Most businesses do neither. That gap is the whole opportunity — for them, and for you.
Right after the work is done — "How did we do? Would you tell others?" A direct ask, while it's fresh, turns a quiet customer into a public one.
Every review that comes in gets a real response — specific, in your voice, never generic. Silence reads as neglect; a reply reads as a business that's paying attention.
I learned the first half at a bank counter, years ago — just asking a customer, "did you like my service? tell my boss." It worked. Most businesses never even try it.
No pitch — just a quick, honest read on what a new customer sees before they see anything else.
Ask for a quick look