MARKETING GUIDE

An Ethical Review Request Workflow for Small Businesses

Ask for genuine feedback at the right moment without incentives, pressure, or review gating.

Ask neutrally after real value

Trigger a request after the service is complete or the issue is resolved. Ask for honest feedback—not a five-star review.

Do not offer payment or rewards conditioned on a positive review. Do not route unhappy customers away from a public review option.

Keep the workflow simple

Send one clear request with a direct link, followed by at most one considerate reminder. Stop after a review, reply, or opt-out.

  • Confirm the service is complete
  • Send neutral wording
  • Make the review link easy to use
  • Record the request so duplicates are avoided
  • Respond professionally to both praise and criticism

Why this matters

Authentic feedback is useful business information. Manipulated reviews weaken customer trust and can violate platform rules or consumer-protection requirements.

Our editorial promise

This guide is educational, not individual legal, financial, or professional advice. We use AI to help organize research and drafts, then review the finished work for usefulness, sources, limitations, and unsupported claims.

Read our editorial policy →

Primary sources

  1. FTC rule on consumer reviews and testimonials
  2. Google Business Profile: tips to get more reviews