It doesn’t feel great to ask for reviews, but it’s a practice you can’t avoid if you care about your online reputation. Unfortunately, even the happiest customers aren’t likely to leave reviews if they aren’t reminded to do so.
You need to actively encourage customers to share their experiences on the review sites that are most important to your business. It’s also possible to do without feeling awkward. In this guide, you’ll learn how to ask customers for reviews.
Key Takeaways
- The data says reviews truly matter. Learn why asking for more of them can help you with your conversion rates, SEO, brand reputation, and a lot more.
- Asking for reviews is legal, but there are restrictions. Find out what requests you can make and whether you can offer incentives without violating federal law.
- There are right ways to ask for reviews on all major platforms. Get the details on the important differences and find links to our comprehensive guides for most major platforms.
- You don’t have to worry about the awkward feeling of asking for reviews when you have software to handle it for you. Learn about the features that can help you scale hundreds of requests every month.
Does Asking for Reviews Matter?
Asking for reviews absolutely matters. If you’re like most people, you rely on reviews to make buying decisions and give them a lot of weight. About 85% of American consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
High star ratings are now synonymous with trust, and virtually any consumer search query displays a snapshot of reviews from one site or another.
By encouraging customers to leave reviews, businesses create social proof, which can greatly influence purchase decisions and drive sales. Positive reviews attract new customers, and even negative reviews provide valuable feedback that can help businesses refine their offerings.
Those positive reviews can also significantly increase conversion rates and improve search engine rankings, making your business more visible to those searching for your products or services.
If you’re not receiving a steady stream of positive online reviews, you’re losing potential customers, so it’s crucial to ask for a review from every customer. While seven out of 10 adults are willing to write business reviews, only about one in 10 is in the habit of following through on their own.
On the other hand, people who had a poor customer experience will more readily leave negative reviews. Happy customers are willing to write reviews, but you have to make it a habit to consistently request reviews and honest feedback, and make it easy for your customers to leave reviews.
Is It Legal to Ask for a Review?
It is legal to ask for reviews, but the Federal Trade Commission has implemented some rules you need to understand before designing any incentives. You’ll need to know about all the sections of the Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials, which went into effect on October 21, 2024. According to the FTC, this rule…
…addresses deceptive and unfair conduct involving consumer reviews and testimonials. The rule authorizes courts to impose civil penalties for knowing violations and is important because fake, false, or otherwise deceptive reviews and testimonials have polluted the marketplace. They harm the many consumers relying on them to pick products and providers, and they hurt competitors who work hard to comply with the law.
To be clear, there are now penalties for engaging in certain kinds of fraud with reviews. All the sections of this rule deal with reviews, but the most important one to look at, if you’re asking for reviews, is Section 465.4.
It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice and a violation of this part for a business to provide compensation or other incentives in exchange for, or conditioned expressly or by implication on, the writing or creation of consumer reviews expressing a particular sentiment, whether positive or negative, regarding the product, service, or business that is the subject of the review.
This rule doesn’t mean you can’t ask for reviews, it doesn’t even mean that you can’t reward reviewers. It just means you can’t condition the reward based on what the review says.
How to Ask for Reviews in Every Common Situation
Before tackling the review request process, it’s essential to understand your target audience and the platforms on which they read reviews. Identifying the most effective channels to ask for a review, such as email, social media, or in-person interactions, can also significantly affect your success rate. Additionally, having a clear review management strategy is crucial.
This includes knowing how to respond to both positive and negative reviews. By preparing in advance, you can ensure that each review request is well-received and that the feedback you receive is high-quality and reflective of your business’s strengths. This preparation sets the stage for a smooth and effective review process.
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In-Person Review Requests |
In-person review requests are a great way to ask for reviews, especially for a local business with a physical presence. This method allows you to build a personal connection with your loyal customers directly and show them that they can provide valuable feedback when they leave reviews. When making a review request in person, make sure to:
Template “Hey, I hope you enjoyed your experience with our business. We’re always looking for ways to improve, and feedback helps us improve. Would you be willing to leave a review on Google or Facebook? I can send you the links to our business profile on those review websites.” |
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Requesting Reviews via Text Message |
Text message review requests are another effective way to ask for reviews. These methods allow you to reach customers who may not be physically present at your business. When asking for reviews over the phone or via text, make sure to:
Template Hi [name], your valuable feedback helps improve our service. We would be grateful if you could request feedback by telling us about your experience through a quick review: [URL] Looking for examples and templates? You can jump in deeper with our article containing a few SMS text message review request templates that we use ourselves to get more reviews. |
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Email Review Requests |
Email review requests are a popular method of asking for reviews, especially for businesses with a large customer base. When asking for reviews via email, make sure to:
Template “Hi [customer first name], we hope you’re enjoying your [product or service]. We’d love to hear about your experience with our business. Could you please leave a review on Google or Facebook? Here’s a direct link: [link]. Thanks in advance!” |
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Facebook switched from the standard 5-star review scale to a recommendation model. Now customers simply select whether they would recommend your business or not. Find instructions for asking for a review on iPhone, iPad, or Android from Facebook’s official instructions. Template “Hey, I hope you enjoyed your experience with our business. We’re always looking for ways to improve, and feedback helps us do that. Would you be willing to recommend us?” |
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Google is one of the biggest review sites online. It provides helpful recommendations for best practices on its own platforms, including information on how to send out review requests and reminders. Template I hope you enjoyed your experience with our business. We’re always looking for ways to improve, and feedback helps us improve. Would you be willing to leave a review on Google? I can send you the links to our business profile.” |
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Yelp |
Yelp is one of the hardest websites to collect customer reviews on, especially since Yelp doesn’t want you to ask for reviews for your Yelp profile. You can’t ask directly, as there is no feature to allow that, but there are strategies you can follow to generate more reviews without asking directly. Template “Hey, I hope you enjoyed your experience with our business. We’re always looking for ways to improve, and feedback helps us improve. Would you be willing to leave a review on Google? You can also find us on Yelp. I can send you the links to our business profiles to make it easy.” |
Act Quickly for the Best Results
Timing and frequency are crucial when it comes to asking for reviews. You want to ask for reviews at the right moment, when the customer is most likely to leave a positive review. The best time to ask for reviews is when the customer is most likely to be satisfied with their purchase or experience. This can be:
- Immediately after a purchase or transaction
- After a customer has had a chance to use or experience the product/service
- During a follow-up conversation or email
Example: “Hi [customer first name], we hope you’re enjoying your [product or service]. We’d love to hear about your experience with our business. Could you please leave a review on Google or Facebook? Here’s a direct link: [link]. Thanks in advance!”
It’s also important to consider the frequency of review requests. You don’t want to bombard customers with multiple requests, as this can come across as spammy or annoying. Instead, space out your review requests and make sure to respond to each review; it’s not only polite, but responding to reviews helps SEO.
Act Quickly for the Best Results
Online reviews can be a make-or-break influence in the success of your business.However, even asking for reviews after every transaction doesn’t guarantee that your customers will remember to write them, and it can feel a little awkward to ask your customers to leave reviews in person.You can easily deal with this by using an automated system like ReputationStacker.ReputationStacker automatically sends your customers an email or text message with a single survey question and directs them to write reviews on the review sites of your choice.The average ReputationStacker user triples their review count in the first three months. Additionally, the system tracks all your online reviews in a single dashboard, making it easy to respond to reviews. ReputationStacker’s reports uncover deep insights about your business based on all the customer feedback it gathers.Whether you’re looking to simply get more reviews and positive feedback, manage your entire online reputation, or get actionable insights about what you can do immediately to improve your business, ReputationStacker has you covered.
FAQs About How to Ask for Reviews
How should I ask for reviews from customers?
To ask for reviews effectively, follow these steps: Send a personalized email or text message including a link to your review site, such as Google or Facebook. Make the request shortly after a purchase or interaction, and clearly express how much their feedback is appreciated. Use a review request email template to streamline the process and ensure consistency. A review request card with the business name and a QR code makes it easy to ask for a review and for customers to scan and leave a review on the designated review site.
What is the best way to request reviews from customers?
The best way to request reviews is to send a follow-up email or message immediately after a purchase or service experience. Include a direct review link and a brief, friendly message that explains how their review helps your business. Ensure that the process is simple and convenient for them to complete.
How can I create an effective review request email template?
An effective review request email template should be personalized and straightforward. Start with a thank you message for their recent purchase or service, then kindly request a review. Include links to your review platforms of choice (like Google or Facebook) and explain how their feedback helps others make informed decisions. Keep the email short and to the point.
How can I encourage customers to leave reviews?
Encourage customers to leave reviews by making it easy for them to do so. Provide links to your review platform and follow up with a polite reminder if they haven’t left feedback yet. Automated review software like ReputationStacker can handle all of this for you.
What should I include in a review request to get more positive feedback?
To get more positive feedback, your review request should include a personal thank you, a direct link to your review site, and a brief explanation of how their positive review benefits your business. Highlight the importance of their feedback and make it clear that you value their opinion.
What are some strategies for collecting reviews from customers?
Effective strategies to collect reviews include sending timely follow-up emails or texts with direct review links, asking for reviews at the end of a service interaction, and utilizing review request templates. Additionally, you can ask for reviews on your social media accounts, where you already have established customer relationships online.
How can I ensure that my requests are effective when I ask for reviews?
To ensure your review requests are effective, personalize your messages, include direct links to review sites, and follow up with reminders if necessary. Make the review process simple and convenient, and consider using review request templates to maintain consistency. Monitor the responses and adjust your strategy based on the feedback you receive.
What role do follow-up emails play in the review request process?
Follow-up emails play a crucial role in the review request process by reminding customers to leave a review if they haven’t already done so. They provide an additional opportunity to encourage feedback and can include direct links to online review sites to make it easy for customers to leave a review. Ensure follow-up emails are polite and timely.
What are the dangers of buying reviews for my business?
Buying reviews can seriously harm your business in several ways. First, fake reviews undermine the trustworthiness of your customer feedback, as consumers and search engines can often detect and flag them. This can damage your business’s online reputation and lead to penalties from review sites, which might result in your reviews being removed or your business being banned from the platform. Additionally, fake reviews can mislead potential customers, leading to a mismatch between their expectations and your actual service, ultimately harming customer satisfaction and negative real reviews. Collecting reviews through legitimate means is best to build a trustworthy and credible online reputation.
How can incentivized reviews impact my business, and should I use them?
Incentivized reviews can encourage more customers to leave feedback, but they should be used cautiously. Ensure that incentives do not influence the content of the reviews and comply with review site and FTC policies. Genuine feedback is more valuable for your business reputation, so use incentives to motivate reviews while maintaining authenticity and transparency.
How should you respond to reviews?
Responding to reviews is a critical aspect of managing your online reputation. Whether it’s a glowing review or negative feedback, whether they are Google reviews or a Facebook review, a prompt and thoughtful response shows that you value your customers’ opinions and care about each customer’s feedback.When a customer leaves a positive review, take the time to thank them and express your appreciation. This reinforces their positive experience and encourages others to share their feedback.
How do negative reviews provide an opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to customer satisfaction?
Address any concerns raised in a friendly and professional manner, and offer solutions or apologies where necessary. By handling negative reviews gracefully, you can turn a potentially damaging situation into a chance to strengthen customer relationships. Remember, personalized and relevant responses are key to showing that you genuinely care about customer feedback.
How do you maximize positive reviews
Maximizing positive reviews requires a strategic approach focused on delivering exceptional customer experiences and knowing when to ask for a review. Customers are more likely to leave a glowing review when they are delighted with your service. Make the review process as simple as possible by providing clear instructions and minimizing unnecessary steps or form fields.Showcasing positive reviews on your website and social media channels can create a powerful sense of social proof, encouraging more customers to share their experiences.Additionally, you can use the feedback from positive reviews to continually improve your products or services.By analyzing what customers love about your business, you can make informed changes that enhance the overall customer experience, leading to even more positive reviews in the future.
