How to ask for a Google review (with messages you can copy)

The short answer

To ask for a Google review, send each customer your Google review link soon after the job. Use a short, personal message asking for an honest review. Don’t mention stars, offer anything in return or tell them what to write: Google removes reviews collected that way.

Here’s a request that does all of that, in five parts.

• 1. Their nameIt reads as a message from you, not a mass text.
• 2. Thanks for the specific jobIt reminds them which visit you mean, while it’s fresh.
• 3. Ask for an honest reviewNo stars, nothing in return and nothing about what to write.
• 4. The linkIt opens the review box, so leaving a review takes one tap.
• 5. A reason and your namePeople are more willing to help a person than a company.

Why asking works

Most happy customers never think to leave a review until someone asks. In BrightLocal’s 2026 survey of 1,002 US adults:

So the businesses with the most reviews aren’t luckier. They ask more people, more consistently, and make it easy. For how many you need to catch the top three in your area, see our guide on how to get more Google reviews.

Get your review link and QR code

Your Google review link opens the review box for your business directly. Get it from your Business Profile: sign in at business.google.com, select Read reviews, then Get more reviews, and copy the link. The QR code is in the same place, on a computer only.

1. Sign in on a computer at business.google.com, with the Google account that manages your profile.

2. Select Read reviews, then Get more reviews. Google shows your review link and a QR code (Google’s steps).

3. Copy the link, and right-click the QR code to save it as an image. Google only makes the QR code on a computer, not on a phone.

4. Keep both where you’ll use them. Save the link as a text shortcut on your phone and in your email signature. Send the QR code to whoever prints your invoices, cards and van signs.

Customers need to be signed in to a Google Account to leave a review. But Google says they can create one with any email address, not just Gmail. No profile yet? Start with our guide to getting your business on Google Maps.

Where to share your link

Put it wherever a customer already is at the end of the job. Google itself suggests receipts, thank-you emails, the end of a chat and a printed QR code in your shop.

When to ask

As soon as the customer has seen the result, while it’s fresh. The longer you wait, the fewer people do it.

Messages you can copy

Short, friendly and inside Google’s rules: no star ratings, nothing offered in return, and nothing about what to write. Swap in your own details.

For any business

Hi [first name], thanks again for having us out today. If you have a minute, we'd really appreciate an honest review on Google: [your review link]. It helps other people nearby find us. [Your name], [business name]

Subject: How did we do?

Hi [first name],

Thanks for choosing [business name]. If you have two minutes, would you leave us an honest review on Google? It goes straight to the review box: [your review link]

Every review helps other people decide, and we read all of them.

Thanks,
[Your name]

Would you mind leaving us a review on Google? I'll text you the link now so it's there when you have a minute.

Hi [first name], just a quick reminder in case it slipped your mind. Here's the link if you'd like to leave a review: [your review link]. No worries at all if not. [Your name]

Tell us how we did. Scan to leave a Google review.

By type of business

Hi [first name], thanks for coming in to see us today. If you have a minute, we'd appreciate an honest review on Google: [your review link]. [Practice name]

Subject: Thank you, and one small request

Hi [first name],

Now that [your sale has closed / your return is filed], thank you for trusting us with it. If you have a couple of minutes, an honest review on Google would mean a lot: [your review link]

Kind regards,
[Your name]

Hi [first name], it's [your name] from [business name]. We've been cleaning for you for [three months] now, so we'd love to hear how we're doing. If you have a minute, here's our Google review link: [your review link]. Thanks!

Thanks for visiting [business name] today, [first name]. If you've a minute, we'd love an honest review on Google: [your review link]

Clinics: keep the request general. Never mention a treatment or condition in the message, and never confirm in public that someone is a patient.

Check your own message

Already have a message, or one from your booking software? Paste it in to check it against Google’s rules and Irish data protection rules. The example below is full of the usual mistakes.

What not to say

Each of these turns up in popular review templates online, and each breaks Google’s review policy or Irish rules.

Texting and emailing customers: the Irish rules

In Ireland, a message that only asks for feedback isn’t direct marketing, according to the Data Protection Commission. Add an offer or a promotion, and it becomes marketing, which needs the customer’s consent and a way to opt out.

The DPC looked at a complaint about an airline email asking a passenger for feedback on a recent trip. The email had no unsubscribe link, but it had no marketing in it either, so the DPC found it wasn’t direct marketing. Marketing by text and email is covered by the ePrivacy Regulations (S.I. 336/2011), and those do need consent.

• Keep the request plainThanks, the ask and the link. No offers, no “book again” and no newsletter sign-up.
• Ask people you’ve servedUse the number or email they gave you for the job. Never buy a list or message strangers.
• Send offers separatelyOnly to customers who agreed to marketing, with an easy way to opt out.

This is general information, not legal advice. If you’re unsure about your own messages, ask a solicitor or check the DPC’s guidance.

Make it a habit, not a campaign

The businesses with the most reviews didn’t run one big push. They ask every customer, every time, as part of finishing the job. Here’s the whole routine.

1. The day of the job

   Send the link. Before you leave, or the same day, while the result is fresh.

2. A few days later

   One reminder, if they haven’t left one. After that, leave it. Some people won’t, and that’s fine.

3. When it arrives

   Reply to it, good or bad. Our guide to replying to a bad Google review covers the hard ones.

4. Every job

   Repeat. Put “send review link” on your end-of-job checklist, or let your booking or invoicing software send it.

Two things to avoid along the way. Don’t give staff a target number of reviews, because Google’s policy bans review quotas. And check that your review software doesn’t ask customers how happy they are first and only send the happy ones to Google. That’s a “review funnel”, and our Google reviews guide explains why it gets reviews removed.

When to get help

Every SEO plan on our pricing page includes a review system. You get your review link, a QR code, request messages that follow Google’s rules, and a reply to every review. It’s also part of our Google Business Profile management. If you only want the link, QR code and messages set up, they come with our Google profile fix-up. That’s a one-off €149 plus VAT.

Questions people ask

Something else on your mind? Email info@leadsireland.com.