What to say when you ask a customer for a review
10 September 2026 · 4 min read
The sign does not collect reviews on its own — the sentence next to it does. These are the lines that work, and the ones that quietly lose people.
Three lines that work
Short, specific, and with the effort stated up front:
- "If you had a good time today, tap your phone here — it takes five seconds."
- "Reviews are how people find us. There is a tap-to-review sign right there if you have a moment."
- "Glad you liked it. If you can mention the [specific thing], that really helps us."
Lines that lose people
"Could you leave us a five-star review?" asks for a verdict, not an opinion, and makes honest customers uncomfortable. "Please review us on Google" without saying how gives them homework. "We are trying to hit 100 reviews" makes it about you.
Train it as a habit, not a script
Attach the ask to something staff already do — handing back a card, returning keys, clearing plates. A habit tied to an existing action survives a busy shift; a script does not.
Ask once, take no for an answer, and never follow up in the moment. The goodwill is worth more than one review.
Questions, answered
- Should staff be rewarded for reviews collected?
- Reward the asking, not the review. Bonuses per review push staff to pressure customers, and Google prohibits incentivising reviewers.
- What if a customer says they will do it later?
- Accept it and move on. Most will not, which is exactly why the in-person tap exists.
