The New Rules of Online Reviews
How to Get 50% More 5‑Star Ratings Without Begging
Let’s face it — reviews are the new word‑of‑mouth.
When someone needs a plumber, electrician, or HVAC tech, they don’t ask their neighbor anymore… they ask Google. And Google listens to the crowd.
If your reviews are glowing and plentiful, you win. If they’re sparse or stale, you’re invisible.
Where to Focus in 2025
Sure, there are dozens of review sites, but the heavy hitters for home service pros right now are:
- Google Business Profile (non‑negotiable)
- Nextdoor (hyper‑local trust)
- Yelp (still matters in some markets)
- Facebook Recommendations (especially for community groups)
Timing Is Everything
The best time to ask for a review?
Right after you’ve made their day.
That moment when the leak is fixed, the heat’s back on, or the lights are working again — that’s when customers are happiest and most likely to rave about you.
Automate the Ask
Stop relying on memory (or sticky notes). Use a simple tool that:
• Sends a text or email with your review link
• Personalizes the message with their name and job details
• Follows up automatically if they forget
Templates make it painless — for you and for them.
Respond Like a Human
• Good reviews: Thank them, mention something specific from the job, and keep it warm.
• Bad reviews: Stay calm, acknowledge the issue, and offer to make it right. Future customers are watching how you handle it.
Want This To Work for You?
If you have a CRM, check with your admin or support team first to see if it has a built-in "Review Request" feature. Activate that, and you should be golden. Service Titan has such a feature if you get the "Marketing Pro" add-on as of this writing. However, if you do not have that feature available to you,
I can set up a fully automated review flow that gets you more 5‑stars without awkward follow‑ups or extra admin work.
Bonus
We can even set it up to respond automatically in your own human terms to each review so that you don't have to. Google LOVES when you respond to each review and we can take that load off of your already busy shoulders. Reach out via the button below to see how.
