There are a few potential reasons why you may no longer be able to request a review on Facebook:
Facebook removed the feature
The most likely explanation is that Facebook removed the ability for users to request reviews in the past couple of years. Here’s a quick rundown of the history:
- Prior to 2018, Facebook Pages included an option to “Ask for Reviews” directly on the Page.
- In 2018, Facebook removed this feature from Pages.
- For a period of time after that, Pages could still request reviews by sending users a Messenger message with a link to leave a review.
- In 2020, Facebook disabled the ability to request reviews via Messenger.
So in summary – Facebook used to allow Pages to request reviews, but they have gradually removed and disabled these features over the past few years.
You don’t have a business Page
Another possibility is that you don’t currently have a Facebook business Page set up. The review request feature was only available for formal business Pages, not personal profiles.
If you want to request reviews, you’ll first need to convert your personal profile to a business Page. This can be done in Facebook’s settings. Once you have a business Page, you may be able to enable review requests (see next section).
Your business Page lacks eligibility
Even with a formal Facebook business Page, you may not be able to request reviews due to eligibility requirements:
- Your Page needs to have a certain number of Likes and Followers (the exact number is not publicly known).
- Your Page needs to be verified and in good standing.
- Service-based businesses may not qualify for review requests.
So if your new business Page is still small or unverified, or you are in a service-based industry, you may not meet Facebook’s criteria to request reviews.
You violated Facebook’s policies
If your business Page has been flagged or penalized for violating Facebook’s terms of service, review request abilities could be revoked. Some potential violations that could lead to this include:
- Requesting fake reviews
- Offering incentives in exchange for reviews
- Spamming users with review requests
- Abusing the feature to collect user data
Essentially any policy violation that involves review abuse could cause Facebook to take away your access. Make sure you are following their guidelines closely.
You’re temporarily banned from requesting reviews
Rather than a permanent removal, Facebook may have temporarily banned your Page from requesting reviews. This can happen if:
- You request reviews too frequently
- Multiple users report your review requests as spam
The ban is meant to give users a break from the requests. You will need to wait out the ban period before being able to request reviews again.
You’re using an unsupported device or browser
Facebook’s review request abilities may only be supported on certain platforms:
- Mobile app vs. desktop website
- iOS vs. Android
- Older browsers vs. recent browser versions
Try accessing Facebook from a different device or update your browser to see if that enables review requests again.
It’s a temporary glitch
Like any technology, Facebook’s systems can occasionally malfunction or glitch. Some potential issues that could temporarily affect review requests include:
- Bug in latest app/site update
- Server outage
- Connectivity issues
- Caching errors
- Needing to clear cookies/cache
Try standard troubleshooting steps like reloading the page, clearing cache, restarting your device, uninstalling/reinstalling the app, or waiting a bit. If the issue persists, it’s likely not a temporary glitch.
You’re still in a test group
Facebook sometimes tests changes with small groups of users before rolling them out globally. If you’re part of an ongoing test group, you may still have access to disabled features like review requests.
However, most test groups are short-lived, so chances are you’re no longer part of one. When in doubt, assume that the feature has been removed unless you hear otherwise from Facebook.
What are some alternatives to requesting Facebook reviews?
If the Facebook review request option is indeed gone for good, your business still has plenty of options to get customer feedback and reviews:
- Request reviews on Google, Yelp, etc.
- Email customers asking for reviews
- Add a review request to receipts and invoices
- Place signage in your business asking for reviews
- Personally ask happy customers to leave reviews
- Offer incentives for reviews
- Invite customers to leave feedback on your website
The key is to make it as easy and compelling as possible for customers to leave reviews. Target patrons who had a great experience and explain why their feedback would be appreciated.
Can I request reviews on Facebook without the official feature?
Technically, yes you still can – you’ll just need to get creative. Some potential tactics include:
- Sending review links via Messenger or Facebook posts
- Adjusting your Facebook website links to redirect to your review page
- Creating a Facebook ad that targets your customers and links to reviews
- Leveraging Facebook bots to send automated review reminders
However, tread carefully. Facebook frowns upon spammy review begging. Make sure your outreach is polite, helpful, and non-excessive.
Should I complain to Facebook about removing review requests?
Leaving feedback for Facebook is certainly an option. Some ways to do so include:
- Posting on Facebook’s forums or community pages
- Emailing or calling Facebook support
- Reporting a problem through Facebook’s Help Center
- Submitting feedback via Facebook’s User Experience Research surveys
That said, the removal was likely a calculated business decision by Facebook, not an oversight. Large volumes of negative feedback may potentially prompt reconsideration, but most likely the feature is gone for good.
Conclusion
Facebook has clearly shifted away from enabling native review requests over the past few years. While you may be able to trigger reviews through creative workarounds, chances are you’ll need to rely on alternative review channels going forward.
Work on developing strong relationships with customers and providing standout service that inspires organic reviews. And leverage various tools to make leaving reviews quick and easy for happy clients. With some adjustments, your business can continue collecting feedback and social proof without Facebook’s built-in request feature.
Here is an example table showing potential pros and cons of requesting Facebook reviews:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High visibility on a popular platform | Facebook actively discourages review requests now |
| Large existing customer base on Facebook | No native tools available anymore |
| Reviews tied to real Facebook profiles | Need creative workarounds which may get spammy |
| Can reach customers en masse | Harder to target likely positive reviewers |
| Easy to include links and incentives | Potential to annoy followers or get flagged |
As you can see, the pros of potentially wider reach and visibility need to be weighed carefully against the cons of lacking proper Facebook tools and risking negative reactions.
Should I pay for third-party Facebook review services?
Since Facebook disabled native review requests, a number of third-party services have emerged offering Facebook review collection for a fee. However, proceed with caution using these tools:
- Make sure they follow Facebook’s policies and avoid spam.
- Don’t pay for fake or incentivized reviews.
- Research the company’s reputation and customer reviews first.
- Make sure they have proper consent from users.
- Consider cheaper alternatives like Google and Yelp requests.
Review services can help, but focus on platforms like Google and Yelp first, and make sure Facebook outreach aligns with current policy. Prioritize authenticity over quantity of reviews.
What if only my personal profile can request reviews, not my Page?
In some cases, Facebook may allow review requests from personal profiles but not business Pages. This likely indicates one of the following:
- Your Page was banned or blocked from requesting reviews due to violations.
- Your Page is undergoing a temporary ban or suspension period.
- Your Page lacks the verification or popularity to qualify yet for requests.
- Facebook is A/B testing limiting reviews to profiles only.
Ideally build up your Page’s legitimacy and wait for permissions to be restored. Avoid review requests from your personal profile which associates your individual identity.
Could my ad account suspension be related?
If your Facebook ad account has been suspended, either currently or in the past, it can sometimes trickle down and impact other features like review requests. Potential correlations include:
- Ad policy violations leading to broader Facebook probation.
- Restricted ability to contact users through ads or Messenger.
- Guilty-by-association bans due to related Pages breaking rules.
If your ad privileges are restricted, get back in good standing before expecting access to reviews. Follow all guidelines and avoid bans across all Pages and accounts.
Should I consider Yelp or Google instead of Facebook reviews?
For many businesses, Yelp and Google may be better review platforms than Facebook:
- Users proactively look for reviews on Yelp and Google when searching for businesses.
- These platforms have native review request features available.
- Reviews can still influence your main search rankings.
- Avoiding restrictive Facebook platform policies can be a plus.
The main advantage Facebook had was easy access to existing customers. But you can drive reviews on other sites by:
- Emailing customers review links after purchases/visits.
- Providing review site URLs on your Facebook Page and ads.
- Leveraging Google Posts and Knowledge Panels.
Make Yelp, Google, etc. your main review hubs, while still maintaining your Facebook presence to connect with customers.
Should I tell customers Facebook cancelled reviews?
If you previously mentioned reviews to customers, it may be wise to provide a brief update, for example:
“Hi! Just a heads up that Facebook no longer allows businesses to request reviews directly. But we would still greatly appreciate you leaving feedback on Google or Yelp. Simply follow this link [insert URL] after your next visit. Thank you for helping us out!”
Be transparent that it was Facebook’s policy change, not you cancelling reviews. And provide quick guidance on leaving reviews elsewhere. Avoid excessive explanations to keep the message simple.
In conclusion…
Here are some final key takeaways on no longer being able to request Facebook reviews:
- The feature was intentionally removed by Facebook over the past few years.
- Focus reviews on Google, Yelp, and other specialized platforms instead.
- You can try creative workarounds to request on Facebook but tread carefully.
- Prioritize collecting authentic, consented reviews from happy customers.
- Adapt your follow-up and outreach to drive reviews on alternate sites.
While Facebook reviews would have been nice, plenty of proven review-building strategies exist across other channels. Use this shift as an opportunity to diversify and expand your review presence beyond just Facebook.