Summarize:

Make sure your staff is trained to ask clients for reviews, preferably in person. You can get eight times more reviews by asking in person than by email. Wait until the end of the business transaction to ask for a review. For example, if you perform landscaping, ask after you finish the job and present the customer with the bill.  Say something simple, such as, “I hope you had a great experience and will tell others.” Of course, you should first gauge the customer's overall satisfaction before you ask for the review. Avoid asking customers who are unhappy or overly picky. Most people don't leave reviews unless they are furious with a business. If you want positive reviews, you'll need to make the process as painless as possible, otherwise people will forget. Consider the following tips:  Create business profiles on websites such as Yahoo Local, Google Plus, and Yelp.  In an email, include a link to the website so that all your customer needs to do is click on a link. You can also print your profile URLs on a business card or on a receipt so that customers can find them easily. Some review sites (such as Yelp) prohibit you from asking customers for reviews or for providing any incentives. However, Yelp isn't the only review site, and you can encourage your customers to leave reviews at other websites by offering a discount coupon or small gift. Remember to ask for a review, not a “positive” review. You can't buy positive reviews from customers. Remember to mention something specific about the review in your thank-you. For example, you can write, “Thanks for the glowing review, Christina! We're happy you liked the lobster salad.” You can also include a call to action. For example, encourage the customer to return and bring a friend the next time. Remember that you aren't responding only to your critic. Everyone else on the Internet can also see the review, so you need to be professional in your response. Use the following tips:  Don't lash out. Nothing makes you look worse than getting snarky with someone. Wait 24 hours until you've cooled down before responding.  Admit if you made a mistake, but don't admit to something that isn't true. Provide missing context. Some customers will offer only a one-sided critique, so you should supply missing details. For example, if someone complains that your prices were too high, you can mention that you post your prices on the website and outside your door. Offer to correct a problem for free. You might be able to win back a customer if you can address their problem. Ask the person to call you so that you can resolve the issue offline.
Ask for a review. Make leaving a review easy. Offer incentives for leaving a review. Thank customers for their positive reviews. Respond carefully to negative reviews.