Growing a wellness business requires passion and dedication. It can be an incredibly rewarding venture, but it can also be overwhelming, especially when marketing demands your ongoing attention.
Despite all the marketing tools and campaigns available, word-of-mouth continues to be one of the most effective ways to attract new customers. Because 88% of people trust online reviews and testimonials as much as peer recommendations, a glowing testimonial is worth its weight in gold.
Yet, most of us still find asking for feedback and reviews intimidating and even a little awkward.
In this blog, we will give you the confidence to ask for reviews in an authentic way that aligns with who you are. We’ll explore why these reviews are so critical and help you turn testimonials into one of the most helpful tools for business growth.
Table of Contents:
How Customer Reviews Benefit Your Wellness Business
Personal connections and trustworthiness are the backbone of yoga studios, fitness centers, and coaching or personal training businesses—they lay the foundation for success. Prioritizing the customer experience is one of the most impactful growth strategies for a wellness business.
People are drawn to businesses where they feel seen, cared for, and part of an authentic community. When customers experience this level of connection, they’re more likely to share positive experiences with their friends and family.
These personal referrals are truly invaluable. The same loyal clients who enthusiastically recommend your business are often delighted to write a testimonial, further establishing your credibility, trustworthiness, and reputation.
For search engines like Google, proof of credibility and authority positively impacts your SEO performance and visibility online, driving more traffic to your website and offerings.
In fact, according to data collected by Yotpo, “websites using testimonials saw a 45% increase in search traffic compared to those who didn’t.”
Testimonials and reviews significantly benefit your business. Here’s how:
- Attract new clients: Feedback written by real people showcases your value and encourages others to trust your offerings and services.
- Fosters trust: Reading a positive review keeps customers coming back and helps them feel comfortable investing their time, money, and wellness in your business.
- Improves online visibility: Good reviews strengthen your SEO rankings, driving more traffic to your website.
- Builds community: Customer testimonials highlight a sense of belonging, being seen, and feeling heard.
Understanding the Psychology Behind Customer Reviews
Customers are motivated to leave reviews for various reasons, including a positive experience, recognition, or incentives, and unfortunately, often when they have a terrible experience.
Reviews that highlight emotional satisfaction are the most compelling to prospective customers because they reflect your services’ transformative benefits—something they, too, may be seeking.
These powerful testimonials build trust, inspire others to connect with your business, and help you acquire more members. Potential customers may be more willing to use your product or service if they see that your company is being transparent and honest with them. 72% of consumers say positive testimonials and reviews increase their trust in a business.
However, even the most loyal customers might not leave a review even if they support your growth and success. Why?
All wellness professionals need effective marketing strategies to engage clients and encourage feedback.
Common barriers include lack of time, the perceived effort of leaving a review, uncertainty about what to say, being unaware of how impactful their feedback is, needing an incentive, or concerns about anonymity.
Here are some strategies to address these barriers:
- Time constraints: Make it easy for people! Provide a few writing prompts to help them give you a quick yet meaningful review. Remind them that a review could be as simple as “I love this yoga studio!”
- Effort: Create a QR code or a clickable link directly to your review page, guiding them through a quick and painless process to leaving a review.
- Unsure what to say: Show examples, create bullet lists of things to include, or create writing prompts to inspire ideas.
- Unaware: Create signage, casually mention it at the end of a session, or send personal thank you messages with an invitation to share experiences.
- Need an incentive: Offer a small reward or recognition, such as a discount on their next purchase or an entry to win a prize. I recently left a review for an aesthetician and received $25 off my next treatment. A win-win!
- Anonymity: Some people want to remain anonymous. Offer the option of just using their first name or initials at the end of their testimonial.
Creative and Effective Review Request Templates
Get Our Email Templates to Gracefully Encourage Client Reviews
Tasteful Ways to Ask Customers for Reviews
The very thought of asking a customer for a review may already have you feeling a bit awkward. We promise it doesn’t have to. Most people, especially loyal clients, are happy to help support you in any way they can.
The key is approaching this task with authenticity and at the right time. When a client tells you for the 10th time how much they love your classes, rest assured you can comfortably ask this person for a testimonial.
Focus on encouraging honest feedback and make sure your customers know you value all experiences, not just the glowing ones!
If a customer sends you a glowing email or DM, ask them if you can use their words in a testimonial and give them the option to remain anonymous and/or decline the request.
Importantly, before you ask for reviews, familiarize yourself with Google’s review policies and Yelp’s content guidelines to ensure you’re asking within their rules.
Timing is Everything
Timing is of the essence! Knowing the exact right moment to ask for a review can significantly impact how it is received.
The best times to ask are when someone has sent you a positive message online or given you positive feedback face-to-face. This person is motivated to tell others about your incredible work and their experience.
Another excellent time to invite reviews is after a well-received session, a milestone, or a special offering, such as a retreat, workshop, or graduation.
These are the moments when your clients feel the most connected to the work you have done together and their experience.
It is advisable to avoid asking beginners or those who are just returning to leave a review, as they are likely not ready or prepared to leave feedback.
To recap, the ideal times to request reviews are:
- When a client shares positive feedback directly
- After a well-received session, class, or program
- Following a retreat, workshop, or special event
Personalize the Request
Review requests can happen in many ways, from in-person conversations to emails and through other electronic methods. While asking for a review in real time is effective, electronic requests can be equally successful. A review request should always feel personalized and authentic regardless of how it is delivered.
Personalized requests make customers feel valued and more compelled to comply. Showing you genuinely care about their experience is an invitation to open up and respond positively.
Here are a few ways to personalize your review requests:
- Reference a specific offering they attended–a class, retreat, or workshop.
- Reference an area in which they have grown or seen improvement in their wellness–back health, mobility, strength, stress reduction.
- Use their name and thank them for something specific, like their recent purchase or attendance.
- Acknowledge their contributions to the community, such as the energy they bring to the group or the determination they show others.
Regularly Ask for Reviews
The more consistent you are with inviting opportunities to leave reviews, the more likely a customer is to contribute eventually. Often, after an experience (good or bad), people want to share it. If they know you’re looking for reviews, doing so will be top of mind.
Recently, glowing online reviews led my family to discover one of our new favorite restaurants. We were craving a specific cuisine but weren’t sure which place to try, as we’d never had it in our city before.
Here are some ways to integrate review requests into your operational flow:
- Send a post-appointment/class email with a gentle invitation to leave feedback. Include a link to your existing testimonials for examples of what to write and to see what others are sharing.
- Follow up after special offerings like workshops or retreats to say thank you and invite the opportunity to share in a review. Do this in a timely fashion so experiences are fresh!
- Include review links in newsletters or other regular communications to familiarize clients with the request and to make it simple for them to contribute.
- Have a review request prompt on your website in the testimonial section or home page, encouraging others to leave a review.
Tactics to Encourage Reviews Across Different Channels
You can request reviews and testimonials in various ways, from in-person to email. Incorporating review requests into your email strategy is a great way to engage clients.
Regardless of how it’s delivered, a review request should always feel personalized and authentic.
To be effective, review requests on each communication channel require a slightly different approach:
- In-Person: Timing is everything. Review requests should be authentic, contextual, and conversational. If you sense that your client is in a hurry or if it doesn’t feel natural, do not force it. There will be a better time!
- Email: Be clear, compelling, and sincere with your call to action. Ensure your clients understand how easy it is to leave a review and thank them in advance for their valuable feedback and consideration.
- Social Media: Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are a quick and easy way for clients to leave reviews by simply asking followers to share their experiences through a link or even in the comment section.
- SMS: Reaching clients by text is quick and convenient, and since clients typically opt-in to receive text from you, it won’t come as a surprise. Including a clickable link inviting them to leave a review makes it simple.
- Online: Include a permanent review request on your website, either on key landing pages or in the testimonial section. This ensures customers always know where to find it and can quickly leave feedback when inspired.
How to Leverage Reviews to Grow Your Business
Client reviews and testimonials are the most credible and trustworthy way to grow your wellness business. When potential customers choose where to invest their time and money in their wellness, visible reviews and testimonials on your website and social media channels may be the only motivation they need to commit.
Don’t shy away from sharing praise for your business! Great reviews are meant to be showcased and celebrated.
Some key places to showcase reviews include:
- Website: Testimonial section, sales page, page, or other important landing pages
- Social media platforms: Instagram, Facebook, etc.
- Email newsletters: Feature a glowing review as a boilerplate in your next email
- Posters: Display posters that feature a review or two in your studio, gym, clinic, etc.
- Online Listings: Google and Yelp reviews
Display Review on Relevant Offering and Landing Pages
Strategically placing reviews on landing pages that feature your offerings, services, and intro offers can increase conversions by 34%. A positive review tied directly to a specific offering or experience instills trust and motivates people to take action.
Displaying your reviews on landing pages is highly effective. Here are some reasons why:
- They tell a personal story that others can relate to and/or are seeking.
- It’s not a slimy sales tactic; it’s authentic and increases trust and credibility.
- They reinforce the value and uniqueness of your offering in a competitive industry.
- They inspire in-the-moment action and may be the final push a person needs to choose your offering over others.
Software like OfferingTree makes showcasing your reviews anywhere on your website simple and flexible. For example, I highlight one of my favorite reviews right on my homepage, as I know it will be seen and make a strong impression.
Share Reviews on Social Media
Sharing reviews on social media can be incredibly powerful. It can amplify your credibility and attract new clients thanks to social media’s broad reach.
Positive reviews also help create an emotional connection with your followers and visitors by humanizing the impact of your wellness offerings.
Here’s why sharing reviews on social media is so impactful:
- Reach a wider audience as followers are more likely to share posts they connect with
- Boosts engagement and encourages others to share their experiences in the comment sections or by sharing on their own social media pages
- Build trust that you deliver authentic, highly-regarded experiences
Integrate Reviews in Promotional Campaigns
Featuring positive client reviews can significantly enhance the impact of promotional campaigns. They add a personal touch and make your message more relatable—a compelling approach in today’s digital age.
Incorporating testimonials into well-crafted email marketing and broader studio marketing strategies can provide the edge you need for success when paired with clear calls to action.
Reviews from past participants can enhance your campaigns in several ways:
- Provide proof of your effectiveness by showcasing powerful transformations
- Create a strong emotional connection by sharing meaningful quotes and real client experiences that highlight the value of your offerings
- Boost conversion rates and drive engagement by inspiring sign-ups and encouraging in-the-moment commitment
- Set you apart from your competition by highlighting exactly what makes your offerings unique and worth every penny
Best Practices for Managing Reviews
As a small business owner, managing reviews is an important responsibility that requires careful attention. Responding to all reviews—even the ones you’d rather not see—demonstrates professionalism, a commitment to growth, and genuine care for your clients and their experiences.
Feedback is a gift, even when it doesn’t feel like one. Negative reviews can be opportunities for reflection, resolution, and accountability. You can turn a dissatisfied customer into one of your most loyal supporters with the right approach.
When dealing with a negative review, handling it with grace can provide an opportunity to ask the reviewer to update their feedback later—if they feel satisfied with the resolution of their concerns.
Here are some ways to respond to negative reviews:
- Take a deep breath: Respond calmly and professionally. Avoid becoming defensive
- Acknowledge the experience: Thank the reviewer for the feedback and let them know you’re open to listening and improving
- Offer a resolution: Address their concerns and take actionable steps to make things right
- Follow up: Check back in to ensure satisfaction with the resolution and improvements made
- Check-in on your wellness: Negative feedback can be tough, so take time to reflect and care for yourself to process it with clarity and grace
Grow a Wellness Business Your Customers Love with OfferingTree
Building more profound connections with your customers encourages them to share positive reviews and testimonials, amplifying your business and energizing your efforts.
However, spending too much time on business operations can limit your ability to focus on what you’re passionate about—sharing and growing your wellness offerings.
Cultivating these relationships takes time and effort. If you’re ready to simplify your operations and focus on what you love, OfferingTree is here to help. This all-in-one platform offers built-in marketing tools for scheduling, payments, website building, and community engagement.
Whether you’re just starting or ready to grow, OfferingTree supports your wellness business with detailed and transparent pricing plans. Explore our demo video library and start your 7-day free trial to see how OfferingTree can save you time and expand your offerings.
