How to get more reviews for your business with Email, SMS & QR Codes
By Lily Vuong
Jun 12, 2025
Getting reviews isn’t just about sending a message and hoping for the best. It’s about reaching out at the right time, through the right channel, in a way that feels personal and effortless.
Sounds easy; but it isn’t. And if you own or run a store, you’ll likely already know that.
To do it well, you need to understand your customers: how they shop, where they hang out online (or offline), and when they’re most likely to share feedback.
Do they scroll through email with their morning coffee? Tap through texts on the go? Leave feedback right after unboxing?
In this guide, we’ll show you how to make the most of email – the foundation of review collection – and layer in other techniques to create a review strategy that feels natural and, is most importantly, effective.
The problem with relying on one channel
The average person receives 121 emails per day. That’s a lot of noise to cut through.
Even a beautifully crafted request might get lost. Plus, with over 50% of emails opened on mobile devices, long or clunky designs can be quickly dismissed.
That’s why counting on email alone can leave a lot of potential reviews on the table.
A multichannel strategy, like adding SMS or QR codes alongside email, helps you reach different kinds of customers in the ways they actually engage with your brand.
You’re not here to overwhelm them – you’re just giving them more ways to respond when it suits them, in a format that suits them.
The more in tune you are with your customer journey, the easier it is to meet them where they are, which is why having a multichannel approach in place is important.
What is the best way to collect reviews from customers?
If you're new to collecting reviews, email is the best place to start – and for good reason. It’s the most established and trusted way to reach out to customers after a purchase.
In most modern societies, people are used to receiving order confirmations, shipping updates, and support responses by email, so a review request fits in naturally.
It also gives you more flexibility than other channels. You can include product images, customize your message with your branding, and even gently guide customers through what kind of feedback you’re hoping for.
Once set up, email review requests can run automatically in the background, saving you time in terms of operating but also continuing to build trust and social proof for your brand.
Tips to make your email review requests effective:
Keep it on-brand: Your colors, your logo, your tone—consistency builds trust.
Avoid being robotic: Be warm, grateful, and casual. A simple “We’d love to hear what you think” goes a long way.
One button, one goal: A big, clear “Leave a Review” button works way better than five scattered links.
Make it personal: Mention the customer’s name, or the product they ordered. It turns a mass email into something that feels just for them.
Keep it short: People skim. Say what you need to say, then get out of the way.
Make it easy: The fewer clicks between “open email” and “leave review,” the better.
Once you’ve nailed down a solid email request, you can layer on SMS and QR codes for even more impact.
But if you’re just getting started, email gives you the strongest, and simplest, foundation to grow from.
Here are a couple examples of how brands have collected reviews from emails that might give you some inspiration with your own. Cornet Barcelona uses gold stars that match their brand style.
Where Mount to Coast uses a big picture and friendly text to connect with customers.
Neither wrong or right, it's simply about understanding what type of interaction your customers are likely to prefer.
SMS: A gentle nudge that cuts through the noise
In the last 12 months, Judge.me merchants have collected 11,498 reviews via SMS – a clear signal that this channel is not only growing but working.
Sometimes, customers don’t check their email, or just prefer quicker communication. That’s where can SMS help.
It gives customers another way to respond if the email didn’t get through or just didn’t land at the right moment. It’s especially helpful for mobile-first shoppers or people who appreciate fast, no-fuss interactions.
What works well when it comes to collecting reviews via SMS?
Keep it short and sweet: A line or two is plenty.
Sound friendly and casual: “Still loving your new yoga mat? We’d love to hear your thoughts!”
Use the customer’s name if possible: Personal touches make texts feel more genuine.
Include your store name: So the recipient immediately knows who it’s from.
Make it easy: Include a direct link to the review form.
When used alongside email, SMS increases your chances of connecting with customers – without being overbearing.
Did you know that Judge.me integrates with SMS tools like SMSBump and ConvertWay, so sending these is super simple? If not, take a look at our integrations list!
QR Codes: Catch the moment while it’s fresh
QR codes are everywhere now. Whether or not you think they’re as effective, is up to you but from restaurant menus to contactless payments, it’s hard to miss them.
In the past year alone, 19,575 reviews were collected through QR codes using Judge.me. Just place them on your packaging, receipts, or in-store displays, and customers can scan and leave a review.
Their same simplicity makes them a great tool for collecting reviews, especially when customers are offline but engaged.
This works best in physical settings like brick-and-mortar stores, pop-up shops, or subscription boxes (basically anywhere your product is being unboxed or used in real time.)
This method can really improve response rates as people have that initial engagement and enjoyment of receiving their item, but it also can allow customers to review on their own terms, at their own pace.
Tips for making your QR codes count:
Keep the message clear and friendly: Add a line like “Enjoying your purchase? Scan to leave a quick review.”
Ensure your page is mobile-friendly: Customers will be scanning on their phones, so the experience should be smooth.
Design with your brand in mind: QR codes can look good too—use a branded color frame or place it on a nice background.
Check scan-ability: Test it at different sizes and surfaces to make sure it always works.
QR codes are especially helpful for brick-and-mortar shops, subscription boxes, or any product with an immediate “wow” factor.
And if you’re using Judge.me, you can easily generate branded QR codes that link directly to your review form – perfect for printing or digital use.
How to combine communication and marketing channels without overloading
A multichannel approach only works if it feels natural. Too many messages too close together? That’s a one-way ticket to unsubscribes.
There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy – but there is a smart way to tailor your mix to how your customers behave.
Ask yourself:
Are they mobile-first or more email-focused?
Do they act quickly, or take time to reflect?
Are there key moments when they’re most likely to share feedback?
Here’s a simple playbook you might look to adopt:
Send your first review request email a few days after fulfillment – following up with one or two gentle reminders if needed.
Add SMS as a companion message to reach customers who prefer mobile or missed your email.
Include QR codes on packaging or in-store to capture feedback in real time.
A couple extra tips worth keeping in mind – and to reiterate one that’s already been mentioned – be thoughtful with your timing.
Don’t overload your customers, and make sure your messages are spaced out in a way that feels natural.
It’s also important to keep your tone and visuals consistent across email, SMS, and packaging so your brand always feels familiar.
Lastly, we always suggest to our merchants to keep testing and refining your approach.
By trying out different formats, timings, and channels to find what clicks best with your audience.
Wrapping up: Meet customers where they are
Getting more reviews isn’t about being louder. It’s about being smarter.
Start with a solid email foundation, then expand with SMS and QR codes based on your customers’ preferences and behavior.
When you make it easy and comfortable for customers to leave a review, more of them will.
Also, don’t just start throwing in new tech or collection strategies without really honing in on the type of customers you have. Think, can you imagine how a person might look at receiving a review request in this format?
Then, when it all clicks and the reviews are rolling in, that feedback becomes the fuel for stronger trust, better products, and lasting customer relationships.
