Customer reviews have a huge impact on buying decisions. They act as digital word-of-mouth, offering real opinions that help others decide whether to buy from your business. Knowing how to ask for reviews—and making it easy for customers to provide them—is key to building trust and driving more sales.
Whether you’re just starting to collect reviews or already responding to customer feedback, it’s important to understand why reviews matter and how they can boost your brand awareness and sales.
In this blog, we will learn why reviews are important, how to ask for them, easy ways to gather them, and how to use them effectively to improve your business.
What are Customer Reviews?
Customer reviews are opinions people share about a company’s products or services. They give others an idea of what to expect before buying something. Many people read these reviews to compare options and make smarter choices.
Most online reviews come with ratings, like stars, which help future customers quickly see how good a business is. Positive reviews with high ratings can make people feel more confident about choosing your business, leading to more sales.
Do you understand why having a presence on these online social review sites is crucial, but you’re unsure how to solicit customers for reviews? Here are a few marketing tips to engage customers to leave you feedback:
- Use a QR code on your marketing materials that take customers to your review websites.
- Give pre-printed postcards to customers asking them to leave a review at your website (Grade.us provides this as part of their services).
- Always include a link to your online review webpages in your email feedback and your email signature block.
- Include a link to your review sites on your business’s Facebook page.
- Include a link to your review sites on your business’ homepage.
Don’t miss the opportunity to make sure your business has a presence on these online social review sites. It may take a little extra time to set up your presence in the beginning. But you don’t want to be left out of the game in the future.
Why Are Customer Reviews Important?
Customer reviews can significantly impact your business. They attract new customers, provide insights to improve products and enhance customer experience. Here’s why they’re essential:
- Build Trust: People trust real customer reviews more than ads. Positive and honest reviews boost credibility and make potential customers feel confident about your business.
- Increase Engagement: Allowing reviews gives customers a voice, creating a stronger connection with your brand and encouraging others to try your services.
- Improve Your Business: Feedback helps you understand what’s working and what needs improvement, leading to better offerings and customer support.
- Boost SEO: Reviews mentioning keywords improve your search engine ranking, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
- Strengthen Relationships: Responding to reviews, especially negative ones, shows you value feedback, building customer loyalty.
- Free Marketing: Positive reviews act like ongoing word-of-mouth marketing, bringing in new customers without extra effort.
How to Ask for a Customer Review?
Asking for customer reviews at the right time and in the right way can help you gather positive and honest feedback that strengthens your brand. Here’s how to do it effectively.
1. Identify the best moments to ask.
Timing is everything when it comes to asking for reviews. If you ask at the wrong moment, such as when a customer is still unsure or unhappy, it might lead to a negative review. Instead, aim to ask when your customer is likely feeling satisfied or successful with your product or service.
Here are a few good moments to request a review:
- After they’ve had success with your product or service.
- When they make a repeat purchase or re-order.
- If they tag your brand in a social media post.
- When they spend time browsing other items on your website.
- After they refer a new customer to your business.
These moments often signal that the customer is happy and ready to share a positive review.
2. Choose a scalable approach.
To keep reviews coming in regularly, make asking for them a consistent part of your process. Here are some easy ways to ask for reviews at scale:
- Train your team to request reviews after every successful project or service.
- Add review requests to your email marketing campaigns.
- Use Net Promoter Score (NPS) to find your happiest customers and encourage them to leave reviews.
- Include a review link on thank-you pages or after checkout.
By integrating these strategies into your regular business flow, you’ll collect more reviews over time and build trust in your brand.
3. Start with an open-ended question.
Instead of directly asking for a review, begin by starting a conversation. Ask open-ended questions like, “How do you like the product?” or “How was your recent experience with our support team?” This lets you measure their satisfaction level and collect feedback before asking for a review.
This approach can help you gain valuable insights from the customer and avoid asking for a review too soon, especially if they’ve had a negative experience.
By using open-ended questions, you can ensure the customer is happy and ready to leave positive customer reviews before requesting.
4. Make it easy for customers to leave a review.
If leaving a review is difficult, many customers won’t do it. To avoid this, reduce the steps they need to take. Here’s how you can make it easier:
- Offer multiple review platforms so they can choose the one they prefer.
- Provide a direct link to the review page, minimizing the clicks they need to make.
- Make it simple, like “Would you mind sharing a review about your recent visit?”
Additionally, offering a review template can make the process even quicker. Use formats like a star-rating system or a short form. You can even leverage AI tools that help customers fill in responses faster. The goal is to save them time and effort, encouraging more reviews.
5. Ask in person.
If you have direct relationships with your customers, don’t hesitate to ask for a review in person. Whether you’re meeting them for coffee, lunch, or during a company event, keep things casual and conversational. If they mention success with your product or service, it’s a great time to ask them to share that experience in a review.
6. Offer an incentive.
A great way to motivate customers to leave a review is by offering a small incentive. This could be a discount on their next purchase, a free gift, or exclusive access to future offers. By offering something in return, you not only encourage more reviews but also strengthen customer relationships, which can lead to referrals and repeat business.
7. Let the customers know why their reviews matter.
Many customers don’t realize how important reviews are to your business. Let them know how much reviews help, for example, by sharing how other customers discovered your business through reviews. This creates a sense of impact and can encourage them to share their positive experience, knowing it will benefit your business directly.
Easy Ways to Get Customer Reviews
Getting customer reviews can be simple if you make the process easy and convenient for your customers. Here are some easy ways to encourage customers to leave their feedback:
1. Create multiple platforms for customer reviews.
Make it easy for your customers to find places to leave reviews. Whether they’re browsing Yelp, Google Reviews, or Amazon, potential buyers often check popular customer review sites before making a purchase decision. Ensure you’re visible across these platforms, so no matter where people are doing their research, they can find and review your business.
Asking for reviews on social media isn’t new, but the way you ask can be creative. For example, if you have a Facebook or LinkedIn group, you can encourage members to leave reviews there. They will likely give you positive feedback since they’re already fans of your business. You can also promote these reviews on social platforms to show potential customers what others think of you.
3. Optimize your website for reviews.
Some customers will leave reviews on third-party sites without any prompting, but once they’re on your website, make it easy for them to review you directly. Optimize your site, blog, and social media profiles by adding clear links or buttons, such as:
- “Review us on Google.”
- “Follow us on Instagram.”
Also, ensure your website is mobile-friendly so users can leave reviews easily from their phones. If you ask for reviews via email, keep your request short and to the point.
4. Use Surveys.
Incorporating surveys into your follow-up process is another easy way to gather reviews. After a purchase or service, send a brief survey asking about the customer’s experience. You can include an option for them to leave a more detailed review if they’d like. This is a great way to collect structured feedback and more detailed reviews at the same time.
5. Respond to all reviews—even the negative ones.
Not every review will be glowing, and that’s okay. When you receive negative feedback, take the time to respond thoughtfully and without getting defensive. Handling criticism well can show potential customers that you care about resolving issues and improving your service. This can actually help build trust and positively impact your business in the long run.
Once you start receiving great reviews, don’t let them sit unnoticed. Share them on social media to encourage others to leave their own. On platforms like Google and Yelp, you can upvote helpful reviews to move them higher on your profile, making sure the best feedback gets the most attention. Sharing customer reviews on Instagram, Facebook, or even blog posts can inspire others to share their experiences.
Here are some other simple and unique ways you can encourage your customers to share their feedback:
- Gamify the Review Process: Turn leaving a review into a fun game! Create a points system where customers earn rewards, such as discounts or free items, for submitting reviews.
- Feature Review Links on Your Website: Make sure your website, especially the homepage, has a clear link to your review sites.
- Host a Social Media Challenge: Encourage customers to leave reviews by hosting a social media challenge. Ask them to post a photo or video review using your product, tag your business, and use a specific hashtag.
- Send Handwritten Thank-You Notes: A personalized, handwritten thank-you note can stand out to your customers. At the end of the note, politely ask them to leave a review.
- Add Review Links in Emails: Always include a link to your review sites in your email communications, whether it’s in a follow-up email, feedback request, or your email signature.
- Partner with Influencers: Collaborate with influencers in your industry to review your products or services.
- Use QR Codes for Instant Reviews: Include a QR code on product packaging, receipts, or in-store displays that leads directly to a review page.
How can You Improve Your Customer Reviews?
Improving customer reviews is crucial for showcasing the value of your products and services. Here are a few practical ways to encourage more positive reviews from your customers:
1. Listen to negative reviews and suggestions.
When customers leave negative reviews or suggestions, use this feedback to improve. It helps you better meet your audience’s needs and shows customers you care about their opinions. Keep them updated on changes you make based on their input, which can lead to more positive reviews in the future.
2. Ask for reviews in multiple ways.
Increase your chances of receiving reviews by asking in different ways, such as:
- You can request reviews on your website.
- Include a note in the product packaging.
- Send follow-up emails after a purchase.
Follow-up emails are especially effective because they reach customers who have recently bought something and may be eager to share their thoughts.
3. Respond to reviews regularly.
Replying to positive and negative customer reviews shows that you value their feedback. For negative reviews, address the issue and offer solutions. For positive ones, thank them for their support. This interaction not only builds trust but also encourages more customers to leave reviews and feel connected to your business.
4. Simplify the review process.
Make it easy for customers to leave reviews. Use simple software that allows them to post quickly without navigating through several pages. Providing a direct link after purchase also encourages customers to leave feedback on the product or service they bought.
5. Create an accessible review page.
Having an easily accessible review page on your website makes it clear that you welcome customer feedback. You can either display reviews and star ratings directly on product pages or create a separate page that’s easy to find on your homepage. This encourages customers to leave their own reviews, knowing that others will see their input.
How Can You Use Customer Reviews Effectively?
Once your business starts getting positive reviews, you can use them to boost your marketing efforts and attract more customers. Here are some ways you can make the most of customer feedback:
1. Highlight top reviews on your homepage.
Pick some of your best reviews and display them on your website’s homepage. This can help build trust with visitors and encourage them to explore your products or services further.
2. Show reviews on product-specific pages.
If you sell products or services online, add relevant reviews directly to the product pages. For example, if you sell a pair of shoes, include customer reviews for that specific item to give shoppers confidence in their purchase.
3. Include customer photos.
Adding photos to reviews can make them more credible. Encourage customers to upload pictures of your products or services so that potential buyers can see what they’re getting and compare them with similar offerings.
4. Request an update for negative reviews.
If you resolve a problem for a customer who left a negative review, politely ask them to update their review to reflect the improved experience. While it’s up to the customer to make changes, this can help turn negative feedback into a positive outcome for your business.
How QuestionPro Can Help You Get Customer Reviews?
QuestionPro makes it simple to ask for customer reviews by offering tools to easily reach out to your customers. Here’s how QuestionPro can assist you in both asking for reviews and simplifying the process:
1. Create custom surveys.
With QuestionPro, you can create surveys customized to your brand to ask for customer reviews. These surveys can be sent at the right times, like after a purchase or service, to gather valuable feedback and keep your customers engaged.
2. Automate review requests.
QuestionPro automates sending out review requests, saving you time. You can set up triggers to automatically send requests after a purchase, a support interaction, or when customers show satisfaction. This keeps the reviews coming in without extra work for your team.
3. Embed requests in emails and websites.
With QuestionPro, you can easily add survey links to your emails or website. This makes it simple for customers to leave reviews right after a transaction or on thank-you pages, encouraging more feedback.
4. Collect reviews across devices.
QuestionPro allows you to gather reviews from mobile phones, tablets, and desktops. This flexibility means customers can leave feedback using the device they prefer, making the process more convenient.
5. Analyze feedback.
QuestionPro not only helps you collect reviews but also provides analytics to help you understand them. Real-time insights help you spot areas for improvement and respond to customers, building better relationships and encouraging positive reviews.
Customer reviews are crucial for building trust and increasing sales. When you make it easy for customers to leave reviews, you not only enhance your brand’s credibility but also get useful feedback to improve your products and services.
QuestionPro can streamline asking for reviews, automate requests, and give insights to help you better satisfy your customers. Using customer reviews effectively can significantly boost your business’s reputation and success.
