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How to Get More Google Reviews: A Repeatable System for Local Businesses
By Jared Casper, Founder · · 7 min read
How to get more Google reviews comes down to one habit: ask every customer, every time, at the moment they're happiest — and make it effortless with a direct review link sent by text. Automate the ask so it fires when a job is marked complete, send one polite reminder, and reply to every review you receive.
Your reviews are selling for you — or against you
In a town like Georgetown or Haverhill, word of mouth now happens online. When someone searches for your service, they compare businesses at a glance: the star rating, how many reviews there are and how recent they are.
Most businesses with few reviews don't have unhappy customers. They have happy customers nobody asked. The fix is a system, not a one-time push.
Why a steady flow beats a one-time push
A burst of reviews once a year, followed by months of silence, makes a profile look inactive. A steady trickle of new reviews shows customers — and Google — that you're busy and still doing good work. That's why you want to ask every week, as part of how you close out each job, rather than emailing your whole list once.
The automated ask: why text works
Customers are more likely to act on a short text with one link than an email that gets buried in their inbox. A text sent soon after the job, while they're still pleased with the result, takes them a few taps to complete.
A simple CasperPortal workflow:
- The job is marked "Complete" in your pipeline.
- Wait a couple of hours, while the result is still fresh.
- Send a text: "Hi [First Name], thanks for choosing us. Would you mind leaving us a quick review? It really helps a small business like ours: [Link]"
- If there's no review after a few days, send one gentle reminder — then stop.
CasperPortal's reputation management handles the request and reminder automatically, and the workflow runs in the same automation builder as the rest of your follow-up.
Make it easy: always link straight to your Google review form, not your homepage or your profile page. Every extra tap loses people.
Handling unhappy customers the right way
The biggest fear about asking for reviews is getting a bad one in public. The answer isn't to filter who you ask — Google's review policies don't allow selectively asking only happy customers, and it can put your profile at risk. Instead:
- Ask everyone with the same message.
- Give customers a direct line to you — a reply to the text or a short customer survey — so problems reach you quickly and you can fix them.
- Follow up personally on any complaint before it becomes a bigger issue.
Most customers who have a problem simply want to be heard. Catching it early is the best protection for your reputation.
Replying to reviews
Reply to every review, positive or negative. It shows you're active and engaged, and more importantly it shows future customers how you treat people.
- Positive review: thank them by name and mention the service. "Thanks, [Name] — glad the water heater install in Georgetown went smoothly. We appreciate you."
- Negative review: stay calm, acknowledge the issue, and offer to make it right offline. "I'm sorry this wasn't the experience you expected. Please call or text us so we can sort it out."
Mentioning the service and town naturally, as in the first example, also helps reinforce what you do and where you do it. For how reviews fit into the bigger picture, read local SEO for small businesses. If your review count has been stuck for a while, see the stagnant reviews problem.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get more Google reviews for my business?
Ask every customer soon after the job, send a text with a direct link to your Google review form, send one reminder if they don't respond, and reply to every review. Automating the ask makes sure it happens every time.
When is the best time to ask for a review?
Shortly after the job is finished, while the customer is still pleased with the result. A text sent a couple of hours after completion is easy for them to act on right away.
Can I ask only happy customers for reviews?
No. Google's policies don't allow selectively soliciting positive reviews. Ask every customer the same way, and give anyone with a problem an easy way to reach you directly so you can fix it.
Should I respond to negative reviews?
Yes. Reply calmly, acknowledge the issue and offer to resolve it offline. Future customers read your responses as much as the review itself.
Quick Poll
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Written by Jared Casper, Founder of CasperPortal
Jared is based in Georgetown, Massachusetts, and works with North Shore businesses on automating follow-up, managing leads and growing with less manual effort.