How do you ask for a Google review in a text message?

Keep it to two or three sentences: who you are, a thank you for the job, one sentence asking for the review, and your Google review link in the same message. The templates above are exactly that shape. The review link is the important part — it takes them straight to the box where they leave stars instead of asking them to search for your business.

What should a review request text actually say?

Four things, in this order: your name and business, a thank you that mentions the job, one sentence asking for the review, and the link. Anything else is optional. The wording above is written the way trade customers actually talk, so it does not read like an automated campaign.

How long should the message be?

Short enough to read on a lock screen without tapping it open. Two or three sentences, and the link on its own at the end. If you have to scroll to read your own request, it is too long.

Can I offer something in exchange for a review?

No. Google's policies prohibit incentivising reviews, and a discount, a gift or a free call-out in exchange for one puts your Business Profile at risk. Ask honestly and let the work speak; that is also why ReviewGun has no gating or filtering features at all.

How soon after the job should I send it?

Before you leave the driveway. That is when the work is fresh, the customer is still pleased, and a link in a text is easiest to tap. Requests sent days later get buried under everything else and are usually never answered.

Should I send a follow-up if they do not leave one?

One gentle nudge, a few days later, and then stop. There is a template for it above. Past that, you are reminding somebody who has already decided, and a second reminder costs you more goodwill than the review was worth.

Do these templates work for plumbing, roofing and HVAC?

Yes. Every one of them uses the same placeholders, so the customer's name, your business name and your review link fill themselves in. There are also versions written specifically for plumbers, roofers and HVAC crews, with the situations that come up in each trade.

What if my customer speaks Spanish?

There are two Spanish templates above — one to send after the job and one as a gentle follow-up. The placeholders work the same way in both.

Guide

Google review request text templates

The wording decides whether anybody bothers. These are 19 requests, written the way a tradesperson actually talks, grouped by the moment you would send one — right after the job, months later for a repeat customer, or the night you got called out at eleven.

Copy any of them into your phone, or into your ReviewGun settings so the customer's name, your business and your review link fill themselves in every time. Before any of it works you need one thing: your Google review link.

What every request needs

Change the words to sound like you, but keep these four things in this order. They are the difference between a text that gets answered and one that gets deleted.

Say who it is
Start with your name and your business. A text from an unknown number asking for a review reads like a scam, and it gets ignored or deleted.
Thank them for the job, specifically
"Thanks for having us out today" beats "thanks for your business". One line that shows you remember the actual job is the whole difference between a text that gets answered and one that gets skipped.
Ask once, in one sentence
One question. If you bury the ask in the middle of a paragraph about your services, they will read everything except the part you wanted.
Put the link in the same message
Your review link goes in the text, not in a follow-up. Every extra step — searching your business name, hunting for the review button — is somewhere they give up.

Every template, by situation

After the job

Right after the job

The default ask, sent while you are still packing up.

Hi {first_name}, thanks for having us out today! If you have 30 seconds, a quick Google review helps our small crew more than you'd think: {review_link}

Short and plain

For a tech who will not write a paragraph, ever.

Hi {first_name}, thanks for today. Would you mind leaving us a quick Google review? {review_link}

Warm and appreciative

Small jobs, long-standing relationships, neighbours.

Hi {first_name}, thanks so much for having us out — we really appreciate you. If you get a sec, a Google review would help us more than you know: {review_link}

Formal

Commercial clients, property managers, larger invoices.

Hello {first_name}, thank you for your business today. If you were satisfied with the work, we would be grateful if you would leave us a Google review: {review_link}

Repeat customers

Repeat customer

Someone you have worked for before — warmer, shorter.

Hi {first_name}, always good to see you. If you have a moment, would you mind leaving us a Google review? It is how neighbours find us: {review_link}

Years-long customer

They have used you so often they would probably say yes.

Hi {first_name}, always a pleasure — thanks for having us back. If you have a moment, a Google review helps new folks find us: {review_link}

Bigger jobs

Big or messy job

When the work ran long and you want to acknowledge it.

Hi {first_name}, thanks for your patience today — that was a big one. If you are happy with how it turned out, a quick Google review would mean a lot: {review_link}

Multi-day install

Replacement systems, repipes, roofs, remodels.

Hi {first_name}, thanks for your patience while we got this finished. If you are happy with the result, a quick Google review would mean a lot to the crew: {review_link}

You weren't there

You were not on site

A tech did the work, or you were off the job that day.

Hi {first_name}, this is {business} — we wrapped up today. Here is the link if you would like to leave us a review: {review_link}

Following up on a tech's job

Your crew was there, you are sending from the office.

Hi {first_name}, {business} here — hope everything went well today. If you have a minute, a quick Google review helps our techs: {review_link}

After hours

Emergency or after-hours call

Lower pressure, because nobody wants homework at 11pm.

Hi {first_name}, glad we could get to you tonight. No rush at all — if you have a minute later, a Google review helps other folks find us in a pinch: {review_link}

Storm or flood callout

When they have had a rough week and you got them dried in.

Hi {first_name}, glad we could get to you during all that. No rush at all — if you have a minute later, a Google review helps other folks find us when it matters: {review_link}

Follow-ups

One gentle nudge

Sent once, a few days later, then leave it alone.

Hi {first_name}, just a gentle nudge in case my last text got buried. No pressure either way: {review_link}

Last nudge

One more, then never again. Keeps the link handy either way.

Hi {first_name}, last nudge from me, promise. If you ever want to leave a review, the link stays live: {review_link}

Service plans

Seasonal tune-up

Maintenance visits — the customer is already paying you yearly.

Hi {first_name}, good to see you at the tune-up. If you have a minute, a Google review helps neighbours find us when theirs quits: {review_link}

Annual service or inspection

Yearly inspections, backflow tests, roof checks.

Hi {first_name}, thanks for getting the yearly service done. If you are happy with us, a quick Google review helps other homeowners find us: {review_link}

Commercial

Commercial or property manager

Invoice goes to a business, not a homeowner.

Hi {first_name}, thank you for the work at your property. If our crew made your job easier, a Google review would help us win similar work: {review_link}

En español

Después del trabajo

For a Spanish-speaking customer, sent right after the job.

Hola {first_name}, ¡gracias por contar con {business}! Si tiene un minuto, una reseña en Google nos ayudaría muchísimo: {review_link}

Recordatorio amable

A gentle follow-up in Spanish, a few days later.

Hola {first_name}, esperamos que todo haya quedado bien. Si tiene un momento, ¿nos dejaría una reseña en Google? ¡Gracias! {review_link}

{first_name}, {customer_name}, {business} and {review_link} are the placeholders. ReviewGun swaps them per customer, so you save the wording once and nobody retypes anything on site — how to find your google review link first if you have not saved yours yet.

What not to do

Do not offer a discount, a gift or a free call-out for a review. Google treats that as an incentive, and it puts your listing at risk.
Do not only ask the customers you think will be happy. Gating or filtering reviews is against Google's policy, and it is the fastest way to lose your listing.
Do not write a paragraph. A review request that reads like a newsletter does not get read, let alone answered.
Do not send it a week later. The job is forgotten by then, and so is your name.

None of those are preferences. They are the boundaries of the rules, and What Google's review policy allows sets out where the line is and what crossing it can cost, right down to the short list of reviews that can actually be removed.

Questions contractors ask about the wording

How do you ask for a Google review in a text message?: Keep it to two or three sentences: who you are, a thank you for the job, one sentence asking for the review, and your Google review link in the same message. The templates above are exactly that shape. The review link is the important part — it takes them straight to the box where they leave stars instead of asking them to search for your business.
What should a review request text actually say?: Four things, in this order: your name and business, a thank you that mentions the job, one sentence asking for the review, and the link. Anything else is optional. The wording above is written the way trade customers actually talk, so it does not read like an automated campaign.
How long should the message be?: Short enough to read on a lock screen without tapping it open. Two or three sentences, and the link on its own at the end. If you have to scroll to read your own request, it is too long.
Can I offer something in exchange for a review?: No. Google's policies prohibit incentivising reviews, and a discount, a gift or a free call-out in exchange for one puts your Business Profile at risk. Ask honestly and let the work speak; that is also why ReviewGun has no gating or filtering features at all.
How soon after the job should I send it?: Before you leave the driveway. That is when the work is fresh, the customer is still pleased, and a link in a text is easiest to tap. Requests sent days later get buried under everything else and are usually never answered.
Should I send a follow-up if they do not leave one?: One gentle nudge, a few days later, and then stop. There is a template for it above. Past that, you are reminding somebody who has already decided, and a second reminder costs you more goodwill than the review was worth.
Do these templates work for plumbing, roofing and HVAC?: Yes. Every one of them uses the same placeholders, so the customer's name, your business name and your review link fill themselves in. There are also versions written specifically for plumbers, roofers and HVAC crews, with the situations that come up in each trade.
What if my customer speaks Spanish?: There are two Spanish templates above — one to send after the job and one as a gentle follow-up. The placeholders work the same way in both.

Save the wording once, send it from your own phone

Paste the template into ReviewGun and every request goes out with the customer's name and your review link already in it. $29 a month after 3 days free.

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Templates for your trade

Every wording above works for any home service business. These go further, with the jobs and the objections that come up in yours.