Better business enquiries, contacts and customer follow-up

For customers: give enough detail to get an answer

For example: “Do you deliver a small birthday bouquet to my area on Saturday? Please confirm the options, delivery charge and ordering time.” Adjust the question to your actual need.

• Name the product or service and any specification that matters.
• Give the destination area, quantity or job size and preferred date.
• Ask about availability, final price, travel or delivery and what is included.
• Share private addresses or sensitive documents only when necessary through a suitable direct channel, rather than in a public review.

For businesses: help enquiries reach the right person

Publish a contact method you can maintain. For an organisation, name the role or department and publish authorised contact details where appropriate. Remove or update a contact when responsibilities change.

Reply with a clear yes, no or request for the information you need. Explain the next action and any genuine limits. A practical answer is more useful than asking the customer to repeat the same details through several people.

Build useful local business relationships

Look for complementary businesses that serve similar customer needs, such as a florist and a cake maker, or a carpenter and a materials supplier. Read their offerings and coverage before contacting them. Explain a specific, relevant proposal and ask whether they want to discuss it.

Agree on responsibilities before referring a customer. Ask for permission before sharing someone’s contact details. Avoid unsolicited mass messages or presenting another business as a partner without its agreement.

Turn real feedback into improvements

Ask customers for an honest review of a real experience. Do not invent reviews, offer rewards for a positive rating or pressure a customer to remove criticism.

Read recurring feedback about unclear details, availability or slow replies. Correct the listing when information is wrong. In a public response, explain the next step without revealing the customer’s private information. Use the feedback form for app problems and the listing report action for inaccurate or inappropriate listing content.

• Improve your business listing
• Send Askven feedback

Common questions

Does a verification badge guarantee the work or a purchase?

No. Verification relates to the checks described for the listing. It does not guarantee quality, availability, a transaction or a customer outcome.

Can I publish an employee’s personal number?

Publish a contact only with appropriate permission and a clear business purpose. An authorised business number or department contact is usually easier to maintain when staff change.