Why reviews matter more than anything
When someone searches your trade in your town, Google shows them a list. The listings with more — and better — reviews get the calls. It's that simple. A guy with 60 reviews beats a guy with 6, even if the guy with 6 does better work.
Reviews are the closest thing to word-of-mouth that works at scale. Your neighbor telling someone you're good is one job. Sixty strangers saying it online is every job.
Why trades hate asking
You finish a job, you shake hands, you leave. Asking for a review feels like begging. It feels pushy. So most trades don't ask — and then wonder why the guy with worse work has more reviews.
He asks. That's the whole difference.
How to ask without being weird
- Ask right after the job. Not a week later. The customer is happiest the day you finish. That's when you ask.
- Make it one step. Don't tell them to "leave a review on Google." Send them a link that opens the review box directly. One tap, they're writing.
- Text it. "Hey, glad the job went well — if you've got a minute, a quick review here really helps us: [link]." That's it. No pressure, no script.
- Mention what to say. "If you can mention the patio and the crew, that helps." Specific reviews help you more than "great job."
- Ask the happy ones. You know which customers loved the work. Ask them. Don't chase the one guy who was never going to be happy.
What not to do
- Don't buy reviews. Google catches it, pulls the listing, and you're worse off than before.
- Don't review yourself. Same thing.
- Don't ignore the bad ones. Reply — calmly, with the facts. Other people read how you handle a bad review.
The truck-side takeaway
The guy with more reviews gets more calls. He's not better than you. He just asks. So ask.