There’s a right way and a wrong way to do anything in business. When you’re looking to get more online reviews from your customers, follow these pro tips.
Would you trust a stranger to give you a root canal, fix the car you use to drive your family around or install equipment in your business? Probably not.
So, when you’re hiring people or giving your business to companies, you want to get a little background.
Fifty years ago, you might have gotten this information by chatting with a neighbor over the backyard fence. Today, online review sites are the virtual version of that fence, but now you can hear from dozens or even hundreds of others to get an accurate, unbiased picture of how a company operates and whether it deserves your business.
That’s great for consumers, and it can be great for businesses too – assuming the reviews you receive are mostly positive. Getting better reviews than your competition is a surefire way to improve your online reputation and your bottom line.
But to get more reviews, you have to ask for reviews.
Yep, it’s essential to actively encourage customers to share their experiences on the review sites that are most important to your business.
So let’s jump into our guide to how to ask for reviews from your customers so that you get more reviews on review sites like Google, Facebook, and Yelp!
The Stats on Reviews
If you’re like most people, you rely on reviews to make buying decisions, and you give them a lot of weight.
About 85% of American consumers trust online reviews as much as they trust personal recommendations.
From the healthcare industry to the wedding services industry and even law, you’re losing potential customers if you’re not receiving a steady stream of positive online reviews, making it crucial to ask for a review from each and every customer.
But while 7 out of 10 adults are willing to write reviews for businesses, only about one in 10 is in the habit of actually following through on this.
On the other hand, people who had a poor customer experience will more readily leave negative reviews.
Translation: Happy customers are willing to write reviews, but you have to make it a habit to consistent request reviews and honest feedback, and make it easy for your customers to leave reviews.
Benefits of Customer Reviews
Customer reviews play an important role in building trust and credibility with potential customers.
Positive reviews can significantly increase conversion rates and improve search engine rankings, making your business more visible to those searching for your products or services.
But to get those positive reviews, it’s essential to ask for a review from each of your customers.
By encouraging customers to leave reviews, businesses can create a sense of social proof, which can greatly influence purchase decisions and drive sales.
Positive reviews not only attract new customers, but even negative reviews provide valuable feedback that can help businesses refine their offerings.
In essence, online reviews are a powerful tool for building a strong, trustworthy brand that potential customers feel confident engaging with.
Preparing to Ask for Reviews
Before diving into the review request process, it’s essential to understand your target audience and the review platforms they read reviews on.
Identifying the most effective channels to ask for a review, such as email, social media, or in-person interactions, can make a significant difference in your success rate as well.
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.
How To Ask For Reviews
When you’re figuring out how to ask for reviews, you have various channels for this kind of customer feedback, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The key is to choose the channels and review platforms that best fit your business and customer base.
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:
Be genuine and sincere in your approach
Explain how when they leave reviews with honest opinions it helps your business
Provide clear instructions on how to leave a review (you can emphasize your preferred review platform)
Express gratitude for them taking the time to leave a review
Example: “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 Yelp? I can send you the links to our business profile on those review websites.”
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:
Be clear and concise in your request
Provide a link to the review platform
Follow up with a thank-you message after the review is left
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.
Email Review Requests
Email review requests are a popular method to ask for reviews, especially for businesses that have a large customer base.
When asking for reviews via email, make sure to:
Personalize the email with the customer’s name
Provide a clear and direct link to the review platform
Send a follow-up review request email to the customer if they haven’t left a review after a few days
Example: “Hi [Customer First Name], we hope you’re enjoying your [product/service]. We’d love to hear about your experience with our business. Could you please leave a review on Google or Yelp? Here’s a direct link: [link]. Thanks in advance!”
Timing and Frequency of Review Requests
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.
Timing is Key
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/service]. We’d love to hear about your experience with our business. Could you please leave a review on Google or Yelp? 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).
Example: “Hi [Customer First Name], we hope you’re enjoying your [product/service]. We’d love to hear about your experience with our business. Could you please leave a review on Google or Yelp? Here’s a direct link: [link]. Thanks in advance!”
Responding 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 not only reinforces their positive experience but also encourages others to share their feedback.
Negative reviews, on the other hand, 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.
Maximizing Positive Reviews
Maximizing positive reviews requires a strategic approach focused on delivering exceptional customer experiences and knowing when to ask for a review.
When customers are delighted with your service, they are more likely to leave a glowing review. 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.
Simplify Your Success
So, yes, online reviews can be a make-or-break influence in the success of your business.
But even when you ask for reviews after every transaction it doesn’t guarantee your customers will remember to write them, and it can feel a little awkward to ask your customers to leave reviews in person.
But… you can easily deal with this by using an automated system like ReputationStacker.
ReputationStacker automatically sends your customers an email or text message with 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 3 months.
Additionally, the system tracks all of your online reviews in a single dashboard, making it easy to respond to reviews. And ReputationStacker’s reports uncover deep insights about your business based on all of 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 effectively ask for reviews, follow these steps: send a personalized email or text message including a link to your review site, such as Google or Yelp. 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.
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 Yelp) 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. 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, which can ultimately harm customer satisfaction and lead to negative real reviews. It’s best to collect reviews through legitimate means 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.
