How to win over new customers using reviews
“If you love seafood and you are in LA, this is the place you MUST go to! And the next time you visit LA, you will come back again. Your friends and family will praise you if you bring them here.”
It’s hard to not get excited reading a review like this. You can almost taste the fresh seafood, lively atmosphere, and the joy of sharing the experience with loved ones at Holbox—voted #1 on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in 2025. Reviews like this do more than praise the positives of a business—they create a sense of anticipation for future customers to experience similar quality.
When people see authentic endorsements from others, they start picturing themselves enjoying that 5-star experience. So how do you ensure potential customers see these standout reviews? How can you showcase glowing reviews to build trust and encourage new visitors? Here are five ways to highlight customer reviews and turn them into powerful tools for your business.
1. Highlight reviews on your website and social media
More than 70% of consumers are always or regularly reading reviews when browsing for a local business. Make their decision easier by showcasing your best reviews across your social media profiles and website. A dedicated reviews page on your website can feature the best of your customer feedback, helping to build trust and credibility.
For example, Mediterranean restaurant De Babel, ranked #3 on Yelp’s Top 100 restaurant list of 2025, has a dedicated section on their website for awards and recognition. They also link to top reviews from their Yelp Page, like this one: “This place is absolutely top shelf. I can’t think of any other restaurant serving Mediterranean food that does the cuisine better than what I had here.” – Parry T., California.
Social media is another useful tool for spreading positive customer sentiment and generating word of mouth. Share customer testimonials on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X with accompanying images of your product or service to craft a compelling narrative. It’s easy to share reviews to Facebook and X directly from your Yelp Page.
The #8 restaurant from Yelp’s list of Top Places to Eat in 2025, The Good Salad, posted a slideshow of 5-star Yelp reviews on their Instagram feed. Regularly spotlighting customer reviews to your broader audience will help build trust in your brand and encourage others to leave their own thoughts as well.
2. Recognize and motivate your team with customer praise
Your team is an essential part of the customer experience. Recognizing their hard work through positive reviews can help boost morale plus reinforce business policies and procedures, creating a consistent experience customers can rely on. When a customer highlights a specific employee or team in their review, share that feedback in staff meetings, company newsletters, or internal messaging systems.
Additionally, encouraging an open dialogue about customer feedback—both positive and critical—can help your team refine their skills. When constructive criticism appears in a review, use it as an opportunity for growth and improvement. By showing you value customer feedback, you foster an engaged team while showing customers you care about their experience.
Il Canale, a family-owned, Italian restaurant in Washington, D.C., has received over 4,500 Yelp reviews—2,000 of which reference “attentive staff.” According to owner Alessandro, communicating Yelp reviews to staff makes it easier for them to thrive: “The biggest challenge with having such a large team is having every single person follow your vision… but it’s just about providing [feedback] resources.”
Read more: Learn how a Marriott hotel uses and responds to customer feedback
3. Display your favorites and incorporate them into your marketing
Glowing customer testimonials can reassure new and returning customers alike, so highlight your best reviews in store or on site in creative ways. Consider printing them on posters, creating a rotating display on digital screens, or even incorporating them into menu designs. These simple yet effective inclusions make your brand synonymous with customer trust and show customers you value them, not just their business.
Aligned Modern Health, a natural healthcare provider in the Chicagoland area, elevates their physical marketing using Yelp reviews by showcasing a “review of the month” next to the front desk. This way, every client who visits sees social proof of their high-quality service.
Businesses can also incorporate top reviews into promotional materials, like email newsletters, brochures, and digital advertisements. If you offer physical products, think about adding reviews on packaging materials. This type of marketing builds credibility by ensuring potential customers see authentic endorsements from fans of your business.
4. Actively respond to Yelp reviews—both positive and critical
How you respond to reviews sets the tone for your brand’s commitment to customer satisfaction. When you receive a positive review, take a moment to thank the customer publicly. Expressing appreciation for their support is an easy way to highlight aspects of their review that align with your business values. Not only does this make the reviewer feel heard and valued, but it also encourages others to share their perspectives.
While criticism can sting, it’s equally as important to respond to critical reviews. Take a moment, or even a few days, to cool down if you need to. When you respond, think of it as an opportunity to display your professionalism and desire to listen. Acknowledge the customer’s concerns, offer a solution if applicable, and invite them to connect further to resolve the original issue. A thoughtful response demonstrates you care about customer experiences and are willing to take action to improve.
Don’t have time to tackle every review alone? You can invite up to 15 users to your Yelp Page. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana is among businesses that tap into their team to respond to their reviews.
“I have people that look at reviews every day and address them as quickly as we can. My managers come to me and say, ‘It’s been awesome. We’ve had 20 5-star reviews, and then we had a bad one.’ Maybe something wasn’t clean or it was loud. I get it. We do take it to heart,” says owner Tony Gemignani.
Prospective customers who see a response will be more likely to trust your business. According to BrightLocal, 89% of consumers say they’re more likely to use a business if they see the owner responds to reviews.
Read more: Try these tips for responding to reviews on Yelp
5. Leverage user-generated content for authentic promotion
Customers love sharing their experiences, and their user-generated content (UGC) can serve as an organic extension of your marketing efforts. Encourage customers to share photos and videos from their Yelp reviews about your business on social media. You can incentivize them by running hashtag campaigns or featuring the best UGC posts on your official pages.
Showcasing real customer experiences adds authenticity to your brand and increases community engagement. Whether it’s a foodie sharing a picture of their meal or a thrift shopper showing off their rare find at your store, UGC multimedia reinforces trust in a way traditional advertising can’t.
Building a passionate community base is a central element of inspiring customers to vouch for your business. Bakery Donutopia excels at receiving UGC because of its commitment to community and quality offerings. Take a look at these mouth-watering UCG examples from Yelp Elite reviewer Joshua H.
Maximizing the reach of your online reviews is an effective way to build your reputation and direct future guests to join the conversation about your business. Add in a combination of the tips above to elevate your marketing strategy and create stronger, more meaningful connections with staff and customers alike.
Yelp tip #1: Follow the Yelp Brand Guidelines for using reviews to preserve authenticity, such as keeping the original wording, using recommended reviews, and giving credit to the reviewer.
Yelp tip #2: Yelp strongly discourages businesses from soliciting reviews so feedback remains as unbiased and honest as possible. Here are some great ways to get Yelp reviews without asking.