How Reviews and Great Feedback Will Set Your Small Business Apart
Last Updated on 6 November, 2025
What’s better for your business than a happy client bragging about you? Nothing! Reviews and referrals are priceless endorsements, and you should do your darndest to collect as many as you can.
Does it really make a difference? Studies show that 90% of customers read reviews before they visit/purchase from a business, and 88% of customers trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. You want potential clients to read rave reviews about your business! Period.
Use your clients to help get attention, build a solid reputation, and reinforce your credibility. They’re your best brand ambassadors!
Key takeaways:
- Collecting reviews or endorsements from your clients is the fastest way to build your reputation.
- Ask for feedback or reviews after as client has just had a positive experience.
- Incentivize their review with a promotion or discount for their honest feedback.
- Make it as easy as possible for them to leave a review with integrated digital tools.
When do you ask?
You might think it’s awkward to solicit positive feedback, but you’d be surprised! Most customers are happy to provide a review or refer you to a friend; all you need to do is ask them. When will you see the most success?
- Right after a great experience with you
- After they’ve taken your online class or service
- When they renew their membership
- After a positive social media interaction
- When you’ve solved an issue or rectified a problem for them
Timing is key in more ways than one! Be sure to ask for reviews at different times in the sales cycle, so there’s feedback every step of the way when someone checks you out.
How to make it easy to leave a review
Do your best to make the process as easy as you can for both parties. Nothing’s worse than trying to do someone a favor and having to jump through hoops. When you automate your marketing, you can simply email or text a direct link to specific sites where you want them to review.
Not only does this simplify things for your clients, but whether it’s Google My Business, Capterra, G2 Reviews, Facebook, or another popular review site, sending direct access makes sure it’s listed where prospective clients are looking. Get the reviews when and where you need them by automating your marketing!
Incentivize them for their review
Sometimes clients just need that extra push to get motivated to brag about your business! What’s the best way to get them excited? Use your loyalty rewards program to make it worth their while.
Show you care by incentivizing your clients for reviews and rewarding them for their efforts afterward. Everybody wins! When you incorporate reviews into your program, clients can earn points when they:
- Leave a good review about your business
- Share that review on social media
- Refer a friend to your studio or services
Clients can then redeem their points for free merchandise, virtual classes or on-demand sessions, discounts on memberships, and more. You choose what works best! Pick the perks that’ll get your clients excited to talk about your business.
Make it easy to leave a review
Your clients have a lot going on in the day, and may only have a few minutes to devote to your review. The easier it is for clients to leave one, the more reviews you’ll see.
Use automated marketing to send direct links and make sure they’re being seen by your prospective clients. Incentivize clients to leave reviews by encouraging them and expressing your appreciation. They’ll love that you care! Get the right easy-to-use software to gain exposure, and that’ll put you on track to boost your credibility and reputation.
Have the right software partner
Get more reviews and get great exposure with the right software from WellnessLiving! Without the right tools, you’re fighting a losing battle. We make it easy to track your reviews with our reporting system, and we notify you as soon as a new one appears. We make sure you stay on top of your reviews, so you can show your appreciation with a response. Your fans can share the love with just a few clicks. Here’s how:
- Achieve Client App: Clients can leave a review about your business right from the client app, helping your SEO and your brand, along with your reputation.
- Review widget: Make reviews easy to write and simple to find with our review widget, and up your SEO with each new review!
Expert software is essential to getting the most out of your customer feedback, so get the tools you need to get the job done.
Want to see how easy it is to manage your business and collect reviews all in one place? Book a free, no-commitment demo with WellnessLiving today!
❓ FAQs about reviews and feedback from customers ❓
Respond quickly, calmly, and professionally. Acknowledge the issue, apologize if needed, and offer to resolve it offline. A thoughtful response shows accountability and strengthens client trust.
Monitor review volume, average star rating, response rate, and sentiment trends. Track referral traffic and new leads from review platforms to see how feedback drives growth.
Common mistakes include asking too often, using long surveys, or sounding impersonal. Avoid generic emails; personalized requests right after a positive experience get better results.
Keep it short. Five questions or fewer, and it should take no more than two minutes to complete. Focus on one key goal, like service quality or satisfaction, to encourage higher completion rates.
Use automated requests via email, text, or your booking app right after an appointment. Provide direct links to Google or your all-in-one integrated app and platform for convenience.
