How to Ask for a Review: A Complete Guide for Contractors

Social proof can work wonders for your business as it is one of the most important factors that influence a purchasing decision. And this is where customer reviews come into the picture.

Not only do positive online reviews state that someone has hired you as a contractor for a service, but also that they had a great customer experience with you.

But how to ask for a review from your client? No worries. By the end of this blog post, you will find it out. So let’s get you closer to becoming a trusted brand in your region.

What are the Benefits of Getting Customer Reviews?

Before moving on to show you ways to ask for reviews, first, we will rub off any doubts to show you why is it worth the effort.

1. Increased credibility and trust

In this world full of options, it is reviews that help us pick one of them. The better the reviews of a product, the higher the likelihood of us opting for it instead of the other available options.

Your prospects observe that others had a positive experience working with you, thus building trust and credibility in their minds.

2. Improved search engine visibility

Search engines notice you garnering praise with positive customer reviews. And due to that, they may reward you by giving you more visibility in the local SEO.

It also makes sense for them – happy customers mean a good experience. And this is what search engines want to give to their visitors as well.

Pro tip: The number of reviews also matters in addition to the quality of the review. So seek them out as much as you can.

3. Better understanding of customer needs

Of course, not every review will be positive. You will occasionally also experience negative reviews no matter how good your business is.

But the good thing is, with this mix, you will get better insights into what your customers want. And getting a better understanding of them, your services will only get better than before.

4. Increased sales

Social proof matters. Here is what Optimizely has to say about it.

Because people are more likely to purchase a product that others are already purchasing (the bandwagon effect), social proof can be a way to increase conversions by showing customers how popular a product or service is.

So, don’t you think positive reviews will increase your sales?

See, reviews will help your business at least four-fold. But how do you get one? By asking for it.

How to Ask for a Review

There are various ways to ask for customer reviews. So we will walk you through 6 of the most common ones.

1. In-person

Asking for a review in-person is the best of all because they are more likely to give you a review this way. With other ways – a phone call, email, etc – they are more likely to have other priorities. Here is how you do it.

Step 1: Start with a friendly greeting

It shouldn’t be evident to your customer that you are only seeking a positive review once the purchase is made. 

Show some empathy. Show that you care about the client relationship that has been forged. So don’t directly ask for a review. Greet the customer with warm words in a positive tone to initiate the conversation.

Step 2: Explain the importance of his review

Show clearly that his review matters and that you are not just aiming for “stars.” Tell him how this will improve your service,

Let your customer know that their feedback is important to you and that it helps to improve your business. Highlight how the feedback is used to enhance your product or service and how it helps other customers make informed decisions.

Step 3: Ask for their feedback

After explaining the importance of his review, ask your customer if he would be willing to leave one for you. If you sense any hesitation, you can offer to help them write the review.

Pro tip: Many small businesses even offer incentives such as a free gift to customers for giving reviews.

Step 4: Provide clear instructions

Sometimes your client won’t be too technologically sound and may need your assistance to leave a review for you.

So make sure to provide clear instructions on how to leave a review. If possible, show them how to do it on their phone or computer.

Step 5: Thank them

Whether they leave a review or not, be sure to express gratitude to your customer for their time and feedback. This will demonstrate your empathy towards them.

2. Phone

Making a phone call to get a review may seem like an interruption to your client. But if you do decide to go with it, here are the steps to follow.

Step 1: Plan ahead

You got to know what to ask for beforehand. So before you dial the number, make sure to plan out what you want to say and have any necessary materials on hand (like the link to your review page).

Step 2: Start with a friendly greeting

Just as we explained for seeking reviews in person, it’s important to start the conversation with a warm greeting to put the customer at ease.

Step 3: Ask for feedback

Ask about the product/service that he purchased from you to see first that he is having a great experience.

Once he gives a nod, ask politely if he will be willing to share his experience with the world. 

Step 4: Provide clear instructions

If he agrees, provide instructions to make it easy for him to do so. You can direct them to your website or provide a link to an online review platform.

Step 5: Follow up

You are not done until you have thanked your customer for his time. So send a follow-up email acknowledging his effort. You can even show them a picture of his uploaded feedback.

3. Text message

You may find texting a message quite underperforming when it comes to getting a review. But asking it gracefully may help.

Step 1: Keep it brief

The shorter yet more appealing your message, the better it is. So keep all your review requests via text message concise and easy to understand.

Step 2: Use a friendly tone

Text messages can feel impersonal, so it’s important to use a friendly and casual tone to put the customer at ease.

Step 3: Ask for feedback

Ask the customer to share his experience working with you in the form of a review. And be sure to mention that their feedback is important to you and that it helps to improve your business.

Step 4: Provide clear instructions

Along with a link in the message, you may also decide to put in steps for your client to follow. This may help him, in case he finds it hard.

Review request template

Hi [customer name],

It’s [your name] from [your business name]. If you have a moment, could you please leave us a Google review? Your feedback helps us improve and serve you better. Thanks!

[link]

4. Email

If you find that your clients check their email regularly, then email can be a great way to request reviews.

Step 1: Personalize the email

Your email shouldn’t look like something you have sent to hundreds of people in one go. So, address the customer by their name and personalize the email to make it feel more personal and genuine.

Step 2: Explain the importance of his review

Let your customer know that his feedback is important. You can do this by highlighting: 

• How the feedback is used to better your service?
• How it helps other customers make informed decisions?

Step 3: Ask for their feedback

Done explaining the importance of his review? Then ask your customer if they would be willing to leave one for you. And don’t forget to provide a review link.

Step 4: Remind him again (optional)

Sometimes, your client may be really busy to leave you a review. So if you don’t receive a review after the first email, follow up with a reminder email a few days later JUST ONCE.

Review request template

Subject: Help us improve by leaving a review

Hi [customer name],

Are you enjoying your recent purchase from us? We would be grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review on [review platform]. Your feedback helps us improve our business and serve you better.

[link]

Thank you for your support!

Best regards,

[Your name] from [Your business name]

5. Social media

This is a great way to collectively ask for reviews instead of going to each of your clients one by one.

Step 1: Choose the right platform

Where do your clients hang out? Choose the social media platform where your audience is most active and engaged. This could be:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Step 2: Post a request

Hit a post on your social media accounts that requests reviews. Explain briefly that you are seeking it to improve your services.

Step 3: Engage with your audience

It isn’t just about posting. Respond to comments and messages from your followers, thanking them for their feedback and addressing any issues they may have.

Review request template

Hey everyone!

If you love our products/services, we would appreciate it if you could leave us a review on [review platform]. Your feedback helps us improve and provide better service to customers like you. Thank you for your support!

[link]

#reviews #customerfeedback #grateful

6. Website

Keeping a review form can be great for visitors or clients to leave feedback even without asking for it.

Step 1: Make it easy

Make sure that your review page is easy to find on your website. And even despite that, provide clear instructions on how to leave a review.

Step 2: Timing

You can add timely pop-ups to encourage people to leave feedback on the experience they are having. Udemy does so very well by asking you to review the course at certain points.

Step 3: Personalize the request

If the visitor is logged into your website, address him by his name to give your review request a personal touch. 

On top of that, you can even consider including a personally written message for this purpose.

Step 4: Offer a reward (optional)

How about offering an incentive for leaving a review, such as a discount or free gift? 

But beware! This can alter the purpose of giving a review. So we recommend keeping the gift hidden and surprising them once they have left a review.

Asking for a review isn’t rocket science at all. The key is to have empathy while gracefully asking for customer feedback. But “asking” is not the end.

How to Respond to Review

Responding to reviews is equally important as asking for them. Let us show you why:

Why it is important to respond to reviews?

• Shows that you care
  Not responding to a review gives a clear message that you were only after the praise and not for improving your services. But doing otherwise build customer relationships which can lead to increased loyalty and repeat business.

• Builds trust
  Whether you have got a thumbs up or thumbs down, a graceful response shows that you are transparent and willing to address any concerns that may arise. And this boosts trust among your potential customers

• Improves your online reputation
  You can improve your online reputation by addressing any negative feedback and highlighting positive feedback. And as an added bonus, this may also help you in local SEO as well because it indicates that you are active online.

Tips on how to respond to reviews

• Address all the concerns raised
  Negative reviews are inevitable. Thus, it is a matter of handing them well. So while facing this situation, acknowledge the negative experience and offer a way to resolve the issue.

• Thank the customer
  Always thank the reviewer for his time – regardless of whether the review is positive or negative. Let him know that you appreciate him taking the time to share his experience.

• Be professional
  Maintaining a professional tone can sometimes feel hard to do, especially when someone is trying to take you down. But it is the right thing to do. 

• Respond promptly
  A prompt reply feels to clients like you are always there for them. So the faster you respond, the better it is. This will also reduce the reputation damage that may happen in case of a negative review.

Templates for effective review responses

Example of a positive review response:

Dear [Customer Name],

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a positive review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with our business and we appreciate your kind words. We look forward to serving you again soon.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Example of a negative review response:

Dear [Customer Name],

We’re sorry to hear that you had a negative experience with our business. We take all feedback seriously and would like to address your concerns. Please reach out to us directly at [contact information] so that we can work together to find a solution.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Don’ts When Asking for a Review

Now that you how to ask for a review, you are all set to go for it. But there are some traps that you may fall into.

• Being too pushy
  Are you being too pushy? Then stop. Customers don’t want to feel pressured or obligated to leave a review, so it’s important to ask in a respectful and non-intrusive way. Realize that not everyone will leave a review and that’s okay.

• Offering incentives
  As we said earlier, offering incentives can alter the motivation of giving a review, and usually isn’t a good practice. Not only it may be deemed unethical, but it can also attract fake or biased reviews.

• Ignoring negative feedback
  You can avoid negative feedback so there is no point ignoring it. While it’s natural to want to focus on positive reviews, ignoring negative feedback can look like you’re not interested in improving your business.

Recommended: 21 Customer Service Tips for Contractors

Now let’s add the final piece of the puzzle, which is…

When to Ask For a Review?

Your timing can impact whether you get a review or not. So you want to ask at a time when the customer is most likely to leave a review – and that too a positive one. So here are a few timing suggestions:

• After the customer has just made a purchase or received a service.
• After the customers start to see the impact of your service i.e. a few days after giving your service.
• Once you have resolved your customer’s issue.
• Along with the invoice you send to your customer.

Conclusion

Finally! We have shown you here why you should seek reviews, when to ask, traps to avoid, and, most importantly, how to ask for them. 

Thus, with this, start by moving toward your existing customers to see what they feel about your business. As time goes on, it will start to feel a lot easier.