Customer Reviews Drying Up? How Post-Purchase Gifts Help
Customer reviews are one of the most effective ways to establish trust among new clients. While it’s easy to ask clients to leave a review after an order is completed, not all of them have time to do so. Happy buyers move on with their lives, while unhappy ones are more likely to leave feedback. In this blog, we’ll share with you how corporate post-purchase gifts encourage clients to take the time and leave 5-star reviews.
Why a Gift Changes the Conversation
Asking for a review after a client says they received their purchase is a common step that most businesses follow. We’ve found that some clients are too busy to do so. Sending in hampers, small samples, or giveaways helps because it does:
- Gives you another chance to connect. The purchase is the first step, and the gift encourages customers to think of you again.
- Shows you care about more than just the sale. Customers appreciate when a business checks in without expecting anything in return.
- Keeps your brand visible in everyday life. For example, a mug on a desk or a bottle in a gym bag reminds customers of you each time they use it.
- Makes your follow-up feel more genuine. Asking for feedback after saying thank you comes across better.
An Important Line to Stay Behind
Remember: a gift should be a thank-you gift, not a reward. Google’s review policies don’t allow businesses to offer incentives for reviews, and the ACCC has warned Australian businesses not to offer or request reviews in ways that could mislead consumers. In practice, that means:
- Send the gift to every customer in a segment, those likely to be positive.
- Never make the gift conditional on leaving a review, or on what the review says.
- Keep any review request separate, honest, and genuinely optional.
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Matching the Gift to the Customer
I suggest you match the gift to the value of your relationship. For example, if this is a long-standing client, you can go for premium items like good-quality folding umbrellas.
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Timing Matters More Than Price
A small gift given at the right time can have a bigger impact than an expensive one that arrives too late. The table below shows when different approaches usually work best.
After the gift arrives, I suggest sending a short, friendly email about a week later to ask for feedback. Make it easy and low-pressure, and include a direct link to your review page.
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What to Do and What to Avoid
Whether a gift feels thoughtful or just like more marketing often depends on small details.
Setting Up a Simple Program
If you plan to set up a program to thank your clients, you don’t have to complicate the program. One of our clients, who orders hampers and other giveaways from us, mentioned that their company follows this system:
- Pick one or two customer segments to trial, such as first-time buyers and completed B2B projects.
- Choose one gift per segment and order enough to cover three to six months.
- Write a short, sincere note template your team can personalise
- Set a trigger for sending, such as order dispatch or project sign-off
- Follow up with a separate, optional feedback request about a week after the gift lands.
- Review results after a quarter and adjust the products or timing.
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Our Experience With Thank-You Gifts
Building a good relationship matters to us as much as any other business. That’s why we always send in samples to clients to anticipate their needs. For thank-you gifts, we also send them to loyal clients. We prioritise wines, food hampers, and hoodies. We also had a campaign where we sent shirts customised with hilarious taglines about merch. This received a great response from our clients. It didn’t automatically secure a review, but it made the experience of working with us more pleasant.
What to Realistically Expect
Post-purchase gifts won’t bring in reviews right away. Instead, they build stronger feelings toward your business over time, making customers more likely to share feedback. When combined with great service, a thoughtful thank-you is a practical way to encourage happy customers to leave reviews.
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