4 Easy Ways to Get More Reviews for Your Home Service Company
You’ve been there before—a job well done, a happy client smiling ear to ear, and heartfelt thanks as you wrap up the work. But what’s missing? The glowing, five-star review to prove your excellence to future customers. Despite providing exceptional service, many home service businesses struggle to turn satisfied clients into reviewers.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and the good news is, getting more reviews doesn’t mean begging for them or navigating uncomfortable conversations. Reviews are crucial for home service companies because they influence local search rankings, act as digital "word-of-mouth," and quickly establish trust with potential customers.
This blog explores four simple and effective strategies to effortlessly grow your online reviews—whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started.
1. Use Character References to Bury Bad Reviews
Bad reviews happen, even to the best of us, but they don’t have to define your business. One great way to counter a negative review, especially as a newer business, is by asking for character references. These are testimonials from contacts who know your work ethic, reliability, or professionalism—even if they haven’t been direct customers.
Why Character References Work
Say you’ve recently received an unfair one-star review. It can feel damaging, but by collecting positive reviews from acquaintances who can vouch for your business’s integrity, you can balance the narrative. Think colleagues in networking groups, industry peers, or even family and friends familiar with your dedication.
How to Do It
Sending a simple, polite request is all it takes. Here’s a quick example:
“Hey [Name], I recently received some unfounded criticism on my Google reviews. If you’ve seen the way I work and the effort I put into my business, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a character testimonial to balance things out. Here’s my review link [insert link]. Thanks so much for your support!”
Don’t know how to generate a review link? Follow Google’s handy guide to create one in seconds.
Remember, this strategy is totally legitimate as long as the people writing reviews are being honest and transparent about their experiences with you or your business.
2. Automate the Ask
Automation is a game-changer when it comes to collecting reviews. Why? Because asking for reviews manually takes time—and it’s easy to forget. By leveraging automation tools, you can set up consistent, timely requests without lifting a finger.
Why Automation Matters
Automation saves time, eliminates human error, and ensures every customer gets the opportunity to leave a review. Plus, it’s not something you need to fear. Even if a negative review comes through, it’s an opportunity to learn and improve.
“You can’t be scared of them leaving you a bad review. It’s an opportunity for your business to get better.” — Avram Gonzales, Founder of Digital Harvest
Recommended Tools to Try
Platforms like BirdEye and BrightLocal are designed to make collecting feedback seamless. These tools send automated review requests via text or email once a job is marked complete, ensuring you engage customers during the prime window when they’re happiest with your service.
For best results:
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- Trigger requests immediately after service completion or payment.
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- Pair automation with a personal touch by telling clients, “You’ll receive a quick link to leave a review—we’d appreciate your feedback!” This human connection can dramatically increase response rates.
3. Train Your Team to Ask
Automation is great, but nothing beats the power of a personal ask. Here’s the catch—your team won’t ask for reviews unless it’s built into your company’s processes and culture. This means creating a system and training team members on how and when to request reviews.
Create a Review Culture
Make asking for reviews an everyday part of how your team operates. Encourage technicians, office staff, and even business owners to seize every opportunity to secure feedback. Here’s how to get started:
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- Provide a Script: Equip your team with simple phrases they can use. Example: “If you’re happy with our service, would you mind leaving us a quick review on Google? We’d really appreciate it—it helps us grow!”
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- Use QR Codes: Add QR codes to business cards, invoices, or job sheets. Customers can quickly scan the code to leave a review.
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- Make it Visual: Place stickers on trucks or service vans reminding customers to leave reviews.
Quick Do’s and Don’ts
| Do | Don’t |
| Ask immediately after the job is completed. | Make a review feel mandatory or forceful. |
| Be polite and express gratitude for their time. | Spam customers with repeated review requests. |
| Make the review process simple and easy to follow. | Overcomplicate the review submission process. |
| Provide a clear reason why their feedback matters. | Ignore or dismiss the feedback they provide. |
The key? Keep it natural and polite. A quick smile, an ask, and an easy link to follow go a long way.
4. Follow Up with a Quality Check
If there’s a golden opportunity most home service businesses miss, it’s the follow-up call or text. Checking in to ensure everything went smoothly shows customers you care about their satisfaction. Better yet, it opens the door to asking for a review.
The Art of the Follow-Up
When you follow up, make it about the client, not your business. Ask simple but open-ended questions like:
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- “How did we do?”
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- “Is there anything we could’ve done better?”
If they respond with glowing feedback, that’s your moment! Here’s an example of how to ask:
“I’m so glad you’re happy with the service! If you wouldn’t mind sharing those kind words as a review, it would mean a lot to us and to our future customers. Here’s a quick link to make it easy [insert link]. Thank you!”
Bonus for Recurring Services
Recurring services like HVAC maintenance or pest control allow for regular touchpoints. Use these opportunities to check in, confirm upcoming visits, and gently remind customers how helpful their reviews are to your business.
The key is to make the ask feel like a natural part of your conversation, not a hard sell. With this approach, you’ll see huge improvements in your conversion rate from happy customer to five-star reviewer.
Want More Customers? Build Your Reputation, One Review at a Time
Growing your reviews doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here’s a quick recap of the four easy strategies we’ve shared:
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- Bury bad reviews with character references.
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- Leverage automation to streamline the process.
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- Establish a review culture with clear processes.
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- Follow up with genuine quality checks.
You don’t have to master all of these methods at once—start with one, and evolve your approach from there. The key is consistency.
Need help building your Google presence or managing your online reputation? Digital Harvest specializes in helping home service companies grow their business with modern, effective tools. Explore more tips and resources on our YouTube channel or connect with Avram on LinkedIn today. Your five-star reputation starts here.