how to write a 5 star review

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How to Write a 5-Star Review That's Actually Helpful (and Looks Real)

Online reviews are a huge part of how we spend money nowadays, and nothing makes people hit that “Order Now” button like a 5-star review. Unfortunately, good reviews are so easily bought and faked that they often drown out the legit ones—even if they’re equally positive.

If you’re trying to write a helpful, glowing review, the best thing you can do is stand out from the pack. Your first goal should be to write something that people can read, so The Golden Rule of Reviews— get to the point —still applies. Besides that, these four criteria will ensure your review has a purpose.

How specific should a 5-star review be?

A slew of contextless 4- and 5-star reviews doesn’t look promising; it looks scammy. If you’re leaving a great review, anyone who reads it will want to know why—so tell them.

What specifically made the food and service at a new restaurant so great? If you were pleasantly surprised by how quickly an online order arrived, how long did it take to ship? Why does this particular item work so well for you? Would it work the same for everyone, or does it depend on individual factors like shoe size, skin, hair type, or body shape? Don’t write a whole novel, but be sure to include details like these.

Write like a regular person, not a copywriter

I’m a copywriter, so I’m allowed to say this: So many online reviews are actually ad copy in a trench coat and Groucho Marx glasses. It’s not even subtle. This wouldn’t be a problem if the vast majority of these reviews didn’t also contain a line about receiving the product for free in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Wink .

Getting free stuff in exchange for a review is fine, to be clear, but whether or not you paid for the product in question is irrelevant if your review is just multiple paragraphs of regurgitated marketing buzzwords. Readers can get that on the company’s website. It’s much better to keep your language natural and specific and the overall review brief; bogus reviews never quite manage all three.

Add the right context to your review

With highly personal things like clothes, shoes, and cosmetics, “good” is relative. If you’re at all able to do so, include some relevant, non-identifying information about yourself to explain why you like something so much. Shoes are the perfect example: A 5-star review that says a size 9 1/2 fit perfectly is fine; one that also mentions the reviewer normally wears a size 10 in Nike women’s sneakers is gold . It gives the reader some basis for comparison, which makes their choices easier.

Not all comparisons are useful, however. Complimenting one thing by trashing another is never a good look. You’re not reviewing that other bar across town, so why bring it up at all—let alone for the express purpose of talking shit. It makes you look petty and mean, but more importantly, it’s useless.

Never identify workers by name

At some point, people decided that the best way to reward a service worker for a job well done is to tattle on them to their boss, but like, in a positive way. Although this can work in some scenarios, a public, online review is definitely not one of them. If you absolutely must compliment a specific person, contact the business directly or save it for an online customer satisfaction survey. The right people will still hear about your great interaction with Tina, but the rest of the internet won’t.

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How to Get 5 Star Review: Examples and Review Responses

Table of Contents

It’s tough to get those coveted five-star reviews, but there are some things you can do to increase your chances. This includes providing excellent service, responding to customer feedback, and offering incentives for customers to leave a review.

To start, let’s take a look at some examples of businesses that have successfully gotten five-star reviews. Then we’ll discuss some review responses that show how you can turn a negative review into a positive one.

Examples of Five-Star Reviews

“I had an amazing experience with this company. The customer service was outstanding, and the product was exactly what I was looking for.”

“I was so pleased with the service I received from this business. They went above and beyond to help me find the perfect item.”

“I was very impressed with the quality of the product I received. It was exactly what I was hoping for.”

“The customer service at this company is excellent. They were accommodating and responsive to my questions.”

As you can see, businesses that provide excellent service and products are more likely to receive five-star reviews. But it’s not always easy to achieve this level of customer satisfaction. That’s why it’s essential to respond to customers’ positive feedback and negative reviews.

Managing multiple reviews on several platforms manually could be highly labourous and counter productive. Hence, having a platform like ReviewGrower to manage all your reviews (positive and negative) under one roof is essential to reputation management. Sign up for FREE today!

What Makes a Positive Review?

Customers are typically happy with their overall experience when they leave positive reviews. A positive review includes satisfaction with the product or service received, fair pricing, quality customer service , and more.

Positive reviews can be highly beneficial for businesses. They can help attract new customers and boost sales. Additionally, they can improve search engine rankings and build brand reputation.

To ensure positive reviews, businesses should focus on providing a great customer experience. This includes offering high-quality products and services, responding to customer inquiries and complaints, and even asking clients for a review . Because of that, businesses should consider actively collecting customer feedback by implementing a review management strategy. Additionally, businesses should consider actively collecting customer feedback by implementing a review management strategy.

Why Respond to Positive Reviews? 

It’s essential to respond to positive reviews for a few reasons:

• It shows that you are paying attention to what people say about your business.
• It allows you to thank your customers for their business.
• It helps build relationships with your customers.
• It can help attract new customers.

When you respond to positive reviews, be professional and courteous. Thank the customer for their business and tell them you appreciate their feedback. If there is anything that you can do to improve their experience, let them know that you’re always looking for ways to improve.

Building positive relationships with your customers is essential to success, fostering  client retention and customer loyalty  through responsive communication and genuine care, as evidenced by responding to positive reviews and actively addressing concerns. Responding to positive reviews is one way to build those relationships and show your customers that you care about their experience.

How to Respond to Positive Reviews 

Positive reviews are great for business. They let potential customers know that you’re providing a good product or service, and they can help to attract new business. But how you respond to positive reviews is just as important as the review itself.

Here are some tips on how to respond to positive reviews:

1. Thank the customer for their positive review. This shows that you appreciate their feedback.

2. If applicable, mention how you plan to use the customer’s suggestions to improve your business. This shows that you’re taking their feedback seriously and are committed to making improvements.

3. Offer the customer a discount or coupon code as a thank-you for leaving a positive review. This is a nice gesture that can help to encourage repeat business.

4. If the customer has permitted you, post their review on your website or social media channels. This can help to attract new customers and show potential customers that you’re getting positive feedback from those who have used your products or services.

5. Respond promptly to positive reviews. This shows that you’re paying attention to what customers say and value their feedback.

Positive Review Response Examples for Hotel Reviews 

When you receive a positive review, it is always best to thank the reviewer for their kind words. You can also use this opportunity to upsell your hotel by mentioning other amenities you offer. Here are a few positive review response examples for hotels:

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re glad you enjoyed your stay with us, and we hope to see you again soon.

Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay, and we hope to see you again in the future.

Thank you for your positive review. We pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service, and we’re glad we could do that for you. We hope to see you again soon!

Thanks for the great review! We’re glad you had a good experience and hope to see you again.

Positive Reviews Examples for Online Shopping

Positive customer reviews are one of the best ways to get an idea of what other shoppers think about a product before you buy it. Here are some examples of positive customer reviews for online shopping:

“I’m so glad I found the best review sites! The prices are unbeatable, and the selection is great. I will be shopping here again.”

“I was hesitant to order at first, but I’m so glad I did! The quality is amazing, and the service was super fast. I will be a return customer.”

“I love this store! The customer service is outstanding, and the products are always top-notch. I highly recommend shopping here.”

Positive Review Response Examples for Restaurant Reviews

Thank you for your kind words! We’re so happy to have you as a customer, and we’ll continue to work hard to give you the best possible experience.

Thank you for writing such a positive review! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed your time with us, and we hope to see you again soon.

It’s always great to hear from satisfied customers like yourself. Thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely review – we appreciate it.

Positive Review Response Examples for Mobile Apps Reviews 

If you’re looking for ways to respond to positive reviews for your mobile app , here are a few examples to get you started.

Thank you so much for the great review! We’re glad you’re enjoying the app and finding it helpful.

We’re thrilled to hear that you’re enjoying the app and getting value from it. Thank you for taking the time to write a review.

Thank you for writing a positive review of our app! We appreciate your feedback and are constantly working to improve the user experience.

Thanks so much for the positive review! We’ll keep working hard to make sure our app is the best it can be.

Positive Review Response Examples for Ecommerce Reviews 

Review Responses That Show How to Turn a Negative feedback Review Into a Positive One

“I’m sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with our product. We would love to send you a replacement item that meets your expectations.”

“Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We’re sorry that you were not satisfied with your purchase. We would be happy to issue a refund or send you a replacement product.”

“We’re sorry to hear you had problems with our customer service. We would love to speak with you directly to resolve the issue.”

As you can see, responding to positive and negative reviews is essential to maintaining a five-star rating. By addressing customer concerns, you show that you care about providing a great experience. This can go a long way towards getting those coveted five-star reviews.

How to Respond to Google reviews

When you get a new Google review , you should first log into your Google My Business account. You can click on the ‘Respond to Reviews’ button.

Once you’re on the ‘Respond to Reviews’ page, you’ll see a list of all your recent reviews. To reply to a review, click on the ‘Reply’ button.

In the text box that appears, you can write your response. Be sure to thank the customer for their feedback, whether it’s positive or negative. Then, hit the ‘Post Response’ button to publish your reply.

That’s it! Now you know how to respond to Google reviews. Thanks for reading!!

5 Star Restaurant Review Examples

1. The food was excellent! I had the steak, and it was cooked perfectly.

2. The service was wonderful. Our waiter was so attentive and accommodating.

3. The ambiance was perfect. The restaurant had a great atmosphere, and the decor was beautiful.

4. Overall, this was an incredible dining experience. The food, service, and ambiance were all top-notch. I will be back!

5. I had a great experience at this restaurant! The food was fantastic, the service was beautiful, and the perfect atmosphere. I will be back soon!

5 Star Food Review Examples

“The food was amazing! I’ve never had anything like it. The service was great, too. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone.”

“This is the best restaurant in town! The food is delicious, and the service is wonderful. I will be back.”

“I had a great experience at this restaurant. The food was fantastic, and the service was excellent. I will be back.”

“This restaurant is a must-go for anyone visiting the area. The food was incredible, and the service was outstanding. I will be back.”

5 Star Realtor Positive Review Examples

“I would highly recommend Jane Doe as a real estate agent. She was extremely professional and knowledgeable, making buying a home easy. She was always quick to respond to any questions or concerns, and she went above and beyond to ensure we were happy with our purchase. We will be using her again in the future!”

“We had a great experience working with John Smith as our real estate agent. He was very responsive to our needs and helped us find the perfect home for our family. He made the process stress-free, and we are very grateful for his hard work.”

“It was a pleasure working with Sarah Jones as our real estate agent. She made the process of buying a home effortless and enjoyable. She was always available to answer our questions and went above and beyond to ensure we were happy with our new home. We highly recommend her to anyone looking for a great real estate agent!”

Best Tips to Tackle Negative Reviews

Negative reviews can be a pain, but there are some things you can do to mitigate the damage.

1. Respond Quickly

The first thing you need to do is respond quickly. Don’t let the negative review sit there without a response. This will make you look bad and give the reviewer more time to spread negativity.

2. Be Professional

When you do respond, be professional. This isn’t the time to get defensive or angry. Thank the reviewer for their feedback and try to resolve the issue.

3. Offer a Solution

If there is a valid grievance, offer a solution. If the reviewer had a bad experience, see what you can do to make it right.

4. Take it Offline

Take the conversation offline if the reviewer is unreasonable or the situation is too heated. This will allow you to cool down and diffuse the situation.

5. Prevent Future Negative Reviews

Finally, try to prevent future negative reviews by addressing the issues that caused the original one. If you can stop the problem at its source, you’ll be less likely to get bad reviews in the future.

Negative reviews are never fun, but by following these tips, you can minimize the damage and prevent them from happening in the future.

Best Tips to Respond to Neutral Reviews

If you receive a neutral review, don’t fret! There are plenty of ways to turn a negative into a positive. Here are some tips on how to respond to an unbiased review:

• Thank the reviewer for their feedback and let them know you appreciate it.
• Use the feedback as an opportunity to improve your business. Thank the reviewer for their input and let them know you’ll use it to make changes.
• Don’t take the feedback personally. It’s important to remember that not everyone will love your business, but that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. Use constructive criticism as an opportunity to grow.
• Turn a negative into a positive by using it as an opportunity to learn and improve. Thank the reviewer for their feedback and let them know that you’re using it to make your business better.
• Thanks for taking the time to leave a review! We appreciate all feedback, positive or negative. It helps us improve our business so we can better serve our customers.

How to Enhance Customer Experience Using Online Reviews

Online reviews are a powerful tool that can help you understand what your customers think about your business and improve your customer experience. Technical skills and tools will come in handy here, as you analyze the relationship between user experience and user reviews; spreadsheet software for data entry, a VPN for Chrome extension or Safari to view localized data, and CRM are all likely to help you implement improvements to your UX. Here’s how you can use online reviews to enhance your customer experience.

1. Use online reviews to understand your customers’ needs and wants

Online reviews can give you valuable insights into what your customers want and need from your business. Pay attention to the positive and negative reviews alike to get a well-rounded understanding of your customers’ needs.

2. Address negative reviews promptly

No business is perfect, and negative reviews will happen from time to time. It’s essential to address them promptly and professionally. Thank the customer for their feedback and take action to rectify the situation. This will show potential customers that you care about your customers’ experience and are willing to make things right.

3. Use positive reviews as testimonials

Positive reviews can be powerful marketing tools , especially when used strategically on your website or social media pages as testimonials from happy customers. Incorporating contact management software into your marketing strategy allows you to efficiently collect and organize testimonial cards , making it easier to showcase them to potential customers in media such as flip books , digital brochures and webpages. By utilizing contact management software, you can streamline the process of gathering positive feedback and leverage it to attract new customers, ultimately convincing them to choose your business for their needs.

4. Encourage customers to leave reviews

Make it easy for customers to leave reviews by providing links on your website or sending follow-up emails after a purchase. Do not use a free email address like [email protected] for such communication. An email address needs to have your brand embedded into it i.e [email protected]. Gmail Business Email or Outlook offer such email addresses. You can also offer incentives, such as discounts or coupons, to encourage customers to take the time to write a review.

Review Grower allows you to enrich your customer experience by providing crucial and productive features . You can start your journey by signing up today .

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a 5-star review say.

A five-star review should honestly reflect the reviewer’s experience with the product or service. It should highlight the reviewer’s positive experiences and satisfaction with the product or service quality. Additionally, a five-star review should be free of grammar and spelling errors and concise.

How do you comment on a positive review?

The best way to comment on a positive review is to thank the reviewer for their kind words. You can also tell them you’re happy to have them as a customer and appreciate their feedback. If they mentioned anything specific that you want to address, you could also do so in your response. It is always an excellent way to thank the reviewer and show that you value their opinion.

How do you write a positive review response example?

Assuming you would like a response to a positive online review:

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re pleased to have you as a customer and glad our product/service could bring you some joy. If there’s anything we can do to improve your experience in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your support!

How do I respond to a Google 5-star review?

Thanks for the 5-star review! We’re glad you’re happy with our service.

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17 Positive Review Examples and Response Templates

In an increasingly connected world where everyone’s opinions are shared with a click, reviews are more powerful than ever. Statistics show that 95% of consumers now read online reviews, and as many as 88% trust them as much as personal recommendations.

Yet, acquiring these gold nuggets of advocacy can often feel as daunting as striking gold. So how do you motivate your customers to share their fantastic experiences and pen them into persuasive, positive reviews?

In this article, we’ll show you real-life examples of positive customer reviews. These review examples not only laud excellent customer experiences but are powerful tools that boost your online reputation and catalyze business success.

Let’s dive in and start crafting some five-star reputations.

Why Positive Reviews Matter?

Helping your customers craft the perfect positive review, 17 positive review examples by industry, 10 best practices for encouraging customers to leave positive reviews, how to respond to positive reviews and engage with customers, positive review response templates and examples, how demandhub can be your business growth partner.

The power of positive reviews is undeniable. A staggering 93% of consumers say online reviews impact their purchasing decisions. Businesses with excellent reviews have up to a 31% greater conversion rate than those with no or negative reviews.

Moreover, 72% of customers won’t act until they read reviews. Hence, the importance of positive customer feedback cannot be overstated.

Positive reviews are a clear endorsement of your product or service. They are a trust-building tool that increases the likelihood of driving prospective customers toward a purchase.

Let’s delve deeper into why positive reviews are the lifeblood of your business’s online presence and success.

Boosting Your Online Reputation

Your business reputation can make or break your business. Positive reviews can help build a robust online reputation and increase your visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs).

For 73% of consumers, the content of a review holds more weight than the star rating alone. This fact highlights positive reviews’ significant impact on shaping your business’s online image and cultivating trust among potential customers.

Additionally, Google uses reviews as a pivotal ranking factor, underlining their influence on search engine optimization (SEO). Fresh user-generated content, like reviews, accounts for 9.8% of total ranking factors, making them an indispensable element of SEO strategy.

Your online visibility grows with each positive review you get. You will rank higher on search engines if your business has more positive reviews. This leads to increased brand visibility and ultimately brings in more business.

Positive reviews can also help counteract negative reviews. Responding to it positively and professionally can show potential customers that you care about their experience and are willing to make things right. This can help mitigate the impact of negative reviews and maintain a positive online reputation.

Attracting New Customers

Positive reviews can be a powerful marketing tool. When potential customers see positive reviews from others who have used your product or service, they are more likely to choose your business.

5-star customer reviews give your business a competitive edge, swaying potential customers in your favor over your rivals.

Furthermore, 57% of consumers only use businesses with 4 stars or more, signifying the influence of positive reviews. So, positive reviews aren’t just feedback - they’re strategic assets for attracting new customers.

Encouraging Repeat Business

Positive reviews can also encourage repeat business. People with good experience with your business will return and recommend your product or service to others. This results in increased customer loyalty and a stronger customer base.

Also, positive customer reviews serve as a compass for improvement. By engaging with reviews, you gain insights into what customers appreciate and areas needing refinement. These insights help you improve customer experience and spark a cycle of ever-growing positive reviews.

In conclusion, positive reviews are essential for the success of any business. They can help boost your online reputation and SEO, attract new customers , and encourage repeat business.

Though five-star ratings are a beacon of success, they alone cannot narrate the full story of your stellar services. A rating, irrespective of how high, needs the support of a well-crafted, positive review to set your business apart.

Generic, plain reviews often fail to provide the comprehensive picture potential customers seek. Enhancing the quality of your reviews is crucial to attracting a larger customer base.

Before diving into positive review examples, let’s define what is a “good positive review?” While many might think a ‘good positive review’ is solely determined by a five-star rating, the reality is much more nuanced.

A truly valuable review has elements that go beyond just the star rating. Here are some phrases that commonly appear in positive reviews:

• “I highly recommend this business.”
• “Their customer service is second to none.”
• “The product quality is consistently outstanding, exceeding my expectations every time.”
• “I was completely impressed with their professionalism and customer service.”
• “The ambiance here is always inviting and comfortable.”
• “This is my go-to place for ‘X…’ - the best in town.”
• “Their staff is not only friendly but also highly skilled.”
• “Pricing is fair and transparent - definitely value for money.”
• “Efficiency and punctuality are hallmarks of their service.”

Here are some tips for your customers on how to craft the perfect positive review:

Be Genuine and Specific

The goal is to go beyond the star rating. Instead of getting generic ‘great service’ praise, encourage your customers to share precise details about their positive experiences. This offers potential customers a more vivid picture of what they can expect from your business.

See how the following review is authentic, delves into specifics, and goes beyond the star rating:

Receiving such detailed positive feedback highlights your business’s attention to detail and the authenticity of the customer’s experience. It goes a long way in fostering trust with potential customers.

When a customer invests time to craft a comprehensive review, it brings credibility to their five-star rating. Prospective customers might see a perfect rating with skepticism. However, a detailed, personalized review can instill trust and validate the high rating given to your business.

Highlight Key Features and Benefits

Aim to get positive reviews that not only compliment but also highlight the unique features and benefits of your business. These specifics help potential customers understand what sets your business apart from others.

For instance, consider this review for an auto shop: “The comprehensive services offered by this auto shop were impressive. I appreciate their extended working hours, which are highly convenient for busy individuals. They also provide a free vehicle health checkup with every service, emphasizing their commitment to the customer’s safety.”

Here’s a real-life example of a positive review highlighting key benefits:

Receiving reviews that spotlight your business’s unique selling propositions (USPs) will attract prospects and help you know where your business is performing well.

Address Potential Concerns

Encourage positive reviews that not only highlight your business’s strengths but also address any potential customer concerns. This demonstrates that your business values discerning consumers who provide honest assessments.

For example, consider this review for a dentist’s office: “Although the wait time at this dentist’s office was longer than anticipated, the exceptional quality of care more than compensated for it. The staff exhibited friendliness, expertise, and ensured my comfort throughout the entire visit.”

Here’s another example of a positive review addressing potential concerns:

Your customers showcase fairness and honesty as a reviewer by addressing potential concerns in their reviews. This constructive feedback helps your businesses improve and deliver even better service in the future.

Contain User-Generated Content: Photos and Videos

Photos and videos add credibility and authenticity to the review, providing tangible evidence of the customer’s interaction with the product or service.

Visual content shows various aspects, such as a clinic’s ambiance, product quality, or the before-and-after results of a service. It adds authenticity, builds trust, and creates a more immersive storytelling experience.

Businesses can benefit greatly by encouraging customers to share photos and videos. These visual aids provide valuable user-generated content that can attract more attention, engagement, and potential customers.

Additionally, visual content can be shared on social media platforms, expanding the reach and visibility of the positive review beyond the review site.

Mentions Long-Term Customer Relationships

A positive review gains significant value when a customer mentions their long-standing relationship with your business, indicating a sustained and positive customer experience.

Consider the following example where the value of the review is greatly amplified by this added detail:

By showcasing the enduring customer relationship, this review becomes a compelling testament to the consistent excellence of the business. It offers potential customers valuable insights into the long-term satisfaction and trust that can be fostered over an extended period.

Features a Team Member’s Name

Review sites often challenge businesses to showcase their personality and humanize their brand. However, when a review goes the extra mile and mentions a team member by name, it creates a genuine connection with potential customers. This personal touch greatly improves the likelihood of customers choosing your business over competitors.

This aspect holds even greater significance in agent-based organizations like salons or real estate companies, where personalized recommendations reassure customers that they will receive individualized care.

See the positive review example below that mentions team members. You can witness this approach’s remarkable impact on building customer trust and fostering satisfaction.

Now that you have a solid understanding of the value of generating positive reviews and their key components. However, reviews can vary in format and content based on the industry and platform.

Let’s explore 17 industry-specific positive review examples to provide a clearer picture and see how businesses can leverage them.

Reviews play a vital role in the healthcare industry, where trust and patient satisfaction are paramount. Potential patients heavily rely on reviews to make informed decisions about their healthcare providers.

In fact, 77% of patients read online reviews as their 1st step in finding a new doctor. And 84% wouldn’t consider a referred doctor if they have a rating of four stars or less. So, the more detailed the positive reviews, the better. Encourage patients to highlight specific aspects of your practice’s customer service and other notable features.

Patient reviews are a valuable marketing asset for your practice. They showcase the excellence of your services. You can prominently display them on your practice’s website and share them across social media channels to attract more patients to your door.

To help healthcare practices encourage their customers to share their experiences, here’s a template for a positive review:

You can even create these templates by copy and pasting them in your review request text messages .

In the fiercely competitive automotive industry, and social media channels.

By doing so, you can leverage the influence of positive reviews to gain a competitive edge. To help your customers in writing positive reviews for your business, here are some templates they can use as a starting point:

If you run a hair salon, you understand the importance of showcasing your professionalism, serviceability, and skill level to attract more clients. As an industry that thrives on customer satisfaction, it’s vital to stay informed about current trends and best practices.

Explore these positive review examples, which provide valuable insights into what customers appreciate and seek in hair salon experiences. Get positive reviews across top online review sites to boost your salon’s visibility.

Share these positive review templates with your customers to help them craft appreciation for your service:

Trust and reliability are essential in the mover’s industry. Positive reviews are crucial in this process, serving as testimonials highlighting your professionalism, efficiency, and excellent customer service.

Encourage happy customers to share their experiences on popular review platforms like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Doing so can amplify your reputation and make you stand out in your industry.

Share these positive review templates with your customers to help them write testimonials for your business:

Retail Stores

When it comes to retail stores, several key factors contribute to their success in outshining the competition. These factors include the prime location, exceptional customer service, high-quality products, and customer service.

While a higher star rating certainly helps, it is equally important for positive reviews to provide specific details, as demonstrated in the examples below. By highlighting these aspects, retail stores can effectively capture the attention of prospects and differentiate themselves in a crowded market.

Your customers can use the following positive review templates to write a good review for your retail business:

Dental Clinics

Online reviews play a significant role in the dental industry. They give potential patients a good indication of what to expect from your dental practice . They also provide dentists with valuable feedback to help them improve and become the best practice.

You need a constant stream of new patients to grow your dental practice . And to get new patients, you need positive reviews. Dental reviews not only provide social proof of your business, but they also help increase patient trust.

In addition, dental clinic reviews can help dentists identify areas needing improvement. By reading honest patient feedback, dentists can find what works well and needs to be changed to offer the best possible care.

Most dentists have a tough time getting patients to leave reviews . Great news! You can share the following positive review templates with your patients to make leaving reviews a breeze:

Chiropractors and Physiotherapy Clinics

Many physicians hesitate to ask patients for online feedback as patient satisfaction is difficult to measure and can be inconsistent. But 7 out of 10 patients will provide an online review if asked .

Moreover, Google will rank your clinic higher on search results if you have more positive reviews. In fact, positive reviews can attract out-of-network patients to healthcare review websites .

A positive online review history could persuade patients to visit your clinic , even if you’re not in their insurance network. About 43% of potential patients are willing to go out of their insurance provider network for a provider with positive reviews.

Some chiropractor or physiotherapy clinic positive review templates for your customers’ reference are:

Positive reviews are an invaluable asset for any business. You can establish a strong online reputation and attract new customers by providing excellent service and encouraging feedback. Use these examples and tips to craft a positive review and watch your business thrive.

Encouraging customers to leave positive reviews is a powerful way to enhance your online reputation and attract new customers. Here are some best practices to consider:

Offer Exceptional Service or Product

This is the most important point. Quality products or services will naturally encourage positive reviews. Ensure your customer service is top-notch and your product or service meets or exceeds expectations.

Ask for a Review

People are often willing to give reviews if asked. You can do this in person, over SMS, on receipts, or through social media. Ensure your request is polite, not pushy, and express your appreciation for their feedback.

Make it Easy

Your customers are busy. The less time and effort it takes, the more likely they will do it. Make the process of leaving a review as easy and intuitive as possible. If you’re asking for reviews via email, text , or website, provide a direct link to the review form.

Timing is Key

Timing can significantly influence the likelihood of receiving a review. Asking for a review immediately after purchase might not be the best strategy, as the customer hasn’t yet had time to experience your product or service.

Similarly, waiting too long could make the experience not fresh in their mind. Find a middle ground, such as a few days or weeks after the purchase or service completion.

On the other hand, for service-based businesses, it is important to ask for a review immediately after the treatment or services are provided while the experience is still fresh.

Respond to Reviews

Responding to positive and negative reviews shows that you value customer feedback. It also builds trust and rapport with your customers, which can encourage more reviews.

Incentivize Reviews

Offering small incentives can motivate customers to leave a review. This could be a discount on their next purchase, a small gift, or entry into a contest. Make sure any incentives adhere to the review policies of the platform you’re using.

Share Positive Reviews

Displaying positive reviews on your website, in-store, or on social media channels can serve as social proof. It also encourages others to leave positive reviews and attract new customers.

Address Negative Reviews

Don’t ignore or delete negative reviews . Instead, respond professionally and offer solutions to the issues raised. This shows that you care about customer feedback and are committed to improving. It may even turn a negative review into a positive one.

Train Your Staff

Ensure all your employees understand the importance of reviews and are trained to encourage customers to leave feedback. They should also know how to handle negative reviews or complaints in person.

Thank Customers for Their Reviews

Show appreciation to customers who take the time to leave a review. Simple thank yous can go a long way and encourage them to leave reviews in the future.

Remember, staying ethical and fair in your pursuit of reviews is important. Don’t fall into the trap of buying reviews or creating fake ones, as this can harm your reputation in the long run.

When responding to positive reviews, express your gratitude and acknowledge the specifics of their praise. Personalize your response to show that you value the time and effort they took to write the review.

For example, “Thank you, [Customer’s Name], for your kind words. We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed [specific product/service/aspect they praised] and look forward to serving you again.”

Engaging with customers goes beyond just responding to reviews. Regularly interact with them on social media platforms, emails, or review sites. Use these interactions to acknowledge their positive experiences and learn more about their needs and expectations.

Always maintain a professional, courteous, and friendly tone. Encourage conversations, ask for their opinions, or offer valuable content. Remember, every interaction is an opportunity to build a strong relationship and foster customer loyalty.

At times, the most daunting part of review management is finding the right words to use in your responses. Here are a few positive review response templates you could use as a starting point when responding to reviews.

• Happy Customer: “We’re over the moon to hear that you enjoyed our service. Your kind words truly mean a lot to us. We’re looking forward to serving you again soon! Thank you.”
• Compliment on Product Quality: “Dear [Customer’s Name], we’re thrilled that you’re enjoying our [product]. We take pride in the quality of our products and your feedback validates our efforts. We appreciate your support and can’t wait to continue providing you with the best in the future. Thank you!”
• Praise for Customer Service: “Hello [Customer’s Name], we’re so pleased to hear that our customer service team met your expectations. We strive to provide excellent service to each and every customer. Your feedback helps us continue our efforts. Looking forward to serving you again, thank you!”
• Compliment on Quick Delivery: “Hi [Customer’s Name], we’re glad to hear that your order reached you promptly! We understand the importance of quick and efficient delivery, and we’re happy we could meet your expectations. Your kind words are much appreciated. Thank you for choosing us.”
• Appreciation of Business Ethics/Values: “Dear [Customer’s Name], your appreciation for our business values means the world to us. It is customers like you who encourage us to stay true to our principles. Thank you for your kind words, we look forward to serving you in the future.”

Remember, while these are templates, it’s always better to personalize your responses based on the specifics of each review to show customers that you truly value their feedback.

Managing customer reviews effectively is an essential part of successful business operations. Positive reviews do more than boost your online reputation. These prove the high quality of your products or services, solidifying trust with your existing customers and attracting potential ones.

The templates provided in the article offer you a launching pad to construct meaningful and engaging positive reviews and responses, fostering a deeper bond with your clientele.

Remember, each positive review represents a golden opportunity for engagement, growth, and learning. DemandHub can make this process smoother by offering features like a unified inbox, enabling you to manage all customer conversations in one place.

DemandHub’s web chat helps convert website visitors into potential customers through real-time interactions. Text messaging allows you to request payments and reviews, book appointments , and promptly communicate important information to your customers.

By automating review requests and efficiently managing feedback, DemandHub facilitates getting more positive reviews and responding to them effectively.

Implementing Demandhub in your review management strategy can help you stay on top of your business’s online reputation and engage more effectively with your customers.

Grow your business to new heights and gain a competitive edge with DemandHub. Get your Free Demo today .

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How to Respond to a 5-star Review (With Reply Examples)

Customer satisfaction drives repeat business, encourages word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing, and reduces customer churn. In short, customer satisfaction and positive reviews are essential to a healthy business with good brand reputation.

Maybe that’s why, according to Zendesk , a whopping four out of five companies—80% of those surveyed—are “planning to increase their level of investment in CX (customer experience)” as of 2023. With almost 90% of consumers saying that a better CX would cause them to switch brands, it’s easy to grasp the financial benefits of providing excellent customer service and putting the customer first.

There are almost endless strategies for improving the CX and keeping your customers happy, but one of the best (and most cost-efficient) is frequently overlooked: responding to positive reviews of your business on review sites like Yelp and Google My Business (GMB).

There are numerous reasons why businesses fail to respond to 5-star reviews, from lacking the time to reply to fixating only on negative ratings . Other barriers can include technological issues, simply not knowing what to say, or failing to monitor apps and sites where reviews are shared. But no matter what the reason is, failing to respond can hurt your relationships with customers.

Don’t let these types of challenges hold your business back from growing and attracting potential customers. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about responding to 5-star reviews, including tips for writing better responses, screenshots of real-life response examples, and answers to some FAQs. Let’s get started with six best practices for replying to positive customer feedback.

How to respond to a 5-star review: 6 short tips

Responding to online reviews is both simpler and more complex than it might seem on the surface.

On one hand, all you need to do is greet and thank the reviewer, then invite them to return in the future with a discount or coupon code.

On the other hand, even if you stick to those basics, it’s easy to make minor missteps that can turn off customers—not to mention the countless people browsing positive and negative reviews of your brand. For example, a business might wait too long to reply, use the wrong kind of language in their reply, or leave out minor touches and details that would have enhanced the response’s impact.

Fortunately, with a little bit of knowledge and practice, you can avoid these types of mistakes and learn how to write responses that impress your customers, promote brand loyalty, and make favorable impressions on shoppers who are researching your product or service. Below, we’ve shared six simple tips for responding to 5-star reviews successfully.

1. Greet and thank the reviewer

When responding to a 5-star review, start by greeting and thanking the reviewer. It’s important to personalize your greeting by using the reviewer’s name (or, if that’s not available, the username they’ve provided you with) — for example, “Thanks for leaving a comment about your experience dining with us, [Reviewer’s Name]!”

 If the reviewer has not provided a name or username or is listed as anonymous, simply omit it. In that situation, you can simply say something like, “Thank you for sharing your kind words with our team!”

2. Personalize your response  

Out of all the tips on our list, this one might be the most important when replying to a positive review. After all, statistics show that:

●  “80% of consumers are more likely to buy from a company that offers a personalized experience,” according to Zippia

●  Roughly three-quarters of consumers become “frustrated” by experiences that are not personalized, according to McKinsey

In short, personalization matters .

The good news is that there are numerous ways you can personalize a review — even when you’re replying to a 5-star rating without any comments. All you need to do is reference a few details from the review, and, rather than copy and pasting, be sure to mix up the language you use in each of your responses.

Here are a few techniques you can use to customize every reply you write:

●  Refer back to a staff member (“We’re so glad that [Staff Member] was able to…”)

●  Refer back to the customer’s purchase (“ Thank you for such a positive review. We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed your burger and fries!”)

●  Refer to your business name or location

3. Keep it short and professional

Some reviewers type multiple paragraphs, while others say just a word or two — and some say nothing at all. Regardless of how long or how short a review might be, don’t feel obligated to match the review length with your response.

The ideal length for a response is typically three to five sentences. That gives you enough time to greet and thank the reviewer, touch on a few details from their review, and close out with a call to action, like inviting the reviewer to come back soon.

4. Reply as quickly as possible

We live in a fast-paced world, and technology is making it even faster. Consumers have expectations to match — and businesses who fail to meet them risk losing out to competitors. Data shows that most consumers prefer businesses to reply to reviews and comments quickly, especially as the rise of AI is making response times faster.

When you’re responding to reviews, you need to be quick and reply as soon as possible, especially when a negative review shows up. The best time frame to respond is within 24 hours — or ideally much earlier.

That’s why our platform emphasizes speed as well as quality, ensuring that your customers receive responses promptly. Learn more about our AI- and people-powered plans to compare speed, pricing, and more.

5. Consider using keywords and brand mentions

When you’re responding to a satisfied customer, it’s a good opportunity to work in mentions of your business name or other keywords — for example, mentioning a product you offer or the town where you’re located.

Two quick words of caution for applying this tip successfully:

●  Don’t overuse or “stuff” keywords in a way that sounds unnatural or forced

●  This tip is best used when responding to positive reviews, like 5-star ratings

●  If you need help identifying keywords, check out Semrush’s excellent breakdown of keyword analysis and its importance for small businesses

6. Encourage repeat business and sharing 

According to HubSpot , “There is a 60 to 70% chance of selling to an existing customer. Meanwhile, when it comes to new customers, the chance of closing a sale stands at just 5 to 20%.” And that’s just one of many statistics that highlight the importance of customer loyalty and retention.

One of the goals of responding to reviews is to invite more repeat business, along with increasing your WOM marketing. Here are a few examples of ways that you can encourage satisfied customers to stay connected with your business and spread the word about your brand:

●  “We’re looking forward to serving you and your family again soon, [Reviewer Name]!”

●  “Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team if you have any questions about your new [product]!”

●  “Feel free to contact us online or drop by our office if there’s anything we can do to make your experience with [Business Name] even better!”

How to respond to a 5-Star review: 3 examples you can use

Curious to see how the best practices we covered in the previous section are put into action by businesses like yours?

Here are three positive review response examples of real businesses responding to 5-star customer reviews, including a quick breakdown of what makes each response effective.

Restaurant  

The owner could have simply greeted and thanked the reviewer, then invited them back for another meal — but that wouldn’t have been the most effective approach. Instead, the response is optimized and improved by the addition of personal touches.

The response not only features multiple personalization points, like the references to the location and menu — in addition, it also emphasizes one of the business’ positive values, in this case “providing an excellent customer experience” for diners.

Combined with its friendliness, brevity, and professionalism — not to mention keywords like “Orlando” and “margaritas” — this response is a perfect example of how to handle 5-star reviews.

Home services 

This positive review response example from a California plumbing company to a satisfied customer works for multiple reasons. Yes, it nails the basics like courtesy and personalization — but where it really shines is in its handling of tricky details that could potentially scare off shoppers, like high up-front pricing. The response shows that the business respects its customers enough to be transparent with them, while simultaneously emphasizing its commitment to delivering the best possible overall value.

This response does an outstanding job of taking a negative sentiment (“not a fan of sales people”) and using it as an opportunity to say something positive that puts shoppers at ease. It reassures not just the reviewer, but anyone reading the exchange, that they won’t have to worry about a pushy or aggressive sales experience with this business.

Other highlights of this response include:

●  Referencing the brand name and business location

●  Inviting the customer to return to the business and/or get in touch with customer support (“always here for you”)

●  Talking about the brand’s values, like “build[ing] genuine relationships” and “transform[ing] the vehicle-buying experience” 

●  The congratulations and wishes for safe travels, which adds a warm personal touch while still maintaining a professional voice

How to respond to a 5-star review with ResponseScribe

The tips we shared in this guide will help you write effective review responses to positive customer reviews that:

●  Engage and educate customers and prospects

●  Strengthen consumers’ loyalty to your brand

●  Encourage undecided shoppers to try out your product or service

●  Show that your team is accessible, helpful, and supportive to its customers

The question is, why spend all of that time and effort replying to thousands of reviews and ratings, when you could let our experienced scribes take on the writing for you?

The way it works is simple. First, choose which review apps and websites you’d like us to monitor, such as Google , Facebook, and Angi. Our platform will automatically pull all of your reviews into a convenient, centralized hub where your dedicated Response Scribe can sort reviews and create customized replies.

 You can preview replies and request revisions before publication, or take a more hands-off approach — whatever works best for your team. And with flexible pricing plans starting at just $20 per month, ResponseScribe is affordable for any small business or start-up.

Learn more about the benefits of ResponseScribe and how our platform can help your business grow. Explore why our platform is premium to best review software , or start your free trial today.

Improve CX and drive growth with ResponseScribe for small businesses

Responding to 5-star reviews is a great way to strengthen customer relationships and deliver a better, more personal CX. Responding to reviews encourages repeat business, helps instill trust in your brand, and gives you opportunities to highlight what makes your brand special. ResponseScribe makes it fast and easy by monitoring and responding to reviews for you.

 Designed to make responding to your customers truly effortless, our platform gives you the flexibility to leverage AI response generators, experienced professional writers, or a combination of both.  Depending on which plan you choose, your reviewers will receive responses in as little as under one hour — and with options to preview and edit responses, you’ll always have full control over what type of content gets published.

Discover why thousands of brands trust ResponseScribe to manage and monitor customer reviews. Chat with our team about your business’ needs, or   start your free trial.

Frequently asked questions

Need advice on writing a fast, effective response to a bad review from a customer? This guide for business owners has you covered with tips and example responses

This guide for small business owners compares 5 of the best AI tools for small businesses in 2024, including AI for generating customer review responses.

This guide for employers explains how to respond to negative reviews on glassdoor in 4 simple steps, including examples and customizable response templates.

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More From Forbes

The secret to getting five-star reviews.

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Today’s customers expect a better customer experience.

Reviews are a powerful way to market a business. Be it a small entrepreneurial venture or a large Fortune 50 enterprise, testimonials coming from happy customers build credibility and help you sell whatever it is you sell. Reviews are not just found on retail sites such as Amazon, Walmart and Target, and they also go beyond Yelp, Trip Advisor, Facebook, Google, and similar apps and platforms. There are industry forums where customers from all types of businesses leave comments and write about their experiences.

Today’s customers expect a better experience. And whatever the experience is, they talk about it. In some cases, they write about it, and the world gets to read what they are thinking. So, it makes perfect sense that any organization would want to create an experience that gets praise from customers.

Five years ago I interviewed Danno Vivarelli of Starloop for an article about how to get hundreds of positive online reviews . As important as an online review was five years ago, it is even more important today. I recently reconnected with Vivarelli and we discussed more ideas, concepts and strategies to get you those coveted five-star ratings and reviews.

Before I get into Vivarelli’s concepts, I need to share one of my own. Before you can get a five-star review …

You must be good enough to earn a five-star review!

And with that in mind, here are some of Vivarelli’s secrets to getting five-star ratings and reviews.

Three Reasons to Focus on Ratings and Reviews:

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1.       Social Proof Builds Confidence – Vivarelli sums it up in eight words: “The business with the best online reputation wins.” Reviews offer the proof that some customers need to move forward with their purchases. Customers rely on reviews, which research says can be even more important than price.

2.       We Are in the Trust Economy – Positive reviews and comments from customers build trust. It makes social proof more important than ever. Having hundreds more reviews than your competition makes your business an obvious choice. People believe friends, family and other customers more than they believe you. Reviews provide a much louder and more persuasive voice in the marketplace. They create credibility. That turns into trust. This is what you need to move a customer from thinking about buying to taking action.

3.       The Golden Lead – Vivarelli talks about the “Five-Star Gold Rush,” in which businesses rush to accumulate as many five-star reviews as possible. The result is what he calls a “Golden Lead,” a lead that puts you far out in front of the competition. My take is that a “Golden Lead” could be someone who has done their research on the company and knows coming in that they want to do business with you. Same impact. You have a lead over the competitor.

Two Reasons Why Customers Won’t Leave a Review

1.       It’s Not Important to Me – While accumulating ratings and reviews may be important to you, some of your customers don’t view it the same way. Typical customers are too busy with their own lives to find the time to share their opinions.

2.       Review Exhaustion – When is the last time you did business with a company that didn’t send a survey and/or ask for a review? (That’s a rhetorical question.) Sure, there are many that don’t, but more and more businesses are asking customers to take time to share their opinions. Happy, loyal customers are willing to do so, but they too will experience fatigue. Just today I was asked to review or rate a restaurant experience, an Amazon purchase, my insurance company and a recent flight. And that was all before 9 a.m.!

Four Ways to Get Customers to Write Reviews

1.       The Law of Reciprocity – Starloop discovered a way to get people to write reviews. Give them a compelling reason. Do something nice for them, and they will do something nice for you. For example, Starloop has a program in which it plants trees for each online review its clients receive. For people who are concerned about sustainability and being “green,” this is a very nice gesture. Note that more and more customers want to do business with brands and organizations that are behind a cause or are involved with the community.

2.       Use the Right Words – Asking a customer, “Can you write us a review?” is better than not asking at all, but according to Vivarelli, not much better. As mentioned above, Starloop offers to plant a tree for a review, giving the customer an incentive that is good for the earth, and increasing the chance of getting that review. If you want to increase your chances even more, consider a slight variation on the lesson from Dr. Robert Cialdini’s classic book, Influence . After the customer agrees to write a review, say, “Thank you, and if for some reason you choose not to write the review, would you please let me know?” When the customers answers, “Yes,” to that request, it adds a subtle layer of a deeper commitment. That innocent line is more powerful that you might think.

3.       Timing Matters – Asking for a review a week after the customer’s interaction with you is a waste of time. It needs to be timely. If the customer is buying in person, why not ask while they are still there? The best time for an online sale could be within a day after the customer receives a package. Contact customers within hours after their interaction with you, not days.

4.       Gentle Reminders are Appropriate – There is nothing wrong with giving your customer a gentle reminder to leave a review. Even your most well-intentioned customers are going to forget. You can use technology to automate your reminders, as long as it appears genuine and thoughtful.

Recognizing the power of the review or rating is the first step. Then, it is time to put a tangible strategy in place. You now have several reasons to focus on the ratings, and you understand at least two reasons customers may not leave a review. But you also have four tactics to get your customers to act. You can’t leave it to chance. You have to ask the customer at the right time, with a compelling reason, and if necessary, remind them. If you want your review strategy to be a success, don’t leave it to chance!

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5 Techniques to Get 5 Stars: How to Get Better Online Reviews

Everywhere you go, you see reviews.

Whether it’s a physical or digital product, if it’s worth talking about (in good or bad ways), it has reviews.

Some of this feedback is simply comments on blogs and forums.

But mostly, reviews exist on large ecommerce sites where companies sell their products.

The most important thing about reviews is that people care about them.

About 50% of Internet users check out reviews on Amazon before buying a product. And that’s just Amazon.

Before, people would ask their friends about products. But now, they rely on online reviews.

People trust reviews to inform them about their decisions, and reviews play a huge role in people’s purchasing decisions. 

Although there’s no way to definitively say that reviews are good for business, just about every study or anecdotal case suggests that they are.

Customer reviews aren’t vanity metrics — there’s a direct correlation between consumer purchasing habits and visible reviews .

8 5% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase , which

Although there is a mini-plateau after 20 reviews, the conversion rate increases again soon after.

You don’t have to be a big ecommerce site to add reviews to your personal website store.

These are massive increases in conversion rates that can result in tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

Potential buyers trust reviews for a few reasons:

• They represent a real-use situation.
• They are less likely to be biased (than a sales page) .
• They give visitors confidence to buy, proving there won’t be any issues with the purchase .

Getting reviews is hard: If you’ve been selling online, you’ve probably noticed that getting customers to leave reviews is difficult.

People want their products but don’t want to do any extra work. Writing a good review can take 10 to 15 minutes without providing much of a benefit to the reviewer.

People typically leave a review for one of three reasons:

• They hate the product
• They love the product
• They’re somewhere in-between but would like to clear up any confusion around the product for other potential buyers (essentially just doing something nice)

The first two reasons are pretty self-explanatory.

Obviously, you don’t want people leaving reviews if they hate the product. That’s how you get negative and one-star reviews that decrease your conversion rates.

So, how do you prevent it? Simple: have a great product along with great customer service.

You’ll get tons of reviews if you create a product that everyone loves.

In reality, most products have customers that fall into all three camps.

You need to focus on the people who already love your product and those who like it. A solid three- or four-star review can still help your conversion rate.

And that’s what the rest of this post is all about.

We’ll go over the best ways to maximize the number of reviews you get from your customers.

You might not like this, but it’s what you have to do…

Most business owners love to create products.

But only some business owners love to sell those products.

Selling often feels like you’re doing something wrong and imposing on the people you genuinely care about.

Asking for anything can be difficult.

But it needs to be done.

You need to start by realizing that selling doesn’t have to be underhanded. If you create a valuable product, sales let people know about it.

If your product is great, people will buy your product and thank you for the opportunity.

However, after you make the sale,  you should ask customers to review it .

If you don’t ask, most will never even think of doing it, even if they don’t mind.

Although it might seem like you’re imposing on them—asking for something without giving something in return — You aren’t.

Most happy customers are glad to help you spread the word about your product so that other people will also give it a shot.

So, stop thinking you’re taking advantage of your customers and realize you’re helping each other.

Ideally, you want to ask for reviews as soon as possible after the purchase is made, and your buyer has the time to receive and test the product.

If you ask too early, customers can’t review the product because they haven’t had the chance to use it.

If you ask too late, they’ll have forgotten about it and are less likely to review it (although late is better than early).

Amazon typically sends an email reminder asking you to review a recent purchase a few days after you’ve received it:

Customers don’t hate giving reviews—if you ask right…

It’s important to approach the subject of reviews with customers carefully.

First, you want them to receive and be happy with the product .

The more satisfied they are, the more likely they are to not only leave a review but leave a positive one.

Before asking for a review, we recommend contacting customers and asking them if they had any problems with their order.

If they have had problems, they’ll let you know, and you’ll have the chance to fix them.

Some will let you know if they haven’t had any problems, but others won’t reply. It’s safe to ask any of these customers for reviews.

Finally, the way in which you ask for reviews is important.

Being persuasive with your request can double or triple the number of reviews you get.

Tip #1 – Be appreciative:  To be frank, reviewers don’t really get much out of the process. It’s just a nice thing they can do for other people reading reviews in the future.

However, many reviewers will do reviews if they know that they are important to you.

After all, you’ve just created a great product for them.

Even though they have paid for it already, many customers will feel that they should have paid more. This leaves them feeling indebted to you.

Many customers will leave a review if you tell them how important they are to you because then they can consider the two of you even .

For example, RealSelf is an online medical professional directory. It publishes reviews on all types of cosmetic doctors so that you can find one you can trust.

After you have found a doctor through the service, RealSelf asks you to contribute a review to the site.

There are two parts of the email in particular that make it work so well:

• …would love for you to share your experience… They’re not just asking you to leave a review for fun. They’re making it clear that they appreciate it and value it.
• …will also help others make informed decisions. – Since the customer was just in the tough situation of trying to make a good decision, they will likely be empathetic to others in the same situation. Some customers will leave a review to help others.

Tip #2 – Make it simple: We’ve established that most reviewers leave reviews because it’s a nice thing to do.

However, there is a limit to how much most people are willing to give to be nice.

If you make customers jump through hoops to leave a review, most aren’t going to bother.

The solution is easy: make leaving a review as easy as possible.

First, if you’re asking for a review on any third-party sites , always link directly to the review forms on the specific sites:

Alternatively, if you ask customers to leave a review on your site, let them start the process by clicking on a star rating within an email. All the biggest sites do this for a reason. It works.

The other benefit is that it makes it really clear that you’re looking for the customer to leave a review (they know what stars represent).

Tip #3 – Do NOT offer an incentive: Want to get every customer to leave you a review? Just offer them $100 if they do.

Incentivizing review is a gray area.

It has obvious moral issues. In some ways, you’re essentially bribing your customer for a good review.

Even if you don’t intend your incentive to be a bribe, most people feel compelled to provide good reviews if they’re being compensated for it (without any other potential buyers being aware of it).

A potential problem that might be even bigger is that you could be fined huge amounts if caught by the FTC (if you do any business in the United States).

Not all countries have these rules, so it’s up to you to check if there’s an equivalent organization in your country and determine if you’re morally okay with incentivizing.

If you are going to offer an incentive, you should ask your reviewers to disclose that fact in their reviews. If the review discloses the incentive, not only is there no moral argument, but it’s also not violating any laws.

Tip #4 – Be clear about what you’re looking for: If you have one textbox that says your review , customers could write about anything, even irrelevant things.

However, if you break down the review into descriptive fields, your reviewers will have a much better idea of what to  include:

One way to improve the above form would be to add a description into, above, or beneath the review box.

You can prompt the customer to talk about certain aspects of the product that you believe influence buying decisions (shipping, packaging quality, durability, etc.).

Speaking of great reviews…here’s what’s in them

You can dictate the contents of a review by prompting your customers to think about certain topics.

This is important because most people don’t know what a good review consists of. They’ll often leave reviews like great product even though that’s not really very useful.

Instead, you want to prompt them with any (or all) of the following:

• I ncluding their background situation
• A ny special features of the product or buying process
• T heir overall impression
• Would they buy it again?

When you send your review request, tell your customers that they can include any information they’d like. However, they should consider things like … (pick from the above list).

Part #1 – A quick background: Not everyone buys a product for the same reason or knows as much about a specific product type as others.

The best reviews include a quick statement about why a customer bought a product. If another potential buyer is in a similar situation, they will automatically become more interested (it resonates with them).

Additionally, any mention of expertise also makes the review more credible (e.g., I have purchased x types of product s).

Here’s an example:

Part #2 (optional) – A brief description of the product and buying process: Unless you sell your products through a well-known fulfilment service like Amazon, shipping speed and safety are still big concerns for online shoppers.

They affect almost every purchase :

You should obviously make your shipping information very clear on your sales pages.

But people also want to know how fast and secure your shipping is in real life, not just in theory.

If a potential buyer sees multiple reviews praising your shipping process, they’ll feel assured.

Part #3 – The overall result: The most important part of any purchase is how good the product is. That’s going to be the focal point of any review.

If you’ve done your job right on the product creation end, customers will have great things to say about your product:

However, you can still guide what they mention.

You could include a question in your email or on your review form like: How did you like X feature of product Y ?

They will be more likely to take some time to think about that specific feature.

Part #4 – Would you buy it again?  Customers can often find at least a few good things to say about a product. Nice people leave nice reviews — It’s that simple.

However, the ultimate test of a great product is if it earns a customer’s loyalty.

When customers say that they will definitely buy from you again in the future, anyone reading the review will know that the reviewer is serious when they praise the product:

Get automatic reviews with a system

Getting reviews shouldn’t be something that you try to do periodically. It should be something that you do with every single customer.

You need a foolproof system to maximize the number of positive reviews you get.

We already looked at Amazon’s system:

• You buy a product
• You get the product
• You get a request to leave a review on Amazon a few days after

They’ve done their own internal testing and determined that this timing worked best for most of their customers.

However, your customers may be different, so always test.

Timing is important: Why are customers different when it comes to this? Most of it comes down to the type of customer you have and the product.

First, certain people expect online shipping to be faster. They want their product right away so they can start using it. This is typically true if you have a young demographic.

Secondly, some products take longer than others to test thoroughly enough to leave a good review. A frying pan only takes a few minutes to test, but a large book can take weeks to read.

If your product takes longer to test properly, give your customers a bit more time.

How to get consistent results: The only way to ensure that your customer gets your review request X days after they’ve purchased something is with an autoresponder.

After they buy something, add them to a new list just for customers:

Then, set up your autoresponder to send out an email asking if everything went well.

Finally, send your review request sometime after that first message.

We recommend trying different time delays to discover which one produces the most reviews.

The best way to get great reviews if you’re starting from scratch

Every business faces its own unique challenges when it comes to getting online reviews.

The hardest stage is right at the beginning, when you have no reviews.

When you have no reviews (or very few), potential buyers hesitate to be the first buyers. They want to see that other people have bought and liked your product .

To make things worse, people often don’t want to leave the first review. Unless they are an expert on your product, they don’t want to leave an opinion and look stupid if they’re wrong.

Instead, they’d rather look at other reviews first, get a general consensus, and then leave a review if their own opinion matches everyone else’s. This is also why getting off to a good start with a few glowing reviews is important.

Do not get fake reviews: While a marker incentivizing reviews is a gray area, buying fake reviews is clearly over the line.

If you go on Google phrases like Buy five-star review , you’ll find many people willing to write you a five-star review without even seeing your product.

Fiverr used to allow this type of offer but has since clamped down on the method. You can find people to perform a single product review on there.

Even without considering the ethics of doing this, it’s obvious that these reviews won’t be very useful.

Sure, you’ll get five-star reviews, but they’ll include no information your potential buyers will care about.

In addition, most fake reviews are extremely easy to spot. And if a potential buyer sees multiple fake reviews, their warning bells will go off and cause them to buy someone else’s product instead.

So although you could buy reviews, you are better off focusing on earning them.

To do so, follow these steps.

Step #1 – Pick a site to focus on: There are tons of third-party sites that aggregate reviews on products or businesses.

For example, both Google and Yelp focus on local businesses, while Amazon obviously focuses on physical products and e-books.

To start with, pick just one review site to focus on. You can always expand to other sites once you’ve gotten some traction.

Step #2 – Offer a free sample or product: You need to  earn your reviews, which means getting them from actual customers.

This is where it’s a good idea to offer a discount , sample, or even free product in exchange for a review.

Wait, what? Didn’t you just say NOT to offer incentives ?

If you remember that, well done. That means you’re paying attention.

Incentivizing reviews is murky territory, but only if you don’t disclose it. If you do, they perfectly comply with the law and just about anyone’s ethical code.

And when you need those first few reviews to get the ball rolling, a few reviews that aren’t perfect are still extremely valuable.

Additionally, just because your customer needs to disclose that you offered them something doesn’t mean the review will suck.

Here’s an example of what one might look like:

As one of the first customers to buy (product name), I was lucky enough to be offered a free sample to try. I received the product after three days in perfect condition. Since then, it’s worked exactly as expected. In particular, the (feature) is better than every other (type of product) I’ve tried. I’ll definitely be buying more in the future.

Obviously, it’s not a perfect review (since we’re dealing with a non-existent product), but if you could get started with 10 reviews like that, you’d be set.

The disclosure reads naturally and doesn’t take away from the rest of the review as long as the reviewer is honest.

Step #3 – Provide instructions: Figuring out how to leave a review is easy for you and me. However, leaving a review might be a head-scratcher for the non-tech-savvy person.

To make sure that customers have no problems leaving a review, provide detailed instructions on how to leave a review:

Even if they shop on a well-known platform like Amazon, most people have never left a review before. You need to walk them through it.

Step #4 – Make sure their experience is amazing: We’ve already noted this but want to reiterate it.

To earn a great review, you need to provide a great experience.

The buying experience is composed of many different parts:

• The branding
• The packaging
• The shipping process
• The product itself
• Follow-up/customer service

Too many businesses make a great product but ignore the rest of the buying experience.

Then, they get three-star reviews saying the product was fine, but the shipping sucked, or they couldn’t get fast replies from the company when they needed help.

It’s not hard to ensure these other parts of the buying experience are great, but you need to spend some time and effort making sure they are.

If you do that, the quality of the reviews will take care of itself.

One other great source of reviewers you should use

Let’s say you are starting from absolute scratch. we’re talking zero previous customers.

It’s hard to get customers to leave reviews to encourage more people to buy your product when you have no customers in the first place.

In this case, you can go for paid advertising to get your first customers. This is great if you have a budget and a little PPC expertise. However, it can get costly since not all customers will leave reviews.

Otherwise, if you have a tight budget, you’ll probably go the content marketing route, which can take months to draw any customers.

However, there is one more opportunity you can take advantage of to drive sales and reviews.

Here’s the basic procedure.

Step #1 – Look for reviews of competitors: For this series of examples, let’s pretend that we just created the best keyword research tool ever.

Since there aren’t stores where you can sell this type of tool, we need to get some reviews on our sales page.

First, let’s assemble a list of all our established customers.

This is pretty easy. Just Google best (type of product ).

Ideally, you’ll find a big expert roundup with all your competitors in one spot. Alternatively, you’ll have to go through the first few pages of search results and record down competing products.

Google now displays their top picks by displaying their logos.

This immediately made it easy to find the most popular keyword research tools.

We’ll find people who have rev iewed these tools and then approach them to get them to review our product.

To find reviews, just Google (product name) + review.

Then, make a list of all the reviews you can find (which can be up to 100 for each product).

Step #2 – Contact the bloggers and make a proposal: Now that you have a large list of reviews, you need to contact the reviewer.

Important note: Bloggers get pitches through their contact forms; most are terrible and just get ignored. The best strategy is to join the blogger’s email list to stand out .

When you join an email list, you obviously get emails from that blogger, which contain their email address.

Then, you can create a personalized message that will definitely get to their inbox.

If you can’t find an opt-in form on the review page itself, go to the homepage:

You’ll usually be able to find an obvious opt-in either front and center on the homepage or near the top of the sidebar:

When you get an email from them, you can send one back, requesting a review of your product.

A template like this will work:

Hi (blogger name), I came across your review for (competing product) today and was impressed with how detailed you were. I actually just released my own keyword research tool, called (product name). I’m not sure if you’ve heard about it yet. Considering how great your previous reviews have been, I wanted to see if you’d be up for giving my product a try. (I’ll provide you with a free license, of course). The reason why I believe (my product name) stands out from all the others on the market is because of feature X: (describe feature). If you’re interested, just let me know. Thanks for your time, (Your name)

Again, you are incentivizing the blogger to create a review, but there’s no issue if t hey include a disclosure somewhere on the page . Most blog readers are used to such disclosures by now and don’t consider them in their decision-making.

Once you get a review, you can publish the appropriate parts on your website and attribute them to the blogger (let them know about it).

The results of different reviews: If you get a review done by a popular blogger, you can drive some serious sales.

That being said, popular bloggers are the toughest to get reviews from since they get pitched frequently.

We’re not saying don’t go after them but be aware that you will face a lot of rejection.

Lesser-known  bloggers, on the other hand, will be more receptive to your approaches. If you want reviews (and are not too worried about sales), target these bloggers first.

If you sell anything online, remember that reviews are one of the biggest factors that affect your sales, so don’t ignore them.

First, devise a plan of attack to determine what type of reviews you need.

Next, optimize your sales funnel to maximize the number of customers who leave you reviews — And not just any reviews, great ones.

Finally, if you’re starting from scratch, use one of the methods we’ve outlined to generate reviews for your new product.