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Tried every trick to get customer reviews but this one weird idea might work
r/Entrepreneur
8/15/2025
Content Summary
The post discusses the challenges of getting customers to leave reviews for a small local business. The author shares their frustration with traditional methods like asking directly or using staff competitions, which can feel pushy. Several commenters suggest alternative strategies such as making it easy for customers to leave reviews (e.g., QR codes), offering small incentives, gamifying the process for staff, and focusing on genuine, light interactions rather than aggressive requests. Some also mention the importance of responding to all reviews to build trust and transparency.
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream opinions suggest that making the review process easy and rewarding for customers is more effective than pressuring them or using staff competitions. Many agree that gamification can work if done in a low-pressure, friendly way. However, there's some debate about whether incentives like discounts or free items could lead to biased reviews. Others argue that genuine, personal interactions are more valuable than any incentive. There's also a discussion about the importance of responding to all reviews, regardless of their tone, to build trust and credibility.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReviewDuel | https://www.reviewduel.com | Review Management | Gamification for customer reviews, used to encourage staff and customers to leave feedback |
| GatherUp | https://www.gatherup.com | Review Management | Simplifies the process of collecting and managing customer reviews |
| Grade Us | https://www.gradeus.com | Review Management | Enables businesses to collect and display customer reviews easily |
| Trustpilot | https://www.trustpilot.com | Review Platform | Allows customers to leave detailed reviews, but requires account creation |
| Google Reviews | https://www.google.com/maps | Review Platform | Widely used for local business reviews, easy to access via QR code |
| Facebook Reviews | https://www.facebook.com | Social Media | Integrated with business pages for customer feedback |
| Yelp | https://www.yelp.com | Review Platform | Popular for local business reviews, accessible via QR codes or direct links |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Customers are reluctant to leave reviews due to time constraints or lack of motivation
- Businesses struggle to get genuine feedback and improve their services
- Staff may feel pressured or pushy when asking for reviews
- Customers often forget to leave reviews after a positive experience
Problems to Solve:
- How to make it easy and appealing for customers to leave reviews
- How to motivate staff to engage in review collection without being overbearing
- How to create a win-win situation that benefits both the business and the customer
Potential Solutions:
- Use QR codes on receipts or tables to direct customers to review platforms instantly
- Offer small incentives like discounts or free items in exchange for reviews
- Gamify the review process for staff to make it fun and engaging
- Make the review request part of a friendly interaction, not a forced ask
- Respond to all reviews to show that feedback is valued and taken seriously
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Gamifying the review process for staff to increase engagement and motivation
- Making it effortless for customers to leave reviews through QR codes or direct links
- Offering small incentives to encourage participation without feeling pushy
- Focusing on building genuine connections with customers rather than just chasing stars
- Responding to all reviews to build trust and transparency
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Using social proof and customer testimonials to attract new customers
- Leveraging local community interactions to generate organic reviews
- Creating a sense of urgency or exclusivity around review incentives
Monetization & Product:
- Offering tiered pricing models based on the number of reviews collected or managed
- Developing features that allow businesses to track and analyze customer feedback effectively
- Ensuring product-market fit by focusing on the needs of small businesses and local entrepreneurs
User Engagement:
- Building a sense of community by involving staff in the review process
- Encouraging customers to feel appreciated and heard through personalized interactions
- Using gamification techniques to make the review process more enjoyable and interactive