How to Get Reviews on Facebook

Getting more reviews on your Facebook Page is one of the highest-impact things you can do for your business, turning passive followers into a powerful engine for social proof. But actually getting customers to leave that feedback can feel like a mystery. This guide breaks down the simple, practical steps you can take to encourage a steady stream of authentic reviews that build trust and attract new customers.

Why Bother with Facebook Reviews?

In a digital world crowded with ads and polished marketing, a genuine recommendation from a real person cuts through the noise. Facebook reviews (which are technically called "Recommendations" now, but let's be real, we all still call them reviews) are powerful because they live where your community already spends its time. They aren’t just star ratings on a forgotten directory, they are social proof, visible to potential customers, their friends, and an entire network of users across the platform.

Here’s what they really do:

• Build Instant Trust: A potential customer who sees positive feedback from others is much more likely to trust your brand. According to studies, a vast majority of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
• Improve Visibility: Facebook's algorithm favors pages with high engagement and positive signals. Reviews are a major signal. A well-reviewed page is more likely to appear in local search results on Facebook (e.g., "cafes near me") and can even pop up in news feeds.
• Drive Decisions: When someone is on the fence about a purchase, a scroll through your reviews can be the final push they need. Seeing others share positive experiences validates their choice and reduces buyer's remorse before it even begins.

First Things First: Set Yourself Up for Success

Before you ask for a single review, you need to make sure your digital storefront is ready for visitors. An incomplete or confusing Facebook Page can deter even the most satisfied customer from leaving a review. Take a few minutes to handle these foundational steps.

Make Sure Your 'Reviews' Tab is Turned On

It sounds basic, but you'd be surprised how many businesses miss this. Facebook provides the option to disable reviews, so you need to confirm yours is active.

Here's how to check:

1. Go to your Facebook Business Page.
2. On the left-hand menu, click Settings.
3. Click on Privacy, then select Page and Tagging.
4. Look for the option that says, "Allow others to view and post recommendations on your Page."
5. Make sure this is switched On.

Now, a "Reviews" or "Recommendations" tab will be visible on your page, letting customers share their feedback.

Complete and Optimize Your Business Page

Your Facebook Page is often a potential customer's first impression. A sparse, outdated page looks unprofessional and untrustworthy. Treat it like your main website's homepage.

• Profile & Cover Photos: Use high-quality, on-brand images. Your logo is usually best for the profile picture, while the cover photo can showcase your product, your team, or your physical location.
• About Section: Fill out every relevant field. What do you do? Who do you help? Tell your story briefly but compellingly.
• Contact & Location Info: This is critical. Make sure your address, phone number, website, and business hours are 100% accurate. Nothing frustrates a customer more than incorrect information.

Grab Your Direct Review Link

To make leaving a review dead simple, you need a direct link to your reviews page. Don't make people hunt for it. To find your link, go to your Facebook Page and click on the Reviews tab. The URL in your browser's address bar is the link you want. It will look something like this:

https://www.facebook.com/YourPageUsername/reviews

Copy this URL and save it somewhere you can easily access it, like in a notepad or your favorite notes app. You're going to use it a lot.

How to Ask for Reviews (Without Being Awkward)

Now for the main event: asking your happy customers to share their thoughts. The key is to make your request personal, easy, and timely. A generic, poorly-timed ask is easy to ignore, but a thoughtful one feels like a natural part of a positive customer experience.

Timing is Everything: Know the Perfect Moment to Ask

The best time to ask for a review is right after a customer has had a great experience - what marketers call the "moment of delight." You want to catch them when their positive feelings are at their peak.

Look for these golden opportunities:

• Right after a purchase: A "thank you" email for their order is the perfect place to ask gently.
• After a positive customer service interaction: If you just solved a problem for them in a DM or email, and they're thanking you profusely, that’s your moment.
• When they compliment you unprompted: If a customer tags you in a positive post or sends a message just to say how much they love your product, thank them and ask if they'd be willing to share that feedback on your Reviews tab.
• After they’ve experienced the product’s benefit: If you sell skincare, don't ask for a review the day after it arrives. Wait a couple of weeks. If you’re a photographer, ask after you’ve delivered the final gallery and they’re thrilled with the shots.

Proven Methods for Asking

Once you’ve identified the right moment, you need a way to deliver the ask. Here are some of the most effective methods, ranging from direct to passive.

1. The Personalized Email Request

This is one of the most effective methods. Instead of sending a generic email blast, trigger an email send after a customer takes a positive action. Most modern e-commerce or booking platforms allow you to automate this.

Your email should be short, personal, and to the point. Here’s a simple template:

Subject: How did we do?

Hi [Customer Name],

Thanks so much for your recent order of [Product Name]. We hope you’re loving it!

We’re a small business and your feedback means a lot to us - it helps other people like you discover our community. If you have a minute to share your thoughts, we'd be incredibly grateful for a review on our Facebook Page.

You can leave one right here: [Your Direct Facebook Review Link]

Thank you again for your support!

Best,
[Your Name]

Notice how it's framed in a way that benefits future customers ("helps other people"). This feels less self-serving and more community-oriented.

2. In-Person Asks and QR Codes

For brick-and-mortar businesses, the point of sale is your best opportunity. When a customer is checking out and has just had a great experience, don’t be afraid to ask.

Train your staff to say something simple like: "So glad you enjoyed your meal! If you get a chance, reviews on Facebook really help us out. There's a QR code right on your receipt."

Use a free QR code generator to create a code that links directly to your Facebook reviews page. Put it everywhere:

• On receipts
• On small flyers at the checkout counter
• On the back of your business cards
• On menus or table tents

This removes all friction. A customer can scan the code while they’re waiting and leave a review before they’ve even left your store.

3. Use Your Facebook Content Strategically

Instead of just asking for reviews directly, you can weave the request into your regular content schedule.

• Create a "Thank You" Post: Once a week or month, take a screenshot of a recent positive review (ask permission first or blur out the name) and share it to your Page. In the caption, thank that customer personally and remind others that they can leave their feedback too. It’s a powerful form of social proof that encourages others to join in.
• Run a "Share Your Experience" Post: Create a simple graphic and ask followers to comment with their favorite thing about your business or a recent experience they had. This isn’t a direct ask for a review, but it primes the pump for positivity. You can then gently reply to positive comments with a request to leave a formal review.

4. A Simple Link in Your Digital Spaces

Make it passively easy for people to find where to leave a review. Add your direct reviews link to:

• Your email signature: "Happy with our work? Leave us a review on Facebook!"
• Your website's footer: Place it next to your other social media icons.
• Your "Contact Us" or "About Us" page: A natural place for people to find it.

What to Do After the Reviews Come In

Getting a review is only half the battle. How you respond is seen by every potential customer who reads it. Your responses build your reputation just as much as the reviews themselves.

Celebrating Positive Reviews

Always, always, always respond to positive reviews. It shows you’re engaged and appreciate your customers.

• Be prompt: Reply within a day or two.
• Be personal: Don't just copy and paste "Thanks!" Mention something specific they said. "Thanks, Sarah! We're so glad you enjoyed the latte art - our team really prides itself on that."
• Thank them by name: It adds a simple human touch.

Handling Negative Reviews Professionally

A negative review feels like a punch to the gut, but it's actually an opportunity to demonstrate outstanding customer service.

1. Respond quickly and publicly: Show everyone you're on top of it.
2. Acknowledge and validate: Start by acknowledging their poor experience. "Hi Mike, thank you for your feedback. We're so sorry to hear that your experience didn't meet your expectations."
3. Do NOT get defensive or make excuses: This will only make you look worse.
4. Take it offline: Provide a direct point of contact to resolve the issue privately. "We want to make this right. Could you please send us a DM or email us at support@yourbiz.com with your order details?"

A thoughtful, professional response to a bad review can often be more impressive to potential customers than a page full of perfect five-star ratings. It shows you're accountable and genuinely care.

Important: What to Avoid When Asking for Reviews

Finally, there are a few hard rules to follow to stay on the right side of Facebook's policies and customer trust.

• Never offer incentives for positive reviews. You cannot exchange money, discounts, or free products for a 5-star review. This is against Facebook's terms of service and destroys authenticity. You can run a contest where anyone who leaves a review (good or bad) is entered to win a prize.
• Never buy fake reviews. Just don't. It's easy to spot, it will wreck your credibility if caught, and it can get your Page penalized.
• Don’t be pushy or spammy. One follow-up request is sometimes okay, but repeatedly bothering a customer for a review will only lead to annoyance.

Final Thoughts

Building a great collection of Facebook reviews isn't about finding a single magic trick, it's about consistency. It's the byproduct of delivering an excellent customer experience and then making it incredibly simple for people to share that experience with the world. By putting these strategies into practice, you can turn your happy customers into your most effective marketers.

Of course, many of the best opportunities to earn a review start with a great conversation in your comments or DMs. That's a huge reason why we built Postbase with a unified inbox. It brings all your messages from every social platform into one streamlined view, so you can respond quickly, personally, and never miss the chance to turn a happy customer into public praise. Managing your community shouldn't feel chaotic, and with the right tools, it doesn't have to be.