Most Trustpilot guides are written with e-commerce or SaaS businesses in mind. But an increasing number of UK tradespeople — plumbers, electricians, builders, gas engineers, and other local service businesses — are asking whether Trustpilot makes sense for them.
The short answer: yes, but with some important differences in how to use it.
Does Trustpilot Work for Trades Businesses?
Trustpilot is generally associated with online transactions and national brands. But it's increasingly used by local service businesses, and for good reason: a strong Trustpilot profile appears in Google search results for branded queries, provides social proof that Checkatrade alone doesn't, and — once you cross 100 reviews — activates Google Ads seller ratings.
For a plumber or electrician competing in a local area, showing a 4.9 from 140 verified reviews in Google search results is a significant differentiator.
Trustpilot vs Checkatrade vs Google Reviews: Which Should Tradespeople Prioritise?
This is the most common question, and the honest answer is: all three matter, but Google reviews should come first.
| Platform | What It Does Best | Priority | |---|---|---| | Google Reviews | Local SEO rankings, Google Maps visibility | 1st | | Checkatrade | Industry-specific trust, Checkatrade search | 2nd | | Trustpilot | Branded Google search results, Google Ads seller ratings | 3rd |
Start with Google reviews because they directly affect whether you appear in local searches. Once that's established, Trustpilot adds a layer of credibility in branded searches and supports any Google Ads you run.
How Tradespeople Can Get More Trustpilot Reviews
The challenge for trades businesses is that your customers are often older, less digitally active, or simply too busy after a job to think about leaving a review. Here's what works:
Ask in person, then follow up by text
The most effective approach for many tradespeople is to ask the customer directly at the end of the job — "Would you mind leaving us a review on Trustpilot? I'll text you the link." Then send the SMS while you're still on-site or within an hour.
People are far more likely to act on a request that was made face-to-face and followed up immediately.
Use a QR code
Print a small card or sticker with a QR code linking directly to your Trustpilot review page. Leave it with the customer at the end of the job. Some tradespeople attach these to their invoice, their van, or their tool bag.
Follow-up text template:
Hi [Name], thanks for having us today. If you were happy with the work, we'd really appreciate a quick review on Trustpilot: [link]. It only takes 2 minutes and makes a big difference to us. — [Your name]
Follow-up email template:
Subject: How did we do, [Name]?
Hi [Name],
Thanks for using [Business Name] — we hope the [job] went smoothly.
If you were happy with the work, we'd be really grateful for a Trustpilot review. It only takes a couple of minutes and genuinely helps us.
[Leave a review →]
Thanks, [Your name]
What to Do When Customers Say They Don't Know How
Some customers — particularly older ones — will want to leave a review but won't know how. Have a simple one-page guide ready:
- Click the link I sent you
- You'll see a box that says "Write a review"
- Click the stars that match your experience
- Type a few words about the job
- Enter your email address and click submit
Some tradespeople laminate this guide and leave it with customers. It sounds basic, but it significantly increases completion rates.
Responding to Reviews as a Tradesperson
The same rules apply as any other business — respond to every review, positive or negative, within 48 hours. For a trades business, a warm personal response works better than something that sounds corporate:
For a positive review:
"Really glad the boiler installation went smoothly, Sarah — it was a pleasure working in your home. If you ever need anything in the future, don't hesitate to get in touch."
For a negative review:
"Sorry to hear the visit didn't go as expected, Mark. We'd like to understand what happened and make it right — please give us a call on [number] and we'll sort it out."
Trustpilot vs Google Reviews: Which Has More Impact on Local Search?
For local tradespeople, Google reviews are more important for SEO. Trustpilot reviews don't directly improve your local pack ranking or Maps visibility. But Trustpilot does appear in Google search results for your business name — which means a potential customer searching "[Your Business Name] reviews" will see your Trustpilot profile.
If that profile shows 4.9 from 80 verified reviews, it's a powerful trust signal before they've even clicked through to your website.
Building Your Trustpilot Profile Alongside Your Google Reviews
The most efficient approach for a busy tradesperson is to automate as much of the request process as possible. If you use any kind of job management software (Tradify, ServiceM8, Commusoft, etc.), most of them allow you to send automated follow-up messages after job completion.
For email-based automation, Revumate is built for exactly this: send review invitations automatically after every job, without manually remembering each time.
The trades businesses that stand out on Trustpilot aren't necessarily the best tradespeople in their area. They're the ones who ask every customer, follow up consistently, and respond to every review. It's a process, not a talent.
Related reading: