How to Add Reviews to a Facebook Page

Letting customers share their experiences on your Facebook Page is one of the most powerful ways to build trust and social proof. If you're looking for the on/off switch for reviews, you've come to the right place. This guide will walk you through exactly how to enable the Reviews feature (now called Recommendations), how to encourage happy customers to leave feedback, and how to manage it all like a pro.

Why Facebook Reviews Matter More Than Ever

Before we jump into the "how-to," let's quickly touch on the "why." Activating reviews on your Facebook Page isn't just about collecting gold stars, it's a fundamental part of a healthy social media strategy. This feature provides powerful social proof that builds confidence with potential customers, showing them that real people trust your products or services.

Positive recommendations can also boost your visibility. When someone recommends your Page, their feedback can appear in the feeds of their friends and in Facebook Search results, increasing your organic reach. It's essentially free advertising powered by your best customers. Plus, engaging with reviews - both positive and negative - shows that you're a responsive and caring brand, which goes a long way in building a loyal community.

First, A Quick Clarification: Reviews are Now "Recommendations"

You might be searching for the "Reviews" tab and not finding it, and there's a good reason for that. A few years ago, Facebook updated its system. The old 5-star rating system was replaced with a simpler, more direct approach: Recommendations.

Instead of choosing a star rating, customers are now asked a simple question: "Do you recommend [Your Business Name]?" They can choose either "Yes" or "No." After making their selection, they're prompted to elaborate with text, photos, and specific tags (like "good for groups," "friendly staff," or "quality service").

Why the change? Facebook found that a simple "yes" or "no" provided a clearer signal. It removed the ambiguity of a 3-star rating, which could mean different things to different people. The addition of tags also helps future customers quickly see what your business does best. Don't worry, all your old 5-star reviews were automatically transitioned into this new format, so you haven't lost any history. For the rest of this guide, we'll use "reviews" and "recommendations" interchangeably, but just know they refer to the same feature.

How to Enable Recommendations on Your Facebook Page: A Step-by-Step Guide

Alright, let's get that feature turned on. Facebook sometimes updates its interface, but these steps should guide you through the process on the current layout. It's a quick fix that takes just a couple of minutes.

Step 1: Navigate to Your Page Settings

First, make sure you're logged into Facebook and managing your business Page. You should see your Page's profile picture and name at the top. From there, locate your settings.

• On your Page, click on your profile picture in the top-right corner to open the menu.
• Select Settings & Privacy, and then click on Settings.

Step 2: Go to "Templates and Tabs"

On the left-hand navigation menu of the Settings page, you'll see a series of options. You're looking for the one that controls the structure of your Page.

• Click on Privacy, then select Page and Tagging.
• This is where you'll find the master switch. Look for the option "Allow others to view and leave reviews on your Page." Toggle this option on.

Step 3: Add and Organize the "Reviews" Tab

Just turning the feature on doesn't guarantee the tab will be visible on your Page's main navigation. You often need to add it manually to make it easy for visitors to find.

• Go back to the main Settings menu.
• On the left, click on Templates and Tabs. This area controls the different sections of your Page (like "Photos," "Events," "Shop," etc.).
• You'll see a list of your current tabs. Scroll down to the bottom and click the Add a Tab button.
• A pop-up will appear with available tabs. Find Reviews in the list and click Add Tab next to it.

Step 4: Make the Tab Visible (and Prominent!)

Now that the tab is added, you want to make sure it’s high up on your Page's navigation list. Hiding it at the bottom won't do you much good.

• In that same Templates and Tabs section, you can reorder your tabs by clicking and dragging the six little dots next to each tab name.
• We recommend dragging the Reviews tab near the top, perhaps right after "About" or "Posts." This makes it easy for potential customers to find the social proof they're looking for without having to hunt for it.

And that's it! Your Page is now ready to receive recommendations from customers.

Now That It's On: Proactively Asking for Recommendations

Just because the functionality is enabled doesn't mean reviews will start pouring in. To build up a solid base of social proof, you need to be proactive. Waiting around is a slow strategy, actively encouraging feedback is how you gain momentum.

Here are some friendly, low-pressure ways to ask for reviews:

• Ask in person: If you run a brick-and-mortar business, the simplest way is often the best. When a customer has a great experience, let them know you'd appreciate it if they shared their thoughts on your Facebook Page.
• Use a direct link: Make it effortless for them. You can get a direct link to your Reviews tab by going to your Page and clicking on the tab yourself. The URL in your browser's address bar is the link you want. It will look something like this: https://www.facebook.com/YourBusiness/reviews. Share this link in emails, on receipts, or in direct messages.
• Send a follow-up email: For online businesses, a post-purchase email is the perfect opportunity. A few days after a customer receives their product, send a friendly email asking about their experience and include the direct link to your recommendations page.
• Share an existing positive review: Take a screenshot of a great recommendation and share it as a post on your Page. In the caption, thank that customer and add a gentle call to action like, "We love hearing from you! If you've had a great experience with us, we'd appreciate it if you left your own recommendation on our Reviews tab!"

Remember to always be thankful, never pushy. The goal is to make it easy and appealing for happy customers to share their positive experiences.

Managing Recommendations: Handling the Good and the Not-So-Good

Your job isn't done once the reviews start coming in. Managing them is just as important as collecting them. How you respond publicly can have a huge impact on your brand's reputation.

Responding to Positive Recommendations:

Always, always, always respond to positive reviews. It shows you're paying attention and you value your customers' feedback. Don’t just "like" it - leave a comment!

• Thank them by name: A personalized touch goes a long way. "Thanks so much, Sarah!" feels much warmer than a generic "Thank you."
• Reference a specific detail: If they mentioned a specific product or employee, reference it in your reply. "We're so glad you loved the cold brew and that Jason provided great service!" This proves you actually read their feedback.
• Encourage them to come back: A simple, "We can't wait to see you again soon!" keeps the door open and builds loyalty.

Responding to Negative Recommendations:

This is where many businesses panic, but a negative review is an opportunity to showcase excellent customer service. Never ignore it and never get defensive.

Follow a simple, professional formula:

1. Acknowledge and Apologize: Start by apologizing that they had a bad experience. Even if you think it's a misunderstanding, their feelings are valid. "We're so sorry to hear your experience didn't meet your expectations."
2. Take Responsibility: Don't make excuses. Briefly acknowledge their specific complaint. "We pride ourselves on prompt service, and we sincerely apologize for a wait."
3. Take it Offline: This is the most important step. Provide a direct channel for them to continue the conversation privately. Public comments are not the place for back-and-forth arguments. Say something like, "We'd love the opportunity to make this right. Please contact us directly at [email address] or [phone number] so we can learn more and help resolve this for you."
4. Keep Your Public Reply Brief: Your public goal isn't to solve the problem for everyone to see. It's to show other potential customers that you listen, you care, and you take action.

If a review is fake, spam, or violates Facebook's Community Standards (like containing hate speech or harassment), you can and should report it. Simply click the three dots next to the recommendation and select "Find support or report recommendation."

Final Thoughts

Enabling and actively managing Facebook Recommendations is a simple but powerful way to use genuine customer feedback to build credibility. By making the "Reviews" tab visible, politely asking for feedback, and engaging thoughtfully with every post, you turn your Facebook Page into a dynamic hub for trust and social proof.

Once you get those glowing recommendations, the conversations that follow are just as important. We designed Postbase to simplify that process with a unified social inbox that brings all your comments and DMs from every platform into one clean dashboard. This way, you never miss a chance to thank a happy customer or connect directly with your community without having to jump between a dozen different apps.