Think about the last time you needed to hire someone. Maybe a plumber, a roof guy or whatever. What did you do?
You probably looked them up on Google. And if they didn’t have reviews or had like two from five years ago, you moved on.
That’s exactly what your customers are doing to you.
According to Forbes, 90 percent of people read online reviews before they trust a business. So if you’ve only got a few reviews, or if your last one was from 2021, that tells them you’re either brand new, or not busy. Either way, they’ll probably skip you.
But if they see a bunch of real reviews with photos from actual people (not bots), they’re going to feel a lot better about calling your number.
Google reviews help people trust you faster. And the more trust you build, the more jobs you book.
How to Get Google Reviews
If you never ask, the answer is always no.
If you want more reviews, you have to ask. That’s the first step. Most happy customers won’t think to leave a review unless you bring it up. It’s not that they don’t want to help, they just have lives and other priorities. So make it as easy as possible and make it part of your process.
Ask right after the job
The best time to ask for a review is right after the job is done. When they see their clean property, they’re feeling good. That’s the moment to say something like:
“Hey, if you’re happy with everything, would you mind leaving us a quick Google review? It would help us out a lot.”
Most people will say sure. So don’t wait. Always have your Google review link ready.
How to get your Google review link
- Go to your Google Business dashboard.
- On the Home tab, look for the Get more reviews box.
- Click Share review form.
- A pop-up will show your custom link, so copy that and save it somewhere so you can pull it up fast.
Most customers won’t go out of their way to search your business and figure it out on their own, you’ve got to give them the exact link.
So after you ask and they say yes, send it then and there. You can text it, email it, or even let them scan a QR code if you’ve got it printed on your business card or invoice.
Make it quick, make it easy, and they’ll actually do it.
Tell them what to write
A lot of people don’t know what to say. That’s why you get one-word reviews like “Great.” That doesn’t help much.
So guide them. Tell them:
“You can just say what we did for you, how it went, and whether you’d recommend us.”
That way, they know what kind of review helps. And if they leave a detailed review, it helps you rank higher on Google.
Ask for photos if they’re into it
Photos make reviews feel real. If your customer seems happy and already pulled out their phone, ask if they can add a quick photo of the finished job to their review. Google pushes reviews with photos higher, and new customers trust those more. Bonus tip, you can take photos yourself of the finished work and text those to your customer. That way the work is done for them and it becomes even easier to leave you a comprehensive review.
Automate your follow-up
If you’re doing more than a few jobs a week, it helps to set up a system. Use a simple text or email template that goes out after every job. Something like:
“Thanks again for choosing us. If you liked the service, we’d really appreciate a quick Google review. It only takes a minute. Here’s the link.”
Save this message. Send it every time. Make it part of your process just like collecting payment.
Do not buy fake reviews
It might be tempting especially if your competition looks loaded with five stars. But buying fake reviews can backfire fast. Google removes fake reviews, and if you get caught doing it, your profile could get flagged. Plus, it just looks shady.
Stick with the real ones. They take longer, but they’re worth more.
Ask every single time
If you want to build up your reviews, you need to be consistent. That means asking after every job, not just the ones that went extra smooth. Even a four-star review with a good comment is better than silence.
You don’t need a hundred reviews overnight, you just need steady growth because one at a time adds up anyway.
How to Maximize Your Google My Business Profile
If you haven’t set up your profile yet, check out this YouTube video first so you’re not missing anything basic : Google Business Profile Set Up: 2025 Step-By-Step Tutorial
A lot of guys claim their listing and never touch it again. That’s like setting up a billboard and never putting anything on it so here’s how you can maximize your GMB profile:
Fill out every single detail
Go back through your profile and check everything. Hours, services, service areas, phone number, business description. Keep it clean and clear. Use the same language your customers are typing into Google. Stuff like “roof cleaning in Miami” or “soft washing near me.”
Add real photos
Photos make your listing feel legit. Add before and afters, shots of your truck, your team, or you in action. No stock images, no over-edited stuff and no stealing of other people’s photos. And if you can, try to upload new ones every now and then because Google also likes fresh photos.
Turn on messaging
In your dashboard, there’s a setting to turn on messaging so people can text you straight from Google. Turn that on and if someone messages you and you reply fast, that helps your ranking. Plus, people love fast answers. Watch how to turn it on here: How to Turn On Messages – Google Business Profile
Reply to every review
This one’s easy and powerful. Just say thank you, use their name and mention the service if you can. For example:
“Thanks so much Amanda. Glad we could help with your driveway cleaning. Let us know if you ever need anything else.”
If someone leaves a bad review, don’t argue. Just reply calmly and offer to fix it.
Use keywords in your replies
If you’re replying to a review, slide in a few helpful words like your service or location. Something like:
“Appreciate you choosing us for your house wash in Wilmington.”
It sounds natural but helps Google understand what you do and where you do it.
If you’re out there doing solid work then you deserve to show up when people search. Ask every happy customer for a review. Make it part of the job just like cleanup or collecting payment. The more you ask, the more you get.
Train your team and incentivize them to get reviews for your business. Set and revise review goals as you grow. You got this!
If you want more ways to get seen and book jobs this year, check out our article Soft Wash Marketing 101 to get strategies on how to get in front of homeowners, stand out from the competition, and build your business the right way.
