As small business owners and entrepreneurs, we all want more customer reviews, right? But how do we get them?

Let’s break it down into easy, actionable steps.

Why reviews matter

Reviews are like gold for your business.

They help new customers feel safe trying you out. It's that "safety in numbers" thing.

More reviews mean more trust. But we can’t simply hope for more reviews.

Hope isn’t enough to get customers to leave reviews. And, while sending mass messages asking for reviews is okay, it doesn’t take much effort to do better.

The power of a personal ask

Here's a story for you. I went white-water rafting recently. At the end of the trip, our guide did something smart. She asked us for a review.

But here's the key. She didn’t simply ask. She made it personal.

She explained why reviews matter to their small business. She told us how each review helps them compete with bigger companies.

Guess what? I left a review that night. Why? Because, we had a great time, she asked and explained why it mattered.

How to use this in your business

1. Find your “review moment.” When are your customers happiest with your service? These are the times you might already be receiving thank you notes or other signs of appreciation.

2. Make a personal ask. Face to face is best if possible. But personal messages work too.

3. Explain why. When you ask for the review, tell your customer how their review helps your business. Feel free to add in some humor if it fits your personality and style.

Make it easy to leave a review

Want to take it one step further? Make leaving a review super easy.

For example, at a moonshine tasting on the same trip, our guide gave us a postcard at the end of the tasting.

It had his name written on the card and a QR code to leave a review.

Smart, right? All we had to do was scan and type.

Bonus tip: The guide told us he'd get a small bonus if we left a review. After giving us a great tasting experience, we wanted to help him out.

Key takeaways

Remember:

• Ask for reviews at the right time

• Make it personal

• Explain why it matters

• Make it easy to leave a review

Try these tips. You might be surprised how many happy customers are willing to help when you ask.