How to Get More Reviews From Your Customers

Earn more reviews with timing, short asks, simple links, gentle reminders, and fast responses. Add a reviews widget to key pages and track ask rate, new reviews, and recency for steady growth.

Why reviews matter

Recent, consistent reviews improve trust and local visibility. They lower perceived risk, which raises calls, form fills, and bookings. They also surface issues you can fix before they turn into churn.

Set up the basics first

Choose a primary platform (usually Google) and a secondary (industry site or Facebook).
Create short review links and QR codes for each platform.
Prepare a one-pager with simple iPhone/Android instructions your team can text or print.
Turn on notifications so you can reply fast.

Ask at the right moment

Timing beats persuasion. Ask right after a clear win.

Repairs: after successful pickup or 24 hours after a “working great” confirmation.
Home services: before you leave, once the walkthrough looks good.
Clinics: after the follow-up shows improvement.

Simple script

“Glad we got this taken care of. Mind sharing a quick review so others know what to expect? It takes 30 seconds and helps a lot. Here’s the link.”

Make it easy

Use a direct link to the review form, not just your profile page.
Offer two choices in the message: Google or Other.
Keep the ask tight: one line of thanks, one line with the link.

Text template

“Thanks again for choosing us. A short review helps more than you think: [Google link] or [Alt link]. Appreciate you!”

Automate polite reminders

Day 0: initial ask (in person + text).
Day 3: reminder with a quick thank-you.
Day 10: final reminder with a soft opt-out.

Reminder template

“Quick nudge in case you missed this. Your review really helps local folks choose confidently: [Google link]. If now’s not a good time, no worries.”

Train the team

Make the ask part of the checkout script; don’t bury it.
Role-play once a month; share examples of great reviews and what earned them.
Track individual request rates so you know the process is happening.

Don’t gate. Do triage.

Never filter only happy customers to the review link; that violates platform rules.
If someone is upset, route to support first and fix the issue.
After resolution, it’s fine to ask if they’d like to update or share their experience.

Respond to every review

Positive: thank them, mention a specific detail, invite them back.
Negative: reply within 24–48 hours, acknowledge the issue, describe one fix, and move to a private channel. Follow up publicly when resolved.

Negative response formula

“Thanks for flagging this. That experience isn’t what we aim for. I’m [Name], and I’ve DM’d you to make it right today. We’re reviewing [specific step] so it doesn’t repeat.”

Add a reviews widget to high-intent pages (services, pricing, contact).
Highlight recent reviews and relevant keywords (model, neighborhood, service).
Use schema where appropriate so eligible pages can show review details in search.
Rotate fresh reviews monthly so the section never looks stale.

What to track weekly

Ask rate (how many customers were actually asked)
Click-through on review links
New reviews, average rating, and review recency
Response time to new reviews
Mentions of service type, location, and staff

30-day rollout

Week 1: create short links/QRs, write scripts, choose reminder cadence, set up notifications.
Week 2: train team; add links to receipts, email signatures, and post-service texts.
Week 3: launch on Google; add a reviews widget to two highest-traffic service pages.
Week 4: review metrics, tweak timing and scripts, publish a “How we use reviews” note.