You put so much into your business. But when you see a customer’s kind words expressing their gratitude for all your help, the hard work becomes worthwhile.

Customer reviews are extremely rewarding, but there’s more value to them than just feeling good.

They shed light on what people love—and don’t love—about your services and operations. They vouch for your dedication, skill, and professionalism. They inspire prospects to take the leap, pick up the phone, and schedule an appointment with you.

This is your guide on how to get customers to leave reviews. We’ll discuss why this is important before sharing five strategies. We’ll finish with a few take-action tips you can use to boost the number of reviews you get today.

Why You Need Customers to Leave Reviews

We all love a bit of praise every now and again. But from a business perspective, that’s not the only benefit of learning how to get customers to leave reviews.

In today’s digital world, where every buying decision is scrutinized online with Google searches and social media deep-dives, public positive feedback from real-world customers becomes a competitive advantage. Here’s how:

Back Up Your Promises

You might say you offer the best HVAC service in your area. But for all a prospect knows, you’re not telling the truth.

When a customer says the same thing in a review, your claims become legitimate. You have an outsider with no vested interest in your success backing up your skill and service.

This builds trust and adds to your credibility.

Understand What Customers Need

73% of consumers expect companies to understand their needs. How can you know how your customers feel about your business without feedback?

By encouraging and reading reviews, you can learn what people like and what needs improvement. Using this insight, you can make positive changes to your processes.

RELATED ARTICLE: What Customer Retention Means and Why It Matters

Boost Your Online Presence

Did you know positive reviews are good for local search engine optimization (SEO)?

High star ratings on your Google Business profile can lift your visibility and enable you to outrank competitors.

Increase Your Sales

Positive reviews can lead to more sales. Why? Because people are more likely to choose a business with good reviews.

Six in 10 consumers believe customer reviews are trustworthy. This means they use them to make buying decisions.

5 Ways to Get More Customer Reviews

Before you try these five strategies, do a bit of housekeeping.

Are you listed on major review platforms like Google Business and Facebook? No? Now’s the time to claim or set up your profile.

Is your information up-to-date? If not, happy customers who want to leave a review might hesitate. They might have a hard time finding your business on their preferred site.

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS: How to Get Customers to Leave Reviews for Your Local Home Services Business

If you’re ready to go, it’s time to supercharge your reviews with five simple strategies.

Strategy 1: Just Ask, But Make It Easy

Many people are happy to share their experiences. They just need a gentle nudge. Your goal is to make it easy and friction-free.

Here are some ideas:

• Add a link to a review site in your email signature. Include a simple prompt like, “Happy with your service? Leave a review.”
• Give your customers a small business card-sized handout with a QR code. This code should take them to your Google Business page. Can’t find your Google review link? Follow these instructions.
• Include a call to action on invoices or receipts encouraging customers to leave a review.
• After a customer makes a positive comment about your business in person, kindly ask them to post it online.

Strategy 2: Automate Your Follow-Up Process

Automation can help you collect more reviews with minimal effort. One of the easiest ways to do this is to create an automated email campaign.

Use a platform like Customer Lobby to create and automatically send short emails asking for reviews. Don’t forget to include a link.

Send a follow-up a few weeks later. Remind them to leave a review if they haven’t yet.

Just don’t bombard inboxes. Keep emails short and casual.

Strategy 3: Offer an Incentive

An incentive can get people over the line, so offer your customers something in return for their time and effort. Here are some ideas:

• Provide a discount on a future service.
• Offer a gift card.
• Make a charitable donation on their behalf.

Ensure this offer is clear in your follow-up communications. Include it in your emails and printed materials.

You might use this strategy in the short term to build up the number of reviews you have.

RELATED ARTICLE: What To Look for in a Customer Retention Software

Strategy 4: Share Your Reviews

Sharing positive reviews can help you in two ways:

1. It makes your business look good.
2. It reminds happy customers to leave their own reviews.

You can go about this strategy in a number of ways.

You might add a Google review widget to your website. Or, you could share your best reviews on social media.

Pair the review with a picture of the job to showcase your skills. If you don’t have a photo, use a tool like Canva to dress up and brand the review to encourage engagement.

Strategy 5: Target Happy Customers

Focus your efforts on customers who are most likely to leave positive reviews. This will increase your chances of getting more positive reviews.

To do this, follow these best practices:

Follow up with clients who have already expressed satisfaction with your service.

Send personalized emails asking for reviews.

Offer to assist them with the review process if needed.

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS: 5 Ways to Keep Your Online Reviews Positive

How You Can Start Getting Customers to Leave Reviews Right Now

For a local business like yours, a high number of positive reviews can drive more business. Here are some quick and easy tips you can use to start gathering more customer reviews right away:

• Create a process for asking for reviews. Make it a part of your routine. For example, you might ask for reviews in person after completing each job.
• Draft a review request email. Write a simple, friendly email asking customers to leave a review. Include a direct link to your review page.
• Choose an incentive. Decide on an incentive for customers who leave a review.
• Check your Google Business profile. See if you have claimed your Google Business profile. This makes it easy for customers to find and review you.
• Write a list of happy customers. Identify five recent customers who were happy with your service. Follow up with them and ask for a review.