How do I ask clients for Google reviews?
Updated
Ask for a Google review within a day of finishing the job, by text, with a direct link to your Google Business Profile review form — not a link to your homepage. Keep the message short, thank the client by name, and send the same ask to every completed appointment. Never filter out unhappy visits first — that violates Google’s review policies for detailing, lash, and med-spa businesses alike.
Ask right after the job, while it’s fresh
Response rates drop fast once a client leaves. Send the review request the same day, or the next morning at the latest, while the finished detail, the new lash set, or the med-spa result is still the thing they’re thinking about. Waiting a week to “batch” your review asks means most clients have moved on and simply won’t open the text.
Text a direct link — don’t just say “please review us”
A generic “thanks for coming in, we’d appreciate a review” message sends people to search for you, and most give up before they find the review form. Pull the direct short link from your Google Business Profile (Profile → Ask for reviews → share link) and paste that exact link into the text, so the review form opens in one tap.
| Vertical | Example text | Send timing |
|---|---|---|
| Auto detailing | “Hey [name], thanks for booking with us today! If the detail turned out great, a quick Google review helps us a ton: [link]” | Same evening, once the vehicle is picked up |
| Lash artists | “Hi [name], hope you’re loving the new set! A short Google review would mean a lot: [link]” | Same day, after the appointment |
| Med spa | “Hi [name], thank you for coming in today. If you have a minute, a Google review helps other clients find us: [link]” | Same day or next morning |
Never gate reviews — and automate the ask if you can
“Gating” means routing happy clients to Google and quietly steering anyone unsatisfied to a private feedback form instead. Google’s guidelines explicitly prohibit selectively soliciting reviews based on how the visit went, and a listing built on gated reviews can be suspended. Ask every completed appointment the same way, every time — a mixed, honest set of reviews reads as more credible to future clients anyway.
Remembering to send this text after every single job is where most owners fall off after a busy week. Rebiza’s retention engine can trigger the review request automatically the moment an appointment is marked complete, using the same quiet-hours and consent rules as every other text it sends — so the ask goes out consistently without you having to remember it between jobs.
Check consent before you text anyone
A review request is still a text message, and the TCPA treats it like any other outbound SMS: you need the client’s prior consent to text them, you can’t send it during quiet hours, and a STOP reply has to be honored immediately, permanently, for that client. If someone never opted in to texts — say, they only ever called or walked in — ask for the review by email or in person instead of adding them to a texting list without consent.
Frequently asked questions
Is it against Google’s policies to only ask happy clients for reviews?
Yes. Google calls this review gating and prohibits selectively soliciting or filtering reviews based on how a client’s visit went. Ask every completed appointment the same way and let the reviews land where they land.
What’s the best time to send a review request text?
Same day, or the next morning at the latest, while the finished detail, lash set, or treatment is still fresh in the client’s mind. Waiting even a few days measurably lowers how many people respond.
Do I need consent to text a review request?
Yes. Under the TCPA, a review-request text needs the same prior consent, quiet-hours limits, and STOP handling as any other outbound text. Without consent on file, ask by email or in person instead.
Can I offer a discount in exchange for a Google review?
Google’s guidelines prohibit offering money, discounts, or other incentives specifically in exchange for writing a review, even a positive one. A simple, unconditional thank-you and a direct link performs better and keeps your listing safe.