Learning how to ask for a review can do wonders for your brand. Reviews help build your online reputation, bring added credibility to your company, amplify your search presence, and provide the kind of social proof that’s essential to influencing purchase decisions.
Reviews are also an important source of valuable feedback about your products, services, and overall customer experience. Positive reviews highlight what you’re doing well while negative reviews help pinpoint areas that need improvement. By learning how to ask for reviews, organizations can actively contribute to a feedback loop that should help teams identify strengths and weaknesses and make necessary adjustments to enhance their offerings.
Getting customer feedback and reviews is crucial for any business looking to boost conversions and grow. Positive reviews build trust among potential customers while negative reviews give you a chance to improve. But asking customers for reviews requires tact and strategic thinking. A wrong approach can do more damage than having no reviews at all.
So how do you get customers to leave authentic and unbiased reviews that actually help your business? We will discuss actionable tips and proven strategies to ask for reviews effectively in this comprehensive guide.
Why Reviews Are Important for Businesses
Here are some key reasons why collecting customer reviews should be a priority
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Reviews influence purchase decisions A whopping 93% of consumers read reviews before making purchase decisions, Positive reviews reassure customers that others have had a good experience,
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Reviews improve SEO and search visibility: Quality reviews and high star ratings can help you rank higher on search engines like Google. This leads to increased website traffic.
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Reviews provide customer feedback: While positive reviews validate your efforts, negative reviews give you insights into problems experienced by customers and areas needing improvement.
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Reviews build trust and credibility: When potential customers see real experiences shared by previous customers, it builds trust in your business.
Clearly, customer reviews are essential for marketing success in today’s digital world. But how do you get more customers to leave reviews?
12 Effective Strategies to Get Reviews
Here are 12 proven ways to get more high-quality customer reviews:
1. Ask Directly
The most obvious way to get reviews is to simply ask customers. But timing and etiquette are important when making the ask.
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Ask soon after a purchase when the experience is fresh in the customer’s mind.
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Make the review process quick and seamless. Provide direct links to your listings.
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Personalize the ask and highlight why their feedback matters.
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Be polite and non-pushy. Don’t make multiple requests.
2. Choose the Right Platforms
Identify platforms where your target audience is most active and focus efforts there:
- Google, Facebook, Yelp for local/service-based businesses
- App stores for software/apps
- Industry-specific sites like Tripadvisor for travel and tourism
3. Make Review Writing Easy
The easier you make review writing, the more reviews you’ll get. Consider these tips:
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Share direct links to your review pages. Don’t make customers search.
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Pre-fill forms with transaction details to reduce effort.
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Offer templates and samples to guide customers.
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Allow photo uploads along with reviews. Visual content gets more engagement.
4. Target Promoters First
Detractors are less likely to leave feedback. When asking for reviews:
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Segment customers and target promoters first.
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Gauge satisfaction levels before sending review requests.
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Resolve complaints before expecting positive reviews.
5. Follow Up and Remind
Don’t stop at just one request. Gently follow up if needed:
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Send email reminders if no response after 2 weeks.
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Call customers after a month to get verbal feedback.
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Reach out on social media by tagging customers who posted positive comments.
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Use marketing automation tools to track and prompt reviewers.
6. Offer Incentives
Providing perks encourages customers to take the extra effort.
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Offer exclusive discounts or deals on next purchase.
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Run a contest for reviewers with prizes.
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Provide loyalty points or cashbacks for leaving reviews.
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Give free gifts like e-books or webinar access.
7. Respond and Engage
Actively engage with customers after they review:
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Thank customers for taking time to review.
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Respond professionally to negative feedback.
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Offer resolutions for complaints and issues raised.
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Share positive reviews on social media after taking permission.
8. Check Review Sites
Keep an eye out for reviews on third-party sites:
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Set up alerts for your business name on review platforms.
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Search for your keywords across review sites regularly.
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Claim listings on popular review sites like TripAdvisor.
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Track mentions and respond faster using social listening tools.
9. Add Review Links
Make it easy for customers to leave reviews from your assets:
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Add review buttons/links to your website.
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Include review links in email signatures and newsletters.
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Insert “Review us” links in packaging inserts and receipts.
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Run a banner/pop-up with review links on-site.
10. Conduct Surveys
Run structured surveys periodically:
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Send NPS or CSAT surveys via email after purchase.
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Call customers a week later to get feedback over phone.
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Intercept website visitors with a quick survey pop-up.
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Offer survey participation perks to improve response rates.
11. Leverage Testimonials
Repurpose positive feedback as reviews:
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Check past emails, chats, and social media for happy customers.
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Ask customers for permission to post their feedback as reviews.
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Video testimonials make for more powerful reviews.
12. Train Staff
Educate staff interacting with customers:
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Train support and sales to request feedback from happy customers.
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Empower staff to resolve complaints before review requests.
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Encourage front-line teams to share positive online reviews.
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Reward employees getting the most reviews.
6 Ways to Ask Customers for Reviews
Along with when and who to ask, you need to optimize how you make review requests. Here are some proven channels:
1. Email
Email is the most popular channel for asking customers for feedback.
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Keep emails concise with a clear CTA.
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Send personalized emails within a week of purchase.
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Share direct links to review sites within email body.
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Follow up via email if no response after 2 weeks.
2. Text Messages
SMS has high open and response rates for review requests.
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Keep texts short, personalized and casual in tone.
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Time SMS outreach for 1-2 weeks post-purchase.
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Provide direct links for easy reviewing on the go.
3. In-app Prompts
For software apps and SaaS products:
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Use in-app messaging to request app store reviews.
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Display non-disruptive rating pop-ups at logical times.
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Offer perks for in-app review submission.
4. Website Pop-ups
Capture reviews from your website visitors:
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Use exit-intent pop-ups asking for reviews before visitors leave.
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Keep pop-ups crisp with a strong CTA.
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Avoid overuse or risk annoying visitors.
5. Social Media
Leverage existing social media presence:
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Respond to positive feedback on social media.
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Send a review request via private message.
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Share user-generated content as reviews upon permission.
6. Direct Calls
The personal touch of a call works for high-ticket services:
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Call customers 2 weeks after purchase to get detailed verbal feedback.
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Train sales staff on how to obtain reviews over calls.
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Note down pain points customers mention on calls.
3 Things to Avoid When Requesting Reviews
There are some common review asking mistakes you should steer clear of:
Don’t Spam Customers
Avoid repeatedly badgering customers for reviews across channels. It will have the opposite effect and turn off customers. Maintain a gap of at least 2 weeks between review requests.
Don’t Incentivize Only Positive Reviews
Don’t offer rewards solely for 5-star positive reviews. Incentives should be for leaving honest feedback and not based on the review rating.
Don’t Publish Without Consent
Always take permission before publicly sharing any private feedback received from customers as a review.
Tools to Manage Customer Reviews
Technology can simplify collecting and managing customer reviews:
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Review plugins: Add review widgets to capture reviews directly onsite.
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Email tools: Send personalized and well-timed review request emails at scale.
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Social listening: Monitor online review sites and social media for reviews.
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Analytics: Track review rates and metrics to identify what’s working.
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Automation: Schedule automated review chasing workflows.
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Response tools: Manage responses and engagement for online reviews.
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Review generation: Software to generate and publish reviews easily.
The Takeaway
The benefits of customer reviews are clear. By following structured strategies to collect feedback across the buyer’s journey, businesses can build credibility, improve products, and boost conversions. Experiment with different review asking approaches and see what works for your audience. The rewards are worth the effort taken to delight your customers and motivate them to share their true experiences.
Why Ask Customers for Reviews?
When you deliver experiences that customers love, they won’t hesitate to vouch for you. All you have to do is ask.
It’s important to ask for reviews because they’re essential to your audience’s purchase decisions. This isn’t to mention the wide range of benefits that a steady flow of reviews brings to your business.
Reviews support your brand reputation management strategy. A stream of 5-star reviews from customers helps showcase the best that your brand has to offer. It also creates powerful social proof for inspiring shopper confidence and driving sales.
Asking for reviews often leads to high ratings. According to research by InMoment, reviews generated by review requests produce higher ratings (average of 4.34 stars) than unprompted reviews (3.89 stars).
Reviews are one of the most important factors that determine your search performance. Reviews improve your brand’s search visibility. Most review websites and search engines prioritize businesses with a high volume of positive reviews, which can lead to better rankings and increased exposure to potential customers. In particular, your review signals — such as review count, ratings, review text, and review responses — are factored into organic and local search rankings.
Learning how to request a review is a great way to perform customer outreach. It encourages customer engagement and fosters a sense of community around your brand. When your customers feel that their opinions are valued, they are more likely to engage with your company and become loyal advocates.
Review requests can activate your brand promoters. By encouraging your customers to write reviews, you can convert the happiest, most satisfied ones into vocal promoters and word-of-mouth catalysts who’ll put in a good word about your brand.
Ask for Reviews at the Point of Sale
A straightforward way to ask for reviews from customers is by making the request right when they’re completing a purchase or finishing their visit.
Imagine a front-facing staff member wrapping up their interaction with a customer. The staff member hands the customer a device like an iPad or tablet and asks them to fill out a quick review request form.
Asking for reviews at the point of sale is a great way to capture actionable reviews and customer insights just moments after the crucial sales or care experience. It’s also a valuable opportunity for your business to strengthen your customer relationships. Not to mention, it’s a useful review request tactic in situations where you don’t yet have your customer’s contact information.
If a customer has had a negative experience, learning how to ask for a review at the point of sale gives you the opportunity to address their concerns immediately and potentially turn their experience around before it causes damage to your reputation.
It’s essential to approach the request for reviews at the point of sale tactfully. Here are some tips to consider:
- Be mindful of timing and the customer’s mood.
- Keep the request brief and non-intrusive.
- Provide options for leaving feedback (e.g., online form, QR code, paper feedback form).
- Ensure compliance with all privacy and security requirements to protect consumer data from unauthorized access and misuse.
- Respect the customer’s decision if they choose not to leave a review.
Also, when using a device to request feedback at the point of sale, avoid asking customers to log into their personal review website accounts and getting them to write their reviews on the spot. Instead, stick to a simple form with only a few blank fields to fill, or use a “kiosk mode” program that lets you send the actual review request later, through SMS or email.
This strategy minimizes privacy and security concerns, while also preventing reviews from being generated using the same IP address as your business location. It also lets customers act on the request at their convenience, using their own devices.
How to Make Asking for Reviews NOT Awkward
How do you ask a customer for a review?
Automated Email If you’re wondering how to ask for a review, an automated email is generally the easiest way. If you have a sizeable email list, you can reach many customers at once. Make the email sincere, straightforward, and easy. Tell your customer what you’re looking for, why it’s important, and how they can quickly and easily help you out.
Should you ask for a review in person?
Asking for a review in person can be intimidating, but it is the most effective approach. If the opportunity presents itself, seize it! The easiest scenario would be that of a customer who approaches you with unsolicited praise. In this case, express your appreciation for their taking the time to provide the feedback, and then make the suggestion.
How do I ask for Google reviews?
Timing is crucial when asking for Google reviews. It’s important to seize the opportunity and gather customer feedback while their experience with your business is still top of mind. It’s also important to tie your review requests to a specific event or interaction that provides context for the customer’s review.
How to ask for a review on a blog?
How to ask for a review on your blog is different than email or other means, mostly because you have more space. You can tell your customers what reviews mean to your business, how they are helpful, and even provide step-by-step directions. Remember to highlight important points, so customers who are skimming the information can get the gist.
