Review request text templates small businesses can send without sounding pushy

The rule

Ask everyone fairly, make it optional, and never script fake praise

Review requests are useful when they remind real customers that feedback helps the business. They become risky when the business filters only happy customers, offers rewards for positive reviews, or uses AI to invent language the customer did not write.

1. Send after the outcome is complete: job finished, order delivered, or support issue resolved.
2. Keep it optional: no pressure, no guilt, no repeated chasing.
3. Ask for honest feedback: do not ask for a five-star review or only a positive review.
4. Route complaints privately: invite customers to reply if something still needs fixing.
5. Document the source: note the job/order/ticket that triggered the request.

Copy/paste review request text templates

Completed service job

Hi {first_name}, thanks again for choosing {business_name} for {service}. If everything looks good, a quick honest review would help other local customers know what to expect: {review_link}. If anything still needs attention, reply here and we will take a look.

Repeat customer

Hi {first_name}, we appreciate you trusting {business_name} again. If you have a minute, an honest review about your experience would mean a lot: {review_link}. No pressure — and if there is anything we should improve, you can reply directly.

Support or repair resolved

Hi {first_name}, glad we could help with {issue}. If the fix is working as expected, would you be open to leaving a short honest review? {review_link}. If not, reply here so we can follow up.

Final one-time reminder

Hi {first_name}, one quick reminder: if you would like to share feedback about {business_name}, here is the review link: {review_link}. Either way, thank you for working with us.

AI prompt to customize the review request

You are helping a small business draft an ethical review request. Use the details below to write one short SMS and one short email version. Ask for honest feedback, not a positive review. Do not offer incentives, fake urgency, or guilt. Include a private reply option if something still needs attention. Details: customer type={new/repeat}, job or order={summary}, tone={friendly/professional}, review link={link}.

Before saving the prompt, score it with the free AI Prompt Quality Scorecard so the team catches risk, tone, and fact-control issues.

Stop rules before sending

• Do not send review requests to only customers you believe will leave positive reviews.
• Do not ask employees, family, vendors, or unverified customers to review the business.
• Do not offer discounts, gifts, or future perks in exchange for reviews unless the platform and local rules clearly allow it.
• Do not keep nudging after the final reminder or after a customer says no.
• Do not paste private job notes, payment disputes, health details, or sensitive customer information into an AI tool.