4 Email Strategies To Ask B2B Customers For Online Reviews

Online reviews can help B2B businesses gain an edge over competitors in many ways. Research shows that 91% of people read online reviews and 85% of U.S. adults trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. The good news is that happy customers are happy to leave good reviews. You just need to create and maintain a process to encourage customers to leave reviews.

Good reviews not only help define your image for consumers who use them for their research, they also help your Google ranking. Businesses that get the most high-quality reviews often receive high Google rankings. And, who wouldn’t want that? They are the #1 search engine after all, dominating with 74.54% of all searches done on the web on a daily basis.

In addition to building reviews on sites like Google, Facebook, and Yelp, adding a testimonials section to your website to share reviews from clients is a great way to attract people who are already considering doing business with you after they’ve already landed on your website.

Here are 4 email marketing tips to encourage customers to leave reviews online.

No matter who you are sending the email to, the email should be short and to the point. You want to make it as easy as possible for people to leave you a review.

1. Email Blast Online Review Request

Email blasts are the easiest way to get reviews from a large group of people who would be a great fit to ask for reviews. These could be current or past customers that are likely to recommend your company to a friend. Or, customers that continuously work with your company when a new reinforcing project comes up.

Email Blast Online Review Request Example 1:

Subject Line: How did we do? – [your company’s name]

[first name],

Positive reviews from awesome customers like you help others feel confident about choosing us for their [specific industry product/service] needs. Could you take 60 seconds and go to [link to review platform] to share your experience with [your company]? We really appreciate it.

Thank you in advance for helping us out!

Best, [your company’s name] team/ [name]

Email Blast Online Review Request Example 2:

Subject Line: How was your experience with [your company’s name]?

[first name],

All of us at [your company’s name] want to extend a huge thank you for purchasing [products/services]. We are reaching out to see if you would take a moment to post an online review. Your feedback not only helps us improve our internal processes, but also provides insight to prospective clients on what to expect from our [products/services].

Here is a link to [platform name]: [platform link] for your convenience.

Thank you in advance,

[your company’s name] team/ [name]

2. Personal Email Online Review Request

Although email blasts make it easy to send out a lot of emails at once, people will be more likely to write a review (or do anything) if they receive a personal email.

Choose past and present customers who have done a great deal of business with you and have given your praise orally. Or, customers whom you are hoping to cultivate long lasting partnerships.

Personal Online Review Request Example 1:

Subject Line: [first name], could you leave us a review?

[first name],

It was a pleasure working with you on [project name]. Thank you for your business! Positive reviews from awesome customers like you help others feel confident about choosing us for their [type of need] needs. Could you take 60 seconds and go to [link to review platform] to share your experience with [your company’s name]? We really appreciate it. Thank you in advance for helping us out.

Best,
[name]

Personal Online Review Request Example 2:

Subject Line: Hey [name], a quick favor.

[first name],

I want to extend a huge thank you for your latest purchase [specific service/product purchased]. I am reaching out to see if you would take a moment to post an online review. Here is a direct link to our [review platform of your choice]: [link]. Your feedback not only help us improve our solutions but provides insight to prospective clients on what to expect from partnering with us.

Thank you in advance,
[name]

3. Personal Email On-site Testimonial Approval Request

Some customers may have given you praise orally, and you remembered what they said but you need their permission to post it on your website as a testimonial. Here are templates of how you ask for approval or ask them to write one.

Personal Email Testimonial Request Example 1:

Subject Line: [name], quick question!

[first name],

It was a pleasure working with you on [project name]. Thank you for your business and for the glowing praise. Positive reviews from awesome customers like you help others feel confident about choosing us for their [specific needs] needs. Would you mind if we featured your quote on our website? We’ve paraphrased it from your oral testimonial, what do you think?

“testimonial”

Thank you in advance for helping us out.

Best,
[name of person who received oral praise]

Personal Email Testimonial Request Example 2:

Subject Line: Hey [name], a quick favor.

[first name],

I want to extend a huge thank you for [specific purchase/partnership with that client]. If there is anything else you need, please do not hesitate to reach out. It was truly a pleasure working with you. Working with clients like you make my job a great joy.

If you have a few minutes, would you mind writing a sentence or two about your experience with [your company’s name] for us to feature on our testimonials page? [link to testimonials page].

I loved hearing all of your positive feedback about [what you were praised for] when we talked. Your story will help inform our potential clients why working with us is so valuable.

Below, you will find a few questions that can help you get started, but please feel free to write whatever you would like:

• What prompted you to work with [your company’s name]?
• How have you benefited from working with us?
• If a potential client was on the fence about working with [your company’s name], what would you say to them?

Thank you in advance,
[name of customer service representative or project manager]

4. Email Signature

In addition to sending out emails requesting for reviews, all employee’s signatures should include text asking for reviews within their email signature.

Email Signature Text Example 1: Don’t forget to rate/review us: [link] [link] [link]

Email Signature Text Example 2: Review us on: [link] [link] [link]

Considering that 7 out of 10 U.S. consumers have spent more money to do business with a company that delivers exceptional customer service, it pays to highlight the hard work you’ve put into building relationships with your clients. Your most valuable asset is your customer. Taking these steps in showcasing their stories will give your potential clients the feeling that they already trust you before they’ve even established a connection. When a company is making a decision on who they want to do business with, they want to know that they’re going to be dealing with people who are honest and reputable in the industry.

Asking for reviews and posting them onto a testimonials page on your website is also a great way to take control of the conversation that is happening around your business. Although you may be receiving positive feedback from your customers directly, they’re not always going to feel so inclined to post a review online unprompted. Tell your customers that you value their business and let them know that they are responsible for your growth. Not only will they feel appreciated, but they’ll be happy to spread the word.

Received a bad review and not sure how to handle it?

Take a look at our guide specifically for B2B companies.

Need guidelines on how to ask for reviews in person and on the phone?

Read my blog post “How To Ask B2B Customers For Reviews In Person And On The Phone“

For additional resources, take a look at all of our guides and toolkits.