Can someone leave a review without visiting?

No. The link is only in the thank-you email after a visit, it belongs to that booking, and it works once the visit has happened. There is one review per visit.

Can I delete a bad review?

No, but you can reply to it. You can hide its words only if they are abusive or give someone's personal details, and its stars still count.

Does FullDiary post my reviews to Google?

Nobody can: Google only takes a review from the customer's own Google account. After sending, every reviewer is offered their words to copy and a button that opens your Google review box.

Can I bring in reviews from Google or another booking app?

No. Every review on your booking page comes from a visit booked with you, which is what makes it one your customers can trust.

New feature29 October 20264 minute read

Reviews on your booking page, from real visits

The day after a visit, the thank-you email asks for stars and a few words. Each review is tied to a real booking and goes on your booking page, with your stars under your name, and every reviewer is then offered a quick way to post the same words on Google.

Matt Suckling

Director, FullDiary

The Reviews part of Fade and Blade Barber Co's booking page on a phone: five stars and 4.8 (8 reviews) with See all, then reviews from Euan D., Dee B., Dan H. and Craig F., each with their stars, their words, the service, who did it and the month, and under Dee's a reply from the shop

The review page on a phone for a Haircut and beard with Megan Frost on Wednesday 28 October: How was it, Euan?, five stars tapped and the word Excellent, a few words typed in, the line saying it shows with a first name and initial, never an email or phone, and the Send my review button

In short

Every review is from a visit booked with you: the link is in the thank-you email the day after, it works once the visit has happened, and there is one review per visit.
Customers give one to five stars and words if they want. A review shows their first name and initial, the service and the month, never their email or phone.
From the first review, your booking page shows your stars under your name, the newest five with words under your services, and a page of them all.
With Both, the standard, every reviewer, whatever their stars, is then offered their words to copy and a button to your Google review box, once you have added your Google link.
You can reply to any review. You can hide the words only if they are abusive or give someone's personal details, and the stars still count.
Reviews are on every plan and on for every shop. Under Shop settings, Reviews, pick FullDiary, Google or Both, or switch them off.

FullDiary is the booking system for UK small businesses: an online booking page, a diary, reminders and your customers in one place. Until now, the email we send the day after a visit asked your customer for a Google review, if you had added your Google link. Now it asks for a review of that visit, and the review goes on your booking page, where the next customer is deciding whether to book.

What your customers see

The day after a visit, the customer gets one thank-you email, with five stars to tap and the visit's details under them. A star opens a page for that visit with those stars picked, with nothing to sign in to: they can change the stars, write a few words if they want, and send. A visit still to come says not yet, and a cancelled booking or a no-show has nothing to review. Once sent, a review cannot be changed, and opening the link again shows it.

The thank-you email on a phone from Marlow Street Barbers: Tom, how was your visit with Jamie?, the shop and the visit with Jamie Cole, five stars from Poor to Excellent, Or leave one on Google, then the shop's thanks and the start of the appointment details — The thank-you email. A tap on a star opens the review with those stars picked.

Then Google, for everyone

If you have added your Google review link, it sits under the stars in the email, and after sending, the customer is asked if they would post it on Google too. Their words are there to copy, with a button that opens your Google review box. Everyone is offered it, whatever their stars.

The review page on a phone after sending: Thank you for your review, it is on the Fade and Blade Barber Co booking page now, then a box asking Would you post it on Google too?, with the customer's words to copy and two buttons, Copy my review and Open Google — After sending, the same words, ready to paste into Google.

FullDiary never posts to Google for anyone. Google only takes a review from the person's own Google account, so the customer pastes their words in themselves. It takes them a minute.

On your booking page

Your stars under your name. From the first review, your booking page shows your average and how many reviews you have, such as 4.8 (8 reviews), in both designs.
The newest five. Under your services, the five newest reviews with words, each with the customer's first name and initial, the service, who did it and the month.
All of them. See all opens a page of every review, newest first, stars-only ones included, each with your reply under it.
From real visits. Under them, a line says every review there is from a visit booked with you. Nothing is copied in from another site.

Replying, and hiding the words

Under Shop settings, Reviews you see your average, a bar for each number of stars and every review. Reply to any of them and your reply shows under it on your booking page, from your shop. You can change it or take it off.

Shop settings, Reviews on a computer: Your reviews, the average 4.8 from 8 reviews with a bar for each number of stars, six fives and two fours, then each review with its stars, words, name, service and month, and Reply and Hide the words buttons — Your reviews in one place, with a reply under any of them.

If a review is abusive, or gives someone's personal details, you can hide its words, picking which of the two it is. The page then says the words were taken off and why. The stars stay and still count in your average, so hiding a review can never raise your score. Show the words again puts them back.

Setting it up

There is nothing to switch on: reviews are on for every shop, on every plan, set to Both, and the first ask goes the day after your next visit. Under Shop settings, Reviews, you choose where reviews go: FullDiary (reviews on your booking page only), Google (the email goes straight to your Google review box) or Both. Add your Google review link there for Google or Both. To stop, switch off Ask for reviews: nobody is asked, your booking page shows none, and nothing is deleted. Reviews are looked after on the website for now, not yet in the FullDiary app.

Open Reviews

Shop settings, Reviews on a computer: Asking for reviews, with the Ask for reviews switch on, Where should reviews go? with Both picked out of FullDiary, Google and Both, the line saying customers review you on FullDiary first and are then invited to share it on Google, and the Google review link with a Save button — FullDiary, Google or both, and the switch that stops asking.

Questions people ask

Can someone leave a review without visiting?: No. The link is only in the thank-you email after a visit, it belongs to that booking, and it works once the visit has happened. There is one review per visit.
Can I delete a bad review?: No, but you can reply to it. You can hide its words only if they are abusive or give someone's personal details, and its stars still count.
Does FullDiary post my reviews to Google?: Nobody can: Google only takes a review from the customer's own Google account. After sending, every reviewer is offered their words to copy and a button that opens your Google review box.
Can I bring in reviews from Google or another booking app?: No. Every review on your booking page comes from a visit booked with you, which is what makes it one your customers can trust.