When is the best time to ask a client for a Google review?

Within 24 hours of job completion. That is when the work is freshest and the client is most satisfied. Waiting longer, even a few days, significantly reduces the chance they will follow through.

Why do SMS review requests work better than email?

SMS converts at 12 to 15 percent versus 3 to 4 percent for email, according to 2026 benchmarks. Texts get read within minutes; email sits unopened for hours. For review requests, the channel matters as much as the message.

How many follow-ups should I send?

One follow-up, 7 days after the first message. Clients who are going to leave a review almost always do it within the first week. Sending more messages after that point annoys people without improving results.

Does a higher Google rating actually affect revenue?

Yes. Research cited by Referrizer found that a one-star increase can boost revenue 5 to 9 percent. The jump from 3 stars to 4 stars is the most impactful; that is where potential clients go from skeptical to willing to call.

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The Lazy Way Canadian Contractors Are Doubling Their Google Reviews

RelancoApril 24, 20263 min read

Most contractors already text their customers after a job. Something like "thanks for having us, let us know if there are any issues." It works. The client replies, the relationship stays warm.

The problem is nobody does it consistently. You finish a big plumbing job on a Friday, pack up the truck, and by Monday the job is three invoices ago. The text never gets sent. The client moves on. Three months later you notice you have 11 Google reviews and one of them is from a customer you don't even recognize.

Getting more Google reviews is not about asking better. It is about asking every time, at the right moment, without relying on yourself to remember.

Why SMS beats email for review requests

Email gets buried. Text messages get read.

According to the 2026 SMS Marketing Benchmarks Report, SMS review requests convert at 12–15%. Email review requests average 3–4%. That is roughly four times the response rate from a channel most contractors already use daily.

82% of people read a text within 5 minutes of receiving it. For email, the average is closer to 90 minutes, assuming it does not land in promotions.

The window matters more than the message

Ask within 24 hours of job completion. That is when the work is fresh, the client is satisfied, and they have not yet moved on to the next thing on their list.

A study cited by Referrizer found that a one-star increase on Google can boost revenue by 5–9%. The jump from 3 stars to 4 stars is the most impactful. That is the threshold where customers go from skeptical to willing to call.

Send a nudge if there is no response after 7 days. One follow-up. That is all. Clients who are going to leave a review usually do it within the first week; after two nudges, more messages just annoy people.

What the request should say

Keep it short. The client knows who you are. They know the job was just done. You do not need to explain anything.

"Hi [Name], thanks again for having us out. If you have a minute, a Google review really helps: [link]. Appreciate it."

No paragraph. No "we value your feedback." Just a direct ask with a direct link.

The harder problem: remembering to send it

Canadian contractors stall here. It's not that they don't want reviews, or that clients won't leave them. It's that after the fifth job of the day, nobody is opening a spreadsheet to send review requests manually.

ReviewPing handles this automatically. When your client pays, ReviewPing sends the first message. If there is no response after 7 days, it sends one follow-up. You do not configure anything per job. You set it up once and it runs on its own.

The result is that every client gets asked, on time, every time, not just the ones you remembered to follow up with on a slow Tuesday.

ReviewPing is built for Canadian contractors. No complicated setup, no monthly minimum. Works whether you use QuickBooks, FreshBooks, or invoice manually.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to ask a client for a Google review?: Within 24 hours of job completion. That is when the work is freshest and the client is most satisfied. Waiting longer, even a few days, significantly reduces the chance they will follow through.
Why do SMS review requests work better than email?: SMS converts at 12 to 15 percent versus 3 to 4 percent for email, according to 2026 benchmarks. Texts get read within minutes; email sits unopened for hours. For review requests, the channel matters as much as the message.
How many follow-ups should I send?: One follow-up, 7 days after the first message. Clients who are going to leave a review almost always do it within the first week. Sending more messages after that point annoys people without improving results.
Does a higher Google rating actually affect revenue?: Yes. Research cited by Referrizer found that a one-star increase can boost revenue 5 to 9 percent. The jump from 3 stars to 4 stars is the most impactful; that is where potential clients go from skeptical to willing to call.

Contractors who build up Google reviews are not better at asking. They just ask every time. ReviewPing handles that part.

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