Some agents do it right there at the closing. I have taken a photo and asked the clients to share it and post a review. I have done videos at the closing too.

Ask - if they forget, I don't bug them.

It's hard for me to ask - I think it's the 'manners' thing that our parents taught us! We're taught to not brag about ourselves so, it's hard to ask someone else to do that also.

I struggle with that question nearly every day. 

(1) I make sure I provide such wonderful service they seem to do it without my asking them to and many actually ask about the best way to do it. (2) My broker sends out a review form after each transaction and people respond more often than not.

I've also found that if I'm connected to clients on LinkedIn and ask for a recommendation, they happily do it.

 I have the same problem. At closing, clients often say I did such a good job they need time to write a good recommendation. Then it's hard to chase.

I find when I ask I get better results.  Keeping things simple.  

Tell them how much it would help you in your business and that you would appreciate it sooo much. Half will do it.

I usually let them know I'll be sending the request at closing and make sure they are okay with it.  In fact, this past week I was running around reminding my June sellers to please fill it out.  One out of three is about standard for results.

start asking before closing and keep asking - 

Our company sends out a form that is quick and easy to fill out and a lot of people do fill them out and return them.

We ask at closing - and have several video testimonials!

Hope you come up with a great idea. We have a service (Real Satisfied) that lets the client fill out what type they want. Written, checkbox & another one.

I have 3 out right now that no one will fill out .

Clients are looking to thank you IF you have done a good job. When ever they say something nice about me and the transaction...is THE very best time to ask! There have been some posts on AR with this information.

I ask, and so many say they are happy to do so. I send one reminder but I don't nag. Seems like others may have better suggestions than I do for success.

We have always asked for a letter of recommendation.  A

I start sending them the links to my online review sites the week of closing and follow up reminders. I also post sold photos bragging on them as a way to get them to share online.

Bribe them with a Prize

It is pretty hard, as they say they will, most forget and i dont want to hound them

Ask them

You usually have to ask for written reviews and recommendations.

There is a site called social survery- I am checking it out to see if it is valuable 

At closing you have the best opportunity. Have them do a video but also remember to get them to sign permission to use it on your media.

I do ask for reviews, usually at closing and then follow-up with link to site for the actual review. I probably get about a third or half that respond. That's okay with me!

I ask!

You need to do a good job first...then instead of having the closing gift at closing, I check in 1 week later pop by give them their gift and then I ask them if they could help me by filling out a quick review...I do not get any No's!

I don't solicit compliments. If they feel like taking the time to write a review, that's fine. But, I'd prefer that they just told their friends, relatives, and co-workers about me if they liked my service.

Ask at closing.  Some people provide cards or send out a survey through a review site.  Zillow and Realtor.com allow you to request a review through them.

Me, I don't ask for them.  What I like is when they tell their friends about me and their friends buy/sell with me.  That's more valuable to me than a review that quite frankly you can pay a stranger to write for you especially now that zillow doesn't require you to have done business with the person giving the review.

Other tactics people do:

1. Give out a $5 gift card to a coffee shop for each review given (1 review on zillow, realtor, yelp = $15 gift card)
2. Give them a script of what to write.  The hardest part is often figuring out what to say.

       Ask them at closing to send you an email that you can post to your sites.  That way they only have to type, not log in or provide passwords.

Ask them. Works wonders.

I am with Debbie on this since the closing table is the best time since after that clients are so busy and will forget your request sometimes.

I make a charitable donation in their name for every posted review.  I provide links to Realtor.com, Zillow-Trulia, LinkedIn.  I tell them $25 per review and if they are a couple both can post.  I always round up to the $100.

It's best to get them to do at closing..

Definitely take a picture, do a video, and possibly you can have them do a 5 question survey including a review at closing.  Most of the clients don't mind especially if they are happy..

Some will never take the time, and others will, just the nature of this business.

I just ask them.  Some do, some don't.

I ask. 
If they aren't willing to do it without prodding, the review wouldn't be that good anyway.

Corey Roberts - At every closing, I have the client fill in my feedback form in person - and it works!

I just had a couple provide a video review. Only problem was you couldn't understand what they were saying and the video was blurry. Plus, they would tell me positive comments all the time, but on the video they kept saying the same thing over and over again and it really didn't amount to much. So what's better -- A bad review, or no review at all?

Do it at closing time, when they're happiest!

it is on my growth chart to be more purposeful.  right now, i just send a link and request it.  so far, so good.. not sure what to do if they don't actually give the review ;/

I have not.

Include it with the closing paperwork.

Centralize showing emails them 3 days straight by the second day they respond.

Depends on the client.... Not everyone wants to go public. I'm myself very private person even I have very active marketing presence. But I do ask. The problem with review: there are so many places you want to display them, but you can not use the same review. My question would be what is the most important network/site to display your reviews?

I ask and try not to pester them, but I do send them reminders to do so

Corey. the process of a real estate transaction is like having three wagons, each with 100 wheels, all wheels moving in same direction, all wagons arriving at same location and at the same time.

In that process there are many opportunities to receive a review for many aspects of the process.

You will find the more concise the testimonial, the bigger response it will have with others.

In the end, you can summarize (not recommended) or hack these together as this clients testimonial.

However, it is important for you to understand, there are only FIVE real things a prospective seller or buyer really want to know about you.  Make effort to have the process testimonials assuage one of those FIVE real issues.

Make yourself comfortable and efficient with your selfie stick and interviewing skills.

Before asking for the Zillow review, I let them know up front that they're going to need to open a Zillow account (which is a pain) but that they can delete it after the fact. Also, if they aren't very computer savvy, I ask them to hand write me a review and then I put it on my website. Sometimes you have to ask more than once too! 

Ask them to write a short paragraph - short is the operative word. I find they'd rather email me than do so on an online platform.

Corey, I normally ask them on the way out of closing and it has been pretty successful. A funny thing I've found is that the people you do the most for are the least likely to give a review. 

A 30 to 50 second video review is the way to go. After you ask it's lights , camera, action!

I send out an email testimonial-request about 10-days after the closing. I like to allow enough time for the dust to settle, but soon enough that they still remember their joy.

The email is always personalized and I provide them with links to Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Yelp and Angie's list that leads them directly to the page where they can post a review for me.  I also give them my managing broker's email address, just in case they want to sing my praises to him.

If they don't post a review within a few weeks, I will send out an email a second time (not the same email... I use new language recognizing the fact that they are clearly busy, but it would be truly appreciated... )

A very small percentage of those I send out actually post a review... but when they do, it's very appreciated.

just ask.... my daughter gets a review from every one of them.... if you do a good job, they're more than happy to provide it....

I think the easiest way is the automatic requests sent from some online recognized websites such as realtor.com. And follow up afterwards.

There is always a time during the transaction when my clients think I am super awesome...that is when I let them know I will be sending them a link for our review at closing...that is also when they say they will, no problem.

At the moment that you are their super hero, you need to let them know you will be expecting a good review.

Eve

Some never will. The ones that do, do so gladly with one mention of it from us.

My company automatically sends out a short survey from a third party.  I let my clients know they will be receiving it and also let them know how important it is to me that they take 5 minutes to complete it.  It helps me to identify any areas of improvement should I require it.  I also ask them to write a short testimonial about their experience working with me.  I have a 100% return rate... and some really great testimonials!  I also ask them to post a testimonial on Google.  I provide them with the URL to make it easy for them.

Corey Roberts 

Specifically, on Zillow based on your transactions they are favorable. You are doing fine. You need to improve negotiation skills as two reviewers suggested. If you get on my Zillow I barely get reviews consider volume of business completed over the years. I can get clients deals below market even these days because I know how to convince other agents to give the deal to me over other multiple offers....

Even with that I did not receive a review.  It is not meaningful or important anymore.   I do suggest you look into Yelp as it is another place folks look for reviews. In fact each week they want me to buy ads.

Explain to them several times through the process how important it is to you and your business. At closing I again remind them they will be getting an email to provide a review of my services.

Corey Roberts All you can do is ask. Do it on a positive note at the closing.

Asking for feedback and input is rather easy-peasy if humility is driving it

I ask right before closing and if they don't do it, I ask after closing but only one or max two times.

I ask, but am guilty of poor follow-up to get responses.

There is a "lull" before closing when we're just waiting for closing to be scheduled and I've used that time frame to ask for a review.  Once they close, they get busy settling their new place and let's face it, they got what they wanted from you.  I also send an email a few days after closing that has direct links in it.  Not everyone will, but many do.  After one of my recent closings, they asked for my broker/owners name/address because they wanted to let him know how happy they were that they found me.  WOOHOO!!   Bottom line Corey Roberts , be you, provide awesome service and the reviews (& more importantly - REFERRALS!) will come.