Ask at the right moment
Ask right after a job goes well, when the customer is happiest. Send a short, personal message with your direct review link. Do not ask everyone at once through a mass email list.
Make it easy
Use the review link from your Business Profile. Put it in your invoice email, text follow-up or a QR code. The fewer steps, the more reviews.
What not to do
Do not offer discounts or gifts in exchange for reviews. Do not only ask happy customers while screening out unhappy ones (review gating). Do not write reviews yourself, buy reviews or ask staff and relatives to post them. Google's policies prohibit these and can remove reviews or penalize a profile. Check the current policy.
Respond to every review
Thank reviewers by name. For negative reviews, respond calmly, acknowledge the issue, offer to resolve it offline and do not argue. Prospective customers read your responses.
Be patient
A steady trickle of real reviews beats a sudden spike. Make asking part of your routine.
Common questions
Can I delete a bad review?
Only if it violates Google's policies, such as spam or fake content. You can flag it for review. Otherwise respond professionally.
Can I ask for reviews on other sites?
Yes, but follow each site's rules. Google reviews matter most for local search.
This guide is general information. Search engines change how they work and their guidelines; check Google's current documentation for your situation. Nobody can guarantee a ranking.