Full Transcript
Lauren: So I was talking to a friend who runs a landscaping business. He does great work, clients love him, but he says he's not getting many referrals. And I asked him, have you ever just... asked for them? And he looked at me like I suggested he run naked through town.
Honor: Welcome to the 805 Web Minute with Lauren and Honor... We make interwebs and website stuff make sense... Let's get into it.
Honor: Yeah, that's the thing. Most business owners never ask for referrals or reviews because it feels awkward. And honestly, if you ask at the wrong time, it is awkward.
Lauren: Right, like nobody wants to hear "got any friends who need their gutters cleaned?" while they're still writing the check.
Honor: Exactly. But here's the thing... there are specific moments when asking feels totally natural. And if you hit those moments, people are actually happy to help.
Lauren: Okay, so when's the right time?
Honor: The first one is right after you solve a problem. Like, you just fixed someone's AC the day before Thanksgiving. They're relieved, they're grateful, maybe even impressed. That's the moment.
Lauren: Oh! So they're already feeling like you saved the day.
Honor: Right. You just say something like, "Glad we got that handled. If you know anyone else who gets stuck like that, send them my way." That's it. No pressure.
Lauren: That's not awkward at all. It's just... conversational.
Honor: The second one is when they compliment you first. If someone says "you guys are always so quick" or "I tell everyone about this place"... they've opened the door. Walk through it.
Lauren: Wait, so when they're already kind of bragging about you...
Honor: Yeah! That's when you say, "That means a lot. If you ever have a minute, a Google review would really help us out." They were already saying nice things. Now you're just giving them an official place to say it.
Lauren: That's like... someone's already clapping for you, and you just point them toward the tip jar.
Honor: Exactly! And the third moment is the follow-up. Like a week later, you check in... "Hey, how's that new fence holding up?" The transaction is done, pressure's off, they've had time to enjoy your work.
Lauren: Oh, I like that one. It doesn't feel sales-y because you're genuinely checking in.
Honor: Right. And then you can mention the review or referral thing casually at the end.
Lauren: Okay, but here's my question. Even if I ask, people are busy. They forget. How do I actually make it happen?
Honor: You make it stupid easy. Like, even your happiest customer won't hunt for your Google listing. You have to remove every obstacle.
Lauren: How?
Honor: Google Business Profile has a "get more reviews" button that creates a direct link. When someone clicks it, they go straight to the review form. No searching, no scrolling. Then you shorten that link or make a QR code and put it on your business card or invoice.
Lauren: Oh! So they scan it with their phone while they're still standing in front of you, thinking "wow that was great service."
Honor: Thirty seconds and it's done. Every extra click you require is another person who meant to leave a review but didn't.
Lauren: That's like... putting a donation box right by the exit instead of making people go find it in the basement.
Honor: Perfect analogy. And here's the thing that makes all of this worth it... word-of-mouth compounds. One happy customer tells three friends. One of those becomes a customer who tells three more. You're building a system where happy customers create more happy customers.
Lauren: No ad budget required.
Honor: No algorithm changes to worry about. Just real people recommending you to other real people.
Lauren: So the moral of the story is... pick your moment, make it easy, and the referrals will start flowing. Get that Google review link ready and put it everywhere.
Honor: That's it. One small change and you'll see the difference.
Lauren: And here's the thing... when someone hears about you and Googles your name, your website better finish the job. If it looks dated or doesn't exist, that referral might go to your competitor instead.
Honor: That's where we come in. YouGrow handles the website so you can focus on doing great work and building relationships. 79 dollars a month, month-to-month, no upfront costs, unlimited reasonable edits. Your happy customers do the marketing, we make sure your website seals the deal.
Lauren: Love it. Alright, this has been 805 Web Minute. Thanks for listening.