Home / Message templates / How to Ask for a Review From a Client or Customer
How to Ask for a Review From Clients and Customers, Including Google
To ask for a review, send a short, personal message right after a client says they're happy. Include the direct link to your review page. Suggest one thing they could mention. Make it easy to say yes and easy to say no. A personal ask from you, sent at the right moment, beats any automated request.
Reviews are how strangers decide whether to trust you before they ever call. Your happiest clients are usually glad to help. But they won't think of it on their own, and they won't hunt for your page. The ask is your job, and the timing does most of the work.
What makes it work is ease and honesty. Give one click to the review page. Offer a prompt about what to write, so they don't stare at a blank box. Put no pressure on them to say only good things. Ask the people who already told you they're pleased. Thank everyone who responds.
On this page
Write yours in 20 seconds
Free, no signup. The example is filled in: press the button, then replace it with your own situation. In Capstone, a message like it is written for each person you know when their check-in is due.
10 examples to copy
One message is easy. Hundreds of people, all year, is the hard part. Capstone Outreach puts everyone you know on a rhythm you pick, from weekly to every three months. When someone is due, a message like these is already written in your voice from your history with them. You approve it, and it goes from your own email or phone. See how it works.
Start 14 days free, then $25/mo
Everyone on a rhythm. Who is due, and when. Recorded in the app on a demo account.
1. Right after a client says they're happy (email)
Subject: Would you share that in a review?
Why it works: It turns praise they already gave into a review while the feeling is fresh. The easy out keeps it free of pressure.
2. With a prompt so they know what to write (email)
Subject: A quick favor, if you have two minutes
Why it works: A clear prompt solves the blank-page problem, and asking for honesty keeps the review believable.
3. Short text after a good appointment or closing (text)
Why it works: A text with a direct link is the fastest path from a happy moment to a posted review.
4. In person, at the end of a meeting (spoken)
Why it works: Asking face to face gets a yes, and promising the link makes follow-through easy.
5. Gentle reminder after they agreed (email)
Subject: Re: Would you share that in a review?
Why it works: One friendly reminder in the same thread catches people who meant to do it, without nagging.
6. Long-time client you've never asked (email)
Subject: Something I should have asked years ago
Why it works: Admitting you never asked makes it feel personal. Their long history makes their review carry extra weight.
7. Client who sent a glowing email, ask permission to share (email)
Subject: Can I share what you wrote?
Why it works: Offering to reuse words they already wrote makes the ask almost effortless. The private option respects their comfort.
8. Line added to the final invoice or wrap-up (email)
Subject: Final invoice and a thank-you
Why it works: Inviting problems to come to you first shows confidence. It keeps unhappy feedback a private talk.
9. Client who is a friend or neighbor (text)
Why it works: Naming the awkward part up front keeps a friendship comfortable while still making a real ask.
10. Thank-you after they post the review (email)
Subject: Thank you for the review
Why it works: Thanking them for a line they wrote shows you read it. It keeps the bond warm after the favor.
Sending these to more than a few people? See how people keep track of who to follow up with, and when: what a personal CRM does and the best personal CRMs, compared.
When to send it
- Ask within a day or two of the moment the client says they're happy, while the result is fresh.
- If they praise you out loud or in an email, ask then. It's the most natural opening you'll get.
- For ongoing work, ask after a clear milestone, not in the middle of a project.
- If they said yes but haven't posted, send one reminder about a week later. Then stop.
- Don't ask anyone with an open complaint, a billing dispute or a problem you're still fixing.
Subject lines
- Would you share that in a review?
- A quick favor, if you have two minutes
- Can I share what you wrote?
- Something I should have asked years ago
- Thank you for the review
- Final invoice and a thank-you
- Two minutes to help someone like you
- Would you write a short review?
- Your words would help a lot
- A small ask after [project]
- Thank you, and one small favor
- Here's the link I mentioned
What to avoid
- Don't send a generic homepage link. Link straight to the page where they write the review.
- Don't offer discounts, gifts or payment for reviews. Many review sites ban it, so check their rules.
- Don't ask only for five-star or positive reviews. Ask for an honest one.
- Don't send more than one reminder. After that, let it go.
- Don't ask clients who had a rough experience to review you before you've fixed it.
- Don't write the review for them. A suggested topic is fine, but prewritten text is not.
After you send it
If they agreed but haven't posted, send one short reminder in the same thread about a week later. Then drop it. When a review goes up, thank them personally within a day. Reply to the review in public too. Keep the bond going with a check-in a few months later. Send a note on their birthday or work milestones. Ask again only for a new project, and no more than once a year.
Building the habit: how to keep in touch with contacts and what a personal CRM does.
Asked for a review and heard nothing back? Send the ask as a two-step sequence by text or email. If the client replies to the first one, the second note never goes out.
Start 14 days free, then $25/mo
A study of 20 million LinkedIn members found that acquaintances, more than close friends, led to new jobs (Science, 2022). Capstone keeps those people warm. You approve every message, and it goes from your own email or phone.
Frequently asked questions
How do you politely ask for a good review?
Ask for an honest review, not a good one. Thank them for a specific result. Say a review would help people like them find you. Share the direct link and say there's no pressure at all. Ask only clients who have already said they're happy, and the reviews will be good on their own.
How do you ask a customer for a review?
Ask a customer for a review right after a good moment, like a smooth delivery or a kind word at the counter. Say thanks, add the direct link, and ask if they would share a few words. Keep it to two or three lines. A text or a short email works best for most customers.
How do I ask a client for a Google review?
Send a short email or text right after a happy moment. Include the direct link to your review form, which you can copy from your business profile. Say a sentence or two is plenty, and suggest one thing to mention. The direct link matters most. Clients rarely search for your profile on their own.
How do you ask a client for a review via email?
Keep it under a hundred words. Open by thanking them for something specific. Ask if they'd be willing to write a short review, paste the direct link, and suggest one thing to mention. Close with an easy out, like saying no worries if they're busy. Use a clear subject line such as 'Would you share that in a review?'
When is the best time to ask a client for a review?
Right after they tell you they're happy, or within a day or two of finishing the work. That's when their good feeling and memory are strongest. For long projects, ask after a clear milestone. Don't ask during a problem, before final results show, or in the same breath as a hard talk.
Should I follow up if a client doesn't leave a review?
Yes, once. About a week later, send a short reminder in the same email thread with the link again. Add a line saying there's no pressure if now isn't a good time. If they still don't post, let it go. Repeated reminders can cost you more goodwill than a review is worth.
Is it okay to offer an incentive for a review?
It's best not to. Many review sites ban rewards, and paid-for reviews can look less trustworthy to readers. Check the rules for any site you use. A sincere thank-you note after they post is the safe choice. Clients like it, and it keeps the review truly theirs.