PW Media | May 17, 2022

How to Get More Customer Reviews for Your Business

It's not always easy to get online reviews for your business. But with these tips, you'll be on your way to getting the reviews you need.

As a small business owner, you know that reviews are important. They can make or break your business. And getting more of them is vital to your success. But how do you go about getting more reviews?

Why Put the Effort In Getting Reviews?

Reviews and testimonials are essential for businesses of all sizes, but they're especially important for small businesses. If a large retail store gets a negative Google review, there aren't any consequences. If the local coffee shop gets one, the consequences can be far more impactful to their bottom line.


88% of people check and trust online reviews before buying any product or service.


Consumer trust isn't the only reason you should care about getting as many good reviews as possible. Google reviews also play an important role in local SEO. Many studies have found that reviews containing search terms related to your business are the second most influential factor in Google’s Local Pack ranking.

Screengrab of a Google search for “diner near me” with the Local 3-Pack results.

You can see this played out in the example above with the search “diner near me.” When Google's algorithm pulls together the Local Pack, it prioritizes results that contain some or all of the search terms, among other ranking factors.


So, to summarize, reviews can be valuable for small businesses. So, how can you increase the chances of getting positive reviews?


Let's discuss!

1. Focus on customer service that goes above and beyond.

The most reliable way to prompt positive reviews is by creating these seriously positive, memorable experiences for your customers. The example below illustrates how excellent customer service can prompt a 5-star review. 

Screengrab of a 5-star Google review

2. Incentivize customers to leave reviews.

While you should never pay for reviews, there's nothing wrong with giving customers an incentive to leave one.


Many businesses already do this without realizing it. For example, many restaurants will automatically enter diners into a raffle if they fill out a customer satisfaction survey. And that's just one way to incentivize positive reviews; here are a few more ideas:

  • Give customers a discount on their next purchase
  • Enter customers into a contest for a chance to win a prize
  • Offer freebies (like stickers or keychains)


If you decide to go with a strategy like this, don't try to influence the content of the reviews. People will be able to tell if you're trying to make up for the lack of service by soliciting positive reviews.


3. Make it easy for customers to leave reviews.

The easier you make it for customers to leave a review, the more likely they are to do it.

There are two main ways you can do this:

  • Include links to your business' review profiles in your email signature, on your website, and on social media.
  • Make sure your business is (accurately) listed on all major review platforms (Google, Yelp, Facebook, TripAdvisor, etc.) 
  • Post a QR code that links to your Google Business Profile at checkout


When customers have to go out of their way to leave a review, many of them simply won't bother. If you make it as easy as possible, you'll see a significant increase in the number of people leaving reviews.


4. Ask for customer feedback.

This next tip is similar to the last one, but it goes a step further. In addition to making it easy for customers to leave reviews, you can gently remind them to do so. 


There are a few different ways you can do this:


  • Send follow-up emails after purchase or service
  • Include review cards in packaging that direct customers to your Google Business Profile (GBP)
  • Place signs near exits, checkouts, or tables (e.g., “While you're waiting, why not leave us a Google review!”)
Person holding up their cell phone with a Submit a Google Review QR code

This straightforward approach is surprisingly effective. When businesses ask for reviews, the average rating is 4.34/5. When they don't, that average rating falls to 3.89/5. On top of this, asking for reviews has been shown to significantly increase the number of reviews a business gets!


Again, you don't want to be too pushy about this—just a gentle reminder will do. If you're too forceful, people will be turned off and less likely to leave a review.


5. Respond to all reviews—especially negative ones.

If you're only going to take one thing away from this article, let it be this: Responding to customer feedback—both positive and negative—is absolutely essential.


This shows that you care about your customers' experiences, and it helps to build trust. Research has shown that businesses that respond to reviews are more likely to earn customer trust and improve their reputation.


A simple “Thank you!” and a short response will suffice when responding to positive reviews. But when responding to negative reviews, you'll need to do a bit more work.

Screengrab of a Google bad review with the business response.

First, take the time to read through the review and understand the customer's perspective. Then, reach out to them via a response or private message to resolve the issue. If the customer is happy with your response, they may update their review.


Final Thoughts

Customer reviews are essential for small businesses. Not only do they help to build trust with potential customers, but they also provide valuable feedback that can improve the customer experience.


Follow the tips outlined in this guide, and you'll see a significant increase in the number of positive reviews your business receives


Ramp Up Your Reviews

If you're looking to get more online reviews for your business, PW Media can help! Our reputation and local citation management services are designed to help you get more positive reviews from happy customers. We'll help you create campaigns tailored to your specific business and provide you with the tools and resources you need to get more reviews. Our team is always available to help you manage and respond to reviews. Contact us today to get started!

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