How to Ask for Reviews: Templates and Examples
Date: 2026-02-19 | Time of reading: 9 minutes (1693 words)
Customer reviews are a key part of marketing. According to statistics, 95% of users read opinions about a product or service before deciding to buy. But people don’t always leave feedback willingly — especially positive feedback.
In this article, we’ll cover where and how to collect feedback most easily and share templates for inspiration.
Why You Should Collect Customer Reviews
What real customer reviews give your business:
They increase sales. Online shopping almost always includes review-checking, especially on marketplaces where reviews are the main decision-making tool. Products with high ratings get purchased more often, and strong feedback shortens the path to conversion.
But if a product has one positive review among dozens of bad ones — or nothing but endless praise — it raises doubts. It’s better when there are negative and neutral reviews too; the picture looks more realistic.
They help improve the product. Customers share what they liked, what didn’t work, compare products, and offer ideas for making them better.
They provide native content. Buyers can leave not only text reviews but also film videos, post photos, and tag the brand. This is extremely valuable content because the brand spends almost nothing to create it — and a customer review post can keep working for a long time.
They improve search rankings. Reviews contribute to SEO and help push brand pages higher in search results. They’re also used in rich snippets — extended information blocks in search listings.
They support the brand’s image. This is the principle of social proof: people make buying decisions based on others’ opinions. Customers also look at how the brand responds to both positive and negative reviews.
When to Ask for Reviews
The right moment to request feedback depends on the product or service. Some things can be evaluated immediately, while others require time to try out.
Right away. This is when the customer receives a review request right after the purchase or within a day or two. The “moment of joy” from the purchase is still fresh, and they’re more likely to share their impression. For example, this works well after a flower delivery.
After a week or two. This works for products that need to be tested. For instance, to evaluate whether new sneakers are comfortable, you need to wear them to a workout.
Source: reallygoodemails.com
After a positive score. If you use a star rating, point scale, or similar quick-feedback form, this can be a stepping stone toward getting a full written review. If someone already reacted positively, ask them for a more detailed response.
When the customer returns. A returning customer is most likely satisfied with your product or service. Such a loyal user is usually willing to leave a review about what they enjoyed.
Where to Ask Customers for Reviews
What the options are:
Email campaign. After a purchase or at a set time, an email is sent asking for feedback.
Source: reallygoodemails.com
Short-message channels. You can collect reviews via SMS, push notifications, or directly inside a mobile app through its built-in interface.
QR codes. Useful for offline businesses: stores, restaurants, salons, and more. A QR code leads to the main review channel — a website, maps, social media pages, etc. Codes can also be placed on packaging or receipts.
Phone survey. Another option is calling the customer after their purchase to ask about the product and service. A simpler version is using a numerical rating scale. The process can be automated so the call comes from a robot rather than an operator.
How to Motivate a Customer to Leave a Review
Just ask. Customers rarely think about the fact that companies need reviews. They usually write only when something goes wrong. So it’s important to remind them they can leave feedback — and give them a direct link right away.
Explain the importance. When you explain that feedback helps improve the product and make the service better, satisfied customers are more willing to leave it.
Offer a reward. You can give bonuses for reviews: discounts, free materials or products, participation in giveaways, or access to exclusive deals. There are many formats. For example, leaving a review can be a step in a loyalty program progress bar or part of a separate promotional campaign.
Make the CTA clear. The call to action should be written as clearly and directly as possible.
Don’t complicate it. No long registrations, extra conditions, or questions that require effort. Everything should be simple and clear.
Personalize. Consider the customer’s context and purchase history so the review request feels appropriate. A personal greeting and gratitude for loyalty significantly increase the chances of getting feedback.
Where to Publish Reviews
On the website. There are different ways: let users leave reviews directly on the page, include screenshots from other platforms, or set up automatic imports from sources like maps.
In email campaigns. Reviews can be added to emails. This activates the social proof trigger: “If these people trust it, I can too.”
In the FAQ. Analyze reviews and pull out the most common problems and questions. Create an FAQ block to help users find information faster.
Templates for Asking for Reviews
Review Request by Tone
Formal tone. Hello, NAME! You recently purchased PRODUCT. Your opinion matters to us. Please leave a review via the link — it will take just a minute. As a thank-you, we offer you …
Friendly. Hi NAME! Thanks for choosing PRODUCT. Tell us a few words about it here: LINK. By the way, we’ve prepared a gift for you …
Light humor. Hey NAME! Have you already become friends with PRODUCT? Tell us how it’s behaving :) It takes less than a minute, and we’ll thank you with a bonus …
Review Request by Industry
Finance. Hello, NAME! You recently used the PRODUCT service. Your opinion about our service and support matters to us. Please leave a review via the link — your feedback helps us improve.
Retail. Hi NAME! We’d really love to know how you liked PRODUCT. Tell us briefly via the link — it helps us make your experience even better.
Healthcare. NAME, thank you for visiting our clinic. Tell us how your appointment went: was it convenient, did you feel comfortable with the doctor? Share your review via the link — your trust matters to us.
Insurance. Hello, NAME! Please rate your experience with PRODUCT on a scale from 0 to 10: how likely are you to recommend us to friends? If you have a minute, add a short comment — it helps a lot.
Education. Hi NAME! The “PRODUCT” course is now complete, and we’d love to hear your impressions. What was difficult, what did you enjoy most, which assignments stood out? There’s a gift from us!
Travel. Hello, NAME! Thank you for choosing our hotel. We’d love to hear your impressions: what you liked, what stood out — the atmosphere, service, or maybe the small details. Share your review — we want every guest to feel comfortable and at home.
Restaurant. NAME, how was your visit? Mark the “ingredients” that worked: flavor • presentation • speed • attentiveness • atmosphere. We’ll be happy if you share more — tell us what you remembered most using the button below.
IT. NAME, you’ve tried PRODUCT. Did it help you solve X? Which features were unnecessary, and what was missing? Tell us — it helps us choose what to improve in the next release.
Follow-Up Request
Hello, NAME! Recently we asked you to share a review about your purchase. Just a reminder: there’s a gift waiting for you when you respond. We’d really appreciate it if you find a minute to leave a review — it truly matters to us.
Responding to Feedback
How to respond to a positive review
When a customer writes a good review, the company has a chance to reinforce that impression and turn a satisfied buyer into a loyal one. Gratitude is the key element here. It’s important to highlight the exact details the customer mentioned — it creates a sense of genuine dialogue rather than a template reply.
Example:
“Name, thank you for your kind words. We’re happy you enjoyed the fast delivery and product quality. We’ll be glad to see you again.”
How to respond to a neutral review
These often include both positive and critical points. Thank the customer for the comment and reinforce the positive sides they mentioned.
Example:
“Name, thank you for sharing your impressions. We’re glad you liked the product selection. Hope to see you again.”
How to respond to a negative review
You can’t ignore negative feedback. The goal isn’t to argue, but to show you're ready to fix the issue. Acknowledge the problem, apologize, and offer a concrete solution.
Example:
“Name, we apologize for the delivery delay. Please contact us at the number provided — we’ll resolve the issue and offer compensation. Thank you for writing: your feedback helps us improve.”
Checklist: How to Work With Reviews
- Address the customer personally: use their name.
- Choose the right moment — right after the purchase or a week later.
- Explain why the review matters (for service improvements, for other customers).
- Keep the request simple and short.
- Give a direct link or clear instructions.
- Thank customers for any review — positive or negative.
- Offer a bonus when appropriate (a discount, a gift).
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