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What should a mason text to ask for a Google review?
Short answer: A mason should text every customer a short message with a Google review link soon after the work is done. Use your first name, say thanks, name the job, and ask for an honest review. Do not offer a discount or gift, and do not text only your happy customers. Google's policies bar both.
- Google's help page says you can ask customers to visit a Google link or scan a QR code.
- Google says offering free or discounted goods or services in exchange for reviews is strictly prohibited.
- Google's Maps policy says merchants may not selectively ask only for positive reviews, often called review gating.
- The FTC says there can be no requirement that reviews express a particular sentiment.
- Send the same text to every customer, one reminder at most, and reply to every review.
- Time the ask by job: after the first rain for chimneys, at the final walk-through for patios.
A mason finishes a wall or a chimney, the owner is thrilled, and then nothing. The review is never written because no one asked in an easy way. This page gives you the texts, the timing for masonry jobs, and the rules.
A review request text is a short message you send a customer after a job. It thanks them and gives them a direct link to your Google review form, so one tap takes them to the star rating.
Is it allowed to ask customers for reviews?
Yes. Google's help page says you can ask customers to visit a Google link or scan a QR code. The customer needs a Google Account to post, and Google says it can be made with a non-Gmail email address.
Asking is fine. Paying, rewarding or picking who you ask is not.
What are the rules for asking?
Three sources matter: Google's help page, Google's Maps policy and the FTC.
Google says offering free or discounted goods or services in exchange for reviews is strictly prohibited. Its Maps policy lists incentivized or biased reviews as not allowed and says they will be removed. The same policy says merchants may not selectively ask only for positive reviews. This is often called review gating.
The FTC has a rule on consumer reviews. Its Q&A says incentives are not banned outright, but there can be no express or implied requirement that reviews express a particular sentiment. Its own example of what not to do is a request that tells customers how much they loved the service and offers a coupon for saying so. It also says paying for five-star reviews violates the rule, and that asking only satisfied customers could violate the FTC Act. The FTC adds that its guidance is not definitive or comprehensive, so treat this page as general information, not legal advice.
The safe rule for you is plain:
| Do | Do not |
|---|---|
| Send the same text to every customer | Skip the customer who seemed unhappy |
| Ask for an honest review | Ask for "five stars" |
| Say thanks for the job | Offer a discount, a gift or a free repair for a review |
| Reply to every review | Argue with or threaten a reviewer |
| Send the link yourself | Write the review for the customer |
Why do reviews matter for a mason?
Homeowners are about to let you cut into a wall, hang a heavy load of stone or take apart a chimney. They look at stars and read what others say. Google says more reviews and positive ratings can help your local ranking.
Reviews also seem to matter for AI answers. A Zarla study from August 2026 asked ChatGPT and Google's AI Mode for the "best" business in 10 trades and 10 cities. Businesses named had a median of 444 Google reviews. Those not named had a median of 192, according to Zarla: AI Visibility Index (2026). Masonry was not one of the ten trades, the sample leans toward the most visible businesses, and it is a one-day snapshot. Read it as a hint. Our guide on how many Google reviews a masonry contractor needs goes deeper.
When is the best time to ask a mason's customer?
Timing depends on the job. A review is easier to write when the result is visible and the customer is happy to talk about it.
| Job | Send the text | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Chimney leak repair | After the first rain that stays dry, or one week after | The proof is a dry ceiling |
| Tuckpointing or brick repair | The day after you finish, once the scaffold is down | The wall looks finished |
| Retaining wall | One or two weeks after, once rain has tested it | The owner sees it hold |
| Stone veneer or fireplace | When the owner first uses the room | They are enjoying it |
| Patio, steps, walkway | The day of the final walk-through | The owner is looking at it |
| Commercial job | When the contractor signs off | A person reviews on behalf of the company |
If a customer thanks you in person, that is the best moment. Say "Would you mind putting that in a quick Google review? I'll text you the link." Then send it before you leave the driveway.
How do you send a masonry review request step by step?
Step 1: Get your Google review link
Google's help page on reviews links to instructions for making a review link or a QR code for your profile. Make one and save the link in your phone as a text shortcut.
Step 2: Ask in person first
Tell the customer you will send a link. This warms the text and lowers the chance it looks like spam.
Step 3: Send the text the same day or at the right moment
Use one of the templates below. Put in your first name and the job.
Step 4: Send one reminder
If you hear nothing in four or five days, send one short reminder. Then stop. Do not chase.
Step 5: Reply to every review
Thank them by first name and mention the job. Google says to be polite, keep replies short and simple, and avoid deals or promotions in them (Google Business Profile Help).
Step 6: Keep a simple log
Write down each customer, the job and the date you sent the text. You will see which job types give you reviews and which you forget.
What texts can a mason copy?
Keep each message short. Texts that look like a letter do not get read. Use these as they are or change the wording to match how you talk. Put the name and link in place of the brackets.
General text after any job
Hi [Name], it's [Your name] from [Company]. Thanks for having us out today. If you have a minute, an honest Google review helps other homeowners find us: [link]
After a chimney repair
Hi [Name], [Your name] from [Company]. The chimney work is finished, and I hope the ceiling stays dry. Would you leave an honest Google review about the repair? [link]
After tuckpointing or brick repair
Hi [Name], it's [Your name] at [Company]. The wall looks great in the sun. If you'd like to leave a Google review about how the work went, here's the link: [link] Thanks for trusting us with it.
After a retaining wall
Hi [Name], [Your name] from [Company]. Now that the wall has been through some rain, I'd love to hear how it's holding. An honest review on Google helps others find us: [link]
After a stone veneer or fireplace job
Hi [Name], it's [Your name] from [Company]. Hope you're enjoying the new fireplace. If you'd share your experience on Google, it would mean a lot: [link]
After a patio, steps or walkway
Hi [Name], [Your name] from [Company]. Thanks for letting us build your new patio. If you'd like to review the job on Google, here's the link: [link]
Reminder, sent once
Hi [Name], it's [Your name] from [Company]. No worries if you're busy. If you get a minute, here's that review link again: [link]
For commercial and builder clients
Hi [Name], [Your name] from [Company]. Thanks for the work on [Project]. If you're open to it, a short Google review about how we worked together would help us a lot: [link]
Notice what is not in any of these. There is no discount, no free gift, no request for five stars and no mention of fixing a problem first. The ask is plain.
What should you not put in a review request?
- "Leave us 5 stars." This asks for a rating, not an honest review.
- "Get 10% off your next job for a review." Google bans it.
- "If you were not happy, call us instead." Sending unhappy customers away from the review page is the kind of selective soliciting Google's policy lists.
- A link to a different review site you do not control.
- A long story about your company.
Do not ask a customer to write a review "naming" a keyword, such as "best mason in Erie." Let them write their own words.
How do you handle a customer who is not happy?
Call them first about the problem, as you would anyway. Fix what you can. Then, if the job is done, send the same review text you sent to everyone else. You may not hide that customer from the list.
If a bad review lands, answer fast and keep it short. Google suggests you respond in a timely manner, acknowledge any mistakes and explain what you can and cannot do. Do not share private details about the customer or the job.
How do you stay on the right side of texting etiquette?
Text only customers who gave you their number for the job. Say who you are in the first line. Keep it to one or two messages per job. If someone asks you to stop, stop and keep a note. Check the rules of your texting provider and your state, since they can differ.
Our guide on missed-call text back for masonry contractors covers another text you can set up, and the hub guide on contractor review examples shows what good reviews look like across trades.
How do reviews connect to the rest of your marketing?
Reviews feed your profile, and your profile feeds the map. Our guide to the masonry Google Business Profile shows how, and our plan for how to get more masonry jobs puts reviews in order with the rest. State rules on what you may say in advertising differ, so check your own, for example in Massachusetts or New Jersey, before you quote a review in an ad.
If you want a site that displays your reviews next to your best project photos, you can see a free demo site.
Common questions
Can I offer a discount for a Google review?
No. Google says offering free or discounted goods or services for reviews is strictly prohibited, and its Maps policy says incentivized reviews will be removed. The FTC also says incentives cannot be tied to a positive sentiment. Just ask, say thanks and send the link.
Can I send the review link only to happy customers?
No. Google's Maps policy bars merchants from selectively soliciting positive reviews. The FTC says asking only satisfied customers could violate the FTC Act. Send the same request to everyone.
When should I ask after a masonry job?
It depends on the job. For a chimney repair, wait until the first rain shows the fix worked. For a wall or patio, the final walk-through works. When the customer thanks you in person, ask then.
Should I use a QR code?
A QR code can help if you are on site and the customer has their phone. Google says you can ask customers to visit a link or scan a QR code. You could print it on an invoice or a yard sign, as long as every customer gets the same offer.
How many times should I remind someone?
Once. If they do not reply, let it go. A second reminder starts to feel like pressure, and Google's Maps policy says merchants should not pressure people to leave reviews.
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help: Read and reply to reviews (2026)
- Google Maps contribution policy: Prohibited and restricted content (2026)
- FTC: Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule, questions and answers (2026)
- Google Business Profile Help: Tips to improve your local ranking (2026)
- Zarla: AI Visibility Index (2026)
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