7 Tips to Get Customer Reviews with Email Outreach

Online reviews are one of the most powerful tools for small and medium-sized businesses. They can boost your credibility, improve your visibility online, and directly influence customer decisions. But how do you actually ask for reviews without sounding pushy?

Email is often the most effective way. It’s simple, accessible, and according to recent research, still the preferred communication channel for most consumers when interacting with local businesses.

Here’s how you can maximize your chances of getting great reviews through email outreach.

1. Choose the Right Channel for Outreach

As a small business owner, you have several options for direct client outreach, including in-person, text or SMS, your website, or email. While each has its place, email remains the tried-and-true method to ask for a review. It’s scalable, can be personalized, and allows you to reach customers when they’re most receptive.

To get the best results, reach out only to customers who have given permission and time your request soon after a positive interaction. If you want to save time, platforms like Yellow Pages’ Visibility, Reputation and Social Media Management solution let you create reusable review generation templates that make the process quick, easy, and consistent.

2. Start with Recent Positive Experiences

Don’t just ask anyone. Target customers who recently had a positive experience since those are the people most likely to leave thoughtful and positive reviews. To do this effectively, make sure you’re collecting up-to-date email addresses at every transaction or touchpoint, whether online or in person.

3. Strike While the Memory’s Fresh

When it comes to review requests, timing is everything. The closer you send your email to the customer’s transaction or experience, the better your chances of getting a response. A prompt request ensures their experience is still fresh in their mind.

4. A “Thank You” First, a Review Second

Keep your message short, polite, and easy to read, but make it personal. Start by acknowledging the customer’s recent interaction and expressing genuine gratitude. Then, keep the tone friendly and specific by mentioning the product or service they used. This helps your review request feel authentic, relevant, and more likely to receive a response.  

5. Explain the Importance of Reviews

Don’t just ask, explain why. Let your customers know that their feedback doesn’t just help your business, it also helps other consumers make informed decisions. When customers understand the value, they’re more likely to take action.

⭐Pro Tip: Never offer rewards or incentives for reviews. Platforms like Google strictly prohibit this, and doing so can damage your credibility and risk penalties.

6. Make It Effortless

The fewer steps, the better. Always include a clear, direct link to the review platform and page listing where you want to gather some reviews. If customers need to hunt around for it, they’ll likely give up before posting.

7. Stay Compliant

Before sending review request emails, confirm that you have customer permission and are following all relevant privacy and marketing laws such as Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). Compliance protects both your business and your customers.

Templates for Great Review Request Emails

Here are three ready-to-use templates that show how you can keep it simple, polite, and effective when requesting reviews from your happy customers:

Example 1: Simple & Friendly

Subject: We’d love your feedback

Hi [First Name],

Thank you for choosing [Your Business Name]! We hope you enjoyed your experience with us.Your opinion means a lot, and we’d love it if you could take a minute to share your feedback.

 [Link to leave a Review]

This will help us improve and also help others discover [Your Business Name].

Thanks again for your support!— The [Your Business Name] Team

Example 2: Personalized & Grateful

Subject: How was your recent visit to [Your Business Name]?

Hello [First Name],

We’re so glad you trusted us with your [specific service/product]. It was a pleasure serving you!If you have a moment, we’d be grateful if you could share your thoughts in a quick review.

[Link to leave Your Review]

Your feedback helps us continue doing our best!

Thank you, [Your Name] [Your Role]

Example 3: Ultra-Short & Direct

Subject: Quick favour?

Hi [First Name],

Could you spare 60 seconds to review your recent experience with us?

It would make a big impact to our small business.

[Link to leave a Review]

Thank you![Your Business Name]

Final Thoughts: Turn Positive Experiences into Powerful Reviews

Getting customer reviews doesn’t have to be complicated. By choosing email as your channel, focusing on happy customers, sending requests at the right time, and keeping your message short and sincere, you’ll increase your chances of receiving authentic and valuable feedback while positively impacting your online visibility.

Tools like Yellow Pages’ Visibility, Reputation and Social Media Management solution make the process even easier by allowing you to build your own templates to save time while managing your reputation.

Start simple, stay genuine, and you’ll see your online reputation grow.

Let us help you build a 5-star reputation. Learn more about us  or speak with a YP expert at 1-877-553-6883.

About the Author: Pascale

As Senior Marketing Product Manager at Yellow Pages, Pascale leverages her expertise in digital trends to support local businesses. She specializes in marketing solutions designed to ensure the long-term success of small and medium-sized businesses in Canada by improving their visibility, attracting new customers, and maximizing their return on investment. When she’s not developing digital marketing strategies, Pascale is busy managing the chaos of family life with two teenagers and a dog in Montreal.