What is the best month to ask for Google reviews?

Every month. Customers notice how recent your reviews are, so a steady flow beats a seasonal push. The months to watch are your busiest ones, because that is when the most customers go unasked.

Should I run a Christmas review competition?

No. Prize draws and gifts in return for reviews are incentives, which Google's policy does not allow. Reviews obtained that way can be removed.

How do I keep asking for reviews when I am too busy?

Tie the request to something that already happens on every job, such as an approved invoice or a booking export, so it goes out without anyone remembering. Rocket Review does this from Xero invoices, CSV uploads or manual entry.

Does this calendar apply in Australia as well as New Zealand?

Yes. The seasons line up, and the calendar notes where dates differ, such as the end of the financial year (31 March is common in New Zealand, 30 June in Australia) and public holidays like Waitangi Day, Australia Day, Matariki and Labour Weekend.

Month by month

The seasonal Google review calendar

Every business has busy and quiet months, and the best review habit works through both. This calendar sets out what to focus on each month in New Zealand and Australia, from the January restart to the Christmas rush, so reviews keep coming in all year.

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The one rule that beats any calendar

Ask every customer, soon after the job, the same way, every time. A calendar helps you plan around busy and quiet periods, but the businesses with the most reviews are the ones whose request goes out automatically from something that already happens, such as an invoice or a booking. Seasonal campaigns work best on top of that habit, not instead of it.

Customers notice the dates on reviews, and many sort by newest. A steady flow through the year beats a burst in one month followed by silence.

Set up once, then follow the calendar

Get your direct Google review link and a QR code from the free Google review link generator.
Write one short request for TXT and one for email, or copy ours from the review request templates.
Decide what triggers the request: an approved invoice, a booking list, or a weekly upload of customers.
Pick a regular time each week to reply to new reviews.

January and February: restart and reset

Catch up on December. The pre-Christmas rush often means many customers were never asked. Send requests to anyone served in the last few weeks of the year.
Reply to every review you missed over the holidays.
Update your Google Business Profile: hours, holiday closures, photos and services for the new year.
Summer is peak season for tourism, hospitality, outdoor trades and air conditioning. Keep QR codes visible and requests flowing. Waitangi Day in New Zealand and Australia Day bring a long weekend of visitors.

March to May: steady months

Autumn is a good time to set up or tidy your review process while things are calmer: your review link, your request wording and who sends it. Our review request templates are a quick start.
Easter and the April school holidays are busy for hospitality, accommodation and family attractions.
In New Zealand, 31 March is the most common balance date, so accountants and bookkeepers are flat out in the months after; ask clients once their work is delivered.
Review your numbers: how many requests went out last quarter, how many reviews came back, and your average rating. See measuring customer experience.

June to August: winter

Heating, insulation, roofing, plumbing and electrical calls climb. Trades should make sure every winter job gets a request; see the guide for tradies.
Clinics, pharmacies and GPs are busy with winter illness. Keep requests general and private; see the guide for health and beauty.
Ski towns and winter destinations have their peak, and the July school holidays bring families out.
In Australia, 30 June is the end of the financial year, a busy time for accountants and a natural moment to ask business clients. Matariki in New Zealand brings a midwinter long weekend.
Quieter businesses can use the time to re-engage past customers who were never asked, and to reply to older reviews that still have no response.

September to November: spring build-up

Spring brings garden, landscaping, renovation and outdoor work, plus weddings and events. Ask as each job finishes rather than waiting for the season to end.
Daylight saving starts in late September in New Zealand and early October in most of south-east Australia. Longer evenings help cafes, bars and outdoor venues.
Labour Weekend in New Zealand, school holidays, spring racing and end-of-year functions all bring visitors.
October is the time to prepare for December: update your review link and printed QR codes, brief staff, and check your request wording. Retailers should read the guide for shops and online stores.
Black Friday in late November starts the gift-buying season, when first-time customers rely most on reviews.

December: the rush

Most businesses are at their busiest and most customers go unasked. Automating the request is worth the most this month.
Christmas parties and functions are a strong source of detailed reviews from organisers; see the guide for hospitality.
Delivery delays drive retail complaints. Reply fast and fix what you can.
Set holiday hours on your Google Business Profile so people do not turn up to a closed door and leave a one-star review.
Before you close for the break, schedule a time in January to catch up on replies and missed requests.

Seasonal ideas to avoid

A few common seasonal tactics break Google's rules. Christmas prize draws for reviewers, holiday discounts in return for a review, and "review us and get a free gift" offers all count as incentives and are not allowed. Asking only the customers who look happy at a busy event is selective asking, which Google also does not allow. Thank people with good service instead, and give everyone the same chance to review.

Let the requests send themselves

Rocket Review sends your review request to every customer you approve, by email, or by SMS/TXT on Growth and Pro, after the delay you choose, with one optional reminder. Customers come in from Xero invoices, a CSV upload or manual entry, and every customer gets the same two choices: a public Google review or private feedback to you. You can read and reply to your Google reviews from the same dashboard.

Starter $39, Growth $59 and Pro $99 a month, in NZD excl. GST. Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial, and you do not need a card to start. See pricing or how automated review requests work.

Common questions

What is the best month to ask for Google reviews?: Every month. Customers notice how recent your reviews are, so a steady flow beats a seasonal push. The months to watch are your busiest ones, because that is when the most customers go unasked.
Should I run a Christmas review competition?: No. Prize draws and gifts in return for reviews are incentives, which Google's policy does not allow. Reviews obtained that way can be removed.
How do I keep asking for reviews when I am too busy?: Tie the request to something that already happens on every job, such as an approved invoice or a booking export, so it goes out without anyone remembering. Rocket Review does this from Xero invoices, CSV uploads or manual entry.
Does this calendar apply in Australia as well as New Zealand?: Yes. The seasons line up, and the calendar notes where dates differ, such as the end of the financial year (31 March is common in New Zealand, 30 June in Australia) and public holidays like Waitangi Day, Australia Day, Matariki and Labour Weekend.

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