How To Ask B2B Customers For Reviews In Person And On The Phone

Your brand is defined by those who have experienced and written about it. 

Incorporating reviews into your marketing strategy can not only boost your online trust rating but it can also improve your search engine optimization. While proximity plays an influential role in how your business appears in a local search result, online reviews are responsible for over 6.47% of how search engines such as Google and Bing rank site pages.

You already possess the most powerful tool: your loyal clients. So, ask those clients for reviews! 

Since asking your customers to write a review can be intimidating and can even make you feel burdensome, I’ve crafted a list of scenarios you can use as a guide to help ease the apprehension.

1. Asking For a Review in Response to Praise

If a customer approaches you with unsolicited praise, take this opportunity to express your appreciation and then ask to post a review online.

In-person request example 1:

“I am so happy that you are satisfied with [what you are praised for]. Thank you so much for taking the time to provide your feedback. You know, our future clients would probably love to hear what you have to say. If you don’t mind writing what you just said in a quick review on [platform of your choice], I would greatly appreciate it!”

In-person request example 2:

“That is so great to hear! We try our best every day to provide the best [products and/or services] to our customers. Many people on Facebook and Google would love to hear about your experience. It would mean a lot to me if you took a moment to write what you just said in a review online. Or, you can send me an email with your testimonial and I can feature it on our site. Here is my card.”

2. Creating Review Opportunities with Conversation

Whenever you are striking up a conversation with your customers, create opportunities to ask for online reviews. Ask them about their experience and what they thought about your products and/or services. By doing this, you are not just asking for something, you are also telling your client that their experience matters.

Here are examples of how to start those types of conversations:

In-conversation request example 1:

“How was your experience working with [your company name] on this project?”

In-conversation request example 2:

“Did everything go to your satisfaction?”

Through the implementation of these methods, asking for a review can be done both naturally and effectively.

3. Building Reviews from Key Distributing Partners

Your vendors and distributing partners are also great candidates for online reviews. When you find yourself in a meeting with them, don’t be afraid to ask for a review. You can also incentivize your request by offering to return the favor on the platform of their choice.

Vendor review request example 1:

“[Name], our partnership has been a huge asset and I highly value your insight. Would you be willing to share your experience with [your company name] by contributing a short review on [platform of your choice]? In return, I will write a review for your company as well.”

Vendor review request example 2:

“Partners like you help us continue to attract more great customers and partners like yourself. If you wouldn’t mind reviewing us on [platform of your choice], I would really appreciate it. And, in return, I will write you a review as well. As a [business owner/partner at your company name] I truly understand the value of a good review.”

For email strategies on how to ask B2B customers for reviews, take a look at my other blog post. 

Taking the time to engage in this extra step with your clients and key distributing partners encourages potential buyers to consider you as a prospect with little work on your end. What’s more, your customers will gain a sense of affinity for your product/services and company in the meantime.

Consequently, consider the value of the impact a set of good reviews can have on your page ranking. Search engines use a number of sophisticated algorithms to determine who lands at the top of the page. Understanding and applying methods in your online review building strategy can directly affect how you appear in search results.

Worried about how to handle feedback that’s been less than favorable? It’s not all bad news considering that 72% of buyers say that negative reviews actually provide inside and depth on the product. However, achieving the perfect counterbalance to ensure customers aren’t deterred requires a keen sense of strategy. For tips on how to effectively respond to negative reviews, check out my guide.