Business Reviews: How to Write Them and Why They’re Important

You may or may not have heard that reviews are crucial to businesses, especially small businesses!! I know it can be daunting to leave a review (or it’s easy to simply forget). I personally try to be really intentional when I shop or visit a small business and leave a review as soon as possible so I don’t forget!

But for small businesses (especially in the wedding and elopement world) your reviews are everything. They’re not just nice to have. They’re how other couples decide whether they feel seen, supported, and understood. They’re how people find experiences that feel intentional and honest and aligned with who they are!

Let’s get into ALLLLL the reasons why your review matters!!

Spoiler Alert: It’s truly the best gift a small business owner can receive ❤️

Why Your Review for a Small Business Matters

In the world we live in—where we shop, book, and dream online—reviews are everything!! We all do it: we read the testimonials, we skim the stars, we want to know what real people experienced before we make a decision. And it’s no different when someone’s choosing their elopement photographer.

When past couples take a few minutes to write about their experience with me, it gives future clients a window into what their own day might feel like. It helps them understand what it’s actually like to work with me – not just the pretty photos, but the energy, the support, the experience, the “you two take a breath… I’ve got you” moments.

I can talk all day on my website about intentional connection, meaningful imagery, and crafting an experience that feels like you, but those words only go so far. Hearing it from you—someone who’s lived it—is what really builds trust!

REVIEWS BUILD TRUST & CREDIBILITY

Think of reviews as tiny love notes from past clients to future couples. They’re social proof—basically a personal referral from someone your potential client doesn’t even know… yet.

When someone reads a review about your experience, it instantly shows them that what we promise isn’t just words on a website. It’s real. It’s heartfelt. It’s exactly what they can expect on their day.

A glowing review says, “Yes, this photographer knows how to capture real connection, guide you through the day, and make the experience feel effortless and joyful.” That kind of trust and credibility? It’s priceless!!

IT SPREADS THE WORD

So many small businesses grow because of the people who love them. Word-of-mouth is SO powerful!! When you share your photos, tag me, or tell a friend about your experience, it truly means the world.

Writing a review takes that one step further. It allows me to share your words on my website, social channels, inquiry pages—everywhere future couples might be searching and wondering:
“Is this photographer the right person to trust with our day?”

Your review becomes a little “reference letter” that speaks for me long after your gallery is delivered. It helps introduce me to couples who are just like you—intentional, adventure-loving, deeply connected, and ready for something meaningful!!

IT BOOSTS OUR CONFIDENCE

Let’s be real: small business ownership can be a lot sometimes. We pour our hearts, our time, our energy, our creativity, our weekends, and our souls into this work. We give because we love it!! But that doesn’t mean we don’t also feel the isolation, the exhaustion, or those “am I doing enough?” moments.

Getting a notification that a new review came in? Instant joy and motivation!! Instant reminder of why we do this!! It quite literally makes my day when I see a new review come in. I read each and every one!!

Your words are a breath of fresh air in the busiest seasons. They help us feel grounded, encouraged, and reminded that the work we’re doing truly matters to the people we’re doing it for! I’m not gonna lie, I will often go back and read through my reviews ❤️

IT HELPS THE RIGHT PEOPLE FIND US

Reviews with honest words and real feelings help the couples who value the exact things you valued (connection, intention, nature, intimacy, space to breathe) to find me!

IT HELPS WITH GOOGLE RANKING

Reviews are a big deal for SEO (search engine optimization) More reviews = better visibility = more couples finding us instead of getting lost in the sea of Google search results!

WE CAN USE YOUR REVIEW FOR MARKETING

When you write a review, we can use it for marketing purposes, which is pretty freaking cool! Whether it’s on our websites throughout to social proof, or even on our social media. If a potential client has been eyeing us for a while, then they see all the amazing reviews we are posting, that makes them even more excited to potentially work with us! 

ADDS PHOTOS TO GOOGLE (AND APPEASES THE GOOGLE GODS)

Reviews with images help SO incredibly much to appease the Google Gods we work with! Adding photos to your reviews are generally shown more. Plus, when people are searching and see beautiful work, they are more likely to click on our websites (which the more traffic to our site, also help with our rankings!). We love a good visual of the product we are going to buy, especially from another real person who has at one point been in your shoes planning a wedding/elopement themselves. Seeing images + words is a powerful marketing combo that really keeps businesses thriving! (Especially for a photography-based business!)

IT HELPS OTHER COUPLES FEEL BRAVE

This one is a little more specific to my small business and elopements, but reading your review about your own elopement experience can help other couples feel brave enough to make that decision for themselves if they’re on the fence.

Elopements can feel outside the norm, and reading about couples who’ve done it before can give someone the courage to design a day that truly feels like them.

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How To Write a Great Review FOR A SMALL BUSINESS

Okay, now that we’ve run through WHY reviews are so crucial and important for small businesses, let’s get into how you can write a great review!! Below are some of my best tips to leave a review that’s helpful for others ❤️

START WITH AN OPENING STATEMENT

That first line gives a quick signal of your excitement and explains why you’re recommending! It’s the attention-grabber. A strong opening line grabs attention, immediately conveys your excitement, and sets the tone for the rest of the review!

Tips for a Memorable Opening

• Set the Tone for the Story: The opening line should make the reader want to keep reading the “why” and the details.
• Be Specific: Include the type of day (adventure, intimate, forest, Iceland, etc.) to paint a picture immediately.
• Be Emotional: Use words that reflect how your day felt!

Examples of opening statements:
– “We felt completely seen, supported, and celebrated throughout our whole day.”
– “We had no idea our elopement could be this stress-free until we met Sam.”

USE A FEW SENTENCES

You could leave a review that says, “Highly recommend” or “We had a great time”, but that doesn’t give anybody proof or why you would recommend the small business! Having at least four sentences will give more detail into your experience and why you’d recommend them to the person reading the review. It really provides that impact potential clients need!

INCLUDE KEYWORDS

Okay, if you’re not a business owner or in marketing, keywords probably sound like some kind of scary tech jargon. But really, it’s simple. Keywords are just words or phrases that describe what a business does! Things like “elopement photographer” or “wedding photographer.”

Why does it matter? Let’s use me as an example. If someone is searching for an elopement photographer, they might type “elopement photographer” into Google. That’s a keyword! The more that keyword shows up on my website—or in reviews people write about me—the higher the chances that I’ll pop up in search results.

So when your review says something like, “We loved having Samantha as our elopement photographer,” you’re actually doing me a huge favor. You’re telling Google, “Hey, this business is an elopement photographer!” and helping future couples find me.

P.S. The Google Gods REALLY love it when you mention the location too 😉 (Ex. Minnesota, Lake Superior, Iceland, etc.)

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE

Saying “I highly recommend them!” is great, but what really makes a review stand out is the story of your experience. Think about your journey from start to finish! Did they go above and beyond in any way? Did they make you feel completely at ease, supported, or seen? Did they help you navigate any tricky moments?

All those details are gold. They help you remember what made the experience so wonderful—and they give future couples a real sense of what it’s like to work with someone who genuinely cares. It’s the little things, the heartfelt moments, and those “wow, they really thought of everything” touches that make a review shine.

USE PARAGRAPHS

Paragraphs make a lot of text easier to read! You want to make sure your review is easy to read to others.

UPLOAD PHOTOS

Uploading some of your favorite photos from the day are also really helpful! Reviews with photos are generally the most popular ones that show up. They show potential clients a little insight of what type of photos they would be getting, and connect the review to an image. It also helps get more photos onto google, so when people type in a keyword, hopefully the image can pop up!

THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS TOO LONG

Don’t you worry if your review is super long! Us small business owners freaking LOVEEEEE long reviews! Go ham!! Share all your feelings and thoughts. The more detailed your review is, the more social proof there is for potential clients. Not to mention, they make us feel so damn good when we read through them!

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EXAMPLES OF INCREDIBLE REVIEWS I’VE BEEN LEFT

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Every review you leave helps me continue creating experiences that feel effortless, intentional, and unforgettable for couples who trust me with their love story!!

Thank you again for trusting me with your day. Thank you for letting me tell your story. If your heart is saying “yes, I’ll write this”, I’m genuinely so grateful. And if you ever need anything, I got you!!

xx,
Sam/Samantha