How plumbers can get more Google reviews with AI
The best time to ask a plumbing customer for a review is right after the water is back on, while relief is fresh. AI can text a short request with a one-tap link from the tech’s job, and draft replies for you to approve. Do not buy reviews or ask only the happy ones.
Talk through your plumbing business with the person who builds it
A free 30-minute call. You leave knowing which part of your plumbing company to hand to AI first, what we would build, and roughly how long it takes.
Ask while they are grateful
A customer with a burst pipe fixed is as happy with you as they will ever be. A text that same evening gets a better response than an email next week.
Do not ask during a stressful visit. Wait until the water is on and the mess is cleaned up.
Mention the tech by name
A review that names the tech and the problem does more for the next customer than a generic five stars. A prompt asking what the job was helps.
Say what happened in the reply, like the shutoff valve, so future readers see the story.
Reply to the bad ones
A calm reply to a complaint about a late arrival or a bill shows what you are like. Offer to call, and keep the details off the public page.
Picture this
Examples of what it can look like. Illustrations, not clients.
After a slab leak repair, the homeowner gets a text with the tech’s name and one link. She writes about how clear the explanation was.
A customer complains the quote went up. Your reply says you called to explain the extra pipe, and invites them to ring the office.
A homeowner thanks the tech for turning off the water at the right valve before it spread. A review prompt that day turns the thanks into a public review.
The rules that apply, in their own words
“unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce, are hereby declared unlawful.”
“It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice and a violation of this part for a business to write, create, or sell a consumer review”
Sources
- 16 CFR Part 465 (FTC rule on reviews and testimonials): The ban on fake, bought or suppressed reviews.
- OSHA: construction safety: Federal safety rules for job sites.
- SBA: stay legally compliant: The Small Business Administration’s checklist for licenses, taxes and rules.
- 15 U.S.C. § 45 (FTC Act, Section 5): The federal ban on unfair or deceptive business practices, ads included.
Talk through your plumbing business with the person who builds it
A free 30-minute call. You leave knowing which part of your plumbing company to hand to AI first, what we would build, and roughly how long it takes.
Questions
May I offer a discount for a review?
Google’s policies discourage incentives. Ask plainly and thank them.
Should every customer be asked?
Yes. Picking only the happy ones breaks review rules and skews the picture.
What if my tech does not like asking?
Then the text does it for them. The tech just says a message is coming and thanks the customer.
More jobs AI can take on
What Westward builds for this
More reviews: the same job in similar businesses