through text, email, or social media, use those methods for sending review requests. Being flexible with your request strategy will lead to more positive reviews for your business.
- Offering gifts or discounts. Giving incentives for a review can lead to biased, inauthentic reviews and even a hefty fine or penalty. Avoid incentives to keep your business safe—and show potential customers honest feedback on your services.
- Asking an unhappy customer. If a customer is unhappy with your crew or services, their review may reflect that. Try sending a customer feedback survey instead to learn what went wrong and repair the damage before they leave a review.
- Forgetting to respond to reviews. Respond to every review, whether it’s good, bad, or neutral. This shows potential customers that you respect their time, value feedback, and are committed to providing top-notch customer service.
READ MORE: Can a company sue over a bad review?
How to ask for customer reviews on your website
Your company website does a lot of your marketing work for you. That includes earning reviews, and displaying these reviews on your website shows you’re trustworthy and professional.
Making review requests part of your marketing strategy will also help improve your local SEO. This helps you rank higher in search engine results for keywords related to your business.
READ MORE: SEO for contractors: the ultimate easy-to-implement guide
Here are a couple of ways to ask for reviews on your website:
- Use review CTAs throughout your website. Add a call to action (CTA) button to your website that asks customers to leave a review. Include this button on your most visited site pages, like your homepage, services, blog, and contact page.
- Create a testimonial page. A testimonials page can encourage potential customers to give your services a try. Include direct links to your review sites (such as Google and Facebook) to encourage your customers to share their feedback.
Connect your Jobber website to your Google Business Profile to build trust with customer reviews. You’ll win more work by showcasing your Google reviews on your website.
Use these website content templates to ask site visitors to leave reviews:
Template: requesting reviews on your website
- Share a review. Enjoy your experience with [Business Name]? Tell us all about it.
- Tell us how we did. Please consider leaving a review on our website about your [Business Name] experience. This shows us what we’re doing well and what we can improve!
- Help spread the word. If you’re satisfied with your [Business Name] experience, please consider leaving a review. Your kind words can help other homeowners find the quality [Industry] services they need.
Pro Tip: Not every review will be well written, so include a simple content sharing disclaimer like this: “By submitting a review, you agree to have the included information shared publicly on our website in a review format. Some reviews may be edited for length and/or clarity.”
Get more reviews for your home service business
Knowing how to ask a client for a review will only take you so far. You’ll get the best reviews from happy customers, so providing exceptional service will get more reviews for your business and help with online reputation management.
From professional quotes to customer communication, Jobber has all the features you need to impress your customers from day one.
Originally published November 2019. Last updated on September 25, 2024.