For businesses
Honest feedback and genuine reviews can make or break a business
Real people mystery shop your business, tell you honestly how it went, and can then be invited to leave you a clearly disclosed review. You find out what your customers really experience, and give new customers a reason to trust you.
Why reviews decide who wins the customer
Before most people ring you, book with you or buy from you, they look you up. The first thing they see is usually your star rating and how many reviews you have. In those few seconds they decide whether to give you a chance or move on to the next name in the list.
Reviews build trust before you say a word
A steady stream of recent, honest reviews tells new customers that real people use you and are happy to say so.
Silence costs you customers
A business with few or out-of-date reviews looks quiet, even when it is doing great work. Customers pick the one that looks busier.
Reviews help you get found
Search engines and maps favour businesses that customers talk about. More genuine reviews can mean more people seeing you.
Why honest feedback matters even more
Most unhappy customers never complain. They simply don't come back, and they tell other people instead. A phone left ringing, a confusing checkout or an unhelpful answer can quietly cost you sales for months before you notice.
Mystery shopping puts those moments in front of you. Real people use your business exactly as a customer would, then tell you what worked and what didn't, so you can fix problems before they turn into bad reviews. Businesses that listen and improve are the ones that earn the good reviews in the first place.
What honest feedback gives you
- Problems you didn't know about. Missed calls, slow replies and broken checkouts show up in reports before they show up in your reviews.
- Better-trained staff. Real examples of great service and poor service make training specific, and praise is a strong motivator.
- More sales from the same enquiries. Fix the moments where customers drop out and more of the people who already contact you will buy.
- Proof that changes worked. Scores over time show whether a new script, process or team member is making a difference.
- Fair comparisons. See how phone, website and in-store experiences compare, and where each location is strongest.
- Better reviews, earned. A consistently good experience is what turns customers into five-star reviewers.
Why your Google, Trustpilot and Feefo ratings matter
Google uses reviews to rank you
Google says the number of reviews you have and your rating help decide how high you appear in local search and on Google Maps. More genuine, positive reviews can mean more people seeing you.
Customers filter by rating
On Google Maps, people can tap a rating filter to show only businesses at 4 stars or 4.5 stars and above. Below that, you can drop out of the list before anyone reads a word about you.
Trustpilot builds trust online
Trustpilot is one of the best-known independent review sites in the UK. Shoppers check it before buying from a website they don't know, so a strong TrustScore helps turn visitors into customers.
Feefo shows verified buyers
Feefo only collects reviews from people who have actually bought from you, so every Feefo review carries the weight of a real purchase.
How PaidReview works
- Tell us how to reach you. Add your phone number, website and any shop or restaurant addresses.
- Order a bundle of visits. 50, 100, 250 or 500 visits at £5 each.
- Real shoppers try you out. UK shoppers phone you, use your website or visit in person, just like any customer.
- Read honest reports. Scores and written feedback land on your dashboard, each one checked against proof of the visit.
- Invite a review. Turn on review invitations and shoppers can choose to leave an honest, clearly disclosed review.
Simple pricing
£5 per visit. No subscription, no setup fee. Pay securely by card.
Genuine reviews only, and that protects you
UK law bans fake reviews and reviews bought in exchange for payment, and review sites remove them and can flag the business. We never sell or guarantee reviews. Shoppers are paid for the mystery shop and the report, a review is always their own choice, and every review they leave says “I was a paid mystery shopper for this business.” Your reviews stay real, and so does your reputation.
Helpful guides
Questions businesses ask
What is mystery shopping?
Mystery shopping is when a real person uses your business as an ordinary customer would, by phoning you, using your website, ordering online or visiting in person, and then reports honestly on how it went. It shows you what your customers actually experience, not what you hope they experience.
How much does mystery shopping cost with PaidReview?
Every visit costs £5. You order in bundles of 50, 100, 250 or 500 visits, so prices start at £250 for 50 visits. There are no subscriptions or setup fees.
Why do online reviews matter so much for a business?
Most people check reviews before they phone, book or buy, and a star rating is often the first thing they see. A business with plenty of recent, honest reviews looks trustworthy, while one with few, old or poor reviews often loses the customer to a competitor before it ever hears from them.
Do Google reviews affect my ranking on Google?
Yes. Google says that how many reviews you have and your rating are part of how it judges a business's prominence, which helps decide local search and Google Maps rankings. Customers can also filter Google Maps results to show only businesses with a high star rating.
Why do Trustpilot reviews matter?
Trustpilot is one of the best-known independent review sites in the UK. Many people check a business's TrustScore before buying online, especially from a company they haven't used before.
Do you guarantee reviews?
No. Under UK law, buying reviews or paying for positive ones is illegal, and review sites remove them. Your shoppers are paid for the mystery shop and the report. You can invite them to leave an honest review, which is always optional for them and always says they were a paid mystery shopper. That keeps your reviews genuine and your business protected.
Which review sites can shoppers post on?
You choose. Add links to the review pages you use, such as Google, Trustpilot, Feefo or Just Eat, and shoppers who choose to leave a review are taken straight to them.
Are the mystery shoppers real people?
Yes. Every shopper is a UK resident aged 16 or over, and every visit has to be backed by proof such as a screenshot, call log or receipt. We check that proof before the report reaches you.
How quickly will I get reports?
Visits open to shoppers as soon as your payment is received, and most phone and website visits take only a few minutes. Reports appear on your dashboard as soon as they have been checked.
What does a mystery shopping report include?
Each report scores speed, friendliness, knowledge and the overall experience out of 10, explains what went well and what could be better, and includes the proof of the visit.