{"id":4061,"date":"2026-06-01T10:30:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T10:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.treatwell.nl/en/partners\/?post_type=blog&p=4061"},"modified":"2026-06-01T12:45:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T12:45:59","slug":"how-to-get-more-salon-reviews","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.treatwell.nl/en/partners\/resources\/blog\/how-to-get-more-salon-reviews\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get more salon reviews (and actually use them to fill your calendar)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One in five client reviews on Treatwell mentions a stylist by name. That\u2019s not just nice feedback. It\u2019s the kind of detail that convinces someone who\u2019s never visited to book with you for the first time.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why reviews do more than make you feel good<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Reviews are how new clients decide whether to trust you with their hair, their skin, or their Saturday morning. A strong review profile doesn\u2019t just look good. It directly affects how many people find you, click through, and book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the Treatwell marketplace, salons with a higher volume of recent reviews consistently appear higher in search results. Google works the same way: fresh, detailed reviews signal to the algorithm that your salon is active, trusted, and worth showing to someone searching for \u201cbalayage near me\u201d. The rate at which new reviews come in matters as much as your overall star rating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a tangible reward for getting this right, too. Treatwell\u2019s Top Rated award<\/a> is given annually to salons that maintain a high volume of five-star reviews. Winners get a badge on their Treatwell profile, a spot in the Top Rated venues filter (which clients actively use to find the best-rated salons), and a physical certificate and window sticker for the salon itself. It\u2019s not a popularity contest. It\u2019s based on real review data from real clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Build a review system, not a reminder<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The difference between salons that get a trickle of reviews and salons that get a steady stream is rarely the quality of service. It\u2019s whether asking for reviews is built into how the salon operates. If it depends on someone remembering to ask at the end of a busy Saturday, it won\u2019t happen consistently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treatwell Connect<\/a> sends automatic review requests to every client after their booking, via email and push notification if they have the Treatwell app. That covers marketplace bookings, bookings through your widget (so anyone who found you via Instagram, Google, or your own website), and even appointments you\u2019ve manually added to your calendar, as long as there\u2019s an email address attached. It\u2019s no extra work for you or your team, and the requests go out every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These requests only go to clients who\u2019ve opted in to receive communications when booking, so you\u2019re never contacting anyone who hasn\u2019t agreed to hear from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That automated layer is your foundation. On top of it, train your team to recognise the moments when a personal ask lands well: a client admiring their new look in the mirror, someone rebooking on the spot, or a first-timer saying they\u2019ll definitely be back. A simple \u201cWe\u2019d love it if you could leave us a quick review. It really helps\u201d is enough. No script needed, just a genuine ask at the right moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Timing it right<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For cuts and blow-dries, the best moment is at checkout or shortly after they leave. They know straight away whether they\u2019re happy. For colour services, it\u2019s worth waiting a day. Clients need to wash it, see it in natural light, and get a few compliments before they\u2019re ready to write something meaningful. For treatments like keratin or extensions, give it a day or two so they can feel the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect\u2019s automated requests handle the timing for standard bookings. For high-value clients or standout services where you want a particularly detailed review, a personal follow-up text from the stylist can make all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make leaving a review as easy as paying the bill<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every extra step between \u201cI should leave a review\u201d and actually submitting one costs you responses. The simpler the path, the more reviews you get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Connect, clients receive a direct link in their post-appointment email. One tap and they\u2019re writing. That\u2019s your primary review channel, and it\u2019s already set up. Treatwell reviews are verified, which builds trust with new clients browsing the marketplace. If you also want to strengthen your Google presence, you can create a shortened review link from your Google Business Profile (look for \u201cShare review form\u201d in your settings) and add it to receipts or your email signature as a secondary touchpoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QR codes work well for catching people in the moment. Print a branded code and place it at the mirror station (where clients are already looking at themselves and feeling good), at checkout, and near the exit. Keep it to three or four well-placed spots. Plastering every surface with review requests creates visual clutter, not conversions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Test your review links regularly. A broken link when someone\u2019s trying to help you is a wasted opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Get reviews that actually say something<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A five-star rating with \u201cGreat service!\u201d is nice, but it doesn\u2019t help future clients picture what it\u2019s like to visit your salon. Detailed reviews, ones that mention a specific stylist, a treatment, or the atmosphere. Those are worth far more. They build trust with new clients and they boost your visibility on Google, because the algorithm picks up on keywords like \u201chair colour correction\u201d or \u201cbest balayage in Amsterdam\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need to give people a script. A gentle prompt is enough: \u201cIf you have a moment to leave a review, it really helps, especially if you mention what we did today.\u201d That gives clients permission to go beyond the generic without putting words in their mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For colour services, event prep, or anything with a visible transformation, you might suggest they mention the result or any compliments they\u2019ve had. Those are the reviews that do the heavy lifting when a stranger is deciding whether to book with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respond to every review, yes, the bad ones too<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Responding to reviews isn\u2019t just good manners. It\u2019s visible to everyone who reads them afterwards. A thoughtful reply to a positive review makes that client feel valued and shows potential clients you\u2019re engaged. A professional response to a negative one shows you take feedback seriously, which often matters more than the complaint itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For positive reviews, keep it warm and brief. Thank them, mention something specific from their review (\u201cso glad you loved the new colour\u201d), and leave it there. No need to write a paragraph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For negative reviews, respond within a day if you can. Acknowledge their experience, don\u2019t get defensive, and offer to resolve it offline. Something like: \u201cWe\u2019re sorry this wasn\u2019t the experience you expected. We\u2019d love the chance to put it right. Please get in touch directly so we can talk it through.\u201d Future clients will judge how you handle criticism far more than whether you occasionally receive it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Connect, you can reply to Treatwell reviews directly from your dashboard. No switching between platforms or logging into separate accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put your best reviews to work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A great review sitting on your Treatwell profile is already doing its job, but it can do more. Share standout reviews on your social channels. A simple screenshot or a branded graphic works well. Tag the client (with their permission) and thank them publicly. It reinforces the relationship and shows your wider audience that real people rate your salon highly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feature recent reviews on your website, in your email newsletters, and even on a small display in the salon itself. The key word is recent. Sharing a review from two years ago suggests nothing noteworthy has happened since. Rotate your featured reviews every few weeks to keep things current.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video testimonials are particularly effective if you can get them. A short clip of a client reacting to their finished look is harder to fake and carries more weight than text. Even a quick Instagram story filmed with the client\u2019s consent can have real impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Get your team invested in reviews<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your stylists and therapists are the reason clients leave good reviews in the first place, so make sure they know when they\u2019re mentioned. Share positive feedback with your team, especially when a client names someone specifically. One in five reviews on Treatwell mentions a stylist by name, and recognising that publicly within the team builds motivation and pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set simple, realistic goals. Something like \u201clet\u2019s aim for ten new reviews this month\u201d gives the team a shared target without making it feel like corporate jargon. Celebrate progress. A quick mention in a team meeting or a message in your group chat goes a long way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to take it further, use Connect\u2019s reports to track which team members are generating the most bookings and cross-reference with who\u2019s getting mentioned in reviews. That data helps you recognise your top performers and identify where others might need support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Three<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Incentivise reviews without breaking the rules<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Google\u2019s policies are clear: you can\u2019t offer incentives specifically for positive reviews. But you can encourage all feedback, and that\u2019s a meaningful distinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A monthly draw where every reviewer (regardless of their rating) gets entered works well. So do small gestures like a handwritten thank-you note or a sample-sized product for anyone who takes the time. The goal is to make leaving a review feel appreciated, not transactional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you must avoid: offering discounts exclusively for five-star reviews, buying reviews, or encouraging the same client to review across multiple platforms. Platforms can detect this, and the penalties (suppressed listings, removed reviews) undo months of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep your profiles working for you<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your Treatwell profile is where most of your reviews will live, so make sure it\u2019s doing you justice. Keep your venue description up to date (Settings > Description in Connect), refresh your portfolio photos regularly using the Connect mobile app, and make sure your featured services reflect what you actually want to promote right now. A strong profile with a healthy review count is what converts a marketplace browser into a booking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Google Business Profile supports your local search visibility, so it\u2019s worth keeping that in good shape too. Make sure your services, opening hours (especially around public holidays), and business categories are accurate. Upload fresh photos regularly. A mix of interior shots, your team at work, and finished results keeps the profile looking active and current.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two profiles serve different purposes: Treatwell is where clients book, and Google is often where they find you first. Keeping both complete and current means you\u2019re covered at every stage of the client journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now, your Treatwell reviews and Google reviews live in separate places, but the stronger both profiles are, the more trust you build wherever a client finds you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Your review quick-start checklist<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n