⭐️ Stop Asking for Reviews at the

Worst Time (Small-Business Playbook)⭐️

Hey business owners and fellow Realtors! 👋 I’m Mike Ferrante with the 21 Mike Team at Century 21 HomeStar, serving Greater Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, and Central Ohio—from Lakewood, Parma, and Solon to Akron/Canton, Youngstown, Columbus, Mount Vernon, and Howard/Apple Valley Lake. If you’ve got an Ohio real estate need, hit 21mike.com and click the button at the top to schedule with me or someone on the team. You can also email me directly at mike@21mike.com.

Today’s training is for any business that depends on online trust: you’re probably asking for reviews at the wrong time—and in the wrong way. Let’s fix that with a simple, geo-smart, SEO-friendly system you can deploy this week. 🚀

Why Reviews Matter in Cleveland & Central Ohio 🧠

Buyers Google first—even when you were referred. “Best Realtor in Cleveland,” “top plumber in Columbus,” “Apple Valley Lake agent,” etc.
Google reviews influence maps rankings (“near me” searches), which means more calls from Lakewood, Westlake, Strongsville—or Dublin, Worthington, Gahanna—without paying for ads.
Reviews are conversion boosters on Zillow, Facebook, and your website. Social proof = more yeses. ✅

The #1 Mistake: Asking at Closing 😬

Closing is chaos. People are packing, signing, moving utilities—your request becomes homework. Plus, any last-minute title/mortgage hiccup (even if it’s not your fault) can color the whole experience.

Ask Here Instead (the “Right Time” playbook)

Under Contract (Best Time)
Lots of waiting + good vibes = action.

“While we’re waiting on appraisal/title, would you mind sharing your experience so far? It means a lot and helps other Cleveland/Columbus families find us. Here’s the link—it takes 60 seconds.”
After a ‘Win’ Moment
- Offer accepted in Solon?
- Multiple offers won in West Park?
- Smooth inspection in Mount Vernon?
  Celebrate the win, then ask.
Service Touchpoints (Even if No Sale Yet)
Market updates, vendor help, or showings count. Reviews like “kept us informed about Akron market trends for 6 months” are gold.
30–60 Days After Move-In
“How’s the house?” Check in like a pro. If they’ve reviewed you on Google, ask for Zillow or Facebook next.

Make It Frictionless (or it won’t happen) 🪄

One-tap link everywhere: email signature, text signature, website, QR code on your listing packets and open house flyers.
Choose your platforms:
- Google (Maps/SEO king)
- Zillow (real estate social proof)
- Facebook (community trust & shares)
Don’t make them search your name. Every extra click loses reviewers.

Copy-Paste Scripts That Get Reviews 💬

Text (Under Contract – Cleveland example):
“Big step in the books! 🎉 While we’re waiting on appraisal, would you mind posting a quick review about your experience so far? It helps other families in Cleveland find safe guidance. It’s super fast: [your Google review link]”

Email (Post-Win in Columbus):
Subject: Quick favor + thank you 🙏
“Congrats again on winning the house in Clintonville! If you can spare a minute, a review helps other Columbus buyers who are overwhelmed by the market. Here’s the link: [Google link]. If you prefer, here’s Zillow too: [Zillow link]. Thank you!”

Follow-Up (30–60 Days – Apple Valley Lake):
“How’s the place on Apple Valley Lake? Any contractors you need? If you haven’t had a chance to review us yet, here’s the link: [Google link]. If you already did Google (thank you!), would you copy/paste it to Facebook? [FB link]”

What To Say (SEO That Actually Works) 🔎

Coach your clients (briefly) to be specific:

Neighborhoods & cities: “sold our Parma bungalow,” “bought in German Village,” “Hudson relocation.”
Situations: “first-time buyer,” “multiple offers,” “contingent sale,” “VA loan,” “lake home.”
Services: “weekly market updates,” “vendor list,” “negotiation strategy,” “staging/photos.”

Then you reply to every review and add keywords naturally:
“Helping your family relocate from Lakewood to Solon during multiple-offer season was an honor. Enjoy the new kitchen!”

Is It OK to Incentivize? 🎁

You can thank people for a review (e.g., coffee card, monthly drawing).
Don’t say “5-star for a gift.” Ask for an honest review.
Pro tip: run appreciation drawings for repeat customers or past clients—it encourages long-term engagement.

Handling the Occasional Negative Review 🧯

Respond quickly, professionally, and with empathy.
“Thanks for sharing your perspective. We looked into it—this issue stemmed from a third-party delay. We advocated hard for you and we’re available at mike@21mike.com to make anything we control right.”
Do not argue. Invite offline resolution.
Flag fraud with the platform if it’s clearly not your customer.
Dilute with positives: ask 10 happy clients for reviews this week.

Your 7-Day Review Sprint 🗓️

Day 1: Create a simple page with two buttons (Google + Zillow) and a QR code.
Day 2–3: Text all under-contract clients (Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus).
Day 4: Email last 60–90 days of closings; ask for a second platform.
Day 5: DM past clients you helped with market updates only (no sale) and ask for a review about your guidance.
Day 6: Reply to every existing Google/Zillow review with geo-specific thanks.
Day 7: Share a “thank-you wall” post on Facebook tagging cities/neighborhoods (e.g., Beachwood, Westerville, Avon).

Bottom Line

Ask earlier, make it stupid-simple, be specific, and reply to everyone. That’s how you stack Google stars, climb local Maps in Cleveland and Columbus, and turn quiet fans into loud, SEO-friendly advocates. 🌟

Need a quick audit of your review links or a micro-market update for your zip?
👉 Schedule at 21mike.com or email mike@21mike.com.

Let’s grow your reviews (and your business) the smart, local way. 💪🏽🟡🎉

For more great Real Estate content:

You can listen to our Podcast FREE BEER AND REAL ESTATE, or on YouTube for Mike’s weekly classes!!!