Get more reviews
Reputive automates review collection and AI responses.
Most customers will not leave a review on their own—not because they refuse, but because it never crosses their mind. Your job is to change that. Here are seven approaches that work.
1. Ask at the right moment
Timing is everything. The best time to ask is right after the completed service, ask everyone in the same way—not a week later when details have faded.
- Restaurants: at checkout
- E‑commerce: after delivery, once the customer has received the goods
- Services: right after the job is finished
Automated sequences (email + SMS) send the request at the right time without manual work.
2. Send a direct link to your Google review form
Do not make customers hunt for your profile. Create a direct link to the review form and send it by SMS or email. Fewer steps make it easier for the customer to write a review.
Google lets you create a direct review link for your Business Profile.
3. Use SMS
Email helps, but an SMS arrives straight on the phone, where the customer can write the review right away. Send it only to customers who gave consent, or if you meet the conditions of the customer exception (in the Czech Republic a review request can be considered a commercial communication; other countries have their own rules). For personal visits, SMS is a good channel, and email works well as a reminder.
A short, friendly message with a direct link is often all you need.
Automated review collection process
4. Automate the whole process
Manual requests do not scale long-term—you forget or run out of time. Automation means:
- Customers enter the system (manually, from a CSV, or through the API/Zapier)
- The system sends an SMS and up to three emails in a sequence
- When a review arrives and the author’s name matches the customer, further messages stop (with a nickname or another account the match fails)
- A 90‑day cooldown (the default setting) stops the same customer from receiving repeated requests
You set it up once and it takes the sending off you. Send only to customers who gave consent.
5. Reply to existing reviews
Often overlooked: replying to current reviews shows people that someone reads them. According to Google, replies show customers you value their feedback. Google does not say that replies directly improve ranking. Read how to respond professionally to negative reviews.
6. Ask in person
Tech is great, but a personal ask still works best. If you interact face to face—in a store, restaurant, or after a meeting—just ask:
“If you have a minute, a Google review would really help us. Tell us how it went. The link is on this card.”
Hand over the link and leave it to the customer whether and when they write the review. Do not push them to write on the spot. In a personal request, ask everyone the same way and do not rely on “if you were happy”.
7. Do not ignore bad experiences
Customers who had a poor experience may update their review if you fix the problem, but do not count on it and never ask them to change or delete it. When someone sees a sincere apology and a clear fix, the author of the review gets a notification about your reply and can edit the review.
The key is to respond quickly, professionally, and with empathy.
Bonus: measure and optimize
Without data you cannot improve. Track:
- Requests sent vs. reviews written (conversion rate)
- Which channel works better for your customers — SMS vs. email
- Which day and time work for you
In Reputive you see new reviews in the app, which helps you track whether reviews arrive every month.
Summary
Getting reviews is not luck—it is a system. Ask at the right time, remove friction, automate, and measure. With these seven steps you give every customer a chance to write a review. No specific number can be guaranteed.
Want to know why Google reviews are so critical? Or how AI can help with replies?
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