Five-star reviews are your strongest asset when people are deciding whether to book a pottery class, join a weekend workshop, or sign up for a guided tour. A single negative review can cost you dozens of potential students—and conversely, a handful of glowing testimonials can fill your calendar within weeks.
Why Reviews Matter for Experience Businesses
Experience businesses live or die by word-of-mouth and social proof. Unlike buying a product online, people booking a class or workshop are making a personal commitment: their time, money, and often their willingness to try something new. They want proof that your instruction is solid, your space is welcoming, and the experience actually delivers what you promise. Reviews provide that proof before they hand over payment.
The numbers back this up. Potential customers spend an average of 10–15 minutes reading reviews before committing to a booking, and 72% of people trust a business more if they see recent 5-star ratings. For experience businesses charging anywhere from $30 for a single class to $500+ for multi-day workshops, that trust gap is massive.
Earn Reviews Proactively—Don't Wait for Luck
Most experience business owners assume reviews will come naturally if the experience is good. They won't. You'll get maybe one review for every 30–50 participants who don't spontaneously leave feedback. You need to ask.
Timing is critical. Request reviews within 24–48 hours of the experience ending, while the positive emotions are still fresh. Send a simple email or text with a direct link to where they can leave feedback—whether that's Google, your Mercoly listing, Facebook, or your website. A single friction point (making them hunt for the review link) cuts response rates by 50%.
Make the ask low-pressure. A template like this works:
"Hi [Name], thanks so much for coming to the workshop today. We'd love to hear what you thought—reviews take just a minute and help other students find us. Here's the link: [URL]."
Incentivize (Carefully)
Offering a small incentive for reviews is legal and effective—but don't overdo it. Offer a discount on a future class ($5–$10 off their next booking) or a bonus add-on (free 15-minute consultation, extra material, extended access to recordings) rather than cash.
Never require a 5-star review or penalize honest feedback. Platforms flag this, and it erodes trust. Aim for "we'd love your honest feedback" rather than "leave us a 5-star."
Systematize Your Review Process
Build review requests into your business workflow:
- Post-class email: Send within 24 hours with a pre-written link
- Text reminder: For in-person experiences, send a text the day after (if you have consent)
- Follow-up sequences: Send a second gentle reminder after one week if the first request gets no response
- List on discovery platforms: Listing your experience business on Mercoly and similar platforms increases visibility and makes it easier for attendees to leave reviews where potential customers actually search
Track how many people leave reviews. If your review rate is below 5%, your ask process needs refinement.
What Actually Gets Reviews Written (And Shared)
People are more likely to leave a review if they have something specific to praise:
- Instructor expertise or personable teaching style
- Clean, well-equipped space
- Small class sizes that feel personalized
- Clear communication before/after the experience
- A photo op or shareable moment they can post to social media
If you offer a pottery workshop, the kiln space should be immaculate. If you lead hiking tours, your safety briefing and knowledge should be obvious. If you teach dance, music should be loud enough to feel energetic but not so loud people are shouting. These details become review material.
Respond to Every Review
Aim to respond to all reviews—positive and negative—within 48 hours. Thank people by name, mention a specific detail from their class, and add a personal touch ("Your glazing technique was really creative," not "Thanks for choosing us").
For the rare negative review, respond professionally without getting defensive. Offer to make it right offline: "Hi [Name], we're sorry the pacing didn't work for you. We'd love to understand more—could you email us?" This shows other potential customers that you care about quality and handle problems constructively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does it typically take to get enough reviews to influence booking decisions? A: 10–15 reviews with an average rating of 4.8+ stars or higher typically creates enough social proof to noticeably boost bookings. You might accumulate this over 2–3 months with 20+ participants per month and a 5% review rate.
Q: Should I ask for reviews on multiple platforms, or focus on one? A: Focus on whichever platform your target customers use most (Google if local, Mercoly or Yelp for experience discovery). Once you have momentum there, expand to Facebook and your website.
Q: What should I do if a competitor has way more reviews than me? A: Don't panic. Older businesses accumulate reviews naturally. Implement the systematic approach above, and you'll close the gap within 6–12 months. Quality and recency of reviews matter more than raw volume.
Get your experience business listed on Mercoly today to increase visibility and make reviews easier for customers to find and leave.