Field Notes · Reviews · 5 min · 2026-10-25

How to ask every customer for a Google review

The right way to ask for reviews: everyone, soon after the job, with a direct link, and nothing in exchange.

Key takeaways
  • Ask every customer the same way. Google's rules forbid asking only the happy ones, and the FTC's guidance for businesses warns against it.
  • Ask soon after the job, with a direct link to your review page.
  • Never pay, discount or reward anyone for a review.
  • Ask each person once in a while, not after every visit.

On this page: Get your review link · When to ask · What to say · What not to do · Answer what you get · How Valeria One does it

Get your review link

In your Google Business Profile, choose “Ask for reviews” and copy the link. It opens the review box for your business directly, so the customer doesn't have to search for you.

When to ask

A few hours after the job or appointment is a good time: the experience is fresh and they're no longer busy with you. Asking weeks later rarely works.

What to say

Keep it personal and short: “Hi Ana, thank you for choosing us today. If you have a minute, a review helps a small business like ours a lot: [link]”.

What not to do

Don't screen customers first and send only the happy ones to Google (sometimes called review gating). Google's policy prohibits selectively asking for positive reviews, and the FTC's guidance for businesses says not to do it.

Don't offer discounts, gifts or entries in a draw for reviews. Google doesn't allow incentives, and the FTC's 2024 rule bans rewards tied to positive reviews. And never write reviews for yourself or ask staff and family to.

Answer what you get

Reply to reviews, especially the critical ones, calmly and briefly. Future customers read the replies too.

How Valeria One does it

Save your review link once. Then ask from a customer's page with one tap, or let it happen automatically two hours after each appointment. Everyone gets the same polite message, each person at most once every 90 days, and the link is counted so you see who clicked. Because a review request is marketing, it only goes to people who agreed to hear from you.

Questions

Can I ask only customers I think were happy?No. Ask everyone the same way; that is both the rule and the honest thing to do.
Is it OK to text the request?Yes, to customers who agreed to receive messages from you, at reasonable hours.

Google reviews → Take the free check-up

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