Co-founder at TxtCart | $50M+ revenue driven across 2500+ eCommerce brands via SMS marketing and conversational AI. Live in New York, D1 NHRA Champion, Penn State alum.
Most customers won’t leave a review on their own—not because they don’t want to, but because they forget, get busy, or never see your request. Emails get lost. Generic messages feel robotic. But SMS has 98% open rates. It gets seen, opened, and with the right message, acted on.
Here’s what you’ll get in this guide:
The perfect timing and structure to get more reviews without chasing customers.
9 high-converting SMS templates for different situations and industries.
Automation hacks to make review collection effortless and scalable.
Stop leaving reviews (and revenue) on the table—let’s fix that!
TL;DR
Send an Initial Request & Follow-Up: Send 3-7 days after purchase. If no response, follow up with a gentle reminder.
Incentivized Requests: Encourage feedback by offering discount like 10% off the next purchase or free shipping.
Leverage Social Media & Social Proof: Invite customers to share their reviews on social media, and add social proof by highlighting how others have shared their positive experiences.
Engage Repeat & Long-Term Customers: Engage repeat customers after their second purchase. For long-term customers, ask for in-depth feedback after 6+ months.
Post-Complaint Resolution: Request feedback the same day.
10+ High-Converting SMS Review Request Templates
Not all review requests get a response—but the right wording makes all the difference. A message that’s too generic gets ignored, while one that’s too pushy can feel intrusive.
The key? Short, personal, and easy to act on.
Below are proven templates designed to get more responses—without sounding robotic or spammy.
#1) General review request templates
A simple, direct request is often all it takes to nudge customers into leaving a review. This general template works well across industries, keeping the message short, friendly, and easy to act on:
“Hi [Name], thanks for shopping with [Brand]! How was your experience with [Product]? We’d love your feedback here: [Link] Thanks!”
#2) Post-Purchase Follow-Up
Timing matters after a purchase. Send your request 3-7 days after the delivery while the customer is still engaged with the product. This enhances the likelihood of receiving genuine feedback.
“Hi [Customer Name], we hope you’re loving your [Product]! We’d really appreciate it if you could share your thoughts on your recent purchase. Leave a review here: [Link].”
#3) First-Time Customer Review Request
The first experience a customer has with your brand sets the tone for your relationship going forward. It’s essential to make them feel welcome and valued right from the start. Instead of simply asking for feedback, show genuine interest in their thought.
“Hi [Customer Name], thank you for choosing [Business Name]! We’re excited to hear what you think about your first experience with us. Kindly share your thoughts here: [Link].
#4) Incentivized Review Request
Incentives like discounts or freebies can encourage customers to leave a review. Ensure the incentive is genuine and doesn’t overpower the request for honest feedback.
“Hi [Customer Name], your feedback means a lot to us! Leave a review here: [Link], and enjoy [X]% off your next purchase as a thank-you!”
#5) After a Repeat Purchase
When customers make a repeat purchase, it signals loyalty and satisfaction. It’s important to acknowledge this, reinforce the value of their continued business, and gather insights on what keeps them coming back.
Hey [Customer Name], we’re thrilled to see you back! Your continued support means so much. If you’ve got a minute, please leave a quick review here: [Link].”
#6) For Long-Term Customers
Long-term customers know your brand the best. Show appreciation for their years of trust and encourage them to share their experiences, as they are likely to provide the most insightful and authentic reviews. Send this request after the customer has been with you for 6+ months.
Hi [Customer Name], thanks for being with us for so long! We’d love to hear how we’ve been doing. Please leave a review here: [Link].
#7) Follow-Up Review Request
Sometimes, customers need a little reminder to share their thoughts. A follow-up message can be a gentle nudge to encourage them to leave a review.
Hi [Customer Name], just a quick reminder to share your feedback on [Product]. We’d love to hear from you! Leave a review here: [Link]. Thanks!
#8) Post-Complaint Resolution
After a complaint has been resolved, it’s the perfect time to request a review. Customers are likely to feel appreciated and more inclined to share positive feedback when their issue has been addressed.
Hello [Customer’s Name], thank you for your patience. We’re glad we could resolve the issue! We’d love to know how we did. Please leave your review here: [Link].
#9) Social Media Integration
Encouraging customers to share their experiences on social media not only strengthens engagement but also helps in building a community around your brand.
Hey [Customer Name], would you be willing to share your feedback on [Social Media Platform]? We’d love to feature you: [Link]
#10) Social Proof and Review Requests
Leveraging the power of customer experiences can inspire others to share their feedback. When your customers feel part of a community, they’re more likely to engage and share their thoughts.
Hi [Customer Name], join [Number] happy customers and share your experience! Your review helps others make better choices: [Link].
#11) Review Request After Referral
When customers refer others to your business, it’s a strong sign of satisfaction and trust. Recognizing this support and asking for feedback is a great way to gather insights on what drives their loyalty.
“Hi [Customer Name], we hope you’re loving your [Product]! We’d really appreciate it if you could share your thoughts on your recent purchase. Leave a review here: [Link].”
“Hey [Customer Name], we hope you’re loving your [Product]! Please leave a review here: [Review Link].”
Service-Based Industry
“Hi [Customer Name], thanks for choosing [Service]! Your experience matters to us. Share your feedback: [Review Link].”
Health & Wellness
“Hey [Customer Name], thanks for trusting us with your [Treatment/Service]. We’d appreciate your feedback: [Review Link].”
Hospitality Industry
“Hey [Customer Name], we hope your time at [Hotel Name] was memorable. Share your experience with us: [Review Link].”
Food & Beverage Industry
“Hey [Customer Name], we hope you enjoyed your meal at [Restaurant Name]. Please share your experience with us: [Review Link].”
E-commerce Industry
“Hey [Customer Name], we hope your [Product] is everything you wanted! Let us know your experience here: [Review Link].
How to Build a High-Converting SMS Review Request Strategy
You can’t just send a random text asking for a review and expect results. Without structure, requests can feel intrusive or get ignored. But with the right approach, you’ll consistently collect reviews that build trust and boost your brand’s reputation.
Here’s how to craft a strategy that gets results:
1. Get your timing right
When it comes to review requests, timing can make or break your response rates. Ask too soon, and customers haven’t had time to form an opinion. Wait too long, and they’ve moved on.
The right timing depends on what you’re selling:
Business Type
Optimal Timing for Review Requests
Service-based businesses
Within 24 hours of service completion while the experience is fresh.
Physical products
3-7 days after delivery to allow time for use.
Digital products
2-3 days after purchase, since customers can engage with them instantly.
Well-timed SMS review requests feel natural, increase engagement, and lead to higher-quality feedback—without annoying your customers.
💡Pro tip: Timing matters, but so does customer experience. With TxtCart’s scheduler, you can send review requests at optimal times based on each subscriber’s timezone, ensuring higher engagement while avoiding late-night or inconvenient pings. Smart timing = more reviews, less friction!
A well-structured message makes it easy for customers to leave a review. The key? Keep it short, clear, and direct while making the request feel personal. Here’s the ideal formula:
Personalized greeting – Use the customer’s name to make it feel like a one-on-one message.
Reference the purchase/service – A quick mention of what they bought or experienced adds context.
Clear and concise request – Politely ask for feedback without over-explaining.
Direct review link – Make it effortless for customers by providing a one-tap link.
Appreciation note – A simple “thank you” reinforces goodwill and encourages action.
When done right, your SMS feels natural, non-intrusive, and easy to respond to—leading to more reviews with minimal effort.
P.S. A well-crafted message isn’t just about what you say—it’s about how you say it. TxtCart’s conversational AI mimics human-like interactions, ensuring your SMS requests are engaging, personal, and optimized for maximum customer response.
Here’s an example of how TxtCart helped Shogun Sports in collecting reviews via SMS. The conversational approach allowed them to engage customers in a more natural way.
Manually sending review requests? Not efficient. The best way to get consistent, timely reviews is through automated triggers—so messages go out exactly when they should, without extra work.
Here’s when to trigger your review requests for maximum engagement:
Trigger Event
When to Trigger Review Request
Post-purchase
3-7 days after delivery
After customer support interaction
Right after resolution (same day)
After a product replacement
1-3 days post-replacement
Repeat purchase
1-3 days after repeat purchase
When review requests are triggered at the right moment, customers are more likely to respond—giving you more authentic reviews with minimal effort.
💡 Pro tip:Timing your review requests right is what turns missed opportunities into real feedback.. With TxtCart’s one-click automation, your review request sequence runs on autopilot, ensuring customers receive the right message at the right time—without extra effort from your team. More reviews, less work!
4. Segment your customers to get more (and better) reviews
Not all customers should get the same review request. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t maximize responses, and it could even feel irrelevant. Segmenting your customers ensures that each message feels personal, leading to more reviews and better-quality feedback.
Here’s how to fine-tune your review requests for maximum impact:
Customer Segment
Customer Characteristics
How to ask for a review
First-time customers
New buyers who may need an extra nudge to leave feedback.
Send a friendly, engaging message encouraging them to share their first impressions after 3-7 days of use.
Repeat customers
Loyal customers who are familiar with the brand/product.
Send a personalized thank-you message, highlighting their loyalty and requesting feedback on their ongoing experience.
High-value purchasers
Customers who made a significant purchase.
Acknowledge their investment, offering a more thoughtful approach and possibly an incentive for their review.
Product category
Type of product purchased (e.g., skincare, tech, etc.).
Tailor the timing of the review request based on the product’s usage (e.g., a skincare product may require a review request after 2-3 weeks, while a tech product may get a request within 3-5 days).
💡 Pro tip: The more relevant your request, the higher the response rate. With TxtCart’s smart segmentation, you can filter audiences by purchase behavior, engagement levels, and contact history to send personalized, well-timed review requests.
For example, you can group customers who have bought a product in the last 10 days. This ensures they’ve had time to use the product, making the review request more relevant and increasing the likelihood of receiving detailed, valuable feedback.
The easier you make it for customers to leave a review, the more likely they are to follow through. Instead of asking them to search for your business or navigate multiple steps, integrate your SMS system with major review platforms so they can leave feedback with a single tap.
Here’s where you should connect your SMS review requests:
Platform
How to Integrate with SMS
Example Text
Recommended Industries
Google Business Profile
Automate SMS with a direct link to your Google review page.
“We’d love to hear your feedback! Tap here to leave a review on Google.”
Local businesses (e.g., restaurants, retail stores, service providers)
Shopify Product Reviews
Set up SMS triggers that send a direct link to the specific product review page after purchase.
“Thanks for your purchase! Please share your experience with [Product Name]. Leave a review here [link]”
E-commerce businesses
Industry-Specific Review Sites (Yelp, Trustpilot)
Send SMS requests with links to industry-specific platforms like Trustpilot, Yelp, or TripAdvisor. Customize your message based on the platform.
“Your opinion matters! Leave a review on [Platform].”
Service industries (e.g., hospitality, travel, health & wellness, real estate, home services)
By integrating SMS with the right platforms, you remove barriers and make leaving a review as simple as clicking a link.
Best Practices to Get More Reviews While Staying Compliant
Getting more reviews is great—but doing it the right way matters. If your SMS review request strategy isn’t legally compliant or privacy-conscious, you could end up annoying customers—or worse, violating SMS marketing regulations.
Here’s how to maximize your SMS review requests while staying compliant:
Follow SMS marketing laws: Regulations like the TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act), GDPR (for European customers), and CAN-SPAM Act set strict rules for SMS marketing. Ensure you have explicit consent before sending any review request.
Use proper opt-in and opt-out practices: Get customers’ clear consent. Use double opt-in for extra security, and always include easy opt-out instructions in every message.
Respect customer privacy: Never share or sell phone numbers, limit SMS frequency (1-2 per week max), and honor opt-out requests immediately to maintain trust.
How to Measure and Improve Your SMS Review Request Strategy
Sending review requests is just the first step—tracking results and optimizing your approach is what drives long-term success. Without measuring key metrics, you won’t know what’s working or what needs improvement.
Here’s how to measure success and optimize your SMS review request series:
Track key metrics: Track the following metrics to improve your SMS review request campaign:
Metric
What It Measures
Improvement Strategy
Open Rate
Percentage of recipients who open the SMS
Improve open rates by sending messages between 3-6 pm, as this is the ideal time based on research.
Click-Through Rate
Percentage of recipients who click the review link
Enhance the click-through rate by offering incentives like 10% off or free shipping on next purchase.
Review Completion Rate
Percentage of customers who complete the review
Streamline the review process to make it quick and user-friendly. For example, reduce the number of fields or use pre-filled options for easier submissions.
Average Review Rating
The average star rating given in reviews
Address low ratings by reaching out to customers for detailed feedback. Use this to identify areas for improvement and adjust your products or services accordingly.
Response Time to Review Requests
Time it takes for customers to respond to the review request
Request a review 3-7 days after the delivery so customers have had the time to experience the product.
A/B test for better results: Optimize by testing different elements, such as message timing (time of day, day of the week), message length and tone, incentives vs. no incentives, and different call-to-action phrases to see what drives more responses.
Use customer feedback to improve: Beyond gathering reviews, analyze feedback to spot product or service improvements, train staff based on customer comments, and highlight positive reviews in marketing materials to build trust and attract more customers.
💡 Pro tip: Data-driven decisions lead to higher engagement and more reviews. With TxtCart’s A/B testing feature, you can fine-tune your review request SMS series to see what works best—whether it’s timing, message structure, or incentives. Test, track, and optimize for maximum impact!
The way brands request reviews is evolving, and AI-powered innovations are making the process even more seamless and effective. As messaging technologies advance, businesses are finding smarter ways to collect customer feedback, prevent negative reviews, and increase engagement.
Here’s what’s shaping the future of SMS review requests:
Voice-to-text review submissions: Customers will soon be able to leave a review via voice message, which AI will transcribe and post to review platforms.
Sentiment analysis for real-time service recovery: AI can analyze customer responses in real-time, detecting negative sentiment before it turns into a public complaint. Brands can intervene early, offering support or incentives to resolve issues before a negative review is posted.
Transform Your Customer Feedback Strategy with TxtCart’s SMS Review Requests
To sum up, TxtCart’s AI-powered SMS marketing simplifies review requests with conversational AI, automation, and hyper-personalization. By streamlining the process, you can collect more authentic reviews, improve customer relationships, and boost brand credibility effortlessly.
Want to try conversational SMS for free?
Drive more sales with intelligent AI-driven automations that recover carts, engage customers, and streamline flows — saving you 32x in costs. No contracts or minimums.
Co-founder at TxtCart | $50M+ revenue driven across 2500+ eCommerce brands via SMS marketing and conversational AI. Live in New York, D1 NHRA Champion, Penn State alum.
