How to Get a Star Rating on a Facebook Page

That glowing star rating on a Facebook Page is much more than just a number, it’s a powerful signal of trust for potential customers deciding whether to engage with your business. Think of it as the digital equivalent of a word-of-mouth recommendation. This guide provides a complete walkthrough of how to enable ratings, actively encourage them from happy customers, and manage the feedback you receive to build an outstanding reputation.

What Are Facebook Ratings and Why Do They Matter?

A few years ago, Facebook shifted its traditional five-star "Reviews" system to "Recommendations." While the name changed, the core function remains similar. Now, when a user wants to leave feedback, Facebook will first ask them if they recommend your business with a simple “Yes” or “No.” If they select “Yes,” they are then prompted to provide more detail through tags, photos, and text, along with a public star rating.

This final rating, a prominent combination of past reviews and current recommendations, is displayed near the top of your Page. It’s one of the first things a new visitor sees, and here’s why it’s so important:

• Builds Instant Trust and Credibility: A high star rating acts as immediate social proof. Research has consistently shown that the vast majority of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. It tells people that your business is legitimate and that others have had a positive experience with you.
• Increases Visibility on Facebook: While Facebook’s full algorithm is a secret, positive engagement signals like glowing recommendations can contribute to better visibility. Pages with strong, positive community feedback may appear more frequently in searches and recommendations within the platform.
• Influences Purchasing Decisions: For products and services, that star rating can be the deciding factor between you and a competitor. A potential customer browsing local services is far more likely to click on the page with a 4.8-star rating over one with a 3.2-star rating or, even worse, no rating at all.

First Things First: How to Enable Recommendations on Your Page

Before you can start gathering fantastic feedback, you need to make sure your audience actually has a place to leave it. Surprisingly, this feature isn’t always turned on by default, especially on newer pages. Here’s how to check and enable it.

The exact steps can sometimes vary slightly as Facebook updates its interface, but this is the most common path:

1. Navigate to Your Page Settings: Go to your Facebook Business Page. On the left-hand menu, look for "Settings."
2. Select Your Template and Tabs: In the settings menu, find and click on "Templates and Tabs." This section controls the layout and the different sections available on your page (like 'About', 'Photos', 'Events', etc.).
3. Find and Add the "Reviews" Tab: Scroll down the list of tabs. If you see a tab named "Reviews" or "Recommendations," make sure the toggle next to it is switched to ON. If you don't see it, scroll to the bottom and click the "Add a Tab" button. You should find "Reviews" in the list of available tabs to add.

Important Note: Some page templates, like the default 'Business' or 'Services' templates, include the Reviews tab automatically. If you're using a more restrictive template, you may need to switch to a different template that supports public feedback. Once enabled, the 'Reviews' or 'Recommendations' tab will appear on your page, letting visitors see existing feedback and leave their own.

How to Strategically Ask for Facebook Recommendations

Once you’re set up to receive recommendations, don’t just sit back and hope for the best. Being proactive is the single most effective way to build a high star rating. The key is to ask the right people at the right time in the right way.

1. Identify Your Happiest Customers

This is the golden rule. Don't blast your entire email list with a request for a review. Instead, focus your efforts on customers who you know are satisfied. Think about people who:

• Have recently made a repeat purchase.
• Left a positive comment on a social media post.
• Sent you a happy DM or email praising your product or service.
• Had a great customer support experience that you successfully resolved.

These warm leads are far more likely to not only leave a recommendation but to leave a detailed, enthusiastic one.

2. Make It Incredibly Easy

The biggest barrier to getting someone to leave a review is friction. Don't just say, "Review us on Facebook!" That forces them to open Facebook, search for your page, find the reviews tab, and then click to leave one. Most people won’t bother.

Instead, give them a direct link. You can create one easily:

Your Direct Review Link: https://www.facebook.com/YourPageName/reviews

All you have to do is replace "YourPageName" with your page's actual username. When someone clicks this link, it takes them straight to the recommendations section of your page, with the "Would you recommend [Your Page]?" box open and ready. This removes all the extra steps and dramatically increases the chances of follow-through.

3. Time Your Request Perfectly

When you ask is just as important as how you ask. You want to touch base when the positive experience is still fresh in their mind. This is often referred to as hitting them at "peak excitement."

• After a Purchase: For e-commerce stores, a follow-up email sent a week after the product is delivered is a perfect time. They've had time to use the product and form an opinion.
• After a Service is Completed: For service-based businesses (like consultants, photographers, or contractors), ask for a recommendation within a day or two of finishing the project.
• After Positive Feedback: The moment someone emails you or DMs you with an unsolicited compliment is the best time to ask. Simply thank them for their kind words and then politely ask if they'd be willing to share that feedback on your Facebook Page.

4. Leverage Different Channels to Ask

Don't limit yourself to just one method. Integrate your request into multiple customer touchpoints.

• Email Marketing: Set up an automated email that goes out to customers after a purchase. You can use simple, direct language. For example: "Hey [Customer Name], thanks for your recent order! Did you love it? If so, we'd be incredibly grateful if you could take 30 seconds to share your thoughts on our Facebook Page. It makes a huge difference for a small business like ours!" Don't forget to include the direct link!
• Website Integration: Place a "Review Us on Facebook" button on your website's contact page, confirmation page, or in the footer.
• In-Person (for Brick-and-Mortars): A simple and effective method for physical stores is a QR code. Print the QR code that leads to your review link and place it on receipts, menus, or on a small sign at the checkout counter. You can frame it as: "Enjoyed your visit? Let us know!"

How to Respond to Every Single Recommendation

Building a great reputation isn't just about collecting stars, it's about engaging with the people who leave them. Responding to every review - both positive and negative - shows potential customers that you listen and care.

How to Handle Positive Recommendations

When someone takes the time to say something nice, always acknowledge it. A good response is personal and specific.

• Thank them by name. A simple "Thanks, Sarah!" is much more personal than "Thanks for the review."
• Reference their comment. If they mentioned your great customer service, say something like, "So glad our team could help you out!" This shows you actually read what they wrote.
• Keep it brief and genuine. You don't need to write a novel. A sincere, two-sentence reply is perfect.

How to Handle Negative Recommendations

Getting a negative review feels bad, but it’s also an opportunity to demonstrate excellent customer service to everyone else watching. How you respond is critical.

1. Respond Quickly and Publicly: Don't let a bad review sit unanswered. A prompt reply shows that you're attentive.
2. Acknowledge and Apologize: Start by acknowledging their frustration and offer a sincere apology for their poor experience. "Hi John, we're so sorry to hear you were disappointed with your recent purchase."
3. Don't Get Defensive: Avoid making excuses or arguing. Even if you think the customer is wrong, a public argument never looks good.
4. Take It Offline: Provide a direct way for them to resolve the issue privately. Say something like, "We want to make this right. Could you please send us an email at help@yourbusiness.com so we can get more details and find a solution for you?" This shows everyone you're committed to fixing problems without airing sensitive information in public.

Final Thoughts

Earning that coveted star rating on Facebook is a direct result of two things: consistently delivering great products and service, and then making it easy for your happiest customers to tell the world about it. By enabling recommendations, asking proactively, and engaging with all feedback, you can turn your Facebook Page into a powerful engine for building trust and attracting new customers.

A huge part of that process is being present and responsive across your social channels. It can be tough to stay on top of DMs, comments, and messages where satisfied customers might be sharing positive feedback. In fact, this challenge is exactly why we created Postbase. Our unified inbox brings all your conversations from multiple platforms into one simple stream, so you never miss an opportunity to engage with a happy follower and turn that interaction into a brilliant recommendation for your page.