Smart Ways to Get More Reviews [Guide]
Practical, proven ways for any business to get more authentic reviews.
TLDR: Birdeye packs a broad feature set for multi‑location brands (reviews, listings, social, messaging), but typical entry pricing reported by third‑party reviewers starts around the high‑$200s to mid‑$300s per location per month with higher tiers above that. VisibleFeedback is built for lean small businesses that need a simple, affordable review funnel: collect private, in-the-moment feedback via QR or follow up, resolve issues fast, and route happy customers to Google, Yelp, or wherever needs a lift. If you’re a restaurant, salon, gym, or retail shop, that focus usually beats an oversized suite.
Best fit for multi location businesses that want one vendor for review generation + listings management + social publishing + unified messaging. If you have multiple storefronts, central marketing, and the budget to match, the breadth makes sense. Birdeye’s own site highlights social, listings, and messaging modules beyond reviews.
Best fit for owner‑operators and small teams that need to increase reviews and protect reputation with the least lift. The product centers on the feedback funnel: QR and post‑visit prompts capture private sentiment first, unhappy customers are handled discreetly, and satisfied guests are pointed to the platform that matters (Google for Android/desktop, Yelp for iOS/Apple Maps).
Public pricing on Birdeye’s site is gated behind a quote, but multiple reputable listings and reviews consistently report starter tiers from ~$299/month per location (annual), ~$349/month monthly, with higher plans at $399–$499+ depending on features and scale. Expect per‑location pricing and annual commitments for many tiers.
Designed to be predictable and low‑cost for small businesses. Plans emphasize core feedback capture and review routing without forcing a large suite. (If you need an exact quote, reach out, we keep it simple)
If you’re price‑sensitive or single‑location, VisibleFeedback will almost always be the more affordable path to more Google/Yelp reviews. If you want an “all‑in‑one” stack and can amortize per‑location fees, Birdeye’s breadth may be worth it.
Capability | VisibleFeedback (focus) | Birdeye (suite) |
---|---|---|
Private, in‑venue feedback (QR/table tents, receipts, follow‑ups) | Core: 10–30s flows, optimized for honesty and speed | Available as surveys/requests, typically within a broader CX toolkit |
Review routing (Google/Yelp/Facebook) | Core: smart prompts that nudge the right platform based on need | Included; part of reputation workflows |
Real‑time alerts & saves | Core: flag issues instantly so staff can recover on the spot | Included; often within a larger inbox/automation system |
Listings management (NAP sync) | Not the focus | Native module for multi‑location SEO control |
Social publishing & calendars | Not included (use your current tool) | Full social posting/monitoring across locations |
Unified inbox / messaging (SMS/webchat) | Light prompts; integrates with your flow | Robust, multichannel messaging and webchat |
AI add‑ons (summaries, prompts) | Lightweight, review‑funnel‑oriented | Broad “AI” across reviews/listings/messaging per tier pages |
Learning curve | Very low; set up cards/links and go | Moderate; more modules to configure |
Best for | SMBs prioritizing more reviews and fewer bad surprises, on a budget | Multi‑location brands consolidating reputation, social, listings, and messaging |
A reality many miss: Apple Maps surfaces Yelp, so iPhone customers often meet your Yelp rating first. That’s why routing happy guests to Yelp when you need it matters, while still growing Google for search/Android. VisibleFeedback’s prompts steer sentiment to the platform that needs love, so your public picture is balanced instead of lopsided.
If you only need review growth + issue interception, paying for listings management, social scheduling, and a full inbox may be overkill. Reported Birdeye starter tiers around $299–$349 per location/month add up quickly for simple needs.
VisibleFeedback keeps the stack lean: you keep your existing social/listings tools (or none at all) and invest where it moves the needle, the feedback funnel.
If you’re an owner‑operator or small team and your goal is simple, get more Google/Yelp reviews, stop preventable one‑stars, and keep costs sane, VisibleFeedback is the smarter buy.
If you’re a multi‑location brand replacing several vendors with one platform and you can justify per‑location spend, Birdeye is a strong suite with the breadth to match.
Either way, make your tool serve a feedback funnel:
1) capture private truth fast 2) fix issues before they’re public 3) route happy customers to the platform that matters today.
If you want a side‑by‑side checklist or a migration plan, I’ve got one ready, no fluff, just steps.
Bad reviews can scare away potential customers. Intercept feedback in real time with VisibleFeedback.
Austin Spaeth is the founder of VisibleFeedback, a simple tool that helps brick-and-mortar businesses intercept negative reviews before they go public. With a background in software development and a passion for improving customer experience, Austin built VisibleFeedback to give business owners a frictionless way to collect private feedback and turn unhappy visitors into loyal advocates. When he’s not working on new features or writing about reputation strategy, he’s probably wrangling one of his six kids or sneaking in a beach day.
Whether you have no reviews, bad ones, or great ones, we’ll help you turn your feedback into growth.
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