How Tradies Can Get More Google Reviews (Step-by-Step Guide)

Five Google reviews puts a tradie ahead of 90% of their local competitors. Twenty reviews and you're in the top tier. Reviews are the most valuable marketing asset a trade business can have — and most tradies don't have a system to get them. Here's your system.

Step 1: Set Up Your Google Business Profile

You can't get Google reviews without a Google Business Profile. If you don't have one, set it up now at business.google.com — it's free and takes 15 minutes. Make sure you:

• Choose the correct category (e.g. "Electrician", "Plumber", "Painter")
• Add your service area (the suburbs you cover)
• Upload at least 5 photos — before/after shots of jobs work brilliantly
• Add your phone number, website and business hours
• Write a description that mentions your trade and suburbs

A complete profile with photos ranks significantly higher in local Google search than a bare listing.

When and How to Ask for a Review

The best time to ask: the moment the job is done. The client is standing there, the work looks great, they're happy. That's when the feeling is strongest and asking is most natural.

What to say: "Really appreciate your business. Would you mind leaving us a Google review? It takes about 30 seconds and helps us out a lot." Then hand them your phone with the review form already open, or send them the link via text right then.

Most tradies who have a system for this get a review from about 1 in 3 jobs. That's 4–5 reviews a month for a busy sole trader — you'll hit 50 reviews in under a year.

Create Your Direct Review Link

Make it as easy as possible for clients to leave a review. Google gives you a direct link that opens straight to the review form — no searching for your business required.

To get it: go to your Google Business Profile dashboard, click "Get more reviews", and copy your review link. Save it to your phone's home screen, put it in your email signature, add it to your invoices, and send it via text after every job.

Some tradies print a small card with a QR code linking to the review form and hand it to clients at job completion. Works extremely well for residential clients.

How to Respond to Reviews

Respond to every review — positive and negative. For positive reviews: thank them by name, mention the specific job ("glad we could sort out your hot water system quickly"), and keep it genuine. This signals to Google that you're active and to potential clients that you care.

For negative reviews: respond calmly, acknowledge the concern without admitting fault, and offer to resolve it offline ("please call us on [number] and we'll make this right"). Never argue online. A professional response to a bad review often builds more trust than the review damages.