---
id: "claim-businesses-dont-ask-for-reviews"
type: "claim"
source_timestamps: ["00:19:42", "00:19:46"]
tags: ["reputation-management", "statistics"]
related: ["concept-review-and-referral-automation"]
confidence: "high"
testable: true
speakers: ["JP Middleton"]
---
# Only 11% of businesses ask their customers for reviews

## Claim
Despite **97% of consumers reading reviews** before purchase, only **11% of businesses** have a proactive mechanism for asking their customers to leave a review — leaving a massive gap for agencies to solve.

## Confidence (as stated)
High — testable.

## Expert Re-Assessment
- **Directionally supported**: A minority of small businesses systematically request reviews. Multiple surveys confirm review-request behavior is underutilized.
- The **precise 11%** figure is **weakly sourced**. When it appears online, it is mostly in secondary marketing content quoting itself.
- Adjacent BrightLocal data shows ~66% of consumers had been asked for a review (implying many businesses *do* ask, even if not systematically). Other small-business surveys cite 20–30% with formal review-gathering processes.
- **Treat 11% as approximate**, not authoritative.

## Related
- Concept: [[concept-review-and-referral-automation]]
- Companion stat: [[claim-reviews-drive-revenue]]