Reviews decide ties in the Google map pack. The trick isn't asking — it's when and how you ask.
Get My Free AuditTwo contractors, same distance from the homeowner: the one with 150 fresh reviews beats the one with 30 old ones, almost every time. Here is the playbook:
Yes — but timing beats coverage. The customer who just thanked you converts at several times the rate of one getting a generic “please review us” email three days later.
Always, within 24 hours, calmly and factually. Future customers read your reply more carefully than the complaint. Never argue; offer to fix it offline.
No — and Google tightened this again in 2026: review quotas for techs, asking customers to name a specific employee, and “scan this tablet before I leave” pressure are now formal policy violations that can get reviews wiped. Ask honestly, at the right moment, and you will not need tricks.
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Rebates, Google rule changes, lead-cost data and one tactic to try — in plain English, for Ottawa trades. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.