Review Email Templates & Tips | iST Digital

Review Request Emails: Tips and Templates to Encourage Customer Reviews

The importance of customer reviews can't be understated. In the social media age, reviews and testimonials are the social proof that can win you traffic and sales over competitors and grow your local business.

With 92% of customers saying that online reviews impact their purchasing decisions, customer reviews are a vital part of digital marketing that can't be ignored, but many businesses struggle with how to requestreviews and feedback.

If you want more five-star reviews to help your business stand out, read this quick guide from iST Digital for the dos and don'ts of sending review request emails and proven review email templates to adapt for your own digital marketing strategy.

Why reviews are essential for your business

Whatever industry you're in, online reviews serve many important roles. Good reviews:

• Drive traffic to your website or store
• Increase sales and enquires through confidence & authority
• Build or repair your brand's reputation
• Strengthen customer relationships
• Great for local listing in Google My Business (GMB)
• Improve SEO

What's more, reviews are free marketing. According to Bright Local, 76% of consumers are happy to leave an honest review if asked nicely– you just have to go about it the right way.

How to get more reviews by email

Most customers won't leave a review unless asked to do so, and sending a review email request is the most direct and effective way to get more reviews – as long as you put yourself in your customer's shoes and make the process as easy as possible.

If you're worried about your review requests coming across as pushy or spammy, think about emails you've received from brands and follow these guidelines to write sincere and enticing emails that will convert.

1. Focus on loyal customers

Returning customers are more likely to leave reviews when asked and less likely to give negative feedback.Email marketing tools can segment your email list to identify your most loyal customers so they can be prioritised for review requests.

2. Embed surveys

The more steps your customers have to take to leave a review, the less likely they are to do so. You're asking for a favour, so you need to make the process as quick and straightforward as possible.Embedded surveys and review forms allow customers to send their feedback without leaving the original email.

3. Send post-purchase emails

The best time to request a review is shortly after purchase, as your brand will still be fresh in the customer's mind and they may feel more obligated to provide feedback in return.Depending on the nature of the transaction, this may be an instant post-purchase email, checkout comments on your ecommerce website, or a review request email once a product has been delivered.

4. Make the subject line enticing

Subject lines are the most important detail to get right in email marketing. You need to get your customer's attention and encourage them to open the email right away, or it'll go straight to the trash or be marked as spam. Like the body of the email, the subject line should be:

• Short and direct
• Personalised with the customer's name
• Explain that there's a survey inside
• Create a sense of urgency or opportunity

5. Keep it short

The shorter the email, the higher the conversion rate. Your customers are short on time and many will be viewing your email on their phones, so text should be kept to a minimum with plenty of white space.If you want a written review, reassure customers that this will only take a couple of minutes of their time. If you only need a quick rating, this can be achieved instantly with a star rating or emoji feedback.

6. Make it personal

Give your emails a personal touch by including the recipient's name in the subject line and body and mentioning their recent purchases.Including your own name and signature or a personal message expressing your gratitude makes for a stronger connection.

7. Include prompts and examples

Giving your customers a blank box to fill with their comments is putting them on the spot and can lead to them not knowing what to say. You can give them a helping hand and get the type of feedback you want by giving some prompts about the type of details they could mention, or examples of other customer reviews. If you want feedback on specific aspects, these should be clearly delineated.

8. Offer rewards

Many customers are happy to leave reviews when asked politely, but if you really want an uptick in review collection, consider offering an incentive such as loyalty points, discount codes or other perks. This can encourage customers to complete longer reviews and will also encourage loyal customers to return to your site and make more transactions.

9. Use a Clear Call-to-Action

Whether you need your customers to submit their email review or to follow a link to a review page, the email copy should drive them towards this link, which needs to be clear and enticing. An effective call-to-action (CTA) is short, large and bold and starts with an action verb. CTA buttons generally convert better than links.

Review email templates and examples

Following the above steps should make it easy to send effective emails that bring in reviews. If you want to see these tips in practice, here are some examples to help you get started.

Post-purchase email template

Email subject line:Hi [First Name],What DidYou Think of [Product]?

Hi [First Name],

Thank you for your recent purchase of [Product] from [Brand]. We hope you were satisfied with our service.

If you can spare a minute, we'd be grateful if you could rate and review your purchase to help other customers like yourself with their purchasing decisions.

[Embedded review or link to Write a Review]

Thanks again!

[Email signature]

Service feedback email template

Email subject line:Hi [First Name], How Was Your Experience with [Brand]?

Hi [First Name],

Thank you for choosing [Brand] for [Service]. We're committed to providing the best service possible, so we'd love to get your feedback about how it went.

[Embedded review or link to Leave Your Comments]

[Email signature]

Review rewards email template

Email subject line: Leave a Review and Get 10% Off Your Next Purchase at [Store]!

Hi [First Name],

We hope you're happy with your purchase of [Product] from [Brand]. We rely on honest customer feedback to make sure we're offering the best experience, so we'd be grateful if you could complete a short review telling us how it went.

To show our gratitude, you'll receive a coupon for 10% off your next purchase at [Store].

[Embedded review or link to Leave a Review Now]

[Email signature]

Get more insights on digital marketing in Perth

For more advice or assistance with your website or digital marketing strategy, contact iST Digital's local experts in Perth. Give us a call on 08 9443 2221 or request a quote to get started today.