You've worked hard on your Google reviews. Maybe you've got 50, maybe 150. That's great—but potential clients are checking more than just Google before they book. Wedding clients check Hitched. Corporate clients check Trustpilot. Everyone checks Facebook. Here's how to build a reputation that follows customers wherever they look.
Why Multi-Platform Reviews Matter
Different customers use different platforms to research vendors:
- Google: The default. Most people start here. Critical for local SEO
- Facebook: Where people ask friends for recommendations. Your Facebook reviews influence word-of-mouth
- Hitched/Bridebook: Where engaged couples search for wedding vendors specifically
- Bark/Poptop: Where event organisers find and compare vendors by quote
- Trustpilot: Where corporate and detail-oriented clients check. High trust factor
- Instagram: Not technically reviews, but comments and tagged posts serve the same function
A potential client who sees you rated highly across multiple platforms has far more confidence than one who only finds you on Google. It feels like consensus rather than a single data point.
Platform-by-Platform Strategy
Google Business Profile
Still the most important. If you haven't already:
- Claim and verify your Google Business Profile
- Add high-quality photos (updated quarterly)
- Post updates regularly (Google rewards active profiles)
- Respond to every review—positive and negative—within 48 hours
- Use your direct review link in follow-up messages to clients
Facebook recommendations work differently from Google reviews. They're binary (recommend or don't) with optional comments. The key is volume:
- After every event, share photos and tag the client (with permission). They'll often leave a recommendation organically
- When someone recommends you in a local group, thank them publicly. Others will pile on with their own endorsements
- Keep your Facebook page active—dead pages don't inspire confidence regardless of review count
Wedding Platforms (Hitched, Bridebook, UKbride)
If weddings are a significant part of your business, these platforms are essential:
- Create complete profiles with professional photos, pricing guidance, and detailed descriptions
- After every wedding, send the couple a direct link to your profile on their platform of choice
- Respond to every enquiry promptly—platforms track and display your response time
- Some platforms offer awards based on review volume and quality—worth pursuing for the badge credibility
💡 Pro Tip
Ask wedding clients to leave reviews on Hitched or Bridebook rather than Google. They'll often leave one on Google anyway from habit, but their platform review reaches engaged couples who are actively searching for vendors—a much more targeted audience.
Trustpilot
Trustpilot carries weight with corporate clients and cautious bookers. It's free to set up a business profile:
- Register at business.trustpilot.com
- Use their invitation feature to request reviews by email after events
- Trustpilot reviews appear in Google search results, improving your visibility
- Even 10–15 genuine Trustpilot reviews significantly boost your credibility with certain audiences
Lead Generation Platforms (Bark, Poptop, Add to Event)
If you use these platforms to find work, reviews on them directly affect whether you win quotes:
- After completing a booking from a platform, immediately request a review through that platform's system
- Higher-rated vendors appear higher in search results on these sites
- Some platforms weight recent reviews more heavily—keep a steady flow coming
How to Ask for Reviews (Without Being Awkward)
Most happy clients are willing to leave a review—they just need a nudge. The key is timing and simplicity:
The Perfect Moment
Ask when the positive emotion is highest:
- At the event: When a client thanks you or compliments the food, say "That means a lot—would you mind leaving us a quick review?" and hand them a card with a QR code
- The morning after: Send a thank-you message with "If you have 30 seconds, a review on [platform] would really help us"
- Don't wait more than a week: The emotional connection fades quickly. Strike while the memory is fresh
Make It Easy
- Send a direct link—not "find us on Google." Every extra step halves your conversion
- QR codes on thank-you cards, follow-up emails, or even printed on your receipts
- Tell them it takes 30 seconds. And make sure it actually does—test the link yourself
The Follow-Up Template
Keep it warm, short, and genuine:
Hi [Name],
Thanks again for having us at [event]. We really enjoyed it!
If you have 30 seconds, we'd really appreciate a quick review—it makes a huge difference for small businesses like ours.
[Direct review link]
Thanks so much,
[Your name]
Handling Negative Reviews
They happen to everyone. How you respond matters more than the review itself:
- Don't respond immediately: Read it, feel the sting, then wait at least a few hours before replying
- Acknowledge and empathise: "I'm sorry your experience wasn't what you expected" costs nothing and shows maturity
- Take it offline: "I'd love to discuss this further—could you email me at [address]?" moves the conversation to private
- Never argue publicly: Even if the review is unfair, a defensive response looks worse than the original complaint
- Learn from legitimate criticism: If multiple reviews mention the same issue, it's not them—it's you. Fix it
💡 Pro Tip
A profile with 50 five-star reviews and one three-star review actually looks more trustworthy than a profile with 50 five-star reviews and nothing else. Perfect scores can feel fake. A thoughtful response to a less-than-perfect review shows you care.
Tracking Your Reputation
- Set up Google Alerts for your business name to catch mentions you might miss
- Check each platform monthly—don't let reviews go unresponded-to
- Keep a spreadsheet tracking your review count and average rating per platform
- Set quarterly goals: "10 new Google reviews, 5 new Hitched reviews this quarter"
Your online reputation is the most powerful marketing asset you have. It works while you sleep, it convinces people who've never met you, and it compounds over time. Invest 15 minutes after every event in nurturing it, and you'll build something that no amount of advertising can buy: genuine trust.
