How to get more Google reviews for a trades business

The Review request after completion automation is off until an admin switches it on under Settings, Automations. Paste your link into the Review link field on its card. It must start with https://. Without a link saved, the message is skipped and the log shows "Not sent: missing company.review_url".

• When: 2 hours after a job is marked completed, between 09:00 and 19:00 in your company time zone, any day of the week. You can change the delay under Customize.
• Who: the customer on the job, by email. The automation only runs when the customer has an email on file. Text messages are possible only with your own Twilio account.
• How often: once per customer in any 90 days.
• The email carries an unsubscribe link, since it counts as follow-up mail.
• Default subject: How did we do, {{customer.first_name}}?

Use Preview and Send me a test to see it before it goes out. The automation sends to every customer whose job is completed and who has an email on file. That matters for the next section.

Keep it short, personal and honest. Two examples:

Subject: How did we do, {{customer.first_name}}?

Hi {{customer.first_name}},

Thanks for having {{job.tech_name}} out today. If you have a minute, an honest review on Google helps other people in town find a reliable tradesperson:

{{company.review_url}}

Thank you,
{{company.name}}

Hi Dana, it was good working on your water heater today. If you would like to leave a review, this is the link: [paste your link]. Honest feedback is welcome, good or bad. Thanks. Marcus at Ortega Plumbing

The second is a text you can send by hand from your own phone. CalSpark does not send texts without your own Twilio setup.

Google suggests replies that are professional, brief and personal, sent promptly. For a negative review, acknowledge what went wrong, apologize where it is fair, and offer to sort it out directly instead of arguing in public. Future customers read the replies as closely as the stars. Reply to the positive ones too, using the customer first name and the job.

For the rest of the follow-up, see overdue invoice follow-up and appointment reminders.