Why Reviews Are the Secret Weapon for Growing Your Painting Business (and How to Get More of Them)
At Taurify, we talk to painters every day who want more leads, better visibility, and stronger credibility online. One of the most overlooked ways to get all three? Online reviews—especially Google reviews.
Most painting contractors understand that reviews are important, but few realize just how powerful they can be for generating leads without spending a dime on ads.
Let’s break down why reviews matter, how many you actually need, what Google looks for, and how to make the entire process hands-off.
Why Google Reviews Matter (A Lot)
You already know people check reviews. But did you know over 80% of people read online reviews before making a purchase? For local services like painting, reviews are your digital word of mouth.
Here’s what reviews can do for your business:
Improve visibility in Google’s local search (especially the “Map Pack”)
Build trust with customers before they even contact you
Lower your ad costs, because better profiles get more clicks
Increase conversions from your website or ad traffic
That means even if you’re running ads, reviews make your ad dollars go further.
The Google Map Pack: Your Free Ad Space
If you’ve ever searched “house painter near me” and seen the top 3 listings under a map—those are part of the Google Map Pack.
Here’s the kicker: you can show up there without paying for ads, but only if:
You have at least 5 reviews
Your reviews are recent and frequent
You actually respond to your reviews
These factors tell Google you’re a legitimate, active business—and that gets rewarded with visibility.
What Makes a “Good” Review?
Believe it or not, a perfect 5-star rating isn’t always ideal. In fact, having a few 3–4 star reviews mixed in can actually increase credibility.
That’s because 5-star-only profiles sometimes look fake or bought. Google knows this. So do your customers.
Authentic, detailed reviews help more than vague “Great job!” ones. Here’s what the best reviews typically include:
Mention of the service (“interior painting,” “cabinet refinishing”)
Mention of a team member (“John was amazing!”)
Mention of the location (“We hired them in Pasadena…”)
A short story or problem-solution outcome
How Many Reviews Do You Actually Need?
It depends on your competition, but here’s a good rule of thumb:
Under 5 reviews: You likely won’t show up at all.
10–25 reviews: You’re in the game.
50+ reviews: You’re above most local painters.
100+ reviews: You’re in the top 5% of your market.
If you’ve painted 100+ homes in the last year, you already have the happy customers. You just need a system to get them to leave a review.
What to Do When You Get a Bad Review
Every business gets one eventually. The key is to stay calm and respond professionally.
Here’s what we recommend:
Take a breath—don’t respond emotionally.
Respond promptly and respectfully.
Offer to take the conversation offline.
Show you’re willing to fix the issue, but stay firm if the customer was unreasonable.
Remember, future customers aren’t just reading the review—they’re watching how you respond.
🧯 Bonus Tip: Create a crisis response template for 1-star reviews, so you’re always ready.
How to Get More Reviews (Without Chasing Them Manually)
Let’s be honest. Most painters are too busy to remember to follow up for reviews. That’s where tools like NiceJob come in.
NiceJob connects to your CRM or booking software (like Jobber, DripJobs, QuickBooks) and automatically:
Sends a text + 3 emails after the job is done
Stops messaging once a review is received
Shares reviews to your website and social media
Responds to reviews using AI-generated replies
Tracks competitor benchmarks and your ranking
Clients who use review tools like NiceJob often see 4x more reviews—and even higher if their team is involved.
Should You Ask Friends and Family for Reviews?
When starting out, it’s okay to ask friends and family—if they’ve interacted with your service.
Their feedback can reflect your work ethic, communication, and reliability. Just don’t fake it. Authenticity wins every time.
Final Takeaways for Painting Contractors
If you want to grow your painting business, start treating your reviews like gold. They:
✅ Drive free organic leads
✅ Lower your ad costs
✅ Build long-term credibility
✅ Attract higher-quality customers and even employees
The best part? With the right tools, you can make this process totally hands-off.
Ready to Grow Your Business the Smart Way?
We at Taurify help painting businesses dominate their local market through smart, scalable marketing systems—and building your online reputation is step one.
Click here to book a call with our team
Watch this on YouTube
l
