The job’s finished and the customer is happy. You’re standing in the driveway with your phone, deciding if you should text the link now or email it from the office tomorrow. You want to get Google reviews, and you’re not sure which one people respond to.
For most small businesses, a text sent the same day works best. Email is the better choice when you already invoice by email or your customers are other businesses. The strongest approach uses both: ask in person, text within the hour, and send one email reminder a week later.
We send review requests for Australian businesses every day at BuyReviews. Here’s what we’ve learned about each channel, plus templates you can copy.
Is email or SMS better for review requests?
It depends on where your customer will act on it. A review takes a minute, so it needs to reach people when they have that minute.
In our experience, SMS wins for trades, clinics, salons, cafes and most local services. Email does better for professional services and business-to-business work. We don’t have a magic number to give you, and we’d be wary of anyone who quotes one.
When does SMS work best?
Use SMS when the customer was with you in person and the job wrapped up today. A text arrives on the phone they’ll use to write the review, and most people open texts quickly.
It also suits customers you only have a mobile number for. Keep the message under three lines. A long text looks like marketing and gets ignored.
When does email work best?
Email suits a customer who expects to hear from you that way. If you send quotes, invoices or receipts by email, the review request fits in naturally.
It gives you more room, too. You can mention the specific job and sign off properly. Google’s own share option includes email: from the review link screen in your Business Profile, it sends from the email address linked to the profile.
What should a review request SMS say?
Say who you are, say thanks, and give the link. Here’s the one we’d start with.
Hi [First name], it’s [Your name] from [Business name]. Thanks for having us out today. If you have a minute, we’d appreciate an honest Google review: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.
The first few words matter most. Lead with your name and business so it doesn’t look like a scam text.
What should a review request email say?
Keep it short enough to read without scrolling. This review request email template covers everything.
Subject: Thanks from [Business name]
Hi [First name],
Thanks for choosing us for [the job]. We hope you’re happy with how it turned out.
If you have a minute, would you leave us an honest review on Google? It helps other locals find us.
[Your Google review link]
Thanks again,
[Your name]
[Business name]
Don’t want emails from us? Reply with “unsubscribe” and we’ll remove you.
Put the link on its own line. In our experience, a link buried in a paragraph gets missed.
When should you send it, and how often?
Send the first request on the day the job is done, ideally within an hour or two. If you finish late in the evening, wait until the next morning.
Send one reminder about a week later. Then stop. We’d switch channels for the reminder, so a customer who got a text on day one gets an email on day seven.
What are the Australian spam rules for review requests?
Australia’s spam laws cover commercial emails and texts, and the ACMA enforces them. A review request may count as a commercial message, so we treat every one as if it does.
- Consent: you need the person’s consent. The ACMA says buying from you once doesn’t give inferred consent for marketing.
- Identify yourself: the message must name your business accurately.
- Unsubscribe: include a clear way to opt out, at no cost to the customer. Act on requests within 5 working days.
- Third parties: if someone else sends messages for you, you still need consent from each person, and your business stays responsible.
The easy way to get consent is to ask in person: “Would you mind leaving us a Google review? Can I text you the link?” A yes covers you. Make a note of it.
How do you set it up, step by step?
Do the setup once and each request takes under a minute.
- On a computer, sign in to the Google account that manages your Business Profile and search your business name.
- Select Read reviews, then Get more reviews, then Copy. Google provides this link, so you don’t need a Google review link generator.
- Save the SMS template in your phone’s notes or as a text shortcut, with the link pasted in.
- Save the email template as a draft or canned response.
- Ask each customer in person and get their yes.
- Send the text within the hour, and the email reminder a week later if needed.
- Reply to every review that comes in.
What should you leave out of the message?
Leave out any reward. Google bans discounts, gifts and prize draws in exchange for reviews.
Don’t ask for five stars. Ask for an honest review. And send the request to every customer, not only the ones you think were pleased.
If a critical review comes back, reply to it. When you respond to negative Google reviews with a calm answer and an offer to fix things, it reflects well on you. If a review is fake, select the three dots and Report review, which is the proper way to remove fake Google reviews.
How can BuyReviews help?
If sending requests keeps slipping down your list, we can run it. You share your customer list, and we send the texts, emails and reminders to your real customers, with your business named and an opt-out in every message.
It’s how we help clients get Google reviews steadily and Buy Google reviews Australia over time. We see it as the everyday work of online reputation management in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Is SMS or email better for Google review requests?
In our experience, SMS works better for most local businesses because the customer reads it on their phone, where they’re usually signed in to Google already. Email suits businesses that invoice by email or sell to other businesses. We like using both: a text on the day and one email reminder a week later.
Do I need permission to text a customer a review link?
You need consent for commercial messages under Australia’s Spam Act, and the ACMA says a single purchase doesn’t give you inferred consent for marketing. The simple fix is to ask in person: ‘Can I text you a link to review us?’ A yes is consent. Identify your business and include a way to opt out.
How many reminders should I send?
One. Send the first request on the day of the job and a single reminder about a week later. After that, stop. In our experience, more reminders rarely bring more reviews and they start to annoy people. If a customer asks you not to message them again, act on it within five working days.
What’s the best time to send a review request?
The same day the job is finished, ideally within an hour or two while the customer still remembers the details. Keep it to normal waking hours. If you finish late in the evening, send it the next morning. A request that arrives a week later usually gets a weaker response, in our experience.
Can I send review requests through WhatsApp?
Yes. Google notes that you can send review requests through email, WhatsApp or a Facebook post, using the link from your Business Profile. Use whichever channel you already talk to that customer on. The same rules apply everywhere: real customers only, an honest request, and no reward for posting.
What should you do next?
Copy your review link, paste it into the SMS template above, and save it on your phone today. Use it with your next customer.
