SMS is the most effective channel for collecting Google reviews. Open rates hover around 98%, and most texts are read within three minutes. Compare that to email, where 80% of review requests never get opened.
The challenge is writing a message that feels personal, not spammy. Below are 12 copy-paste SMS templates organized by industry, plus the timing and compliance rules you need to know. For email alternatives, see our companion guide on review request email templates.
General / After-Visit Templates
These work for any local business. Send them 1-2 hours after the customer's visit, while the experience is still fresh.
Template 1: The Simple Ask
Hi [Name], thanks for choosing [Business]! If you have 30 seconds, we'd love to hear how it went: [link]
Why it works: Short, friendly, and sets a time expectation (30 seconds). No pressure, no formality. The link goes to your review page where a star filter routes them appropriately.
Template 2: The Gratitude Lead
[Name], we really appreciate your business today. Your feedback helps us improve and helps other customers find us. Mind sharing your experience? [link]
Why it works: Leads with genuine appreciation and gives the customer two reasons to respond: helping the business and helping other customers. Send within 2 hours of the visit.
Template 3: The Personal Touch
Hey [Name], it's [Your Name] from [Business]. Hope you're happy with everything today. Would you mind leaving us a quick review? It really helps: [link]
Why it works: Using a first name from the business side makes it feel like a personal message rather than an automated blast. Best for businesses where the owner or a specific employee interacts directly with customers.
Home Services Templates
Plumbers, HVAC technicians, electricians, and other home service pros should send their review request right after completing the job, while the customer is still relieved the problem is fixed.
Template 4: Post-Job Satisfaction Check
Hi [Name], [Tech Name] just finished up at your place. Everything working as expected? We'd love a quick review if you have a moment: [link]
When to send: 30-60 minutes after the technician leaves. The customer has had time to verify the work but the relief of a solved problem is still fresh.
Template 5: The Relief Moment
[Name], glad we could get your [AC / plumbing / electrical] sorted out today. If you were happy with the service, a quick review goes a long way for our small team: [link]
Why it works: Acknowledges the specific problem that was solved. Mentioning "small team" triggers a natural desire to help a local business. For more tips, see our guides for plumbing businesses and HVAC companies.
Template 6: The Next-Day Check-In
Hi [Name], just checking in — how's everything running after yesterday's service? If all's good, we'd appreciate a quick review: [link]
When to send: The next morning. This works especially well for HVAC and plumbing jobs where the customer needs overnight confirmation that the fix holds.
Healthcare Templates
Dental practices and chiropractic offices need a more professional tone. Patients are trusting you with their health, and the review request should reflect that relationship.
Template 7: Post-Appointment (Dental)
Hi [Name], thank you for visiting [Practice Name] today. We hope your experience was great. If you have a moment, your review helps other patients find quality care: [link]
When to send: 2-3 hours after the appointment. Avoid sending immediately — patients may still be numb or uncomfortable. Framing it as helping other patients find care is more motivating than asking for a favor.
Template 8: Ongoing Care (Chiropractic)
[Name], thanks for coming in for your adjustment today. If you're feeling the difference, we'd love to hear about it: [link]
Why it works: Ties the review request to a positive physical sensation. "Feeling the difference" primes the customer to think about improvement, which naturally leads to a positive review. Best sent 3-4 hours after the visit.
Hospitality Templates
Restaurants and coffee shops have a unique advantage: customers are usually in a good mood after a meal or their morning coffee. Capitalize on that timing.
Template 9: Post-Dining
[Name], thanks for dining with us tonight! If you enjoyed your meal, a quick review would mean a lot to our team: [link]
When to send: 1-2 hours after the meal, while the flavors and atmosphere are still fresh in memory. Avoid the next morning when the experience has faded.
Template 10: Casual / Coffee Shop
Hey [Name]! Thanks for stopping by [Shop Name] today. If we made your day a little better, we'd love a quick review: [link]
Why it works: Matches the casual, upbeat tone of a coffee shop. "Made your day a little better" is a low bar that most customers can agree with, making them more likely to click through.
Follow-Up Reminder Templates
Life gets busy. About half of customers who intend to leave a review forget. One follow-up reminder 2-3 days after the original request can double your response rate. Never send more than one reminder.
Template 11: Gentle Nudge
Hi [Name], just a friendly reminder — we'd still love to hear how your experience was with [Business]. Takes under a minute: [link]
When to send: 3 days after the initial request, but only if the customer has not yet clicked or completed a review. Use tracking to avoid re-sending to customers who already responded.
Template 12: Last Chance (Soft Close)
[Name], no worries if you're too busy — but if you get a spare moment, your review really helps small businesses like ours: [link]
Why it works: Opens with "no worries," which removes any pressure or guilt. Positioning as a "small business" appeals to the customer's desire to support local. This is your final message — never follow up again after this.
SMS Best Practices
Getting the template right is only half the battle. Here are the rules that separate effective SMS campaigns from ones that get you blocked.
Keep It Under 160 Characters
A single SMS segment is 160 characters. Go over and your message splits into two texts, which looks unprofessional and can increase costs. Every template above fits in one segment when you use a short review link.
Timing Matters More Than Wording
- Same day, 1-2 hours after service is the sweet spot for most businesses
- Never send before 9 AM or after 8 PM in the customer's time zone
- Avoid weekends unless your business operates on weekends (restaurants, salons)
- One follow-up maximum, sent 2-3 days after the original message
Opt-Out Compliance
US businesses must comply with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Every SMS review request must include an opt-out mechanism. At minimum, customers should be able to reply STOP to unsubscribe. If you are using a platform like ReviewDrop, opt-out handling is built in automatically.
Personalization Is Not Optional
Always use the customer's first name and your business name. Generic messages like "Please leave us a review" get ignored or reported as spam. The templates above all include personalization placeholders — use them.
Putting It All Together
The most effective review collection strategy combines SMS templates with a star-filter review system that routes happy customers to Google and intercepts unhappy ones privately. Pick the templates that match your industry, customize the placeholders, and send them at the right time.
With consistent follow-through, most businesses see their Google review volume increase by 3-5x within the first month. The key is not asking once and hoping — it is building a system that asks every customer, every time, at exactly the right moment.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How soon after a visit should I send an SMS review request?
- The sweet spot is 1-2 hours after service. The experience is still fresh, but the customer has had time to settle in. For home services, 30-60 minutes after the technician leaves works well. For healthcare, wait 2-3 hours so the patient has time to recover.
- Is it legal to text customers asking for reviews?
- Yes, as long as you have the customer's consent to receive text messages and include an opt-out option (like replying STOP). In the US, the TCPA requires prior express consent for marketing texts. Collecting a phone number at checkout with a clear disclosure is sufficient.
- How many follow-up reminders should I send?
- One. A single follow-up 2-3 days after the initial request can double your response rate. Sending two or more follow-ups crosses into spam territory and risks the customer blocking your number or reporting you.
- Should I use SMS or email for review requests?
- SMS outperforms email significantly — 98% open rate vs. roughly 20% for email. For the best results, use SMS as your primary channel and email as a backup for customers who prefer it. See our guide on review request email templates for email-specific advice.