Most advisers know Google reviews are important.

Getting clients to actually leave one? That’s another story.

It sparked a great discussion in our Monday Momentum session inside the Financial Adviser Scale Squad recently when one adviser admitted:

“I know Google reviews matter… I just can’t seem to get clients to leave them.”

His clients are happy.

They tell him how much they value the advice. They refer friends. They appreciate everything his team does.

But when it comes to actually leaving a Google review? Nothing.

Then another adviser, Rachel, shared something that made everyone sit up.

She’d signed three new clients in the previous fortnight.

Every one of them had found her through Google.

She wasn’t running ads. She hadn’t overhauled her marketing. She simply had more than 30 genuine Google reviews.

Suddenly, the conversation wasn’t whether Google reviews mattered.

It was how do we get more of them?

One of the things I love about Monday Momentum is that this happens all the time. Someone shares a challenge they’re facing, someone else shares what’s working in their business, and everyone walks away with a practical idea they can implement straight away.

This week’s conversation was a great reminder that sometimes the biggest marketing wins don’t come from doing something new. They come from doing the basics consistently.

Most advisers don’t have a client problem

If your clients are happy, chances are they’re already saying great things about you.

They’re telling their friends. They’re thanking you in meetings. They’re saying things like, “I wish we’d done this years ago.”

But happy clients are busy.

They leave your office with every intention of writing a review, then life gets in the way. Work, family, school pick-up, a phone call… and before they know it, they’ve completely forgotten.

Most advisers don’t have a Google review problem – they have a process problem.

The advisers who consistently collect reviews haven’t just been lucky.

They’ve made asking part of the client experience.

1. Ask while you’re together

Don’t wait until after the meeting and hope you’ll remember.

Put “Google review” on your meeting agenda so it becomes part of your process, not an afterthought.

Right at the end of the meeting, you might simply say:

“Before we wrap up, I wanted to ask a quick favour. We love helping clients like you, and we’d love to support more people in a similar position. Would you be open to spending two minutes leaving us a Google review?”

Simple. Genuine. No awkward sales pitch.

When it’s built into your process, it feels completely natural.

2. Send the link straight away

Asking is only half the job.

Don’t expect clients to remember your business name, search for you later and leave a review when they get a spare five minutes.

Make it easy by sending the review link immediately after the meeting.

Several advisers in the Squad shared they’d had much better success with text messages than emails. Which makes sense – texts are generally seen much sooner, while emails can disappear into an overflowing inbox.

Even better, automate the whole thing through your CRM or calendar booking system, so nobody has to remember to send it manually.

The easier you make it, the more likely it is to happen.

3. Don’t make them stare at a blank box

One of the biggest barriers is surprisingly simple.

People don’t know what to write.

They open the Google review box and suddenly forget every nice thing they’ve ever said about you.

Rather than giving clients a review to copy and paste, give them a few prompts to help them get started.

For example:

• What made you reach out for advice?

• What was most helpful about the process?

• How do you feel now compared to before we started working together?

• What would you say to someone who’s thinking about getting financial advice?

You might also give them a few examples.

You’ll still receive genuine reviews in your clients’ own words – you’re simply removing the blank-page problem and making it easier for them to know where to begin.

4. Ask more than once

This was another big lesson from the Squad – sometimes clients need more than one nudge.

That doesn’t mean they don’t want to help.

It doesn’t mean they secretly hated working with you.

It usually just means they forgot.

Unless they say no, it’s okay to follow up.

Something as simple as:

“Hi Sarah, just a quick reminder about the Google review link I sent through. No pressure at all, but if you’re happy to share a few words about your experience, it really helps other people who are looking for advice.”

One reminder isn’t pushy.

It’s helpful.

Remember what Google reviews actually do

This isn’t about collecting five-star ratings for your ego.

It’s about reducing uncertainty.

Choosing a financial adviser is a significant trust decision. Before someone books a meeting, they’re looking for reassurance that someone like them has had a positive experience.

That’s exactly what Google reviews provide.

They turn private client appreciation into public trust.

And sometimes, that’s the difference between someone deciding to get in touch or continuing their search.

There’s also another, less obvious benefit…

Google Reviews tell AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude that you’re a respected authority in the industry.

So you’re more likely to come up when people are searching on these platforms – something that’s a growing trend for people seeking adviser recommendations.

Your challenge this week

If you only do one thing after reading this article, make it this:

Create a simple Google review process.

Ask during the meeting.

Send the link afterwards.

Follow up if needed.

Don’t leave it to chance.

You don’t need a brand-new marketing strategy.

You don’t need to spend thousands on advertising.

Sometimes the biggest opportunity is simply making it easier for happy clients to share their experience with future clients.

And that’s often the best kind of marketing – the kind that doesn’t really feel like marketing at all.

P.S. This is exactly why I love Monday Momentum inside the Financial Adviser Scale Squad. One adviser shares a challenge, another shares what’s working, and everyone benefits from the conversation.

Growing your advice business is a whole lot easier when you don’t have to figure everything out on your own.

Want to be part of the crew? Book your free 15-minute Scale Session.

Want to know more about setting up smart systems? Read my article The Fastest Way to Stop Being the Bottleneck in Your Business.