TL;DR: Facebook Recommendations replaced star ratings in 2018, but they still drive trust and local visibility. To get more Facebook reviews, enable the Reviews tab on your page, share your recommendation link in post-service messages, and respond to every recommendation publicly. The biggest lever is asking — most customers never think to leave a Facebook review unless prompted.
What Are Facebook Reviews Now?
Facebook reviews are now called Facebook Recommendations. In 2018, Facebook replaced the 1-5 star rating system with a binary yes/no recommendation format. When a customer visits your business page, they see “Do you recommend [Business Name]?” and can answer yes or no, then optionally add text, photos, and tags.
The recommendation system is simpler than Google reviews but still carries weight. A Facebook page with dozens of positive recommendations looks more credible than one with zero — both to customers browsing Facebook and to search engines indexing your page.
Why Facebook Reviews Still Matter
Facebook is not the first platform most businesses think about for reviews. Google dominates. But Facebook reviews serve a different purpose:
- Social discovery. When someone shares that they recommended your business, their friends see it. That is organic reach you cannot buy.
- Brand search validation. When a potential customer Googles your business name, your Facebook page often appears on page one. Positive recommendations on that page reinforce trust.
- Referral traffic. Facebook pages with active recommendations get more profile visits, which means more clicks to your website and phone number.
- Local SEO signals. While Facebook reviews do not directly feed Google rankings, consistent activity on your Facebook page (including recommendations) contributes to your overall online presence — a factor Google considers for local results.
How to Enable Reviews on Your Facebook Page
Before you can collect recommendations, the Reviews tab must be active on your page.
Step 1: Go to Page Settings
Log into your Facebook business page. Click Settings in the left sidebar.
Step 2: Find Templates and Tabs
Under the Templates and Tabs section, look for the Reviews tab. If it is listed, make sure it is toggled on.
Step 3: Check Your Page Category
If the Reviews tab does not appear, your page category may not support recommendations. Facebook enables reviews for categories like Local Business, Restaurant, Hotel, Medical, and Company. If your page is categorized as a Community or Personal Blog, switch to a supported category.
Step 4: Verify on Your Public Page
Visit your page as a customer would. You should see a Recommendations section below your page header. If it appears, you are set.
Step-by-Step: Getting More Facebook Recommendations
1. Create Your Direct Recommendation Link
Your Facebook recommendation link follows this format:
facebook.com/[your-page-name]/reviews/
Test it in an incognito browser window. It should load your page with the Recommendations section visible. This is the link you will share in every request.
2. Add the Link to Your Review Request Flow
If you already send review requests via SMS or email, add your Facebook recommendation link as a secondary option.
SMS example:
Hi [Name], thanks for visiting [Business]. We would love a quick recommendation on Facebook: [link]
Most businesses should lead with Google and offer Facebook as a second option. If your customer base is heavily active on Facebook (common for restaurants, salons, and local retailers), you can lead with Facebook instead.
3. Post a Recommendation Request on Your Page
Every 2-4 weeks, post a simple request on your Facebook page:
“If you have visited us recently and had a good experience, we would really appreciate a recommendation. It helps other people in [City] find us. You can leave one right here on our page — takes about 30 seconds.”
This catches regulars who follow your page but never thought to recommend you.
4. Respond to Every Recommendation
Every recommendation gets a reply. Public replies do two things: they show the reviewer you care, and they show everyone else that you pay attention. A page full of unanswered recommendations looks like nobody is home.
For templates on how to respond well, see our guide on how to respond to Facebook reviews.
5. Share Positive Recommendations as Posts
When a customer leaves a detailed, positive recommendation, screenshot it (with their permission) and share it as a post on your page. This does three things:
- Thanks the customer publicly.
- Shows your audience that real people recommend you.
- Reminds other followers that they can recommend you too.
Common Mistakes With Facebook Reviews
Not enabling the Reviews tab
This is the most common problem. Businesses assume reviews are on by default. They are not always. Check your page settings.
Ignoring negative recommendations
A negative recommendation on Facebook is visible to anyone who visits your page. Ignoring it makes it worse. Respond professionally, acknowledge the issue, and offer to resolve it. For detailed guidance, see how to respond to a bad review.
Only asking on Facebook
Facebook recommendations matter, but Google is the primary review platform for most businesses. Build your Google review pipeline first, then layer Facebook as a secondary channel.
Posting too many review requests
One post every 2-4 weeks is enough. If every other post on your page is “Please recommend us,” you look desperate. Mix review requests with content your audience actually wants to see.
Facebook Reviews vs Google Reviews
| Factor | Facebook Recommendations | Google Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Yes/No + optional text | 1-5 stars + text |
| Impact on local SEO | Indirect | Direct ranking factor |
| Social sharing | Friends of reviewer see it | No social sharing |
| Review solicitation | Allowed | Allowed |
| Incentivized reviews | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Visibility in search | Facebook page ranks for brand queries | Google Maps and search results |
For most businesses, Google reviews deliver more measurable impact on search visibility and conversion. Facebook recommendations are a strong supplement — especially for businesses with an active social following.
Automate Your Multi-Platform Review Requests
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ReviewGlow review management also pulls all your reviews — Google, Facebook, Yelp, and others — into one dashboard. No more logging into five platforms to check for new reviews.
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Conclusion
Facebook reviews still matter. They build social proof, support brand search results, and reach an audience that might never find your Google listing. To get more Facebook reviews: enable the Reviews tab, share your recommendation link in post-service messages, post occasional requests on your page, and respond to every recommendation.
Start with Google. Add Facebook as your second platform. Automate both.
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