How to Ask for Google Reviews: Scripts, Texts and Email Examples
By EasyReviews TeamLast updated 7 min read
Knowing how to ask for Google reviews comes down to three things: timing, a direct link, and wording that sounds like you rather than a sales pitch. Ask too late and the customer has moved on. Ask without a link and they will not find the review form. Ask awkwardly and you will both feel it.
Below you will find in-person scripts, text message and email examples you can copy, the timing that works for different businesses, and the phrasing to avoid so your requests stay within Google's rules. For the bigger picture, start with our complete guide on how to get Google reviews.
When to ask for a Google review
The best moment is right after the customer experiences the result of your work, while the details are fresh and the feeling is strongest. Watch for these signals:
- They thank you or compliment the work.
- The problem they came in with is clearly solved (the AC is cooling, the tooth no longer hurts, the car starts).
- They mention they will come back or recommend you.
- A project reaches a visible milestone, like a handover or a launch.
Signals tell you when to ask, not who to ask. Every customer should get the same request, including the quiet ones.
| Situation | Ask in person | Send the link |
|---|---|---|
| Service visit (plumbing, HVAC, cleaning) | When the job is done and tested | Same day, before you leave or that evening |
| Appointment (dentist, salon, physical therapy) | At checkout | Within a few hours |
| Restaurant or retail | At payment | On the receipt or with a QR code at the counter |
| Project (contractor, agency, real estate) | At handover or closing | Within 24 hours |
How to ask for Google reviews in person (scripts)
Keep it short, say why it matters to you, and promise to send the link so the customer does not have to search for anything. Adapt these scripts to your own words.
Thank you, that really means a lot. Would you mind sharing that in a quick Google review? I can text you the link so it only takes a minute.
Everything is up and running. If you have a minute later, an honest Google review really helps a small business like ours get found. I'll text you the link tonight.
Before you go: we ask all our customers for their honest feedback on Google. Is it OK if I text you the link?
No problem at all. The link opens the review box directly: you just pick the stars and write a sentence or two.
Text message examples for Google review requests
Texts work especially well for appointments and field services because the link is one tap away on the same phone the customer will use to write the review. Aim for 160 characters or fewer, the size of a single standard SMS segment. Emojis and curly quotes switch the message to a different encoding with a much shorter limit, so a long message may be split into several parts.
Hi {First name}, thanks for choosing {Business} today! Would you share your honest feedback on Google? {Review link} Reply STOP to opt out.
Hi {First name}, it's {Your name} from {Business}. Thanks for having us out today. If you have a minute, an honest Google review helps us a lot: {Review link}
Hi {First name}, thank you for visiting {Practice} today. We would appreciate your honest review on Google: {Review link} Reply STOP to opt out.
Hi {First name}, a quick reminder from {Business}: if you have a moment, we would love your honest Google review. {Review link} Thanks either way!
For healthcare and other regulated businesses, never mention the treatment, diagnosis or reason for the visit in the message. "Thank you for visiting" is enough.
Email examples for asking for reviews
Email is a natural fit when you already send confirmations, invoices or project updates. Keep one clear call to action, put the link near the top, and send it from a real person rather than a no-reply address. Subject lines that tend to read naturally:
- How did we do, {First name}?
- A quick favor from {Business}
- Thanks for your visit (1 minute?)
Subject: How did we do, {First name}? Hi {First name}, Thank you for choosing {Business}. We hope everything went smoothly. Would you take a minute to share your honest feedback on Google? It helps other people in {City} find us, and we read every review. {Review link} Thanks, {Your name} {Business} · {Phone}
Subject: A quick favor from {Business} Hi {First name}, Now that {project} is wrapped up, I wanted to say thank you for trusting us with it. If you have a couple of minutes, an honest Google review about working with us would mean a lot to our team: {Review link} And if anything could have gone better, just reply to this email. I would genuinely like to know. {Your name}
Other places to ask without extra effort
Once you have your link, add a one-line request everywhere customers already look after they pay:
- Printed receipts and PDF invoices.
- Your email signature.
- The "thank you" page after an online booking or order.
- A packaging insert or business card handed over at the end of the job.
- A sign or table tent with a QR code at the counter. Our Google review QR code guide shows how to create one and where to place it.
What not to say: phrasing that breaks Google's rules
Most problematic requests come from good intentions. These are the common ones, why they are a problem, and what to say instead.
| Don't say | Why | Say instead |
|---|---|---|
| "Leave us a 5-star review!" | Pushes for a rating instead of honest feedback | "We'd appreciate your honest review." |
| "Get 10% off your next visit for a review." | Incentives for reviews are prohibited | "Your feedback helps other customers find us." |
| "Happy? Review us on Google. Not happy? Email us." | This is review gating | Send everyone the same Google link, and share your contact details separately |
| "Can you write it here on our tablet?" | Several reviews from one device can be filtered as suspicious | "I'll text you the link so you can post from your phone." |
| "Please mention best plumber in Austin." | Scripted wording makes reviews look fake | Let customers use their own words |
How to follow up (once)
Busy customers forget. One reminder three to five days after the first request is reasonable; after that, let it go. A customer who feels chased is more likely to leave a lukewarm review, or none at all.
When reviews start coming in, reply to each one. Our guide on how to respond to Google reviews has examples for every rating. And if you receive a review that is fake or abusive, here is what Google will and will not remove.
How EasyReviews helps
With EasyReviews, you type the customer's phone number and a text with your direct Google review link goes out from an EasyReviews number, so your personal number stays private. You also get a printable review QR code, and AI-drafted replies you approve before anything is posted. See plans and pricing.
Try EasyReviews free
7 SMS review requests and 7 AI-drafted replies, no credit card required.
Get started freeFrequently asked questions
Is it OK to ask customers for Google reviews?
Yes. Google allows businesses to ask customers for reviews. The rules are to ask everyone rather than only happy customers, never offer an incentive, and never pressure anyone into posting.
How do you politely ask for a Google review?
Thank the customer, explain in one sentence why reviews help your business, and send them a direct link. For example: "Thanks for choosing us today. If you have a minute, an honest Google review really helps us. Here is the link."
Can I offer a discount or a gift in exchange for a Google review?
No. Google prohibits offering money, discounts, free products or giveaway entries in exchange for reviews, even if you ask for honest ones. The FTC also bans buying reviews.
How do I ask for a Google review by text message?
Get the customer's consent to receive texts, then send a short message with your business name, a thank-you, your direct review link and an opt-out line such as "Reply STOP to opt out." Send it the same day as the visit.
What if a customer says they will leave a review but never does?
Send one friendly reminder with the link a few days later. If they still do not post, let it go. More reminders tend to annoy customers rather than produce reviews.
