If you have ever typed "google review request text message templates" into a search bar five minutes before texting a customer, you are in good company. Asking for a review feels awkward for almost every business owner, and that awkwardness is exactly why most requests never get sent. The fix is simple: stop writing each request from scratch and start with a template you can personalize in ten seconds.
Below you will find copy-and-paste templates for text, email, and in-person asks, plus the timing advice that makes the difference between a request that gets ignored and one that turns into a five-star review. Reviews are one of the strongest signals in local SEO, so getting this one habit right pays off every single week.
Why text messages beat every other review request
Text messages get opened. Emails sit in inboxes, printed cards get left in trucks, and verbal asks get forgotten by the time the customer gets home. A text lands in the one app people check constantly, and the review link is one tap away.
Texts also feel personal without being pushy. A short message from a real person, sent shortly after a job well done, reads as a natural follow-up rather than a marketing blast. That matters, because the biggest obstacle to getting reviews is not customers saying no. It is customers who fully intend to leave a review and simply never get around to it. A text with a direct link removes every step between good intentions and a published review.
One thing before you send anything: make sure your Google Business Profile is set up and claimed, and grab your short review link from the profile dashboard. Every template below assumes you have that link ready to paste.
Google review request text message templates
Personalize the bracketed parts, keep the rest, and send. Each of these is under 300 characters, so it fits in a normal text without getting split.
Template 1: The classic follow-up
Hi [First name], it's [Your name] from [Business]. Thanks for letting us [service you provided] today. If you were happy with how it went, a quick Google review would mean a lot to us: [link]
Template 2: The personal ask from the owner
Hi [First name], this is [Your name], owner of [Business]. I saw [Tech's name] finished up at your place today. If everything looks great, would you mind sharing a quick review? It really helps a small business like ours: [link]
Template 3: The two-part check-in
First text: Hi [First name], just checking in. Is everything with [the repair/the cleaning/your new install] working the way you hoped?
Then, after they reply positively: So glad to hear it! If you have 60 seconds, a Google review would make our week: [link]
The two-part version works well because you only send the review link to people who have already told you they are happy. It also opens a conversation with anyone who is not happy, which lets you fix the problem before it becomes a public one-star review. If you want more on that side of things, see our guide to responding to Google reviews, good and bad.
Template 4: The repeat customer
Hi [First name], thanks for trusting us again with [service]. You've been with us a while now, and if you'd be willing to share your experience on Google, it would help other folks find us: [link]
Template 5: The gentle reminder
Hi [First name], no pressure at all, just wanted to resend that review link in case last week got busy: [link] Thanks again for choosing [Business]!
Send this one exactly once, about five to seven days after the first request. One reminder is helpful. Two is nagging.
When to send the request
Timing matters as much as wording. The goal is to reach the customer while the good feeling is fresh but the moment is not rushed.
| Business type | Best time to text | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Home services (plumbing, HVAC, electrical) | 2 to 4 hours after the job | The problem is fixed and the relief is fresh |
| Salons, barbers, spas | Same evening | They have seen the result and gotten compliments |
| Restaurants and cafes | Next morning | The meal is a pleasant memory, not an interruption |
| Contractors and remodels | 1 to 2 days after final walkthrough | They have lived with the finished work briefly |
| Retail and ecommerce | 2 to 3 days after delivery | They have actually used the product |
Tip: Send review requests between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. A review link that arrives at 9 p.m. gets seen, mentally filed under "later," and forgotten. Mid-morning and early evening are when people have a spare minute to actually tap through.
What makes these templates work
Every template above follows the same four rules. Keep them in mind if you write your own versions.
- Use their name and yours. "Hi Sarah, it's Mike from Ridgeline Plumbing" feels human. "Dear valued customer" feels automated and gets deleted.
- Mention the specific job. Referencing the water heater or the fall cleanup proves this is a real message about their real experience.
- Make one clear ask with one link. No survey, no "follow us on three platforms." One tap, one review.
- Keep it under four sentences. Long messages read like scripts. Short ones read like a person.
Notice what is missing: incentives. Never offer discounts or gifts in exchange for reviews. It violates Google's policies and can get reviews removed or your profile penalized. If you have ever wondered why Google reviews disappear, incentivized reviews are one of the common culprits. If the whole idea of asking still makes you cringe, our guide on how to ask for Google reviews without being pushy digs deeper into the mindset side.
Build a simple system so it actually happens
Templates only work if you use them consistently. The businesses with hundreds of reviews are not lucky. They just ask every time. Here is a system you can run without any special software:
- Save your review link as a text shortcut or keyboard replacement on your phone.
- Save two templates in your notes app: the first ask and the reminder.
- Pick a trigger moment, like closing out an invoice or marking a job complete, and attach the text to it.
- Once a week, scan the last week's completed jobs and send the reminder to anyone who has not reviewed yet.
That is the whole system. Ten minutes a week, compounding forever. A steady stream of recent reviews is also one of the biggest factors in landing in the Google Map Pack, where local customers actually make their decisions. And once the reviews come in, feature the best ones on your website too. Real customer words are some of the most persuasive copy you can publish, which we cover in how to build trust on your website.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to text customers asking for a Google review?
Yes, as long as you have an existing business relationship and the customer gave you their number in the course of doing business. A one-to-one text following up on a completed job is a normal business communication. Avoid mass automated blasts to purchased lists, honor any opt-out request immediately, and you are on solid ground. When in doubt about bulk messaging rules, ask a local attorney about TCPA compliance.
Can I ask customers to leave a five-star review specifically?
No. Ask for an honest review, not a specific rating. Google prohibits review gating (only asking happy customers through filtering software) and soliciting specific star ratings. The two-part check-in template above is fine because you are having a genuine conversation, not running customers through a filter tool. Honest asks produce reviews that sound authentic, and authentic reviews are what convince future customers anyway.
How many review requests should I send per week?
Ask every customer, every time. There is no weekly limit that matters on your end, because each customer only receives one request and at most one reminder. What you should not do is ask the same customer repeatedly or run bursts of requests to old customers all at once, since a sudden spike of reviews after months of silence can look unnatural. Steady and consistent beats occasional and intense.