10 Strategies to Increase Customer Reviews

Want more customer reviews? Here's how to get them:

1. Make it easy to leave reviews
2. Ask at the right time (9-14 days after purchase)
3. Personalize your requests
4. Use multiple channels (email, SMS, in-person)
5. Offer small incentives (following platform rules)
6. Always respond to reviews
7. Explain why reviews matter
8. Use review management software
9. Train staff to ask for reviews
10. Use feedback to improve your business

Key stats:

• 92% of people read reviews before buying
• 84% trust reviews like a friend's advice
• 9+ reviews can boost revenue by 52%

Remember: Focus on getting honest, detailed feedback from real customers. Use it to improve your business and build trust with potential buyers.

1. Make Leaving Reviews Easy

Want more customer reviews? Make it simple. Here's how:

Use a review generator link: One click, multiple platforms. Add it to your email signature, website, social media, and post-purchase emails.

Automate requests: Set up follow-up emails or texts after purchase. Try this:

Hi [Name], thanks for choosing us! We'd love your feedback. 
Quick review here: [Review Link]

Text messaging: 98% open rate. Hard to ignore. Use it.

Streamline the process:

• Offer multiple platforms
• Allow anonymous reviews
• Keep it short

Train your team: Give them scripts. Make "the ask" routine.

Remember: Remove barriers. Make it easy. Get more reviews.

2. Ask for Reviews at the Right Time

Timing is crucial for getting customer reviews. Here's what you need to know:

Don't ask too soon. A study found that asking within 24 hours of a purchase was worse than not asking at all.

The sweet spot? Usually 9-14 days after purchase. And aim for 2-3 PM or 6-7 PM when sending requests.

But it's not one-size-fits-all:

Pay attention to when customers naturally leave reviews. Use that as your starting point.

And think about your product. Food? Quick review. Furniture? Maybe wait a few weeks.

"Delayed reminders (13 days later) increase the likelihood of reviews, while immediate reminders lower it." - Field experiment findings

Bottom line: Test different timings. See what works for YOUR business.

3. Make Review Requests Personal

Want more customer feedback? Make your review requests personal. Here's how:

1. Use their name. "Hi Sarah" beats "Dear Customer" any day.
2. Mention what they bought. "Enjoying your new coffee maker?" shows you remember them.
3. Match your tone to your brand. Casual for a clothing store, formal for a law firm.
4. Tell them why reviews matter. Be honest:

"Your review helps us improve and guides other coffee lovers."

5. Chat first. Get a feel for their satisfaction before asking for a review.

Asking in person? Try this:

For emails, here's a simple template:

Hi [Name],

Quick favor? Could you write a short review about your recent [product/service] experience on [platform]?

Your feedback helps us improve and helps others choose confidently.

Thanks!

[Your Name]

Keep it short, sweet, and personal. Your customers will appreciate it.

4. Use Different Ways to Ask for Reviews

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Mix up your review requests to reach more customers. Here's how:

Email: It's a review-getting machine. 70% of reviews come from post-purchase emails. Keep it short:

Hi [Name],

Thanks for choosing us! What did you think?
Click here to share: [Review Link]

Your feedback helps us and others.

Thanks!
[Your Name]

SMS: These get read. 95-99% open rate, most within 3 minutes. Try:

Hi [Name], how was your experience? Share here: [Review Link]. Thanks!

Website: Make a review page. Easy to find, easy to use. Add links to popular review sites.

Point of Sale: Ask right after purchase. But don't push too hard.

Use names. Mention what they bought. It shows you care and gets more responses.

And follow up. A quick reminder often works for those who forgot.

5. Offer Small Thanks for Reviews

Want more reviews? Show some love. But watch out - the FTC has rules about this.

Here's the deal:

• DON'T buy reviews. It's against FTC rules and looks bad.
• BE CLEAR if you give anything in return.
• KEEP IT SMALL. A simple "thanks" works wonders.

Try these instead:

1. Send a quick "thank you" email.
2. Give a tiny discount on their next buy.
3. Donate a buck to charity for each review.

The goal? Get honest feedback, not fake praise.

The FTC puts it this way:

"If you offer an incentive for a review, don't condition it, explicitly or implicitly, on the review being positive."

6. Reply to Current Reviews

Responding to reviews isn't just good manners—it's a smart business move. Here's why:

• 41% of consumers see responses as a sign you value customers
• 70% change their opinion after a business responds
• 64% prefer to buy from responsive companies over those with perfect ratings

How to nail your responses:

1. Be quick (within a week, especially for negative reviews)
2. Get personal (use names, mention specifics)
3. Stay professional (keep it polite, even when criticized)

Here's a quick guide:

Remember: responding to reviews can boost your count and improve your business. It's a win-win.

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7. Tell Customers Why Reviews Help

Most customers don't know how much their reviews matter. Here's how to explain it:

Reviews build trust. In fact, 88% of people trust them as much as personal recommendations. They also boost your visibility online and help you improve your business.

But here's the kicker: 73% of folks think reviews older than 3 months are old news. And on average, people read 10 reviews before picking a business.

So, why should customers care? Here's a quick breakdown:

Bottom line: Their review could be the one that helps someone make a decision. It's that simple.

8. Use Review Management Software

Review management software can supercharge your customer review strategy. These tools make it easy to collect, organize, and respond to reviews across platforms.

Why use review management software? Here's the deal:

• You get a single dashboard for all your reviews (Google, Facebook, Yelp, you name it)
• It can automatically ask customers for reviews (hello, more reviews!)
• You'll know about new reviews ASAP, so you can respond quickly
• It helps you understand what customers really think
• You can track how you're doing over time

Real-world examples? You got it:

When picking software, think about:

• What you need (managing multiple locations? integrating with other tools?)
• How easy it is to use
• The price (usually $50 to $250+ per month)
• What kind of support they offer

The point is to make review management easier, not harder. Pick what works for your business.

"84% trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation" - Inc.com

That's huge. So, get the right tools and start managing those reviews like a pro.

9. Teach Staff to Ask for Reviews

Want more reviews? Get your team involved. Here's how:

Train your staff well. Give them scripts, but let them be natural. Timing matters - ask right after a good experience.

Here's a simple way to do it:

1. Thank the customer
2. Check if they're happy
3. If yes, ask for a review
4. Tell them how to leave one

Face-to-face works best. It's 34 times more effective than emails or calls.

Use a script like this:

"Hey [Name], thanks for choosing us. Glad you had a good time. Mind sharing your thoughts on [Platform]? It helps us improve and shows others what to expect. Here's how: [Instructions]"

Praise staff who get reviews. It'll motivate others.

Make asking for reviews normal for your team. Do it right, and you'll see more reviews coming in.

"Your employees need a framework. Review request scripts that give them a set of guidelines that they can use to request online reviews on your behalf." - Andrew McDermott, Co-founder of HooktoWin

10. Use Customer Feedback to Improve

Customer reviews are a goldmine of insights. Here's how to turn feedback into action:

1. Read every review carefully
2. Look for common themes
3. Fix recurring issues quickly
4. Use positive feedback to reinforce what's working
5. Tell customers how you've used their feedback

Help Scout, a customer service software company, organizes feedback using Trello boards like "Product Ideas", "Up Next", and "Roadmap."

"We use usability testing to refine design details or new features, making sure customer feedback is baked in before a full rollout", - Help Scout team member

Negative feedback? It's a chance to turn critics into fans. Tom Ricketts, Chairman of the Chicago Cubs, shows how:

"We understand your frustration and appreciate your feedback. We also had concerns, which is why we made this change to benefit our community in the long run by [reiterate your reasoning]."

This approach shows you're listening and working to improve.

Wrap-up

Getting more customer reviews isn't just about asking—it's about creating a system. Here's how to make it happen:

1. Make it easy Use direct links and QR codes. The simpler, the better.
2. Time it right Ask when customers are happy. Data shows 2-3 PM and 6-7 PM work best.
3. Get personal Use names and mention specific experiences. It works.
4. Mix it up Use email, SMS, and in-person requests. SMS is king with a 95-99% open rate.
5. Give rewards Small incentives can boost numbers. Mighty Leaf Tea's contest is a good example.
6. Always respond Reply to good and bad reviews. It shows you care.
7. Train your team Make review requests part of your process. Here's how Chocolate Films did it:

"We quickly reached a 5-star rating and have maintained it since. To achieve this, we made asking for reviews an integral part of our production process." - Alexandra Lens, Chocolate Films

8. Automate it Set up systems to send requests automatically. It saves time.
9. Show off good reviews Share great feedback. It encourages others to chip in.
10. Use the feedback Improve your business based on reviews. Customers will notice and keep them coming.

FAQs

How to increase customer reviews?

Ask directly. It's that simple. Do it in person, via email, or on social media. Just make sure to ask when the customer's happy with your product or service.

"After every job, we give our customers a small business-card-sized handout with a QR code that takes them to our Google My Business page." - Kaitlin Martin, Choice Windows

How to entice customers to leave reviews?

1. Make it easy (use direct links or QR codes)
2. Personalize your requests
3. Use multiple channels
4. Offer small incentives (check platform rules first)
5. Respond to existing reviews

"We send out customer feedback emails every month asking our clients and candidates to complete a 30-second survey about our customer service. At the end of the survey, we ask if they would be happy to submit a Google review." - Fiona Kay, Nigel Wright Group

How do you encourage people to write reviews?

• Send follow-up emails or texts
• Explain why reviews matter to your business
• Keep it quick and simple
• Show how their feedback helps others

"To increase positive reviews for your business, inform and educate your customers on how important reviews are to your business." - Luke Wester, Miva

What is the best way to build up online reviews?

1. Create profiles on multiple review sites
2. Ask at the right time (2-3 PM and 6-7 PM work best)
3. Mix up your request methods
4. Automate the process
5. Train staff to ask consistently

Fun fact: 70% of reviews come from post-transactional review request emails. So, focus on those!

How do I get more customers to leave a review?

• Send personalized requests
• Use email and SMS for high engagement
• Create dedicated review landing pages
• Run a contest (check platform rules)
• Follow up with non-reviewers

Pro tip: Try a monthly contest where leaving a review is the entry ticket. Draw a winner at the end of the month.

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