How to Get More 5-Star Reviews: Real-World Tips That Actually Work

When a customer has a great experience, they want to leave a positive review, but most of the time, they don’t. Not because they didn’t love your business, but because there’s too much friction in the process.

If you’re wondering how to get more 5-star reviews, the key is to make it ridiculously easy for customers to do the thing they’re already inclined to do: say thank you.

Here’s how the most successful companies consistently drive more 5-star reviews:

1. Ask at the Right Moment

Timing is everything. The best time to ask for a review is right after a job well done! Don't wait until a day later in a follow-up email that gets buried in their inbox.

📍 Example: A service technician wraps up a job and the customer is happy? That’s the perfect time to prompt for a quick review while the experience is fresh.

2. Make the Review Process Frictionless

This might be the most important part. Customers won't jump through hoops to write a review. If you’re asking them to:

• Open their email

• Click a link

• Log in

• Search for your business
  ...you’ve already lost most of them.

The solution: use tools that remove every possible step. At Cheers, we’ve found the best success comes from eliminating friction entirely. Our NFC badges allow customers to leave reviews with a single tap. No hunting for a link, no login required.

When the review process feels effortless, more people do it, and more of those reviews are 5-star.

3. Make It Personal

Customers are far more likely to leave a glowing review if they feel a connection with the person who helped them.

Whenever possible, tie the review to a specific employee or rep. Not only does this encourage better service, but it makes the customer feel like their praise is going to the right person.

Pro Tip: Let customers know their review helps recognize and reward great employees. That emotional incentive is powerful.

4. Incentivize the Team, Not the Customer

Offering customers a discount for leaving a review can get you flagged by platforms like Google and, honestly, it often backfires.

Instead, motivate your team. Create internal competitions, leaderboards, or bonuses based on reviews earned. When your team is bought in, reviews follow naturally.

5. Use Automation to Keep it Consistent

Getting more 5-star reviews isn’t about one big campaign. It’s about steady, predictable habits.

Set up systems that prompt reviews automatically text messages, follow-up emails, or tools like Cheers that build it into the real-world interaction itself.

Final Thoughts: Remove Friction, Earn Trust

Getting more 5-star reviews isn’t magic. It’s about removing friction, meeting customers at the right moment, and making it easier than ever to share their experience.

Whether you're running a service business, a retail store, or anything in between, your reputation is everything. And with tools like Cheers, you can turn every happy customer into a promoter without having to beg or bribe.