Reviews are the strongest thing you can do for your local ranking and the first thing a homeowner judges you on. Most contractors collect them by luck, which is why a review gap is the most common and most fixable problem in local marketing. Beyond asking on each new job, there are several channels for gathering reviews, plus a back catalog of past customers most contractors forget. Here is the full toolkit.
Start with the customers you already have
Before you change anything going forward, mine your past. Pull your list of happy customers from the last year or two and reach out personally: "Hi [name], we are trying to grow and your feedback would really help. If you were happy with the work, would you mind leaving a quick Google review? Here is the link." A single push to 30 or 40 past customers can add a dozen reviews in a week and jump your count immediately. This is the fastest one time win available to you.
The channels that work, ranked
Text message
Text is the highest converting channel by a wide margin, because it gets opened and it is effortless to tap. A short message with a direct link to your Google review page should be your default. Lead with this.
Email works as a backup, especially for commercial clients or anyone you do not have a cell number for. It converts lower than text, so use it as a second option rather than your main one.
In person plus a QR code
Ask face to face when the job is done, then make it easy on the spot. A QR code on your invoice, a thank you card, or a small sign that opens straight to your review page lets a customer leave a review while they are still standing in their new space. Pairing the verbal ask with an instant link converts best of all.
Printed leave behinds
A thank you card or a magnet with a QR code, left at the end of every job, keeps working after you drive away. It will not match text for response rate, but it costs almost nothing and catches the customers who meant to and forgot.
Make it effortless every time
Generate your free short review link inside your Google Business Profile and use it everywhere: texts, emails, cards, QR codes. Every extra step between the customer and the review form loses people, so the whole game is removing steps. One tap from message to finished review is the target.
What not to do
Do not buy reviews, do not write fake ones, and do not offer discounts or gifts in exchange for a review. All of it violates Google's policies and can get your reviews wiped or your profile penalized. Also avoid gating, the practice of only sending the review link to customers you are sure are happy while steering unhappy ones elsewhere. Google prohibits it. Ask everyone the same way and let honest reviews accumulate.
Then make it a system
The past customer push is a one time spike. The lasting growth comes from a request that fires on every new job, ideally automated, so it never depends on memory. Reply to every review as it lands, thank the positives, answer any negative calmly, and the count keeps climbing. Do this consistently and you will out review your whole town in a season, with your map ranking climbing right alongside it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get reviews from past customers?
Pull your list of happy customers from the last year or two and reach out personally by text or email with a direct link to your Google review page. A short, friendly ask explaining that it really helps your small business works well. A single push to 30 or 40 past customers can add a dozen reviews within a week.
What is the best channel for asking for reviews?
Text message, by a wide margin. It gets opened far more than email and makes leaving a review effortless when paired with a direct link. Use email as a backup for clients you have no cell number for, and add a QR code on invoices or cards to capture in person asks on the spot.
Is it against the rules to offer an incentive for reviews?
Yes. Offering discounts, gift cards, or any reward in exchange for reviews violates Google's policies and can get the reviews removed or your profile penalized. The same goes for buying reviews or writing fake ones. Keep it clean by asking everyone the same way and letting genuine feedback build up.
What is review gating and why should I avoid it?
Gating is screening customers first and only sending the review link to the ones you expect to be positive, while steering unhappy customers to a private channel. Google prohibits it and can penalize profiles that do it. Ask every customer the same way; a few mixed reviews answered well actually build more trust than a suspiciously perfect record.