Is it against Google's policy to ask customers for reviews?

No - Google explicitly allows businesses to ask customers for reviews. What Google prohibits is incentivizing reviews (discounts, gifts, etc.), selectively asking only customers you think will leave positive reviews, or pressuring customers. All templates on this page are designed to comply with those rules.

How many times should I follow up after the initial review request?

Once. Send your initial ask, wait 3-5 days, and send one shorter follow-up if you have not heard back. Sending more than two messages total risks feeling pushy and can result in spam complaints on SMS.

What is the best time to send a review request text?

Within a few hours of the service, while the experience is fresh. For restaurants, the same evening works well. For service businesses like salons or auto shops, within 24 hours of the appointment or pickup tends to perform best.

Can I use these templates if my business is a clinic or medical practice?

Yes, the clinic template above is written to be neutral and professional. Do not reference specific diagnoses or treatment details in your messages. Keep the ask focused on the overall experience, and make sure your outreach complies with any applicable privacy regulations in your region.

Review Request Templates: Email and SMS Scripts That Work

June 9, 2026 · 6 min read

Most customers who had a great experience are willing to leave a review - they just need a clear, low-friction ask. The problem is most business owners wing it, or they overthink the wording and never send anything. This post is a copy-paste library: take a template, swap the placeholders, and send it today. If you also want to understand the broader strategy, see how to ask for Google reviews.

Quick Guidance Before You Send

Timing matters. Ask within 24 hours of the service - that is when the experience is freshest and sentiment is highest.
Keep it short. Templates under 60 words outperform long ones. Customers are busy.
One follow-up only. If they do not respond to the first ask, send one reminder 3-5 days later and then stop.
Personalize the [Name] field. A first name doubles open and response rates versus a generic greeting.
Include the direct link. Anything that requires extra clicks kills conversion. Use your Google Business Profile short link as [link].

Compliance note: Google's review policy requires that you ask all customers - not just the ones you think will leave five stars. Do not offer discounts, gifts, or any reward in exchange for a review. The customer must write and post the review themselves. These templates are designed to comply with that policy.

Email Templates

Email works well for service businesses, clinics, and any context where you have the customer's address. Subject lines that include the business name or the customer's name consistently get higher open rates.

Template 1 - Short and Direct

Subject: Quick favor, [Name]? Hi [Name], Thank you for choosing [Business] - we really appreciate it. If you have two minutes, an honest Google review helps us a lot: [link] Thanks again, [Your Name] [Business]

Template 2 - Warm and Conversational

Subject: How did we do, [Name]? Hi [Name], It was great having you in. We hope everything went smoothly! If you are happy with your experience, we would be grateful if you shared it on Google - it takes about two minutes and makes a real difference for our small team: [link] Thanks so much, [Your Name] at [Business]

Template 3 - Post-Service Follow-Up

Subject: Your recent visit to [Business] Hi [Name], Thank you for visiting us on [date]. We hope you left happy. Leaving a Google review helps other people find us and know what to expect. If you have a moment: [link] We read every review and genuinely appreciate the feedback. [Your Name] [Business]

SMS / Text Templates

Text messages get read faster than email - median open time under three minutes. Keep them under 160 characters when possible, and always include the direct link. For more ideas on volume tactics, see 12 ways to get more Google reviews.

Template 1 - Ultra Short

Hi [Name], thanks for visiting [Business]! Mind leaving us a quick Google review? [link] - takes 2 min. Thanks!

Template 2 - Slightly Warmer

Hey [Name] - it was great having you at [Business]. If you have a moment, an honest Google review means a lot to us: [link]. No pressure at all!

Template 3 - Post-Appointment Reminder

Hi [Name], thanks for your appointment at [Business] today. If everything went well, we'd really appreciate a Google review: [link]. Thank you!

In-Person Scripts

A verbal ask at checkout or handoff - followed immediately by a QR code - is the highest-converting method. The key is saying it naturally, not reading from a script. Practice these until they feel like your own words.

Script 1 - Casual Checkout

"Thanks so much - really glad you came in. If you have a second, a Google review helps us out a lot. You can scan this code right now and it only takes a couple of minutes. Totally up to you!"

Script 2 - After Resolving a Problem

"I am glad we got that sorted out for you. If you feel like sharing your experience - good or bad - on Google, we really do read every review. Here is the code if you want to leave one."

Why a QR code works in person: Handing someone a physical card with a QR code removes the friction of typing a URL or searching for your business. Customers scan, rate, and are done in under two minutes - no app needed. That is exactly what AutoMine Reviews is built for.

Industry Variants

Generic templates work, but a sentence that references the actual experience converts better. Here are flavored versions for four common categories.

Restaurant - Post-Meal Text

Hi [Name], thanks for dining at [Business] tonight! If you enjoyed your meal, a Google review helps others find us: [link]. We'd love to hear what you thought.

Salon / Spa - Post-Appointment Email

Subject: Thanks for visiting [Business], [Name]! Hi [Name], Hope you are loving your [service]! When you have a moment, we would really appreciate a Google review - it helps our stylists and lets new clients know what to expect: [link] See you next time! [Your Name] at [Business]

Medical / Dental Clinic - Post-Visit Email

Subject: A quick note from [Business] Hi [Name], Thank you for trusting us with your care. We hope your visit was comfortable. If you are willing to share your experience on Google, it helps other patients know what to expect from our practice: [link] Thank you for your time. [Doctor/Practice Name] [Business]

Auto Shop - Pickup Day Text

Hi [Name], your vehicle is ready at [Business]! If we took good care of you today, a Google review means a lot to our crew: [link]. Drive safe!

Personalization Tips That Move the Needle

Reference the specific service or product they received, not just a generic visit.
Use the employee's name who served them - "[Name] from our team really enjoyed working with you" - if your system tracks it.
For email, a plain-text format often outperforms HTML-heavy templates. It reads like a personal note.
For restaurants, send the text the same evening, not the next morning.
For salons, the 24-hours-after window works well because clients often share their results on social first and are already in a positive mindset.

The One Follow-Up Rule

Send one ask. Wait 3-5 days. Send one follow-up, shorter than the first. Then stop. Sending a third message crosses into pressure, damages trust, and for SMS can trigger spam complaints. For salons and restaurants specifically - see our guides for salons and restaurants - the in-person QR code ask at checkout often means no follow-up is needed at all.

Making the Link Frictionless

Every template above uses a [link] placeholder. That link should take the customer directly to your Google Business Profile review form - not your homepage, not a landing page. Find your short link in Google Business Profile under "Ask for reviews". The fewer taps between your message and the review box, the higher your conversion rate.

AutoMine Reviews takes this further: instead of asking customers to write the review from scratch, they scan a QR code, tap a star rating, and get three AI-written honest draft reviews matched to their rating. They pick one, edit it however they like, and post it themselves. No incentives, no pressure - just a much lower friction path for customers who are already happy. Start a free 14-day trial - no card required.

Pick one template from this list today, swap in your business name and Google link, and send it to your last five customers. You do not need a perfect system to start - you need one message sent. Once you are ready to scale it, see our pricing and explore how a QR-code-based flow removes the manual sending entirely.