The Best Time to Ask a Customer for a Google Review

A customer texts you at 7pm: “Thanks so much, the new deck looks amazing.” You send back a thumbs up and go back to dinner.

If you’re trying to get Google reviews, that text was the best opening you’ll have all week. The best time to ask is the same day the customer sees the finished result. Ask in person at handover, send the link within the hour, and follow up once about a week later.

We send review requests for Australian businesses at BuyReviews, and timing is the first thing we fix. Here’s how to get it right.

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

At the moment the customer has what they paid for and is pleased with it. That’s usually the handover: the car is returned, the tap is fixed, the haircut is finished.

Ask out loud before you part ways. “Would you mind leaving us a Google review? Can I text you the link?” Then send it while they’re still admiring the result.

In our experience, a request on the day beats a better-worded request a week later, every time.

What happens if you ask too early?

The customer has nothing to review. Asking before the job is finished, or at the quote stage, puts them in an awkward spot.

It can also read as pressure. A customer who feels pushed before they’ve seen the outcome is less likely to help you afterwards. Wait until the result is in front of them.

What happens if you ask too late?

You lose the detail. A review written three weeks on tends to say “good service”, because the specifics have gone.

You also lose the urgency. Once the customer’s problem is solved, your business drops out of their mind. We see this most with owners who batch their requests into one monthly email. It feels efficient, but far fewer customers respond.

Which moments are worth watching for?

Handover is the main one, and you should ask every customer then. A few other moments are worth catching when they come up.

A thank-you message is the clearest. When a customer emails or texts their thanks, reply with your review link straight away. They’ve already found the words.

A repeat booking is another. Someone who comes back is telling you they’re satisfied, so mention the review when you confirm the appointment.

A referral is the third. If a new customer says “Sarah sent me”, thank Sarah and ask if she’d put it in a review.

One caution here. These moments are extras, not a filter. Ask everyone at handover, including quiet customers and the ones who had a complaint. The ACCC says hiding negative feedback can mislead consumers, and Google says a mix of positive and negative reviews often feels more trustworthy.

Does the time of day matter?

Less than the day itself, but a little. Send the link during normal waking hours, as close to the job as you can.

If you finish at 4pm, send it by 5pm. If you finish at 9pm, send it the next morning around the time people check their phones. Late-night messages feel intrusive and get buried by morning.

How long should you wait before a reminder?

About a week, and send only one. That’s long enough to be polite and short enough that the job is still fresh.

Keep the reminder to two lines with the link. If a customer asks you to stop messaging them, the ACMA says you must act on that within 5 working days.

What about customers who had a problem?

Fix the problem first. Don’t ask while a complaint is open, and don’t use a review request as a way to check how upset they are.

Once it’s sorted and they’re satisfied, ask the same way you’d ask anyone, with nothing offered in return. Google bans rewards for reviews. In our experience, a customer whose problem was handled well often writes the most convincing review on the profile.

If they do leave a critical review, reply. When you respond to negative Google reviews within a day and own the issue, future customers see how you deal with trouble.

How do you make sure the moment isn’t missed?

Good timing depends on having everything ready before the moment arrives.

1. On a computer, sign in to the Google account that manages your Business Profile and search your business name.
2. Select Read reviews, then Get more reviews, then Copy. Google supplies the link, so you don’t need a Google review link generator.
3. Save a text message on your phone with the link already in it.
4. Keep a short review request email template as a draft for customers who prefer email.
5. Add “ask for review” as the final step on your job sheet or checkout routine.
6. Ask in person at handover and get a yes.
7. Send the link within the hour.
8. Once a week, send reminders and reply to new reviews.

The spoken ask in step 6 matters for another reason. Australia’s spam rules require consent before you send commercial messages, and a yes in person gives you that.

If a review appears from someone who was never a customer, select the three dots and Report review. That’s the proper way to remove fake Google reviews.

When the routine keeps slipping, BuyReviews can run it for you. You share your customer list, and we send the requests and reminders on schedule. It’s how we help clients get Google reviews at the right moment and improve Google reviews through the year. Timing is the simplest answer to how to get more Google reviews, and it sits at the centre of online reputation management in Australia.

Frequently asked questions

How soon after a job should I ask for a Google review?

The same day, ideally within an hour of finishing. Ask in person at handover, then send the Google review link while the customer is still looking at the result. In our experience, every day you wait lowers the chance they’ll do it, and after a week most customers have moved on.

Can I ask for a review when a customer thanks me by text?

Yes, and it’s one of the best moments you’ll get. Thank them, then ask: ‘Would you mind sharing that in a Google review? Here’s the link.’ Their own words are already written, so the review takes them seconds. Still ask your other customers too, not only the ones who send thanks.

Should I ask in person or by message?

Both, in that order. Ask in person first, because a customer who says yes to your face is more likely to follow through. Then send the link by text or email within the hour, so they don’t have to search for your business. The spoken ask also gives you their consent to message them.

What if the customer says they’ll do it later?

Take it as a yes and send the link straight away, so it’s waiting on their phone when they have a minute. Then send one polite reminder about a week later. In our experience, most people who say ‘later’ mean it and simply forget. If the reminder gets no response, let it go.

Should I ask a customer who had a complaint?

Yes, once the problem is fixed. Sort it out first and check they’re satisfied. Then ask the same way you’d ask anyone, with no reward attached. Skipping unhappy customers gives a false picture of your business. In our experience, customers whose problem was handled well often write the most convincing reviews.

What should you do next?

Save your review link in a ready-to-send text today. The next time a customer thanks you, send it before you put the phone down.

If you’d like every request sent at the right moment without thinking about it, share your customer list with BuyReviews and we’ll help you get Google reviews on time, every time.