Customer Advocacy
RGM° · Training
Review and Rating Generation
Drives 10-30% conversion lift. Platforms by category, generation, timing, automation, negative handling, display.
Why reviews matter
Reviews drive conversion rates 10–30% higher on product pages. They affect SEO, paid ad performance, and AI search visibility. Mature brands treat review generation as a discipline.
| Category | Platforms |
|---|
| B2B SaaS | G2, Capterra, TrustRadius, Software Advice |
| DTC ecommerce | Yotpo, Stamped, Okendo, Junip on product pages; Trustpilot for site |
| Local business | Google Business Profile reviews; Yelp |
| App | App Store, Google Play |
| Restaurants | Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor |
| Hospitality | TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Google |
| Healthcare | Healthgrades, ZocDoc, Google |
Strategies
- Post-purchase / post-engagement triggered emails.
- SMS asks for permission-given customers.
- In-product / in-app prompts.
- Direct sales rep asks.
- Customer success scheduled asks.
- Incentivize via loyalty programs (where compliant).
- NEVER buy reviews (illegal and platform policy violation).
Timing
- Post-product-experience (consumables: 14–30 days).
- Post-milestone (SaaS: after activation).
- Post-positive interaction (CS resolution).
- Avoid asking after negative experience.
- Avoid asking at purchase moment (experience not yet earned).
Automation
- Email automation via Klaviyo, Iterable, Customer.io.
- SMS automation where permitted.
- NPS-triggered for promoters.
- Review platform integrations.
- Multi-channel coordination.
Negative handling
- Respond within 24 hours.
- Acknowledge specifically; don't generic-template.
- Offer to resolve offline.
- Document for product feedback.
- Don't argue publicly.
- Update if issue resolved.
- Flag inappropriate (TOS-violating) reviews.
Displaying
- On product pages prominently.
- Aggregate rating + review count.
- Recent reviews visible.
- Photo / video reviews highlighted.
- Review schema markup (for SEO).
- Cross-platform syndication where allowed.
Advanced playbook
- Review platform per relevant category.
- Multi-channel ask program.
- NPS integration.
- Photo / video review encouragement.
- Review schema markup on product pages.
- Negative review response SLA.
- Review-driven product improvements.
- Annual review program ROI assessment.
- Industry-specific platforms covered.
- Cross-platform review monitoring.
Common mistakes
- Generic review request emails.
- Asking too early (before experience).
- Single channel ask.
- Negative reviews ignored.
- Photo/video reviews not encouraged.
- Review schema not implemented.
- Buying reviews (illegal).
- Single platform when category requires multiple.
- Product feedback loop absent.
- Annual program review skipped.
Operating checklist
- Relevant review platforms identified
- Multi-channel ask program
- NPS integration
- Timing optimized
- Photo/video encouraged
- Schema markup implemented
- Negative response SLA
- Product feedback loop
- Cross-platform monitoring
- Annual ROI assessment
Sources and further reading
- Yotpo, Stamped, Okendo, Junip platforms
- G2, Capterra, TrustRadius
- Trustpilot research
- BrightLocal review research
- Spiegel Research Center review studies
- Power Reviews benchmarks
- RGM Email Lifecycle reviews module
- RGM ASO ratings module
- FTC review guidelines
- SEO Roundtable review schema research
- Industry-specific platforms (TripAdvisor, Healthgrades)
- Marketing Brew review coverage
Part of the Customer Advocacy series.