How do you get more Google reviews? Ask after every job (29 to 100 reviews)

Do Google reviews actually help a contractor rank?

Yes, and Google says so directly. Its Business Profile help page lists three local ranking factors: relevance, distance, and prominence. On prominence, it says: "More reviews and positive ratings can help your business's local ranking."

You can't change how far a homeowner is from your shop. You can change how many reviews you have. That makes reviews one of the few ranking levers a contractor fully controls.

Source: Google Business Profile Help, "Tips to improve your local ranking on Google" (support.google.com/business/answer/7091).

What changed for Chavez Tuckpointing?

On the same September 29 map scan, Chavez Tuckpointing ranked #1 on the Google map for tuckpointing and brick repair across their service area. Reviews aren't the only reason, but they're the piece that moved fastest.

Do customers really leave reviews when you ask?

Most of them do. In BrightLocal's Local Consumer Review Survey (1,117 US consumers, surveyed January 2023), 65% of consumers said they left reviews in response to requests from a business. The same survey found 98% of consumers at least occasionally read online reviews when researching local businesses.

So the customers are willing, and the next customer is reading. The only thing missing for most contractors is the ask.

Source: BrightLocal, Local Consumer Review Survey 2023.

Why don't customers leave reviews on their own?

Most contractors already ask. The customer says "sure, I'll do it," gets in the truck, and forgets. Then they'd have to search your business name, find the profile, and find the review button. Every one of those steps loses people.

What's the system that gets contractors more reviews?

• Ask every customer, every time. Asking everyone is what builds volume.
• Ask the same day. A text goes out right after the job is done, while the work is fresh.
• Make it one tap. The link opens your Google review box directly. No searching.
• Remind them a few times. Automatic reminders go out if they haven't left one. Cap it so nobody gets harassed. We stop at four.
• Answer every review. Thank the good ones, respond calmly to the bad ones. Future customers read your replies.
• Never pay for reviews or offer a discount for one. Google's policy bans incentives, and it can get reviews removed.

The whole thing runs on automation. After a job, the contractor enters the customer's first name and phone number, and the texts and reminders take it from there.

Why did the rating go up while the review count tripled?

When you only get reviews from people who go out of their way, you hear from the very happy and the very upset. When you ask every customer, the everyday satisfied customer finally shows up, and for a contractor doing good work, that's most of them. That's how a 4.7 becomes a 4.9 while adding 71 reviews.