1

Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Time: ~15 minutes · Free

If you haven't claimed your Google Business Profile (the box that appears on the right side of Google when someone searches your agency name), do that first. It's free and takes 15 minutes.

Go to google.com/business and sign in with your Google account. Search for your agency name. If it appears, click "Claim this business." If it doesn't appear, click "Add your business." Fill in your agency name, category (Insurance Agency), address, phone number, and hours.

Once you're verified: add at least 10 photos (your office, your team, your logo), write a keyword-rich description (include your city, your specialty, and what makes you different), and make sure your hours are correct. Agencies with complete profiles get 7× more clicks than those with empty profiles.

Screenshot: Google Business Profile dashboard showing review link and QR code options

2

Get Your Direct Review Link

Time: 2 minutes · Free

This is the link you'll put in every email, text, and follow-up message. When someone clicks it, Google takes them directly to the review box, no searching required. This one step alone can triple your review rate.

To get it: log into your Google Business Profile → click "Get more reviews" (or "Share review form") → copy the link. It looks like: g.page/[yourbusinessname]/review or a shortened maps.app.goo.gl link.

Save this link somewhere accessible, you'll use it in all 3 scripts in Step 4, and in your email automation in Step 5.

Optional: Create a QR code from this link (free at qr-code-generator.com) and print it on a small card you hand to clients at policy signing. Easy scan, instant review.

3

Know When to Ask (and When Not To)

Timing makes the difference between 10% and 40% response rates

The single biggest factor in whether someone leaves a review is whether you asked at the right moment. Insurance clients are most receptive at specific points in the relationship, and asking at the wrong time feels awkward and rarely works.

✓ Best Times to Ask

24–48 hours after a policy is signed (excitement is high)
Right after resolving a claim quickly (gratitude is high)
After a successful renewal (relationship is strong)
When a client says "thank you" or gives verbal praise

✗ Times to Avoid

During a claims dispute or complaint
When delivering bad news about a rate increase

4

Use These 3 Word-for-Word Scripts

A: Email · B: SMS · C: In-Person or Phone

These scripts are designed to feel like they're from a real person, not an automated system. Use whichever channel fits the moment. The key is personalization and timing, both of which these scripts build in.

Script A, Email (Best for post-policy signing)

Subject: Quick favor, [First Name]? (30 seconds, I promise) Hi [First Name], It's been [24/48 hours] since we got your [policy type] coverage sorted, and I just wanted to check in, is everything looking good? If your experience with us was positive, I'd really appreciate it if you took 30 seconds to leave us a quick Google review. For a small agency like mine, reviews make an enormous difference in helping other [homeowners/families/business owners] in [city] find us. Here's the direct link, just click and type what you honestly think: [YOUR REVIEW LINK] Thank you so much, [First Name]. I'm genuinely grateful for your trust. [Your Name]

Why it works: "30 seconds, I promise" removes the perceived effort barrier. "What you honestly think" signals you're not asking them to fake anything, which actually gets more honest positive reviews.

Script B, SMS Text (Highest open rate, 98%)

Hi [First Name], it's [Your Name] from [Agency Name]. Thanks for trusting us with your coverage! If we did a good job, would you mind leaving a quick Google review? It takes about 30 seconds: [REVIEW LINK], no pressure at all! 😊

Why it works: Text messages get a 98% open rate vs. 20% for email. The casual, friendly tone matches the medium. The emoji softens the ask. Keep it to 3 sentences max.

Script C, Verbal (In-Person or Phone)

When a client says something positive (e.g., "Thanks so much, this was so easy"): "I'm really glad to hear that, that genuinely means a lot. Hey, can I ask you a quick favor? If you have 30 seconds later today or tomorrow, a Google review would be huge for us. I'll text you the link right now, you can just click it whenever you have a sec. Would that be okay?" Then immediately text them Script B.

Why it works: Asking for permission ("Would that be okay?") is 60% more effective than just sending the link cold. The verbal ask + immediate text follow-up is the highest-converting combination.

5

Automate Review Requests with Podium or Zapier

Set it up once · Runs forever

Manual scripts work. But automation works while you sleep. Here are two options depending on your budget:

Option A: Podium (paid, easiest), Podium integrates with your existing system and automatically sends a review request text after you mark a client as "served." Most insurance agents using Podium see 3–5× more reviews within 90 days. Start with their free trial at podium.com →

Option B: Zapier (free, 30 min to set up), When you add a new row to a Google Sheet (your "new policy" tracker), Zapier waits 48 hours and then sends a Gmail to the client using Script A above. Full setup in our Zapier for Insurance Agents tutorial → (Step 3 specifically covers this exact workflow).

Screenshot: Podium dashboard showing automated review request flow after policy binding

Whichever option you choose: respond to every review, both 5-star and negative. Use ChatGPT prompts 11–15 in our guide → to write professional, personalized responses in minutes. Responding to reviews signals to Google that you're active, and shows potential clients that you care.

Get More Google Reviews for Your Insurance Agency, The 5-Step System

Tools You'll Need

The 5-Step Google Review System for Insurance Agents

✓ Best Times to Ask

✗ Times to Avoid

Common Questions About Google Reviews

Want Us to Set Up Your Review System?

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