Facebook Recommendations are the Yes/No review system that replaced star ratings in 2018. Local businesses can get more of them by enabling the feature, asking customers via SMS and email, using automation tools like Podium and Arrivala, deploying QR codes, and responding actively to their page. Facebook holds 19% of all online customer reviews, making it one of the most important reputation platforms a local business can build on.
Your potential customers are checking Facebook before they walk through your door. According to ReviewTrackers, 2 out of 3 Facebook users visit a local business Page at least once a week. And when they get there, the first thing many of them look for is what other people think of you.
That is where Facebook Recommendations come in. Since 2018, Facebook replaced its traditional 5-star rating system with a simpler Yes/No format called Recommendations. Customers can now say whether they recommend your business, add tags, upload photos, and leave written feedback. It sounds straightforward. But for most local business owners, actually getting those Recommendations to stack up is where things get hard.
Here is the reality: 92.4% of consumers use online reviews to guide their purchasing decisions, according to ReviewTrackers. That is not a trend. That is the default behavior of the modern customer. If your Facebook Page is sitting at a handful of Recommendations while a competitor has hundreds, that gap is costing you customers every week.
This guide covers 10 proven ways to get more Facebook Recommendations for your local business, plus four key benefits that explain why this effort is worth your time.
What Are Facebook Recommendations, and How Do They Work?
Before getting into strategy, it helps to understand the mechanics. In August 2018, Facebook overhauled local business Pages and renamed their Reviews system “Recommendations.” The star rating was dropped entirely. When someone visits your Page now, they see a prompt asking: “Do you recommend [business name]?” They click Yes or No, then have the option to add a written comment, upload photos, and select tags that describe their experience.
Recommendations appear on your Page’s Reviews tab and factor into your overall rating. Older star-based reviews still count toward that score. What changed is the format — and the fact that Recommendations can be shared with a customer’s wider network, which significantly extends their reach.
One thing to know upfront: you cannot delete individual Recommendations. The only way to remove them entirely is to turn off the whole feature, which also wipes out every positive Recommendation you have earned. That makes getting more positive ones the far smarter path.
10 Ways to Get More Facebook Recommendations for Your Local Business
- How Do You Enable Facebook Recommendations on Your Business Page?
This sounds obvious, but many local business owners miss it. Facebook Recommendations are turned on by default when you create a business Page, but they can sometimes be switched off — either manually or through a settings change you did not notice.
Go to your Page settings, click on “Templates and Tabs,” and make sure the Reviews tab is toggled on. Then drag it to a prominent position so it appears near the top of your Page navigation. Customers who want to leave a Recommendation should not have to search for it. The easier you make it, the more likely they are to follow through.
Once the feature is live, take it a step further. Customize your Page so that your overall rating and Recommendations count are visible the moment someone lands on your profile. First impressions shape behavior, and a Page that clearly displays social proof draws more of it.
- How Can Email and SMS Requests Help You Get More Facebook Recommendations?
Asking is the single most underused tactic in review collection. Most customers who had a great experience with your business will never think to leave a Recommendation unless someone asks them. The ask just needs to be easy, timely, and direct.
Email works well for businesses with a customer contact list. Keep the message short: thank the customer, explain that their feedback helps other people find your business, and drop a direct link to your Facebook Recommendations page. According to ReviewTrackers, the best time to send review request emails is between 2 to 3 p.m. or 6 to 7 p.m. Those windows consistently produce higher open and completion rates.
SMS is even more effective. Podium, a customer communication platform built for local businesses, notes that text messages carry a 98% open rate, with 95% of texts read within three minutes. That kind of reach is hard to match with any other channel. A well-timed text asking a customer for their thoughts right after a service appointment or purchase can produce Recommendations at a rate email simply cannot match.
Make sure you have customer consent before sending SMS messages. Keep your message conversational and include a short, direct link. Complexity kills completion.
- Should You Ask Family, Friends, and Loyal Regulars for Facebook Recommendations?
At the start, yes. When your Page is new or you have very few Recommendations, a small number of trusted voices can give you the foundation you need. Ask family members, close friends, and your most loyal regulars to leave honest Recommendations based on their genuine experiences with your business.
This is not about manufacturing fake reviews. It is about closing the gap between the quality of your business and the social proof your Page actually displays. People who know your work well and have real experiences to share are the right starting point.
Be transparent when you ask. Tell them you are trying to build your online presence and that an honest review would mean a great deal. Most people are happy to help when the request is genuine and the effort required is minimal.
- How Can Facebook Messenger and Chatbots Generate More Recommendations?
Facebook Messenger is a direct, personal channel that most local businesses are not using to its full potential. When a customer messages your Page to ask a question, book an appointment, or follow up after a purchase, that conversation is a natural opportunity to request a Recommendation once the interaction is resolved.
A simple, friendly follow-up message — “We are glad we could help. If you have a moment, a quick Facebook Recommendation would really help other customers find us” — sent through Messenger after a positive exchange can be surprisingly effective.
Businesses handling higher volumes of Messenger conversations can use Facebook’s built-in automation tools to set up chatbot responses. These can be configured to send a Recommendation request automatically after a conversation is marked as resolved. The key is making the transition feel natural, not robotic. A message that sounds like it comes from a person will always outperform one that sounds like an automated script.
- How Can Tools Like Podium and Arrivala Automate Your Review Request Process?
Manual outreach works. But when you are running a local business and juggling a dozen priorities at once, consistency is what usually falls apart. Automation solves that problem.
Podium is a customer interaction platform designed specifically for local businesses. It lets you send review requests via text, integrates with your CRM or POS system, and triggers requests automatically based on customer actions such as a completed purchase or a closed service ticket. Because Podium operates through SMS, its open rates are dramatically higher than email-only tools. The platform also centralizes responses across multiple review sites, so you can manage your reputation from a single dashboard.
Arrivala takes a similar approach and is particularly well-suited for businesses in the hospitality and service industries. It automates the full review request process, including follow-up reminders for customers who did not respond to the first message. Arrivala tracks who has and has not left a review, removes those who have already responded from future requests, and sends timed nudges that keep your review collection moving without requiring any manual effort on your part.
Both platforms make it possible to collect Recommendations at a scale that manual outreach cannot match. When Lake Powell Paddleboards implemented Podium’s review automation, the company grew from fewer than 100 TripAdvisor reviews and just 11 Google reviews to nearly 300 on TripAdvisor and 400 on Google, all with an average rating of 4.9 stars. That kind of growth is what systematic automation looks like in practice.
- How Do You Embed a Facebook Recommendations Link on Your Website?
Your website is already attracting people who are interested in your business. Give them an easy path to leave a Recommendation while they are engaged.
The most effective placements are your homepage, your contact page, and your post-purchase or booking confirmation page. Add a clear call-to-action button or link that directs visitors straight to your Facebook Recommendations section. Do not make them hunt for it.
A short, branded URL is better than a long, complex link. Tools like Bitly let you create a clean, memorable link you can use in web copy, email signatures, printed materials, and anywhere else you interact with customers.
If your website includes a testimonials or reviews section, consider embedding your top Facebook Recommendations there directly. It reinforces your reputation and gives visitors another visible prompt to contribute their own.
- Can Rewards and Incentives Help You Get More Facebook Recommendations?
Used carefully, yes. Offering customers a small thank-you in exchange for leaving a Recommendation can increase response rates. Common approaches include a discount on their next visit, entry into a monthly prize draw, or a small complimentary item.
The important boundary to respect: never offer incentives specifically in exchange for positive Recommendations. The ask should always be framed as a request for honest feedback, with the reward as a general thank-you for taking the time. Facebook’s guidelines prohibit incentivized reviews that are tied to a specific rating outcome.
A loyalty program structure works well here. Businesses that already reward repeat customers can integrate Recommendation requests into their existing loyalty communication. Customers who feel valued by your business are both more likely to leave a Recommendation and more likely to leave a positive one.
- How Can QR Codes Help You Collect More Facebook Recommendations?
QR codes have proven themselves as a practical review collection tool, particularly for businesses with a physical location. A QR code printed on a receipt, displayed at the checkout counter, placed on a table tent, or included in a packaging insert gives customers a frictionless path to your Recommendations page right at the moment they are most satisfied with their experience.
The setup is simple. Most free QR code generators let you create a code that links directly to your Facebook Page’s Recommendations section. You can then print or display that code anywhere customers spend time before or after a transaction.
Cafes, restaurants, salons, and retail stores have seen strong results from counter-top displays and table cards that pair a QR code with a short, friendly message. Something like “Enjoyed your visit? Scan to leave us a Recommendation on Facebook” is enough. No pressure, no complexity, just a clear and easy next step for a customer who is already feeling good about their experience.
- Why Does Responding to Facebook Page Activity Increase the Number of Recommendations You Receive?
Responsiveness signals that your business pays attention. When potential customers see that you reply to Recommendations — especially critical ones — they take it as evidence that you care about your customers’ experiences.
According to ReviewTrackers, 44.6% of consumers are more likely to visit a business that responds to negative reviews. And 53.3% of customers expect a response within seven days. These are not small margins. They represent a direct connection between how you engage with existing feedback and how likely new customers are to trust your business.
When you reply to Recommendations publicly, you also give existing customers a reason to leave their own. A Page where the owner clearly reads and engages with feedback feels more alive and more trustworthy than one where reviews sit unanswered.
Set aside time each week specifically for responding to your Facebook Recommendations. Thank positive reviewers by name. Address concerns raised in critical Recommendations with professionalism and a genuine willingness to make things right. This habit builds the kind of reputation that earns more Recommendations over time.
- How Does Showcasing Your Best Facebook Recommendations Attract More of Them?
Social proof compounds. When customers see that others have already taken the time to recommend your business, they are more inclined to do the same. Make your best Recommendations visible across every channel you control.
Share standout Recommendations as posts on your Facebook Page. Screenshot them and post them to Instagram. Feature them in your email newsletters. Include a selection on your website’s testimonials page. The goal is to make your positive reputation impossible to miss, which creates a cycle: visible social proof generates trust, trust generates customers, satisfied customers generate more Recommendations.
You can also use Facebook’s native features to highlight your top Recommendations within your Page itself. Pin a post featuring a great Recommendation so it appears at the top of your feed. This puts your best social proof front and center for every new visitor.
4 Key Benefits of Facebook Recommendations for Local Businesses
How Do Facebook Recommendations Help You Reach a Bigger Audience?
Facebook holds 19% of all customer reviews online, making it the fourth most-checked review platform behind Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor, according to ReviewTrackers. That reach is significant on its own. But Recommendations also have a sharing mechanic that amplifies their impact beyond your Page.
When a customer recommends your business and shares it publicly, that Recommendation can appear in the feeds of their friends and connections. For local businesses, this word-of-mouth effect on a digital scale is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to expand brand awareness. A single recommendation from a well-connected customer can reach dozens or hundreds of people who had never heard of your business.
Why Are Facebook Recommendations More Interactive and Feature-Rich Than Traditional Reviews?
The 2018 update that introduced Recommendations also made the format richer. Customers can now add tags that describe specific aspects of their experience, upload photos from their visit, and write detailed written feedback. This creates more useful, detailed Recommendations that go beyond a star rating and a few words.
For potential customers reading these Recommendations, richer content means more confidence. A Recommendation with a photo, specific tags, and a personal account of the experience is far more persuasive than a generic five-star rating. And for you as a business owner, the tag data helps you identify what customers consistently value most about your business.
How Quick and Easy Is It for Customers to Leave a Facebook Recommendation?
The Yes/No format removes one of the main barriers to leaving a review: the pressure of choosing a precise star rating. Customers who might agonize over whether an experience deserves three stars or four can simply click Yes, add a few words, and be done in under a minute.
That simplicity translates directly into higher completion rates. According to data cited by ReviewTrackers, 55% of people consider Facebook the most common place to learn about new brands and products, and 66% say they are likely to share their opinions on purchases through the platform. Facebook Recommendations slot neatly into behavior that customers are already engaging in naturally.
How Do Facebook Recommendations Drive More Organic Reach for Local Businesses?
Facebook states directly that strong Recommendations can make your Page easier to find in Facebook search. This mirrors the relationship between Google reviews and local SEO. The more Recommendations your Page accumulates, the more visible your business becomes to people searching for what you offer within the platform.
This organic discoverability benefit compounds over time. A Page with 200 Recommendations will consistently outperform a Page with 20 in Facebook’s internal search algorithm, all else being equal. Recommendations are not just reputation assets. They are a structural advantage in local discovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Facebook Recommendations
What is the difference between Facebook Reviews and Facebook Recommendations?
Facebook Reviews used a 1 to 5 star rating system. In August 2018, Facebook replaced this with Recommendations, a Yes/No format where customers say whether they recommend a business and can add text, photos, and tags. Historical star ratings still factor into a Page’s overall score, but no new star ratings are collected.
Can I delete a negative Facebook Recommendation?
No. Individual Recommendations cannot be deleted by Page owners. If a Recommendation violates Facebook’s content policies, you can report it for review. Turning off the Recommendations feature entirely removes all reviews, including positive ones, which is rarely the right move.
How many Facebook Recommendations do I need before they make a difference?
There is no fixed number, but pages with fewer than 10 Recommendations are often viewed with skepticism by potential customers. Aim to build at least 25 to 50 genuine Recommendations as a foundation, then keep adding steadily. Volume and recency both matter — recent Recommendations carry more weight than old ones.
When is the best time to ask customers for a Facebook Recommendation?
The best time to ask is immediately after a positive interaction, while the experience is still fresh. For email requests, ReviewTrackers research identifies 2 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. as peak windows for response rates. For SMS requests via tools like Podium, sending within an hour of service completion consistently outperforms delayed requests.
Is it against Facebook’s rules to offer incentives for Recommendations?
Offering a general thank-you incentive for leaving a Recommendation is acceptable. Directly tying a reward to a positive Recommendation is not. The review must always be honest and voluntary. Frame any incentive as appreciation for the customer’s time, not as a condition of receiving a positive response.
What is the best tool for automating Facebook Recommendation requests?
Podium and Arrivala are two of the most widely used options for local businesses. Podium is well-suited for businesses across a range of industries that want SMS-first automation and CRM integration. Arrivala is particularly strong for hospitality and service businesses that need automated follow-up sequences and multi-platform review distribution.