New Update: Boost Social Proof with Reviews & Automation
New Update: Boost Social Proof with Reviews & Automation
If you’re wondering how to get Trustpilot reviews, the best way is simple: ask your real customers at the right time. You don’t need fake reviews or shortcuts to build trust. Genuine feedback works faster and lasts longer.
I first learned this when a consultant suggested I “just buy some reviews.” Even then, I knew that wasn’t the answer. Over the years, I’ve seen businesses grow their reputation the right way by using email, automation tools, and smart reminders to collect authentic Trustpilot reviews.
In this guide, I’ll show you step-by-step how to get more Trustpilot reviews for free, how to avoid penalties, and how to turn every happy customer into social proof that drives sales.
Quick Steps to Get Trustpilot Reviews:
Reviews on Trustpilot work by allowing customers to rate your business on a one-to-five-star scale and leave written feedback about their experience.
There are a few different types of Trustpilot reviews you might come across:
Buying Trustpilot reviews might seem like a quick fix, but it’s a risky move with serious consequences. Trustpilot has advanced fraud detection systems that can easily spot fake reviews, which makes Trustpilot reviews reliable. If you’re caught, you could face penalties, lose the trust of your customers, and even have your Trustpilot account suspended.
But it’s not just about the rules. Fake Trustpilot or even Google reviews don’t help your business. A recent report found that 46% of the 2.7 million fake reviews detected and removed online were five-star reviews, highlighting how misleading they can be.
They create a false impression of your products or services, which can lead to disappointed customers and negative word-of-mouth.
Instead of buying reviews, build a genuine reputation through organic and invited reviews. It might take more time and effort, but it’s the only way to earn your customers’ trust and create a sustainable online presence.
Ready to start raking in those reviews the right way? Let’s explore some proven strategies that are ethical and effective in encouraging genuine customer feedback.
The simplest approach is often the best: just ask customers directly for a review.
A personal touch can go a long way, whether in person after purchase, through a follow-up email, or even a friendly SMS message.
Here are some tips for asking for reviews:
When I tested this strategy with a client in the wellness space, we added a simple “How did we do?” email one day after purchase. Within 2 weeks, their Trustpilot reviews jumped by 38%, with no additional ad spend.
You’ll be surprised at how many customers are willing to share their positive experiences on Trustpilot by simply asking.
Key Takeaway: A personal ask right after a positive experience is still one of the most effective ways to get Trustpilot reviews. Keep it short, friendly, and include a direct link to make it easy for your customer to respond.
Trustpilot offers a suite of free tools to help you collect reviews effortlessly. One of the most powerful is their Automatic Feedback Service (AFS).
Here’s how it works:
Step 1. Get your unique Trustpilot email address
In your Trustpilot Business account, go to Get Reviews » Invitation Methods » Trustpilot Automatic Feedback Service (AFS) to find your unique email address.
Step 2. Add the email address as a BCC
Include this email address as a BCC recipient on the transactional emails you send customers (like order confirmations or shipping notifications).
Step 3. Trustpilot sends the invitation
Trustpilot will automatically send a review invitation to your customer after a set time (usually 7 days).
A good rule of thumb is to send them shortly after the customer has received their order or experienced your service.
Here’s an example of an effective review invitation email:
By using Trustpilot’s free tools, you can streamline the review collection process and make it easier for customers to share their feedback. If you need help, there are instructions in the Trustpilot help center.
Key Takeaway: Trustpilot’s AFS lets you automate review requests by simply adding a BCC to your order confirmation emails. It’s one of the easiest ways to get consistent, verified Trustpilot reviews.
While you can’t directly offer rewards for positive reviews (that’s against Trustpilot’s rules), you can create incentives that encourage customers to leave reviews in general.
Here are a few ideas:
Using RafflePress to Incentivize Reviews on Trustpilot
If you have a WordPress website, you can use RafflePress‘s Trustpilot Review action to easily create giveaway campaigns that incentivize customers to leave reviews.
This WordPress giveaway plugin lets you set up giveaways that require participants to leave a Trustpilot review as an entry requirement.
RafflePress also automatically tracks and verifies these reviews, ensuring fairness and preventing fraudulent entries. You can customize your giveaway to your heart’s content, choosing from various prize options and entry methods to create an engaging customer experience.
For example, you could run a monthly giveaway where customers who leave a review are entered to win a gift card to your store. This not only encourages reviews but also fosters customer loyalty and engagement.
Please refer to our guide on how to do a review giveaway, which includes all the steps.
Key Takeaway: You can use RafflePress’s Trustpilot Review action to run ethical, automated giveaways that encourage customers to leave honest reviews, without breaking the rules. It’s a fun way to build engagement and social proof.
Connecting Trustpilot with your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) or Ecommerce platform allows you to automate review invitations, sync customer data, and track the impact of reviews on your sales.
Here’s why you should consider it:
For example, to integrate Trustpilot with WooCommerce, install and activate the Trustpilot Reviews plugin, then follow the prompts to connect your Trustpilot Business account.
You can then customize your settings to choose when and how review invitations are sent.
Trustpilot also offers integrations with other popular platforms like:
Key Takeaway: Integrating Trustpilot with your ecommerce or CRM platform helps automate review requests at scale. It saves time, keeps your data synced, and gives you insight into how reviews impact your sales.
Not every review request has to come through email. You can catch customers at other moments when their experience is fresh and positive. Here are a few creative ways to ask for Trustpilot reviews:
A simple popup right after checkout or a support interaction can be an effective nudge. Tools like OptinMonster let you design review popups that appear only after key actions, making the request relevant and timely.
Product inserts or postcards in your packaging are a low-cost way to encourage reviews. Add a short thank-you note and a QR code linking to your Trustpilot profile. Customers can scan and leave feedback in seconds.
If you run a physical store, small signs at checkout or product displays can work wonders. Add a line like “Love your purchase? Review us on Trustpilot!” with a QR code. This captures reviews when customers are happiest — right after buying.
Key Takeaway: Popups, packaging inserts, and in-store QR codes all make it easier for customers to leave reviews at the right time. The easier it is, the more reviews you’ll get.
Displaying Trustpilot reviews directly on your website is a great way to build trust and credibility. Trustpilot offers customizable widgets called TrustBoxes that you can easily embed on your site.
These widgets display your star rating, recent reviews, and even a call-to-action button that encourages visitors to leave their own feedback.
For WordPress users, Smash Balloon’s Reviews Feed plugin offers an easy and effective way to display your Trustpilot reviews.
This plugin lets you:
By placing Trustpilot widgets and review feeds on your website, you can make social proof a core part of your marketing strategy. This helps convert visitors into customers and encourages more customers to leave reviews, creating a positive feedback loop.
Key Takeaway: Embedding TrustBoxes or review feeds on your site builds credibility and encourages more reviews. Customers are more likely to leave feedback when they see others doing the same.
Your email signature is prime real estate for promoting your Trustpilot profile and another free way to get Trustpilot reviews. Every email you send is an opportunity to invite customers to share their feedback.
You can do this using Trustpilot’s email widgets.
Go to your Trustpilot Business account and navigate to Share & promote » Email widgets » TrustBox Signature. Then, configure the widget’s appearance to your liking.
Once finalized, click “Get code” under the preview to copy the HTML code for the widget.
Now, you’ll need to access your email client’s signature settings. The specific steps may vary slightly depending on your email provider, but the general idea is the same.
Here are the steps for setting it up in Gmail:
Go to Settings » See all settings » General. Scroll to the “Signature” section and click “Create new.”
Next, give your signature a name and paste the copied Trustpilot widget code into the editing area.
Finally, configure your desired default settings and save changes.
That’s it! Now, every email you send will display your TrustBox signature, encouraging recipients to visit your Trustpilot profile and share their feedback.
Alternatively, you can add a line like “Share your experience on Trustpilot” or “See what our customers are saying on Trustpilot” with a link to your profile. This subtle reminder can make a big difference in generating organic reviews.
Paid advertising can be a powerful way to get your Trustpilot profile in front of a wider audience. In fact, studies show that including the Trustpilot trust mark in your ads can significantly boost their effectiveness.
According to a survey, a whopping 91% of consumers chose the ad with the Trustpilot logo in this example:
If you use paid ads, here are some tips for creating effective review-focused ads:
If you’re looking for a more hands-off approach to collecting Trustpilot reviews, review generation platforms can help. These platforms automate sending personalized review invitations to your customers after purchases or service interactions.
Some popular review-generation platforms include:
These platforms can save you time and effort but usually charge a monthly or annual fee. You may also have less control over the review collection process than if you managed it yourself.
Collecting reviews is only half the battle. The real trust comes from how you manage them. Here are the best practices I use to keep Trustpilot reviews authentic and valuable:
Replying shows you care and builds credibility. Nearly 1 in 5 consumers (17.56%) change their opinion of a business based on its responses.
Keep an eye on your profile and flag anything fake or misleading. Trustpilot will review and remove violations of their policies.
Find the answers to common questions about Trustpilot reviews below:
Trustpilot reviews are a powerful tool for any business. By focusing on genuine customer feedback and using the strategies I’ve covered, you can build trust, boost your reputation, and attract new customers.
Ready to grow your Trustpilot presence? If you’re a WordPress user, try RafflePress’s Trustpilot Review action to incentivize genuine reviews with exciting giveaways.
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