How to Get More Facebook Reviews (without even asking) - Socially Sorted

• Updated on: 2017-05-22
• Read original article here

Do you want more Facebook Reviews? If so (and I hope so) then listen up. 

In this post, I’ll share how to get more Facebook Reviews without asking for them (especially if you are a location based business)

I’ll also share a bunch of ways you can ask for reviews – the right way – so your loyal fans and customers will be happy to give an positive review for you. 

So, let me get straight to the point.  If you have a location-based business, this post will help you immensely with getting more Facebook Reviews, especially the first tip.

But even if you are not location-based (and don’t have a physical location) there are plenty of tips for how to get Facebook reviews… positive reviews, that is.

So be sure to read on below to grab all the tips. But here’s the big tip.  Are you ready?

It’s insanely simple and you’ll be kicking yourself for not doing it earlier.

Have you ever heard of check-ins on Facebook? if not, you do now!

I recently checked into a Hotel in the tiny town of Wayne, in rural Alberta.

Without turning this into a travel blog, I can safely say that the “Last Chance Saloon” might well have been one of my favourite travel experiences. Our Family loved it!

After a day in the Badlands of Alberta, exploring the amazing landscape, hoodoos and world-class dinosaur museum and fossils, we decided to take a drive to this little “saloon” after it was recommended to us.

When we walked into the pub, we were greeted by every person in the pub, the place was so much fun. From the friendly locals and

From the friendly locals and staff,  to the cook-your-own-steak meal, the outdoor bar with riding saddles for stools and a main-bar filled with wild-west style memorabilia…we had a great night of laughs, shuffleboard, great food and pool

So… I checked in on Facebook.  Here it is:

The very next day, Facebook sends me this…

Facebook asked me to review the business based on my check-in (the business owner didn’t need to do a thing!).

So what did I do?  You bet I reviewed them… very positively!

Now, I’m a social media strategist so I like to check into places I love – especially in the tourism industry.

I knew that Facebook would ask me to review Last Chance Saloon, as I have received this request before (and I comply every time!)

I even chatted with the Manager, Paula, about how to focus on asking people to check in… oh did I mention they have WiFi there too?  You can’t get phone reception but they are smart enough to know they want people to post about their visit.

She didn’t know about the check in =>> review hack.  Now she does, and so do you.

But here’s the best bit. You don’t have to ASK your customers to review you.

You just have to ask them to check in.  Do you think that someone who bothers to check in already loves you?

I was a speaker at a Tourism conference a few years ago and Sophie Bone, the owner of a successful Australian caravan and camping resort said this:

“Nobody checks into a place they’re not proud of – Sophie Bone”

Never a truer word was spoken. We check in because we love something or want our friends to see it.  You have to be happy to be there to do that, right?

And, It’s MUCH easier to ask someone to check in than it is to ask for them for a review. Facebook (often) will do the rest.

I can’t say for sure, but yes, it seems so.

I have seen it work at least a half dozen times when I check in. But it’s Facebook, so it might change as they change functionality all the time.

Here’s what I recommend you do;   Test It!  The next time you are at a business, attraction, accommodation or restaurant in your local area, see what happens when you give Facebook Reviews.

Then, watch for Facebook’s invitation to review the business in the next 1-2 days.  Then you’ll know whether it’s worth doing for your own business.

To recap, here are the steps to follow:

Step 1:  Encourage your visitors or customers to check in.

Step 2:  Facebook will send them a reminder to write a review (usually a day later)

Step 3:  Your customer (hopefully) review your business.  After all, they just checked in, so there is positive affinity.

It’s as easy as that!

Most people will check in because they love you but many will forget. Remind them that you would love them to check in.

It may help to offer some incentive such as:

But in reality, people check in because they want their friends to know about it. That should be incentive enough but a verbal reminder or sign will help to ensure they do it when on location at your business.  It’s better if you remind them, so a sign or verbal reminder doesn’t hurt).

Let me know if it works for you!

Now, if it doesn’t work for you, don’t worry, because:

1  It’s still worth encouraging check-ins as above, because when someone checks in, their friends are shown the activity on their newsfeeds. Free marketing, right?

2  There are still some easy ways for you to encourage Facebook Reviews:

If the “check-in hack” doesn’t work then there’s still a few ways you can ask for Facebook Reviews:

Oh, and the review I gave?  Here it is, just in case you ever wander off to the Badlands of Alberta.

Be sure to check out the dinosaurs and the Hoodoos too.

Have you noticed that you get asked by Facebook to give a review after checking in to a location?

Will you try it in your business? What works for you when it comes to reviews on Facebook?  Let me know in the comments below.