Best way to get reviews for tradies

Why do reviews matter more for tradies than most other businesses?

Reviews are how homeowners decide who to call. A tradie does not have a shopfront, a menu, or a product page — your Google Business Profile is your shopfront, and your reviews are your display window.

When someone searches "plumber near me" or "electrician [suburb]," Google ranks the Maps results partly on review signals — volume, recency, and rating. Google's own local ranking documentation confirms this. A tradie with 60 recent reviews at 4.7 stars will appear above a tradie with 8 reviews at 5.0 every time.

The practical effect is straightforward: more reviews mean more calls, and more calls mean more jobs. A BrightLocal survey found that 98% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses. For trades, where the customer is letting a stranger into their home, trust matters even more than usual.

When is the best time to ask a customer for a review?

At the end of the job, while you are still on site. Not two days later. Not next week. Right then.

The ideal moment is after the final walkthrough. The tap works, the powerpoint is live, the fence is straight, the site is swept. The customer is relieved and satisfied. That is the highest-conversion moment you will ever get — their gratitude is fresh and the effort of leaving a review feels small compared to the job you just finished.

Good timing by trade:

1. Plumbers and electricians. After the fix is confirmed working and you have explained what you did. The customer is relieved the problem is solved.
2. Painters and renderers. When the final coat is done and the drop sheets are packed up. Walk them through the finished result first.
3. Builders and renovators. At practical completion or handover. Not during the defects period — wait until they are genuinely happy.
4. Landscapers. When the last plant is in and you have walked them around the finished garden.
5. Cleaners. After the first job, when they can see and smell the difference.

Bad timing: while quoting (you have not earned it yet), during a long job when they are living in dust, or after a callback to fix something.

What should you actually say when asking?

Keep it to one sentence and a link. Tradies are not salespeople — a short, genuine ask works better than a rehearsed pitch.

On site, say something like: "If you're happy with the job, a Google review really helps me out. I'll text you a link — takes about 30 seconds."

Then send this text within the hour:

Hi [name], thanks for having us out today. If you have a minute, a quick Google review would mean a lot: [your Google review link]

That is it. No follow-up text. No second ask. One message, one link. Our guide to getting more Google reviews explains how to generate your direct review link and create a QR code if you want one on your invoice or business card.

Should you ask every customer or just the happy ones?

Every customer. No exceptions.

Sending review requests only to customers you think were happy is called review gating, and Google prohibits it. If Google detects a pattern of only positive reviews, your profile can be penalised or suspended.

More importantly, you do not need to cherry-pick. If you do good work, the numbers take care of themselves. A tradie who asks 100 customers will get maybe 20–30 reviews. Most will be positive because most jobs go well. The occasional three-star review saying "good work but was 20 minutes late" does not hurt you — it makes your profile look real.

A profile with 80 five-star reviews and nothing else looks suspicious to customers. A profile with 75 five-star reviews, four four-star reviews, and one three-star review looks honest. Research from Northwestern's Spiegel Research Center found that purchase likelihood peaks between 4.0 and 4.7 stars, not at a perfect 5.0.

Can you offer a discount or incentive for reviews?

No. Google's review policies explicitly prohibit incentivised reviews. Offering a discount, gift card, or entry into a prize draw in exchange for a review violates these policies and can get reviews removed or your profile flagged.

Under Australian Consumer Law, incentivised reviews that are not disclosed as such can also constitute misleading conduct. The ACCC has taken enforcement action against businesses for this.

The good news: you do not need incentives. A direct ask at the right moment converts well enough. The constraint is not willingness — it is that most tradies never ask.

What about review cards, QR codes, or stickers on the van?

They work as reminders, but they are not substitutes for a direct ask.

A QR code on your invoice or business card gives the customer a second chance to leave a review after you leave. A sticker on your van or ute with "Find us on Google" reinforces your presence. But none of these convert as well as asking in person and following up with a text.

If you want to use them, keep it simple:

1. Invoice footer. Add your Google review link and a QR code to your invoice template. The customer sees it when they pay.
2. Business card. Print a QR code on the back. Hand it over at the end of the job.
3. Van sticker. "See our reviews on Google" with your business name. It is a trust signal for neighbours watching you work.

Our guide to creating a Google review link and QR code covers the technical setup.

How do you handle a bad review as a tradie?

Respond professionally, quickly, and briefly. Do not argue, do not get defensive, and do not bring up details the customer did not mention.

A framework that works for trades:

1. Acknowledge the concern. "Thanks for your feedback — sorry to hear the job didn't meet your expectations."
2. Take it offline. "Please give me a call on [number] so I can understand what happened and make it right."
3. Do not explain or justify. A public argument makes you look worse, even if you are right.

If the review is fake — from a competitor, a disgruntled non-customer, or someone who has the wrong business — report it through Google's official process. Do not accuse the reviewer of being fake in your public response. Our negative review response examples include templates specifically for trades.

What should a tradie do this week to start getting more reviews?

You do not need software, an agency, or a budget. Start with these five steps:

1. Generate your Google review link. Go to your Google Business Profile, find the "Ask for reviews" button, and copy the short link.
2. Save a text template. Write one text message you can paste and personalise with the customer's name. Save it as a template or text shortcut on your phone.
3. Ask every customer this week. At the end of every job, say the one-sentence ask and send the text.
4. Respond to every existing review. If you have unanswered reviews — good or bad — go reply to all of them today. A profile where the business responds to every review builds trust with future customers.
5. Check your Google Business Profile. Make sure your hours, phone number, service area, and photos are current. An accurate profile converts more of the people who find you.

If you want a full picture of where you stand online — your reviews, your competitors' reviews, and your local search visibility — get a free audit. We will show you exactly what customers see when they search for your trade in your area.