How to Get Ratings on Facebook

Getting great Recommendations on your Facebook Page is one of the most powerful ways to build immediate trust with potential customers. It serves as modern-day word-of-mouth that can set you apart from competitors. This guide will walk you through exactly how to turn on, ask for, manage, and leverage Facebook Recommendations to grow your brand's reputation.

First Things First: It's "Recommendations," Not "Ratings" Anymore

You might still think of them as "star ratings," but Facebook made a significant change a few years ago. The old 5-star rating system was replaced with a simpler, more direct system: Recommendations. Now, customers are asked a straightforward question: "Do you recommend [Your Business Name]?" They simply answer "Yes" or "No."

After making their choice, they can add more context with text, photos, and tags that highlight what they liked (or disliked). This shift is more than just a name change, it focuses less on a vague number and more on a direct endorsement and the specific reasons behind it. These recommendations are highly visible, contributing to an overall score on your Page and helping potential customers make buying decisions.

Step 1: Make Sure Your Recommendations are Turned On

Before you can start asking for feedback, you need to make sure customers have a place to leave it. It sounds basic, but many Page templates have this feature turned off by default. It only takes a minute to check.

How to Enable Recommendations on Your Page:

1. Navigate to your business's Facebook Page.
2. On the left-hand menu, click "Settings."
3. In the Settings menu, click on "Templates and Tabs."
4. You’ll see a list of the current tabs on your Page (like Home, About, Photos, etc.). Look for a tab named "Reviews."
5. If you see it in the list, make sure the toggle next to it is switched to ON.
6. If you don't see it, scroll to the bottom and click the "Add a Tab" button. Find "Reviews" in the list and add it.

Once enabled, the "Reviews" tab will appear on your Page, giving customers a clear place to share their experiences. Your overall recommendation score will also be displayed prominently near the top of your Page, just under your Page name.

Step 2: Proactively (and Smartly) Ask for Recommendations

Most happy customers won't think to leave a review on their own. They're busy, and it's simply not top-of-mind. Your job is to gently nudge them at the right moment and make it incredibly easy for them to do so. Here’s how.

Find the Perfect Moment to Ask

Timing is everything. Don't just blast out a mass request to your entire audience. The best time to ask is immediately after a "moment of maximum happiness." This could be:

• Right after a purchase: A customer completes a checkout and is feeling good about their decision.
• After a positive customer service chat: You’ve just solved a problem for them, and they're feeling relieved and grateful.
• When they give you unsolicited praise: If someone sends an email or DM saying how much they love your product or service, that's your chance to say, "Thank you so much! Would you mind sharing that praise on our Facebook Page?"
• After a client project is successfully completed: They've seen the final result and are thrilled with your work.

Asking at the peak of their positive experience dramatically increases the likelihood of them following through and leaving a thoughtful, glowing recommendation.

Make Leaving a Review Frictionless

The single most important thing you can do is remove every possible barrier. Don't just say, "Review us on Facebook!" Give them a direct link that takes them exactly where they need to go.

Your Page’s direct review link is simple: https://www.facebook.com/[YourPageUsername]/reviews/

Just replace `[YourPageUsername]` with your actual Facebook Page username. This link bypasses your Page's homepage and takes visitors straight to the recommendation form. You should have this link saved and ready to use everywhere.

Proven Methods for Asking

1. Automated Email Follow-Ups

For any e-commerce or service business, this is a must. Set up an automated email that goes out a few days after a customer receives their product or their service is completed. Keep the email warm, friendly, and focused on them.

Example Email Template:


Subject: How did we do? Tell us what you think!

Hi [Customer Name],

Thanks again for your recent order! We hope you're loving your new [Product Name].

We’re a small business and your feedback means the world to us. It helps us improve and helps others like you find us. If you have a moment, we'd be so grateful if you could share your experience by leaving a Recommendation on our Facebook Page.

<,a href="https://www.facebook.com/[YourPageUsername]/reviews/">,Click Here to Leave a Recommendation<,/a>,

It only takes a minute, and every review makes a huge difference.

Thanks for your support!

The [Your Business Name] Team


2. Dedicated Social Media Posts

Don't be shy about asking your followers directly. Create an engaging visual post - perhaps featuring a photo of your team or a happy customer (with their permission) - and explain why their feedback matters. Frame it not as asking for a favor, but as an invitation to be part of your community's success.

Example Post Copy:

"Reviews from amazing customers like you help us grow! ❤️ Have you had a great experience with us? Share it with the community by leaving a Recommendation on our Page. Your support keeps our small business going strong! [Link to your reviews page]"

3. QR Codes for Brick-and-Mortar Businesses

If you have a physical location, make it visual. Use a free QR code generator to create a code that links directly to your Facebook reviews page. Put it everywhere:

• On receipts or invoices
• On stickers placed on takeaway bags or product packaging
• On a small sign at your point-of-sale counter
• On business cards or thank-you cards

A customer can simply scan the code with their phone while they're still in that happy headspace and leave a review before they even leave your store.

4. Website Integration

Add a "Review Us" or "Leave Feedback" link to your website's footer, contact page, or confirmation page. This link should go directly to your Facebook reviews tab. It provides a permanent, passive way for satisfied website visitors to share their thoughts.

Step 3: Manage Your Recommendations Like a Pro

Getting recommendations is only half the battle. How you respond to them - both positive and negative - says more about your brand than the reviews themselves.

How to Handle Glowing Recommendations

When someone takes the time to say something nice, always, always acknowledge it. But go beyond a simple "like" or "thanks."

• Personalize Your Response: Address them by name.
• Be Specific: If you remember the interaction, reference it. "Hi Maria, it was a pleasure helping you find the perfect gift! So glad to hear you loved it."
• Reinforce the Positive: If they mentioned your great customer service, reply with something like, "We work hard to make sure our service is top-notch, so that really means a lot to us!"

This kind of engagement shows you’re a real human who values customer feedback, and it encourages other people to leave their own positive reviews.

How to Handle Negative Recommendations

It’s going to happen. No business is perfect. A negative review is not a disaster, it's an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction. Follow these steps:

1. Respond Quickly and Publicly: Don't leave a negative review hanging. A prompt response shows you're on top of things.
2. Acknowledge and Apologize: Start by acknowledging their frustration and apologizing that their experience didn't meet their expectations. Don't get defensive or make excuses.
3. Take it Offline: Your goal is to resolve the problem, not have a public argument. Provide them with a way to connect with you privately. Say something like, "We're so sorry to hear this. We want to make it right. Could you please send us a DM or email us at [support@yourbrand.com] so we can get more details and help you out?"
4. Follow Through: Once they reach out, do what you can to solve the problem. Sometimes, a person who had a bad experience can become your biggest advocate if you handle it well.

Remember, your public response isn't just for the unhappy customer, it's for everyone else who will read that review in the future.

Step 4: Leverage Your Best Recommendations as Social Proof

Once you've collected some fantastic "Yes" recommendations, put them to work! Don't let them just sit on your Facebook Page.

• Create "Testimonial" Graphics: Use a tool like Canva to pull a quote from a great review and put it on a branded background. Share these as posts on your Facebook and Instagram feeds, in your Stories, and on other platforms. It's powerful, user-generated content.
• Add Them to Your Website: Feature your best recommendations on a dedicated testimonials page, on your homepage, or near call-to-action buttons on your product/service pages.
• Use them in Marketing Materials: Include compelling quotes in email newsletters, sales proposals, and even printed flyers to build credibility.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, gathering great Facebook Recommendations is a cycle. It starts with providing an excellent product or service, then involves making it incredibly easy for happy customers to share their feedback, engaging with every review you receive, and finally, using that social proof to attract even more customers.

Creating this positive loop requires consistent effort, not just in serving your customers but also in maintaining an active, engaging social media presence. At Postbase, we designed our platform to make that consistency feel effortless. With our visual content calendar, you can plan relationship-building posts ahead of time, and our unified inbox ensures you never miss a chance to interact with a happy customer in the comments or DMs - the very interactions that lead to stellar Recommendations.