Every business can benefit from having glowing reviews of its products or services on the internet. What people share online can shift the public perception of your brand and ultimately affect your business's success and trajectory. Being proactive about building reviews online can be very valuable.
Having a portfolio of customer reviews is important for establishing your business's accountability and getting important feedback from your customer base. There are many ways to encourage more people to leave an online review.
Learn more about how to build reviews online for your business and why it is beneficial to do so.
The Importance of Online Reviews
Online reviews are vital for modern-day businesses. About 91% of people ages 18 to 34 trust online reviews as much as they trust personal recommendations. Your business's reputation depends on positive customer reviews to establish your credibility. Some businesses use buyer reviews as compelling testimonials for their products.
Today's consumers use the internet to inform their spending decisions. Online reviews are a crucial part of the buyer's journey and push shoppers either toward or away from making a purchase. Research shows that 81% of consumers decide what to buy based on their online searches, involving reading other customer reviews.
Another key reason online reviews are so important is their impact on your Google Business profile. Shoppers complete a Google search to find businesses and validate if products or services are worth their hard-earned money. The more positive reviews your business has on Google, the better you will rank in local searches. This improves your online visibility and perception.
Online reviews also let businesses engage with their customers more and receive valuable feedback. You can make more informed business decisions using the insights from these reviews. Overall, having online reviews is critical for establishing your business's reputation and search engine rankings.
7 Tips for Building Reviews
Consider these ways to start building reviews for your business:
1. Make Your Business Reviews Prominent
One way you can get more customers to leave reviews about your business online is by sharing your reviews often. Post them on your website's home page and use them for social media posts. If you have a storefront, you could post reviews on the counter or in the window. Making your business reviews prominent reminds other shoppers to share their experience with your products, too.
2. Ask for Business Reviews
Don't be afraid to ask your customers to leave a review about their experience with your products and business. There are key moments throughout the buyer's journey that are ideal for asking customers to submit feedback, including instances when they do the following:
Re-order a product
Refer a friend to your brand
Tag your brand on social media
Spend time on your business's website
Engage in customer service chats
More people will be willing to leave a review if you just ask.
Best Practices for Asking for Google Reviews in Person
Reaching out to customers directly after providing a product or service is one of the most effective ways to gather more Google reviews. The key is to be intentional and genuine in your approach. Here are some best practices to guide your conversation:
Choose the Right Moment: The best time to request a review is immediately following a positive interaction, such as after a successful installation, a completed service call, or when a customer has expressed satisfaction.
Make It Personal and Specific: Instead of asking a generic "How was everything?", try focusing on their specific experience. For instance, inquire about what they liked most, or if there’s anything that could have been improved. Questions like, "Did our team meet your expectations today?" or "Was there anything we could have done better?" encourage meaningful feedback.
Listen First, Then Ask: Allow customers to share their thoughts and listen attentively. This shows that you genuinely value their opinion, making them more likely to share their experience online.
Offer a Simple Request: Once they’ve shared positive feedback in person, let them know how much it would help your business if they shared those thoughts in a Google review. Mention how important online feedback is for helping others discover your business, and assure them that even a short review goes a long way.
Show Appreciation: Always thank them for considering your request, regardless of whether they follow through. A simple, "We really appreciate your support—it helps others make informed decisions," leaves a positive impression.
Using these practices makes your request feel thoughtful and unobtrusive, paving the way for more authentic and valuable customer reviews.
How to Request Google Reviews Through Text Messages
Asking for Google reviews via text can be a very effective approach, especially since so many people prefer quick, convenient communication. When reaching out, keep your message short, friendly, and to the point.
Here’s how you can craft a text request that feels natural and gets results:
Personalize your message by addressing the customer by name.
Reference a recent positive interaction or purchase, so the request feels genuine.
Politely invite them to leave a review, letting them know how much their feedback means to your business.
Include a direct link to your Google Business review page to make it as easy as possible.
For example:
Hi Alex, thanks for choosing us to tint your vehicle! If you have a moment, we’d love to hear your feedback on Google. Your review helps us grow and serve more customers like you. [link]
Texting makes it simple for customers to respond, and with the right message, you'll be more likely to receive those valuable reviews.
3. Maintain Your Google Business Profile
Review building on Google is essential for businesses of all sizes. The reviews customers leave on your Google Business profile will either convince or deter people from spending money on your products.
Your Google Business profile helps establish credibility and encourages new consumers to engage with your brand. Be sure to manage other review sites that your customers may use, like Yelp or Facebook.
Understand Google’s Rules for Requesting Reviews
While gathering reviews is important, it’s just as crucial to ensure you’re playing by Google’s rules when asking for them. Google has strict policies designed to keep reviews authentic and fair. For example, businesses should never offer incentives—like discounts, freebies, or giveaways—in exchange for positive feedback. Likewise, soliciting bulk reviews or posting fake ones can jeopardize your visibility or even result in your business profile being removed entirely.
Instead, focus on earning genuine reviews by delivering top-notch service and encouraging honest feedback after a positive buying experience. By following Google’s guidelines, you protect your reputation, avoid penalties, and gain reviews that truly reflect your business. If you’re unsure what’s allowed, Google provides an overview of their review policies here.
Staying compliant not only safeguards your profile but also builds trust with potential customers who rely on real, unbiased opinions.
4. Respond to Reviews
It is important that your business engages with your customers through online reviews. It encourages more people to write about their experience with your products, knowing their input will be seen and heard by your brand.
Responding to reviews also helps to establish authenticity and trust with your brand. It is valuable to respond to all kinds of reviews, both raves and constructive criticism alike. This proves your brand is interested in what your customers have to say, no matter what it is.
5. Utilize a QR Code
Another way to encourage more customers to leave online business reviews is by utilizing a QR code. You can share this code in various places, including on:
Customer receipts
Your website's homepage
Social media
It is best to make it really easy for customers to share their reviews. Customers can easily scan your QR code and submit their reviews in minutes. You can set up your code to take shoppers directly to your Google Business profile to share input.
Secret Sauce: How to Make it Easy for your Customers to Review Your Tint Shop
Make it effortless for happy customers to leave a review. When you share your direct Google Business Profile (GBP) review link by text, email, or QR code, you remove friction—and you’ll get more reviews, faster. Follow these quick steps:
How to Get Your GBP Review Link
Sign in to Google with the email that manages your Business Profile.
Search your business name on Google (desktop or mobile). Your profile box will appear.
Click “Ask for reviews” (sometimes shown as “Get more reviews”).
Copy the review link and share it by text, email, chat, or on your website.
(Optional) Download the QR code to print on counter signs, invoices, receipts, or vehicle clings.
Pro tips:
Pin the link in your phone notes and email/SMS templates so your team can send it in one tap.
If you don’t see the button, make sure you’re signed into the correct Google account that owns or manages the profile.
Add the link to your LinkTree bio in your social profiles
6. Use Automated Emails
If you want to encourage more people to give your business feedback, it is important to make it effortless for customers to share reviews. Do this by creating automated emails that ask shoppers to share their experiences after they make a purchase.
By automating these emails, your business can collect reviews without any work. Customers will receive these at an opportune time after purchasing, so their experience with your business will be fresh and top of mind when the email prompts them to share.
Add a Google Review Link to Your Email Signature
If you regularly connect with customers by email, your email signature can double as a helpful nudge to leave a review. Including a Google review link at the bottom of each message subtly encourages your customers to share their feedback, without needing to make a direct request every time.
This approach effortlessly puts the idea of leaving a review in front of your audience after every interaction. Over time, those small reminders can add up, helping you collect more reviews and boost your business’s online reputation.
7. Accept Reviews on Social Media
Businesses can get more customer reviews by allowing shoppers to share their input on social media. Ask them to submit their feedback by following a link to your Google Business profile.
You could also encourage users to share their product reviews on your posts. This is a great place to engage with your customers while building reviews and establishing credibility.
8. Send Thank You Postcards With a Review Request
Sending a handwritten thank you postcard after a customer’s purchase or completed service is a simple yet memorable way to show appreciation. Not only does this gesture help you stand out, but it also reminds customers that their feedback matters to your business.
Consider personalizing these postcards and including a brief message thanking them for choosing your company. To make it easy for customers, add a QR code or short link that directs them straight to your Google review page. This removes friction from the process and increases the likelihood that they’ll share their positive experience.
Customers are more inclined to leave a review when they feel valued and see how easy it is to do so. Plus, this small step reinforces your commitment to great service, strengthening relationships and boosting your online credibility.
Find More Resources From Madico U
Building your business's online reviews is incredibly valuable for your brand. At Madico®, Inc., we share Madico U resources like this one to help you build your Google Business Profile and optimize your online presence to boost your success and reach more customers.
Our Madico U resources can help you make the most of every asset of your business, from product training to business growth to sales and marketing.
Are you interested in learning more ways to build your window film business? Check out more resources from Madico U today!
