SMS Review Request to a Recent Customer

When to use this

SMS outperforms email for under-35 demographics and service businesses. Send between 11am and 6pm local time, never weekends. Keep it under 160 chars to avoid carrier splits.

The template

Replace the {curly} variables with your specific details before sending.

Hi {firstName} — it's {businessName} 👋 Hope you're loving everything. If you've got 30 sec, a Google review would mean the world: {reviewShortLink} Thank you!

Tip: triple-click any line to select it, then copy. Or select the whole block above and paste into your email/DM client.

Variables you'll need to fill in

• {firstName}
• {businessName}
• {reviewShortLink}

Pro tips

• 01Use a URL shortener with custom branding (yourname.link/r). Bare Google URLs trigger more carrier-level spam filters than branded ones.
• 02Always identify yourself in the first 3 words. Unknown-sender SMS gets deleted in under 2 seconds.
• 03Never send review SMS to customers who haven't opted in to marketing texts — the TCPA penalty is $500-$1,500 per violation.
• 04Track which template performs better — the one ending with a 🙏 emoji or with a period. Emoji versions convert 8-12% higher for service businesses.
• 05If they don't click within 24 hours, don't follow up by SMS. A second SMS feels invasive; switch channels (email) for the follow-up.

Why this works

Review requests succeed when three things line up: timing, relationship, and frictionlessness. This template handles all three. Timing-wise, the ask lands during the window when the customer's satisfaction is still vivid but their schedule has caught up enough to honor a small favor. Relationship-wise, the language acknowledges that you're asking for something, which is more disarming than pretending the email is neutral. Frictionlessness-wise, the direct review link removes the 4-7 clicks a generic Google search would require, and conversion drops 30-50% with each click. The honesty about the ask ('I'm going to ask for something, but I want to be honest about it') outperforms slicker, more clever versions because trust is the actual conversion lever — and trust collapses the moment a customer suspects manipulation.