Looking to up your Google review count, increase your visibility online, and turn more prospects into purchase ready consumers? Get proactive with our guide on how to ask for Google reviews the right way.
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A smarter way to collect reviews from customers

In this post, we’ll give you best practice guidance on how to ask for Google reviews to get the highest possible conversion rates on your requests.

But before we delve into the ‘how’, let’s have a little look at the ‘why’.  


Why Ask for Google Reviews?

If your goal is to get more Google reviews, you’ll first want to implement a strategy that involves asking customers at multiple touchpoints.

Why? Well, when left to their own devices, customers can be pretty passive when it comes to leaving reviews. However, ask, and the majority will be more than willing to leave a review on the platform of your choosing.

It’s also important to ask for the right type of reviews – the ones which will have the greatest influence on your customers. From text to video, different forms of feedback come with different benefits.

So, before you start asking for them, get to grips with different formats, consider what impact do reviews have on purchasing decisions, and choose the right fit for your company.  


What Are the Benefits of Google Reviews?

Google reviews are powerful trust indicators, and as you start collecting more of them, you’ll see a number of benefits for your business:

  • Social proof – reviews are hugely influential to consumer behaviour. We trust in the actions and opinions of those that have gone before us, and the more positive feedback there is for your brand, the more buy in you’ll get from potential customers.
  • More visibility – Google sees reviews as a stamp of credibility, and the more you have, the more likely you are to appear in search engine results. For eCommerce stores, if you collect over 100 reviews with an average 3.5 rating over a 12 month period, you’ll gain a Google Seller Rating, increasing both visibility and trust.
  • Increased revenue – with a boosted online presence and trust building social proof, you’ll get higher click-through rates, higher conversions and ultimately, a higher turnover.

The more Google reviews you have and the higher your rating the better. This is backed by some pretty convincing stats, with 46% of consumers considering review quantity as the second most important factor when researching a company, just pipped to the post by 54% stating average star rating comes first.


Who Should You Ask for A Review?

Before you dive in and send review requests to everyone on your database, find your biggest brand advocates first. Who are your most loyal customers? Who’s actively praising your products or service on social media? Use their voice to kick start your campaign.

Eventually, you’ll want a system that automatically sends invitations to everyone you do business with, but keep in mind this may lead to negative feedback on some occasions. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and there are ways to handle negative reviews effectively, but turning to the happy consumer in the initial stages will get you started on a positive note.


When Should You Ask for A Review?

Timing is everything when it comes to a successful review request. If you’re an eCommerce store, make sure the transaction has been completed, the item dispatched, and that the buyer has had enough time to experience the product.

The same applies if you’re a service related business. Give the customer time to reflect before asking for their opinion.

If you’re a SaaS company, you could ask for reviews after releasing a service update or new features that make your customers’ lives easier. Typically, any point where you’re likely to be in favour is a good time to ask for feedback.


The Email – What to Include When Asking for A Review

Email is a great method for review collection. It’s convenient for the customer, it’s not pushy or aggressive, and the whole process can be automated, saving you time and money.

Here’s how to get it right:

1. Keep It Personalised

A Google review request should be tailored to both the customer, and to your brand. In the first instance, include the customer’s name and specific details about their order, like the product they purchased or service they received.

These small personal touches make them feel like they’re a valued individual, not just a faceless addition to your review portfolio.

Your review request should also be instantly recognisable. REVIEWS.io makes it easy for you to customise your emails to match your brand identity, so they’re in keeping with the whole customer experience.

2. Make It Simple

Customers are doing you a favour by leaving you a review, so make it as easy for them to do so as possible. Save them time by including a link that sends them directly to your review collection page, make sure it’s obvious, and add a call to action that’s clear and to the point.

This process is a lot easier if you’re working with a review collection service, but not impossible to do without. If you have a review collection listing, you should be able to direct customers to it, you just might not be able to manage the reviews after they’re received.

3. Show Your Appreciation

Lastly, don’t forget your manners. A review request is all part of your customer service, so be polite and show your gratitude, both for the recipient’s custom, and for them taking the time to leave you feedback.

You could also show your appreciation by incentivising reviews with loyalty programmes from the likes of smile.io and Klaviyo. These are great for increasing conversion and encouraging repeat business.

A word of caution here though. Google is in the process of updating its review policy, including the use of incentives. We’ll bring you everything you need to know about this as soon as we hear more.


Google Review Request Examples

Lost for words? We’ve got a few examples for different customer types to help get you started.


The Generic Approach

This example is a good all-rounder for a broad range of shoppers. It’s polite and friendly whilst remaining professional.

Hi [FIRST NAME],

Thank you so much for purchasing [PRODUCT NAME] – we hope you were happy with your order.

We’re so glad you chose to shop with us. We value each and every one of our customers and are always trying to improve to bring our customers the best experience possible.

Would you be kind enough to leave us a Google review [INSERT LINK TO MY BUSINESS PROFILE]? It only takes a few minutes and we’d be eternally grateful! Just click the button below to go to our Google Business page and leave us some feedback.

[BUTTON WITH LINK TO YOUR REVIEWS.io PROFILE]

In the meantime, if you have any questions or need help with anything, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our customer helpline on [INSERT NUMBER].

Best wishes,

The [BUSINESS NAME] Team.

Talking To ‘The Man’

Think of the local tradesman buying tools. He’s likely a repeat customer, so there’s no need for over the top courtesies. It’s just straight to the point, using language that implies speed.

Hey [FIRST NAME],

Thanks for buying your [PRODUCT NAME] from us. Hope it’s done its job.If you’ve got a spare second, would you mind nipping to our [INSERT LINK TO MY BUSINESS PROFILE] page and dropping us a review?  

[BUTTON WITH LINK TO YOUR REVIEWS.io PROFILE]

Thanks for helping us out and if you need anything else just give us a shout on [INSERT NUMBER].

Cheers and see you soon,

The [BUSINESS NAME] Team

The ‘We Are One’ Approach

If you’re a business that’s all about community spirit and creating a sense of unity, this example’s for you. Casual in tone, it celebrates the relationship between you and your customers.  

Hi [FIRST NAME]

Thanks for shopping with [BUSINESS NAME]!

Our customers mean the world to us and we’d love to hear your feedback.Share your thoughts using the link below, and use #[INSERT HASHTAG] to be part of our online community!

[BUTTON WITH LINK TO YOUR REVIEWS.io PROFILE]

Every review helps us make our customers' lives that bit better, so thanks for being part of the process.

Love the [BUSINESS NAME] Team.

Free Email Invitaion Template

If you want more help with layout and design, we’ve done the leg work and created a review request email example guide with this free HTML review template.

Download

Simply download and edit to suit the brands guidelines.


Summary

A successful review campaign requires a process. Careful consideration of who you ask, when you ask them, and how you structure your request will get your Google review count soaring.

But don’t just stop at collection. Make reviews an integral part of your wider marketing strategy and you’ll find that customer feedback soon becomes your greatest sales pitch.

Want to boost your Google review count with ease? We’re a Google Licensed Review partner, so all feedback collected through REVIEWS.io can be shared with your Google profile. Sign up to our free trial to test REVIEWS.io for 14-days.


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