Importance of asking for reviews
Like other advertising methods, asking for reviews can boost brand recognition online and improve your visibility in search results. Positive reviews can help your business appear more prominently, but they also influence local SEO rankings. Search engines often factor in review quantity, quality and recency when determining how businesses rank in local search results.
Reviews can also influence buying decisions. Shoppers may rely on reviews to make informed buying decisions and often trust them as much as personal recommendations. Collecting customer feedback not only helps build credibility but also supports new customer acquisition.
Beyond boosting reputation, reviews offer valuable insights into customer satisfaction and areas for improvement. For example, reviews might help you identify gaps in your customer service training or find ways to retain more clients.
Best channels to request reviews
Using multiple channels to ask for reviews can increase response rates and help you collect feedback from a wider range of customers. Here’s how to request a review via email, SMS, social media or in person.
How to ask for reviews via email
Email is one of the most effective ways to ask for reviews, especially when you personalize your messages. A good review request email might include a thank you message, a direct request and a clear link to the review platform.
Send your request soon after a purchase to help increase response rates. Following up with a reminder email that includes the review link and another note of appreciation can also encourage customers to share their voice and experiences. Consider sending the follow-up three to five days after the initial request to keep the interaction fresh without feeling intrusive.
How to ask for reviews via SMS
SMS, or text messaging, is a fast, effective way to ask for reviews. People may be more likely to respond to text messages than to other channels.
If you ask for reviews via SMS, consider keeping your message short, thanking the customer and including a direct link to the review platform for convenience. You can also send the request within 24 to 48 hours after the customer experience to help improve engagement.
SMS tools like Podium, Birdeye or Klaviyo SMS can help you automate this process for greater efficiency.
How to ask for reviews in person
Asking for a review in person can feel more personal, which may increase the chance of a response. The best time is typically after a positive interaction, ideally at the point of sale. Consider being direct when expressing appreciation for the customer, offer simple instructions for leaving a review and mention how much customer feedback helps your business.
If possible, offer a tablet or device so the customer can leave a review right away. Making the process easy and accessible can increase the likelihood of receiving feedback.
How to ask for reviews on social media
Social media also offers a casual, accessible way to ask for customer reviews. Posting positive testimonials and friendly prompts can encourage customers to share their feedback.
Platforms like Facebook are especially effective for requesting reviews, but you can also direct followers to sites like Google or Tripadvisor. To boost engagement, consider using Instagram Stories with interactive elements such as polls or emoji sliders, or dedicated posts that link directly to a review page. Consistent, appealing content can increase visibility and prompt more customers to leave reviews.
Crafting effective review requests
Effective review requests are clear, concise and focused on the customer’s experience. Personalization and a sincere thank you can motivate customers to respond.
Consider keeping messages brief and include a direct call to action (CTA), such as a review link, to make it easy for customers to share their feedback.
1. Personalize your review requests
Personalized review requests may feel more genuine and can increase engagement. Including the customer’s name and referencing their recent purchase can make the message more relevant.
If possible, add details about their experience to show that you care about their interaction. For example, you might mention the specific product they purchased or refer to the associate who assisted them by name. Personal touches like these can make the request feel more genuine and increase the likelihood of a response.
2. Time your review requests
The best time to request a review is when the experience is recent, typically within 24 to 48 hours after a purchase or service. Timing your review request shortly after the customer interaction can help boost response rates as customers may be more likely to engage and leave feedback.
Consider sending emails or messages in the afternoon or shortly after a completed interaction to increase visibility and engagement.
3. Include a direct link for reviews
Adding a direct link to the review platform of your choice might make it easier for customers to leave feedback. To simplify the process, you can include links in emails, text messages or on packaging via QR codes. The more convenient the process, the more likely customers are to share their experiences.
Templates for requesting reviews
Here are a few examples of how to ask clients for reviews using email, SMS and social media. You can also use AI tools to generate customized review requests.
Email review request template
Subject: [Customer Name], let us know how we did!
Hi [Customer Name],
Thanks for choosing [Your Business] for your recent [Product] purchase. We hope you’re enjoying it. Your feedback helps us improve our products and services to better serve customers like you in the future.
Please take a moment to leave a review here: [Review Link].
We appreciate your support,
[Your Business or Name of Sales Associate]
SMS review request template
Hi, [Customer First Name]. Thanks for visiting [Your Business]. We’d love to hear your feedback about your experience. You can leave a quick review here: [Review Link]. We appreciate any insight you share.
Social media review request template
Your feedback helps us improve and continue delivering great service. If you recently made a purchase with us or visited our location, please leave a review here: [Review Link]. Thanks for all your support! #CustomerFeedback #CustomerService #CustomerExperience
Handling negative reviews
Responding to negative reviews can strengthen your brand’s credibility and show that you value customer feedback. Ignoring them, on the other hand, may impact trust and discourage potential customers. Even critical reviews offer insight into areas for improvement and give you a chance to demonstrate professionalism.
Responding to negative reviews
Address negative feedback with empathy and clarity. A simple opening like “Hi [Name], we’re sorry to hear about your experience” can set the right tone. Briefly acknowledge their concern in a way that shows you understand their needs.
If appropriate, suggest taking the conversation offline to resolve the issue privately. When you propose a resolution or explain how you plan to improve, it may encourage the reviewer to update their feedback and help others see your commitment to customer satisfaction.
Encouraging positive reviews
Asking satisfied customers for reviews is one of the most effective ways to build credibility and increase brand visibility. Positive feedback can boost your reputation and influence buying decisions, especially when customers start their research on search engines and social media.
Highlighting reviews in your marketing content may also encourage others to share their experiences, creating a review feedback loop that can help drive traffic and conversions. For example, you might embed Google reviews on your website, feature standout testimonials in email newsletters or share positive feedback on social media to build trust with potential customers.
Post-purchase follow-ups
Review requests sent shortly after a purchase, when customer satisfaction is more likely to be high, can increase response rates. Triggered post-purchase emails, which are automated messages sent after a customer makes a purchase, can be especially effective for collecting reviews. Personalizing these messages and checking in on the customer’s experience can further improve results.
Leveraging customer praise
When a customer gives verbal or written praise, use it as an opportunity to ask for a formal review. Encouraging them to share their feedback publicly helps turn spontaneous compliments into valuable testimonials for your business.
Avoiding common issues
While asking for reviews can benefit your business, it’s important to avoid practices that may harm your credibility or violate platform guidelines.
Common issues to avoid include:
- Requesting reviews too frequently or too forcefully
- Not including user-generated content, like reviews, in overall marketing efforts
- Offering incentives or discounts in exchange for reviews
- Overpromising or offering rewards that could be seen as manipulative
- Purchasing reviews or using paid services to boost ratings
- Not training customer service reps to ask for reviews
- Ignoring regulations from platforms or the FTC regarding review practices
- Prioritizing quantity over authenticity, which can lead to low-quality feedback
Frequently asked questions
Can you ask your employees to leave reviews for the business?
You should never ask employees to pose as customers and leave fake reviews on sites like Google. Reviews should reflect genuine customer experiences.
However, it can be appropriate to ask employees to share honest feedback about their work experience on employment platforms like Glassdoor or Indeed, as long as the request is transparent, voluntary and free from pressure. Positive, authentic employee reviews can help build trust in your brand and attract future talent.
How often should you ask for customer reviews?
Consider asking customers to leave a review following any meaningful interaction. That might include a purchase, the completion of service or a long sales discussion. To create a better experience, avoid sending repetitive requests to the same customer in a short period.
