A review routine is the cheapest marketing a Durham contractor can run. It costs little more than a text message per job, it helps your map ranking, and it gives the next homeowner a reason to call you over the company with a nicer truck wrap. This service sets up that routine, trains your team to use it, and keeps it running.
Why reviews carry extra weight in Durham
Google lists prominence as one of its local ranking factors, and says review count and rating play a part in it. That alone makes reviews worth the effort.
In much of Durham, though, reviews matter for a second reason. In places such as Port Perry, Uxbridge, Sunderland and Orono, people tend to know someone who has used you, or know someone who knows. A homeowner reads your reviews, then asks the local Facebook group, then calls the name that comes up in both. Online reviews and word of mouth reinforce each other, and a contractor who looks thin on one loses on the other.
What's included
- The ask, scripted. A short text or email template your crew or office sends when a job is finished and the customer is happy, with a direct link to your review page. Example: "Hi [Customer name], thanks for having us at your place in [Town]. If you were happy with the work, a short Google review would help us a lot: [link]. — [Your name], [Business name]."
- Timing rules. Ask at the moment of satisfaction: when the furnace fires, the deck is swept, the final walkthrough is done. Not three weeks later with the invoice.
- Response templates for positive and negative reviews, written in your voice, so every review gets a reply within a few days.
- A referral offer that is fair and simple, such as a thank-you for any referral that turns into a paid job. We help you word it so it's clear and compliant.
- Neighbour follow-up. Where appropriate, a polite approach to nearby homes after a visible job, such as a roof or fence, using door hangers or signage that your municipality allows.
- A monthly count of new reviews, average rating trend, and referrals received.
Timeline
- Week 1: set up your review link, write templates, decide who sends the ask.
- Weeks 2–4: start asking after every completed job; we watch for gaps.
- Months 2–3: add referral offer and response routine; compare your profile with competitors in the same map results.
- Ongoing: monthly check-ins so the habit doesn't fade in busy season.
How results are measured
We track new reviews per month, the share of finished jobs that produced a review, and the number of referrals that became booked work. The share matters most: if your crew finishes 40 jobs and only 4 produce a review, the problem isn't your work, it's the ask.
Results from our HVAC work show why this pays. GasBoilers.ca holds a 5.0★ rating from 76+ Google reviews across 26+ BC communities, which shows what a well-reviewed profile looks like when one brand serves many towns. That's a heating example, not a Durham one, but the method is the same for any trade.
Mistakes to avoid
- Asking only when you remember, which means asking only after the easiest jobs.
- Review "gating", where only happy customers get the link. Google's policies don't allow it.
- Arguing in public with a negative reviewer. Reply calmly, take it offline, and let other readers see you handled it well.
- Paying for reviews or buying them. Beyond the policy risk, it can trigger penalties under Canada's Competition Act.
Who it suits
Every contractor, but especially those in Durham's smaller towns and anyone whose profile has fewer recent reviews than nearby competitors. It pairs with local SEO because reviews feed rankings, and with your website where good reviews help visitors decide. See the pricing page, or call, text or email to start.
Frequently asked questions
Can you write reviews for us or remove bad ones?
No. Fake reviews break Google's policies and Canada's Competition Act, and we won't write them. We help you earn real ones and respond professionally to the occasional unhappy customer.
Should we offer a discount for a review?
Don't. Google doesn't allow incentives for reviews. A thank-you for a referral that becomes a job is a different thing, and we can help you set up a fair referral offer.
How many reviews do we need?
There's no magic number. What matters is that your recent reviews look current and specific compared with the other contractors in the same map results. A steady few each month usually beats a burst followed by silence.
What about Facebook community groups?
In smaller Durham towns they matter a lot. We don't post on your behalf pretending to be a customer, but we help you show up well when your name is recommended there.