You’ve got 13 Google reviews. Your competitor across town has 157. When prospects compare you side-by-side, who do you think they call? The answer is obvious. Because here’s the reality: review volume matters more than rating. An agent with 120 reviews at 4.7 stars gets 10X more calls than one with 15 reviews at 5.0 stars. Prospects trust quantity because it shows consistent service over time.
Of course, most insurance agents know reviews matter. They just don’t have a system to generate them consistently. They ask randomly, hope clients remember, and wonder why review growth stays flat. This post gives you the complete playbook:
The result: you stand out in a noisy marketplace and become the obvious option.
Build a System That Runs on Autopilot
Asking for reviews manually doesn’t scale. Don’t even attempt it. Why? Because you’ll forget. Clients will procrastinate. Reviews will trickle in randomly (if you’re lucky) instead of consistently. Set up automated review requests:
Step 1: Timing matters.
Ask immediately after positive interactions, not weeks later. Best moments: right after a new policy, resolving a claim smoothly or an annual policy renewal.
Step 2: Automate the ask.
Use your CRM or a tool like Podium, Birdeye or Zapier to send automated texts/emails at trigger points. Example trigger: “Policy status changed to ‘Active’” sends automatic review request.
Step 3: Make it super easy.
Text should include direct link to your Google review page, not instructions on how to find you. “Thanks for choosing us! Mind sharing your experience? [Direct Google Review Link]”
Step 4: Follow up (at least) once.
If no review after 48 hours, send one gentle reminder: “Hoping you can take 60 seconds to share your experience. This really moves the needle for our small business.”
Incentivize Reviews the Right Way
You can’t pay for reviews or offer discounts in exchange for 5-star ratings. That violates Google’s terms and can get your listing penalized. But you can incentivize the act of leaving a review (regardless of rating). Here are some messaging ideas that are compliant:
“Leave us an honest review and we’ll donate $10 to a charity in your name.”
This rewards participation without manipulating ratings.
“Monthly drawing: everyone who leaves a review this month enters to win a $50 Amazon gift card.”
Again, this strategy rewards the action, not the rating.
Some agents worry about incentivizing negative reviews. Here’s the reality: unhappy clients will leave negative reviews anyway. Happy clients often don’t leave reviews unless you give them a reason. Incentives capture the positive reviews you’re currently missing.
Respond to Every Single Review (Yes, Even Bad Ones)
Review response rate is a Google ranking factor. Agents who respond to all of their reviews rank higher in local search than those who ignore them. For positive reviews, keep responses personal and specific. Not “Thanks for the review!” but “Thanks for trusting us with your homeowners policy, Sarah! We’re here whenever you need us.”
For negative reviews, respond quickly and offer to resolve offline. “I’m sorry we didn’t meet your expectations. Please call me directly at 555.555.5555 so I can make this right.” Never argue publicly or get defensive.
Prospects read your responses as much as the reviews themselves. How you handle criticism shows character and professionalism.
Don’t just collect reviews: use them everywhere to build trust and long-term credibility. On your website, feature a reviews section on your homepage showing recent Google reviews. Use a widget that pulls them automatically so your site always shows fresh testimonials.
In email signatures, add a line like “Rated 4.8 stars by 120+ clients.” On social, share positive reviews as posts. Screenshot the review, add a thank you message and post weekly. This shows appreciation and promotes social proof. Lastly, in proposals and quotes, include a page showing your best reviews and overall rating. Prospects deciding between agents will choose the one with obvious social proof.
Bonus Strategy: The Power of Video Reviews
Text reviews build trust. Video reviews close deals. When prospects see real clients explaining how you helped them, it’s 10X more powerful than written testimonials. How to get video reviews without being awkward:
When a client thanks you for handling a claim well or saving them money, say: “Mind if I record a quick 30-second video of you sharing that? It really helps other people understand what we do.” Most people say yes.
Where to use video reviews:
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Sales presentations: Show 1-2 video testimonials during consultations.
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Homepage: Rotate video testimonials on your homepage. Autoplay with captions.
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Social media: Post video reviews on Facebook and Instagram. Video content gets more engagement.
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Email campaigns: Include video testimonials in nurture sequences. Make them short and easily clickable.
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Landing pages: Add video to lead pages. Seeing someone say “they made this so easy” increases conversions.
Reviews Aren’t Optional Anymore. They’re Required.
In 2025, operating without a review system is like running a business without a phone number. Reviews drive local search rankings, influence decisions, and provide content for marketing campaigns. The agents booking 40+ consultations monthly have 100+ reviews, video testimonials on their homepage and systems generating new reviews consistently.
Unfortunately, most insurance agents are “crossing their fingers” and hoping for the best. That’s where Slamdot comes in. We make sure every aspect of your digital marketing is generating results. Including more leads, conversions, closed sales and lifetime customer value. From upgrading your website to local SEO, social media and review optimization, our experts are here to help.
Ready to build a review system that generates consistent testimonials? Contact Slamdot today!
