How to Get More 5-Star Google Reviews for Your Business

In today’s digital world, customer reviews are often the deciding factor when homeowners choose a service provider. Whether you run an HVAC company, roofing business, plumbing service, or cleaning crew, your reputation online speaks louder than any advertisement. Google reviews, in particular, play a critical role in both customer decision-making and search engine rankings. More 5-star reviews not only boost credibility but also improve visibility, making it easier for potential clients to find and trust you.

This blog explores how to earn more 5-star Google reviews, how reviews tie directly into EEAT (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), and the strategies that small home service companies can use to build strong reputations. We’ll also cover common mistakes and explain how THL helps businesses turn reviews into long-term growth.

Reviews are more than customer feedback—they are public proof of your reliability. When someone searches for “plumber near me” or “roof repair in [city],” Google prominently displays businesses with strong ratings and frequent positive reviews. A business with dozens of recent 5-star reviews will almost always attract more clicks than a competitor with only a handful of mixed reviews.

Positive reviews also influence trust before you even speak to the customer. They reduce hesitation, build confidence, and create what marketers call trust equity. In the home service industry, where letting someone into your home requires confidence, reviews are as important as licensing or insurance.

Ask at the Right Time: The best moment to request a review is immediately after a successful job, when the customer feels most satisfied.
Make It Easy: Provide direct links to your Google review page via text, email, or invoices.
Train Your Team: Employees should be comfortable asking for reviews in a polite, professional way.
Respond to All Reviews: Thank customers for positive feedback and address negative ones with professionalism.
Highlight Reviews Publicly: Feature positive reviews on your website and social media.
Offer Gentle Reminders: Automated follow-up emails or texts can nudge customers without being pushy.

Buying fake reviews or offering incentives violates Google’s policies and risks credibility.<br>
Ignoring reviews signals indifference and can hurt both rankings and perception.<br>
Being defensive in replies damages trust. Always respond calmly and professionally.

Two HVAC companies in the same city deliver great service:
Company A: Rarely asks for reviews. Only 12 reviews with a 4.2-star average.
Company B: Requests feedback after every job. 250 reviews with a 4.9-star average.

Both are skilled, but Company B wins more customers thanks to volume and quality of reviews.

Reviews compound over time. Fresh reviews show activity and reliability, making it harder for competitors to catch up. They also fuel referrals—customers who leave reviews are more likely to recommend you offline. This builds <strong>reputation equity</strong> that reduces reliance on ads.

Automated Review Requests: HubSpot integration sends branded follow-up emails and texts.
Reputation Management: Monitor reviews and respond professionally.
Customer Journey Mapping: Align requests with job completion or invoice delivery.
Marketing Integration: Showcase reviews automatically on websites and ads.
Team Training: Staff learn to ask for reviews in person while automation handles the rest.

With THL + HubSpot, reviews become a measurable growth engine.

Source: WordStream
Author: Kristen McCormick
Link: https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2020/09/16/get-more-google-reviews