Google review management for tradies

Picture a good job: a ducted air con install that took two days, a customer who walks you out to the ute to say thanks. You mean to ask for a review. By the time you are back at the depot, the next call has pushed it out of your head.

Months later, the profile shows a handful of reviews and the newest is from last winter. Someone comparing three air con installers on a phone will count stars, then look at dates. A stale date looks like a business that has quietly stopped.

The usual failure points

Remembering is the first one. Then finding the right mobile number, writing a message that does not sound like a template, and timing it. Replies suffer the same way: a review sits unanswered for weeks, or gets a one-liner typed from the cab.

Consent first

A review request is a commercial message, and the Spam Act asks for the recipient's consent before it is sent. The ACMA recommends express consent: a ticked box, a form, a conversation. You carry the burden of showing it happened. It also says to identify who the message is from and to give an easy way to opt out, honoured within five working days. A message sent only to ask permission counts as marketing too, so get the yes before the job is over.

Mitch will not queue a text without a mobile number and your consent tick. Whether the customer actually agreed is on you, so ask at the quote or on site and tick only if they said yes. This is general information, not legal advice. The ACMA's Avoid sending spam page is the source to read.

What the text looks like

The ABN there is a placeholder. Use your own in practice, along with whatever opt-out wording suits your setup.

For a printed alternative, the free review link generator makes a QR code for invoices and the ute. A customer who scans it chooses to, so no text is involved.

Plans