How To Ask For Google Reviews Without Breaking Google's Rules
A lot of review tools hide unhappy customers from Google. Here's why that's risky, and what to do instead
Reviews are one of the first things people compare when they're choosing a contractor, so it makes sense to ask for them. The way you ask matters.
What Google Doesn't Allow
Google's policy says businesses shouldn't discourage negative reviews, or ask only happy customers to leave one. That's called review gating, and many review tools are built around it: a customer taps a low rating and never sees a way to post on Google.
It looks clever until your profile gets flagged. You're putting the reviews you've worked for at risk to hide a few you could have dealt with.
What To Do Instead
- Ask every customer, not just the ones you think are happy.
- Ask soon after the job, while it's fresh.
- Make it one tap to get to your Google review box.
- Send a reminder or two, because people mean to do it and forget.
- Give unhappy customers an easy way to reach you first, and keep the Google link on that page.
Don't Fear The Odd Bad Review
A long run of real reviews with an honest bad one in it looks more believable than a perfect score. Reply to it calmly and say what you did to put it right. People read those replies.