How to Ask Clients for Reviews Without Feeling Awkward

Your client just thanked you for a job well done. You’re happy, they’re happy—it’s the perfect time to ask for a review! But still, it feels so uncomfortable.

Why is that? You know you’ve done great work, and most clients are more than happy to leave you a review. Yet, asking still feels awkward. Is it imposter syndrome? Shyness? Whatever it is, you need to push past it.

Reviews are a form of social proof. They help you build trust. In fact, over 80% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, making them a powerful tool for attracting more business.

Not sure how to approach your customers for testimonials? This blog post is for you! Read on to learn the best ways to ask clients for reviews and get ready-to-use templates to make asking easy and natural.

People buy from businesses they trust. And how do they know they can trust them? By seeing what other customers have to say.

Think about it: you move to a new city and need to find a new hairstylist. First thing you do? Type into Google: hair salon near me. Then, you scroll through the list of salons nearby, click on the star ratings to read people’s experiences, and book with the one that has the best reviews.

That’s how ordinary people discover new businesses—physical and digital. So, as a business owner, you should ask for reviews because:

People trust online reviews

Customers rely heavily on reviews before making decisions. Positive reviews provide social proof and reassurance, giving new clients a clear picture of what to expect.

When it comes to ratings, 3.4 stars out of 5 is the line in the sand for most customers. Anything lower, and they’re likely to move on. It doesn’t matter how great your service is. If your rating falls below that mark, potential customers might not even give you a second glance.

If your score isn’t where you want it to be or you have zero reviews, now’s the time to act!

Improve customer experience

Customer feedback is also a learning opportunity, especially if that feedback is negative. Even though a negative comment can be hard to hear, it often reveals your business’s blind spots.

Maybe you’ve made a mistake, or expectations weren’t met. Your customers might be reluctant to say it to your face and instead voice their opinions in a review.

Your job is to take it the right way—apologize, make improvements, and move on.

Boost local search rankings

Another practical reason to ask for reviews? Google. If you're a local business aiming for that top spot—or even just the first page—on the mighty search engine, positive reviews can make all the difference.

Like I said in the introduction to this section, when people need to find a new medical center or hairdresser, what do they do? They head straight to Google. The first thing they check? Your rating and reviews.

Reviews are often the deciding factor. They’re the social proof that says, “Yes, this business is worth your time,” and can tip the scales in your favor.

So, the more reviews you have, the better your chances of ranking higher on Google and Google Maps. And that means more people walking through the door!

Alright, now that I’ve “convinced” you that reviews are business gold (as if you didn’t know), let’s get into the smoothest ways to ask for them.

Ask at the right time

Timing matters. Asking too early—before you’ve completed your service—just doesn’t make sense. The ideal moment is right after a successful interaction when your client is feeling satisfied and enthusiastic.

For example, if you’ve just wrapped up a service and your client is expressing gratitude or excitement, that’s the perfect time to politely request a review. When clients are on an emotional high from a positive experience, they’re more inclined to share their thoughts.

Don’t wait too long

Don’t spend too much time thinking about how to ask clients for reviews. If you wait too long to ask for feedback, chances are your customer will forget the details. The sweet spot? Usually within 24-48 hours. That way, everything’s still fresh in their minds, and you're more likely to get genuine, helpful feedback.

And here’s some good news: more people than ever are willing to leave reviews when asked. The percentage of consumers who always leave a review jumped from 12% in 2023 to 19% in 2024. So don’t miss your chance—ask while their experience is still top of mind!

Make it easy

Want to ask for a Google review or a quick testimonial? Make it easy for your clients. They shouldn’t have to search for your review page—send them a direct link to your Google profile or survey form so they can get there with one click.

Convenience is key. Even a small hassle can turn people off. Respect their time, and don’t make them jump through hoops. The easier you make it, the more likely they are to leave that glowing review you’re after.

Personalize your request

Send a generic review request, and you’ll get a generic response—or worse, no response at all.

While feedback requests should be short and sweet, don’t skip the bare-minimum personalization.

At the very least, use the client’s name. Also, mention specific details about their experience. For instance:

Hi [client’s name],
I’m thrilled we could complete your [service/project, e.g., kitchen remodel/gardening project] ahead of schedule. If you’re happy with the result, I’d really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on Google.
Here’s the link: [insert the link to your Google profile]
Thank you!
[your name]

This level of personalization makes your request feel genuine and thoughtful, not robotic or mass-produced.

So, how do you actually ask for reviews? We'll cover the most common scenarios below and give you templates to speed up the process.

If you operate a brick-and-mortar business like a hair salon, tattoo shop, or medical practice, asking for reviews face-to-face can be very effective. 

One approach is to give customers a small card after their appointment, asking them to leave a few comments.

Another simple option is to display a QR code at your reception desk that links directly to your Google profile. This way, customers can quickly scan the code and leave a review right on your Google page.

If you don’t have these options available, you can simply ask your clients if you can send them a quick email or text with a link to leave a review. This makes it convenient for them to follow through when they have a moment.

At YouCanBookMe, we rave about SMS reminders—they work wonders for reminding clients about upcoming meetings. But they can also be a great tool for asking your customers to leave a review.

Send one right after the session or appointment. Keep it short and sweet, and don’t forget to include a link for leaving the review. 

P.S. Tools like YouCanBookMe can automate this process for you, instantly sending a text with a review request after every appointment!

Here are some templates 👇

SMS template 1: 

Hi [client’s name], thanks for visiting us!
We’d love to hear how we did.
Could you take a moment to share your experience? Here’s the link: [insert the link to your Google profile]

SMS template 2:

Hey [client’s name],
Thanks so much for visiting us! We’d love to hear how everything went. Could you share your experience? 
It only takes a minute: [insert the link to the feedback form]

SMS template 3:

Hi [client’s name], your feedback helps us improve! 
If you have a sec, we’d appreciate it if you could leave us a quick review here: [insert the link to your Google profile]
Thanks a lot!

SMS template 4:

Hi [client’s name],
If you enjoyed your experience, would you mind sharing a quick review? Here’s the link: [insert the review link] 
It means a lot to us!

SMS template 5:

Hi [client’s name]!
We hope you had a great visit. We’d love to hear your thoughts—a quick review would be awesome: [insert the review link]
Cheers!

Worried about how to ask clients for reviews via email? Well, you shouldn’t be. 

Asking for a review via email is one of the most common ways to get feedback. Below, we’ve included some useful templates. Copy, paste, and tweak them as you see fit!

Email template 1:

Hi [client’s name],
I’m so happy we could finish your [service/project, e.g., home repair/gardening project]! If you’re pleased with how it turned out, I’d really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on Google.
Here’s the link: [insert the link to your Google profile]
Thank you!
[your name]
 

Email template 2:

Hey [client’s name],
I’m so glad we could complete your [service, e.g., haircut/spa treatment] for you! If you’re happy with the result, would you mind leaving us a quick review on Google?
Here’s the link: [insert the link to your Google profile]
Thanks a bunch!
[your name]

Email template 3:

Hi [client’s name],
I’m so glad we wrapped up your [coaching session/course/module] successfully! If you found it helpful, I’d really appreciate it if you could leave a quick review on Google.
Here’s the link: [insert the link to your Google profile]
Your feedback means a lot!
[your name]
 

Email template 4:

Hi [client’s name],
I loved helping you with your [consultation/service, e.g., business strategy session]. If you’re happy with the insights you gained, I’d be grateful if you could leave a review.
Here’s the link: [insert your customer survey form]. It won’t take more than 2 minutes of your time!
Thanks a ton!
[your name]

These how to ask clients for reviews examples keep things genuine, friendly, and effortless—which makes clients more likely to leave a positive review.

Automatically send follow-ups after every appointment

Instantly send follow-up emails and SMS messages after every visit, complete with a link to your Google reviews page. How? With YouCanBookMe's scheduling tool!

Social media is a great place to ask for reviews. You can create posts on your Instagram or Facebook asking clients to share their experiences with you or your business.

If you’re active on LinkedIn and many of your clients use the platform too, you can ask for reviews directly there.

Simply head to your LinkedIn profile, scroll down to the “Recommendations” section, click the + sign, and select “Ask for recommendation.”

This is your business—and it doesn’t have to be boring! There are plenty of fun and creative ways to encourage your clients to leave reviews.

Check out some of these ideas below:

Just ask

The simplest and fastest way to ask for client reviews is to send a personalized SMS or email immediately after their appointment. Their experience is still fresh, making them more likely to leave a review.

A brief, friendly message can do the trick: “Hi [client’s name], thanks for choosing us today! We’d love to hear your thoughts! Could you leave us a quick review? Here’s the link: [review link].”

Feel like it’s a hassle to ask for feedback after each client? Automate the process with YouCanBookMe—an online scheduling tool designed to simplify meeting scheduling for you and your clients.

One of our tool’s best features? Automated follow-ups! After the appointment ends, set up an automatic follow-up email or SMS notification to ask your clients to leave a review. Why send them manually when our tool can do it for you?

Automate meeting scheduling and more

With YouCanBookMe, reminders, cancellations, and feedback requests can all run on autopilot.

Offer incentives

Sometimes, a little extra goes a long way. Throw in a discount on their next visit, a freebie, or a chance to win something fun. It doesn’t have to be big—just something small that makes them feel special. When customers know there’s a perk waiting, they’re way more likely to hit that “leave a review” button.

Run contests

Why not make it a game? Run a raffle or giveaway for anyone who leaves a review. Promote it everywhere to get more eyes on it.

Customers get a thrill from the chance to win, and you get a flood of fresh reviews with boosted engagement. A win-win!

Feature reviews on social media

Show your customers some love by sharing their reviews on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or wherever you connect with your audience. If they’re comfortable with it, tag them too.

According to Yotpo data, sharing positive reviews on social media increases your conversion rates by:

• 5.3x on LinkedIn
• 8.4x on X (Twitter)
• 40x on Facebook

When sharing reviews, get creative by:

• Designing eye-catching graphics featuring quotes from their feedback.
• Making short thank-you videos to personally acknowledge their support.
• Using Stories or Reels to share reviews in a fun, dynamic way.

Look at us showcasing one of our client’s reviews on LinkedIn:

Ready to start scoring five-star reviews?

You should always seek customers’ opinions about your business. This helps you build social proof and offers practical benefits, like helping your business rank higher on search engines such as Google and Bing.

More importantly, it helps you understand your customers’ experience with your product or service. Does it meet their expectations? Is there something you can improve? Listening to feedback helps you enhance your offering and stay competitive in the market.

That said, reviews don’t write themselves and no one wants to jump through hoops to sing your praises. Make it easy for your clients to leave reviews, especially after online meetings or sessions.

That’s where YouCanBookMe can help—by scheduling those meetings and sending SMS or email follow-ups afterward to request a review.

Sign up for free!