How to Get More Customer Reviews on Facebook

Positive Facebook reviews are powerful social proof that can sway potential customers and boost your business's visibility on the platform. But waiting for them to trickle in isn't a strategy. This guide breaks down the simple, actionable steps you can take to actively and consistently get more customer recommendations on your Facebook Page.

Before You Ask: Setting the Stage for Success

Before you start asking for reviews, you need to make sure your digital house is in order. A professional, complete, and active Facebook Page inspires the confidence that earns positive feedback. Plus, people can't leave reviews if you don't have the feature turned on.

Enable Facebook Reviews (Now "Recommendations")

First thing's first: you need to make sure customers can actually leave a review. A few years ago, Facebook shifted from a 5-star rating system to a simpler "Yes/No" recommendation format. Here's how to make sure that option is available on your page:

• Navigate to your business's Facebook Page.
• In the left-hand menu, click on Settings.
• Go to the Privacy tab.
• Then select Page and tagging.
• Look for the option "Allow others to view and post what others post on your Page?" and ensure it's turned on. As long as this setting is on, the recommendation feature is automatically enabled for most Page types.
• To make the tab visible, go back to Settings > Templates and Tabs, find the "Reviews" tab and make sure the toggle is switched to ON.

Once enabled, customers will see a box on your page that asks, "Do you recommend [Your Business Name]?" with "Yes" and "No" buttons.

Optimize Your Facebook Page

Think of your Facebook Page as your digital storefront. If it looks neglected or incomplete, potential reviewers might hesitate. A great-looking and helpful page signals a professional operation worth recommending.

• Complete Every Section: Fill out your "About" section with a compelling story, add your website, list your hours accurately, and provide a phone number and address.
• Use High-Quality Visuals: Your profile picture and cover photo should be crisp, professional, and representative of your brand.
• Post Consistently: An active page feels current and trustworthy. Regularly sharing helpful content, updates, and behind-the-scenes glimpses shows that there are real people behind the business who are engaged and care.

Provide an Excellent Customer Experience

This isn't a social media trick, it's the foundation of everything. The single most effective way to get a good review is to deserve a good review. No amount of clever marketing can make up for a poor product or bad service. When you consistently delight your customers, they become your most enthusiastic advocates and are far more likely to share their experience when asked.

The Art of the Ask: Simple and Effective Ways to Get Reviews

Most happy customers are willing to leave a review, but they often forget or don't think to do it unless prompted. That's why asking is so important. The key is to make it as easy as possible for them.

Find and Share Your Direct Review Link

Don't make customers hunt for the review section. Give them a direct link that takes them exactly where they need to go. Finding it is easy:

1. Go to your Facebook Page.
2. Click on the Reviews or Recommendations tab in the navigation menu.
3. Copy the URL from your web browser’s address bar. It will look something like this: www.facebook.com/YourPageName/reviews.

Save this link. You'll be using it in emails, text messages, and on your website to make the review process frictionless.

Ask in Person at the Right Moment

For businesses with a physical location, the point of sale is the perfect time to ask for a review. The ideal moment is right after a customer expresses satisfaction. Their positive feelings are at their peak, making them much more receptive to taking a minute to help you out.

Train your staff to listen for cues like, "This was delicious!" or "You guys were so helpful, thank you!" and respond naturally:

"I'm so glad to hear that! It would mean the world to us if you could share that experience in a quick recommendation on our Facebook page. It really helps other people find us."

Use Email Marketing

A simple, well-timed email can be one of your most effective review-gathering tools. A day or two after a purchase or service, send a follow-up email asking about their experience.

Email Best Practices:

• Keep it short and to the point. People's inboxes are cluttered. Respect their time.
• Personalize it. Use their first name and reference the product or service they received.
• Make the call-to-action obvious. Use a big, clear button that says "Leave a Review on Facebook" and links directly to your review page.
• Avoid being pushy. Use gentle language like, "We'd love to hear your feedback" or "Share your thoughts."

Leverage SMS for Instant Feedback

If you collect phone numbers for appointments or orders, a follow-up text can get great results thanks to high open rates. A single, friendly text can prompt immediate action.

Try a simple template like:

"Hi [Name], thanks for visiting [Your Business] today. If you have a minute, we'd appreciate it if you could leave us a recommendation on Facebook to let us know how we did! [Your Direct Review Link]"

Go Beyond the Direct Ask: Creative Strategies for Getting Reviews

Asking directly is powerful, but you can also weave review prompts into your standard business and marketing materials to create a steady, passive flow of feedback.

Add a Call-to-Action on Your Website

Your website visitors are already interested in your brand. Make it easy for them to see what others are saying and contribute their own thoughts.

• Footer Link: Add a small Facebook icon and the words "Review us on Facebook" in the footer of your site.
• Contact & "About Us" Pages: These are pages where people go to learn more about you. Include a section with a link to your reviews.
• Testimonials Page: If you have a page dedicated to testimonials, add a prominent button that invites happy customers to add their own review on Facebook.

Create Physical Reminders

Bring the digital ask into the physical world. For shops, restaurants, and service providers, small physical prompts can be incredibly effective.

• Business Cards or Small Flyers: Print cards that say "Enjoyed your experience? Leave us a review!" with a QR code that links directly to your Facebook review page. Drop one in every shopping bag.
• Table Tents or Window Clings: Place a small sign at your register or on your front door that invites people to recommend your business on Facebook.
• Invoice or Receipt Notes: Add a line at the bottom of your receipts or invoices that says, "We'd love your feedback on Facebook!" along with your page URL.

Showcase Your Existing Reviews

When you celebrate the positive feedback you already have, you subconsciously signal two things to your audience: 1) you value customer opinions, and 2) leaving a review is something your customers do. This social proof encourages others to follow suit.

Create a simple, branded graphic featuring a quote from a great review. Tag the person who left it (if their profile is public and it feels appropriate) and thank them sincerely in the caption. This not only shows appreciation but also turns a great review into engaging content for your feed.

The Final Piece: Engaging with Your Reviewers

Getting the review is only half the job. Responding to them - both good and bad - is what builds a strong community and shows potential customers that you are an attentive and caring business owner.

Always Respond to Positive Reviews

Someone took time out of their day to say something nice about your business. Acknowledge it! A personalized response makes them feel valued and validates their decision to choose you. It doesn't have to be long, a simple reply works wonders:

"Thank you so much, [Name]! We're thrilled you had a great experience and we look forward to seeing you again soon."

Handle Negative Reviews with Grace

No business is perfect, and a negative review will happen eventually. How you handle it publicly says everything about your brand. It's an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to customer service.

1. Respond Quickly: Acknowledge the review as soon as possible.
2. Thank Them for the Feedback: Start by thanking them for bringing the issue to your attention.
3. Apologize Sincerely: Offer a genuine apology for their negative experience, without making excuses.
4. Take it Offline: Provide an email address or phone number and invite them to continue the conversation privately so you can resolve the issue. Example: "We are so sorry to hear this. This isn't the standard we aim for. Please email me at contact@yourbusiness.com so we can make this right for you."

Never get into an argument or be defensive. A professional, proactive response can often turn a negative situation around and shows everyone else watching that you take customer satisfaction seriously.

Final Thoughts

Consistently getting more Facebook reviews comes down to a simple, repeatable process: deliver a wonderful customer experience, make it incredibly easy for people to share that experience, and actively engage with all the feedback you receive. By building these practices into your everyday operations, you'll create a powerful engine for social proof that builds trust and supports your business's growth.

Keeping up with every comment, reply, and DM across all your social platforms is demanding, especially when you're trying to encourage and manage reviews. We built Postbase to streamline this exact process. Our unified engagement inbox gathers all your messages from Facebook, Instagram, and more into one clean feed, so you can respond promptly without juggling multiple apps. This makes staying on top of community feedback much simpler, freeing you up to focus on the work that gets you those great reviews in the first place.