If you're a plumber, you already know this:
Most homeowners don't know who the best plumber in town is.
When they need help, they pull out their phone, search Google, and start comparing plumbing companies.
I've been in the plumbing business long enough to see how much this industry has changed. Years ago, most of our work came from word-of-mouth referrals. Today, many of our new customers find us online first.
And in my experience, one thing influences their decision more than almost anything else:
Reviews.
Customers Read Reviews Before They Call
Think about your own habits.
If you're looking for a restaurant, contractor, electrician, or dentist, chances are you'll check the reviews before making a decision.
Homeowners do exactly the same thing when they're looking for a plumber.
When they see one company with 20 reviews and another with 300 recent five-star reviews, the choice becomes pretty obvious.
I've had customers tell me directly:
"We called you because your reviews looked better than everyone else's."
Not because of our trucks.
Not because of our website.
Not because of our logo.
Because of our reviews.
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Great Service Alone Doesn't Generate Reviews
Here's something I learned the hard way.
Most happy customers never leave a review.
Not because they don't want to.
Not because they weren't satisfied.
They simply forget.
After I've fixed a leaking pipe, replaced a water heater, or cleared a blocked drain, the customer is relieved. Their problem is solved. They thank me, shake my hand, and tell me they'll leave a review later.
The problem is that "later" rarely happens.
Life gets busy.
People move on.
And that opportunity disappears forever.
The Best Time to Ask Is Right After the Job
Over time, I realized that timing matters more than anything else.
The moment I finish a job is usually the moment the customer is happiest.
Their emergency is over.
Their home is back to normal.
The stress is gone.
That's when appreciation is highest.
And that's exactly when I ask for a review.
Not tomorrow.
Not next week.
Not through a follow-up email they'll never open.
Right there on the spot.
Why Mobile Review Requests Work So Well
One of the biggest changes we've made is simplifying the review process.
Years ago, I would tell customers:
"If you have time, please leave us a Google review."
Most never did.
Today, I simply show them a QR code on my phone.
They scan it.
It opens the review page instantly.
The review takes less than a minute.
No searching.
No remembering the business name later.
No complicated steps.
The easier you make it, the more reviews you'll get.
It's really that simple.
How Reviewance Helped Us Collect More Reviews
One of the tools we've started using is Reviewance.
What I like about Reviewance is that it focuses on helping businesses actually collect reviews instead of just monitoring them.
Most review software tells you what people have already said.
Reviewance helps you generate new reviews.
After completing a plumbing job, I can simply show the customer a Reviewance QR code on my phone.
The customer scans it while they're still standing in front of me.
At that exact moment, they're happy because the problem has been solved.
They're grateful.
They're relieved.
Most importantly, they haven't forgotten yet.
That's when the review happens.
Not days later.
Not weeks later.
Immediately.
We've seen a noticeable increase in review volume simply because we're asking at the right time and making the process incredibly easy.
More Reviews Mean More Calls
Many plumbing companies spend thousands of dollars on advertising.
Advertising certainly helps.
But reviews often determine whether customers actually choose you.
When homeowners compare plumbing companies on Google, they naturally trust businesses with a strong review profile.
More reviews create more trust.
More trust generates more phone calls.
More calls create more opportunities.
It's one of the few marketing activities that continues to compound over time.
A review you receive today may help you win jobs months or even years from now.
Consistency Is Everything
The biggest mistake I see plumbing businesses make is collecting reviews only occasionally.
They ask one customer.
Then forget to ask the next ten.
The most successful plumbing companies build review requests into every completed job.
Every repair.
Every installation.
Every service call.
Every satisfied customer.
When review collection becomes part of your process, your online reputation grows naturally over time.
As a Result
As plumbers, we spend a lot of time focusing on tools, equipment, vehicles, and technical skills.
Those things matter.
But in today's market, your online reputation matters too.
You can be the best plumber in town, but if your competitors have hundreds of reviews and you only have a handful, homeowners may never discover you.
That's why I believe every plumbing business should have a simple review collection process.
For us, showing customers a Reviewance QR code immediately after completing a successful job has become one of the easiest and most effective ways to collect more reviews.
The customer is happy.
The job is done.
The review takes less than a minute.
And over time, those reviews help bring in the next customer.
That's a win for everyone.
All my Best,
Mike Reynolds
Owner, Reynolds Plumbing & Drain Service
Editor Emily's Note: Mike Reynolds has been serving homeowners across Texas for over 18 years and specializes in residential plumbing repairs, drain cleaning, water heater installation, and emergency plumbing services.