How do trade businesses get more genuine Google reviews they can plan for?
The best moment for a review is acceptance or invoice handover: your customer receives a high-quality card with two equal QR codes — one scan leads to your Google profile, the other directly to your business. Happy customers review in seconds; complaints reach you privately before they go public. No star filter, no review gating — and StarDesk shows you what works, without linking your Google account.
Why do trades businesses miss reviews?
Trades businesses have a structural review problem. Most customers are happy with the work but forget to review. Anyone unhappy with timing, cleanliness or the bill finds Google on their own. The profile then looks worse than the business really is.
How it works at handover
Your team places the card at handover or with the invoice while the customer has just seen the result. Happy customers scan the Google code and reach the review form in two taps. Feedback that does not belong on Google goes via the second code — for example when snagging work remained or line items felt unclear. The customer writes to you directly. You respond personally and clear up the issue, so you win follow-on work instead of a public blow-up.
What does StarDesk show?
In StarDesk you see after each monitoring run how average rating and count develop. Competitor figures update on the full rescan — including the contractor next door. The Safety Score™ tells you how many cards to hand out next month, and growth stays organic. No Google account link, no tech on site: laying out cards is enough for your team.
Benefits for your industry
- Acceptance and invoice as touchpoint — card at closing meeting or with the bill
- Job-site ready — one scan, no typing; no crew training needed
- Complaints land in your private inbox first — not on Google
- Safety Score™ prevents suspicious review spikes after peak seasons or large contracts
FAQ
When should the team hand over the card at acceptance?
At the acceptance meeting or with the invoice — your customer has just seen the result and has two minutes to spare. A neutral line like "We'd love your feedback" is enough; the card explains itself.
What happens if a customer was unhappy with the work?
Both codes sit side by side as equals — an unhappy customer can review publicly too. In practice, many choose the direct line instead: criticism lands in your private inbox and you respond personally — often before it becomes a public one-star review. That is not filtering; it is an additional offer to talk.
Does this work with many parallel job sites and time pressure?
Especially then. The flow costs your team zero extra time, and the Safety Score™ tells you how many cards per month fit your profile — so growth looks natural to Google even with a full order book.
Is inviting reviews via card allowed in the trades?
Yes — as long as the ask is neutrally worded and there is no reward for positive reviews (no "5 stars = free maintenance"). That is exactly how SmarterStars is built. Not legal advice.