Most customers are willing to leave a Google review. They just need a clear, low-friction prompt at the right moment. The mistake is writing a long message that explains how important reviews are to your business. The customer already knows what a review is. What they need is a short thank-you, one link, and no pressure.

Use the templates below as starting points. Swap in the customer's name, your business name, and your Google review link. If you do not have the link yet, get it from the free Google Review Link Generator first.

Rules before you copy a template

Review requests work best when they are simple and fair. They also need to follow Google's review policies.

  • Ask real customers only. Do not send review requests to purchased lists, friends who never used the business, or old contacts who will not remember the visit.
  • Do not offer incentives. Discounts, freebies, prize draws, and loyalty points can get reviews removed.
  • Do not ask for a specific rating. Ask for honest feedback, not "a 5-star review."
  • Do not selectively ask only happy customers. Every real customer should have the same opportunity to leave a public review.
  • Do not stand over customers while they review you. Send the link and let them decide in their own time.
  • Use one clear link. The message should point to your Google review link or your branded review page. Do not add social links, newsletter links, and referral offers in the same request.

Email review request templates

Email is the safest default for appointment-based businesses: salons, clinics, restaurants with reservations, auto shops, hotels, gyms, accountants, and local services. Send it within 24 hours for most businesses, or 24–48 hours for healthcare and larger service jobs.

1. Short and casual

Subject: Thanks for visiting, {First name}

Hi {First name},

Thanks for coming in today. If you have 30 seconds, we'd really appreciate your feedback on Google:

{Review link}

Thanks,
{Business name}

2. Professional service

Subject: We'd value your feedback

Hi {First name},

Thank you for choosing {Business name}. If you have a moment, would you mind sharing your experience on Google? It helps other customers understand what to expect from us.

{Review link}

With thanks,
{Your name}

3. After a completed job

Subject: Thanks for the job today

Hi {First name},

Thanks for having us round today. If everything looks good, a quick Google review would help more local customers find us:

{Review link}

And if anything is not quite right, just reply to this email and we will look into it.

Thanks,
{Your name}

4. Follow-up reminder

Subject: Quick reminder

Hi {First name},

Just a quick reminder: if you have a minute, we'd still appreciate your feedback on Google.

{Review link}

No worries if not, and thanks again for choosing {Business name}.

SMS review request templates

SMS works when the relationship is short, practical, and phone-based. Keep the message below 300 characters. Include your business name because the customer may not have your number saved.

5. Standard SMS

Hi {First name}, thanks for choosing {Business name}. If you have 30 seconds, we'd appreciate your Google feedback: {Review link}

6. Home service SMS

Hi {First name}, thanks for having us round today. If you're happy with the work, a quick Google review would really help: {Review link}

7. Appointment business SMS

Hi {First name}, thanks for your appointment today at {Business name}. If you have a minute, we'd love your feedback: {Review link}

8. SMS reminder

Hi {First name}, quick reminder from {Business name}: if you still have a minute, your Google feedback would help us a lot: {Review link}

WhatsApp review request templates

WhatsApp should feel like a normal message from a person, not a campaign. Use these when you already spoke to the customer on WhatsApp to book, confirm, or coordinate the job. For more detail, see the full WhatsApp review request guide.

9. Simple WhatsApp ask

Hi {First name}, thanks again for today. If you have a minute, a quick Google review would really help us: {Review link}

10. WhatsApp after a repair

Hi {First name}, glad we got that sorted today. If everything is working well, we'd appreciate a quick review here: {Review link}

11. WhatsApp after sending a photo

Here is the finished work. Thanks again for choosing us. If you are happy with it, a Google review would mean a lot: {Review link}

12. WhatsApp for repeat customers

Always good to help, {First name}. If you would be willing to leave a quick Google review, it helps new customers find us: {Review link}

QR card and receipt copy

For walk-in businesses, the message above the QR code matters. Customers should know exactly what will happen when they scan it. Pair this with the advice in our Google review QR code guide.

13. Restaurant table card

Enjoyed your visit?
Scan to leave us a Google review.

14. Cafe counter sign

Tell us how we did.
Scan for a quick Google review.

15. Salon mirror card

Love the result?
A quick Google review helps new clients find us.

16. Invoice footer

Happy with the work? Leave a quick Google review: {short review URL}

17. Appointment card

Your feedback helps our small team.
Scan to leave a Google review.

Industry-specific review request templates

18. Restaurant

Hi {First name}, thanks for dining with us. If you enjoyed your meal, we'd really appreciate a quick Google review: {Review link}

More detail: review management for restaurants.

19. Salon or barber

Hi {First name}, hope you love the result. If you have a minute, a Google review would help more clients find us: {Review link}

More detail: review management for salons.

20. Dentist or clinic

Hi {First name}, thank you for visiting {Practice name}. If you have a moment, we'd appreciate your feedback on Google: {Review link}

For healthcare, do not mention treatment, symptoms, or clinical details in the request. More detail: Google reviews for dentists.

21. Electrician

Hi {First name}, thanks for having me round today. If the work looks good, a quick Google review really helps us get more local jobs: {Review link}

More detail: Google reviews for electricians.

22. Plumber

Hi {First name}, glad we could get that fixed today. If everything is working well, a quick Google review would really help: {Review link}

More detail: review management for plumbers.

23. Hotel

Hi {First name}, thank you for staying with us. If you enjoyed your visit, we would appreciate your feedback on Google: {Review link}

More detail: review management for hotels.

24. Gym or fitness studio

Hi {First name}, great to have you training with us. If you have a minute, a Google review helps other members discover the studio: {Review link}

More detail: review management for gyms.

25. Cleaning service

Hi {First name}, hope everything looks good after today's clean. If you are happy with the service, a quick Google review would help us a lot: {Review link}

More detail: review management for cleaning services.

What not to write

These versions are common, but they either feel pushy or create policy risk.

  • "Please leave us a 5-star review." Ask for feedback, not a rating.
  • "Show us your review for 10% off." Do not incentivize reviews.
  • "Only leave a review if you were happy." Do not selectively solicit positive reviews.
  • "Review us before you leave." Do not pressure customers while staff are watching.
  • "Hope your root canal feels better." For healthcare, do not reference clinical details in review requests.
  • A full newsletter. Review requests work because they are short. One message, one ask, one link.

How to automate the requests

The template is not the hard part. Remembering to send it every time is the hard part.

A simple manual workflow is fine when you have a few customers a day:

  1. Save your review link as a phone text replacement or WhatsApp quick reply.
  2. Send the request within the right time window.
  3. Mark the customer as asked.
  4. Send one reminder after 3–5 days if appropriate.
  5. Stop after that.

Once you have more customers than you can track manually, use a system. TrustMint sends branded review requests automatically, gives customers the right Google review link, creates QR codes, and collects private feedback when someone has a concern. If you are still building the basics, start with the free review link generator; if you want the whole request flow automated, TrustMint handles it.

The short version

The best review request is short, specific, and easy to ignore without awkwardness. Thank the customer, ask for feedback, include one link, and stop after one reminder. Do that consistently and you will collect more Google reviews than any clever wording trick will ever produce.

For the full strategy behind timing and channel choice, read how to ask customers for reviews. For replies after the reviews arrive, use our review response templates.