How to Ask Customers for Reviews: Free Process Planner
How to ask customers for reviews: plan when to ask, who asks and what the request says, with no rewards or pressure. Free planner for local businesses.
How to ask customers for reviews is mostly a question of process: when you ask, who asks, how you ask and what the request says. A fair process asks everyone the same way, with no rewards and no pressure.
This free Review Request Process Planner from LiveFixPro is made for local businesses. It turns your choices into a written process, with request wording you can edit, a rule for replying to reviews and a short list of things to fix before you start.
It runs in your browser, and nothing you enter is uploaded or stored. It's not legal advice. Do not enter customer information.
What the planner asks for
Business name and who owns this process (a role).
When you ask. After a job is completed, after the final invoice is sent, or at a routine follow-up check-in.
How you ask. Email, a link or QR code on a printed card, a link on the invoice or receipt, or mentioned in person with the link available. There are no text messages in this plan.
Who replies to reviews (a role) and how many days you aim to take. Your own target.
Rules you confirm. Five statements, each of which you tick if it's true for your business:
We ask every customer the same way, whatever their experience.
We offer no payment, discount or free goods or services for a review.
We do not ask for a star rating or specific wording.
We set no review targets or quotas for staff.
We never pressure anyone to review on the spot.
What you get back
A review request process with:
When we ask and how we ask, plus a reminder to use your Google review link and ask every customer the same way.
Request wording you can edit to sound like you.
Reminders. At most one gentle reminder, by email only, and only if the customer hasn't replied.
Replying to reviews. Who replies, how quickly you aim to, politely and without sharing customer details.
Rules we follow, the ones you ticked.
Fix before launch. A to-do item for each rule you didn't tick, such as changing the process so you offer no rewards.
Copy it, download it as a .txt file or print it.
What Google's policy page says
The planner summarizes Google Maps' "Prohibited and restricted content" policy, and links to it. According to the tool, that page says businesses may ask for genuine experiences, but may not offer incentives, selectively solicit positive reviews, pressure people to review while on the premises, or request specific content. It lists discounts, payment and free goods or services in exchange for a review as not allowed. Read the page yourself, because Google can change it.
Tips for a fair process
Ask everyone, not just the customers who seem happy.
Keep the request simple. A thank-you and a link is enough.
Don't offer anything in return, and don't ask for a particular rating or wording.
Pick one owner. A process without an owner tends to stop.
Reply politely to every review, and keep customer details out of replies.
What about the rest of your profile?
Reviews are one part of a local listing. Our business profile checklist covers the rest.
What this tool is not
It's a process template. It doesn't send requests, connect to any account or promise more reviews, higher ratings or better rankings. It covers Google reviews only. Do not ask customers for reviews on Yelp. It's not legal advice. LiveFixPro is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google.
Want help setting up your online reputation process?
Book a free consult and we'll look at how you ask for reviews today and what would fit. Every setup is scoped on the consult.
FAQ
How to ask customers for reviews without breaking the rules?
Google's policy page says businesses may ask for genuine experiences but may not offer incentives, selectively solicit positive reviews, pressure people to review while on the premises, or request specific content. Build your process around asking everyone the same way. Read the policy page linked from the tool.
Can I offer a discount for a review?
Google's policy page lists discounts, payment and free goods or services in exchange for a review as not allowed.
Does the planner send review requests?
No. It builds a written process and request wording you can edit. Nothing is sent from this page, and there are no text messages in the plan.
Is this legal advice?
No. It's a process template, summarized from Google's policy page. Read that page yourself, because Google can change it.
Does the planner keep my process?
No. It runs in your browser, and nothing you enter is uploaded or stored. LiveFixPro is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google.
Build your process now
Use the planner above to write your process, and book a free consult if you'd like help setting up your online reputation process.
LiveFixPro is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google.