There are a lot of ways to get more product reviews for your online store. First, you need to understand why people don't write them. Then, you can take steps to ensure that they're encouraged to do so in the future.
Why People Don't Write Reviews
There are several key reasons why people don't write online reviews, even if they're happy with a product. First, they may not be aware that the option exists. If there's no clear call to action on your site or product page, they may simply not know that they can leave a review.
Another reason people don't write online reviews is that they don't think their opinion will matter. If you have a small online store, this may be true - but it's also possible that people simply don't want to take the time to write a review, no matter how positive it is.
Finally, some people may be reluctant to write online reviews because they're worried about how it will be received.
How can you overcome these challenges?
Do Something Different
In order to get more product reviews, you need to do something different.
You can be creative and come up with your own ideas, or you can try new things that have already proven themselves successful in other industries. The possibilities are endless! Just remember to be bold in your approach. There's no shame in trying something new for the first time if it means getting more positive feedback from your customers and increasing sales numbers!
Product Review Websites
If you're not on one already, sign up for a product review site.
A product review site is a website where people can go to write reviews about products they've purchased. There are many different types of sites out there, but the important thing is to find one that's popular and has a lot of traffic. This way, you'll have more people writing reviews about your products, which will lead to more sales.
Offer Incentives (But Be Careful)
One of the easiest ways to get customers to leave a review is by offering an incentive.
- Offer an incentive: Offer a discount code or gift card, but don’t offer cash. This could be against the law depending on how you give it out. And if someone is paid for a review, it can get buried in their post history and people will see that they were compensated—and not trust it as much as one written by someone who wasn’t compensated at all.
- Don't offer a product that isn’t available yet: If you have something coming up and want people to review it before launch, don't do so with an informal email blast asking them all at once or via social media (unless they know each other). Instead, send personalized messages using tools like MailChimp or Constant Contact with links back to your website where they can sign up for updates about when your new products are available for purchase online.
- Don't offer something too expensive: If customers feel like they'll need help affording your products after receiving such an expensive sample item (even if just temporarily), then forget about incentivizing reviews altogether since this defeats the purpose of getting feedback from those who could afford to buy your product anyway!
Build Trust by Responding to All Reviews
You should respond to all reviews, both positive and negative. Negative reviews are the ones you have to be extra careful with because they have the potential to hurt your business the most. So if you do receive a negative review, do not just ignore it completely! Be sure to respond as soon as possible so that you don't lose any potential customers who might have read it before making their purchase decision.
If you're going to respond directly through Amazon or another platform that doesn't allow for direct messaging between the seller and buyer (or if they choose not to accept), then use a professional email template that shows potential customers that you’re taking them seriously while being respectful of their time. For example: "We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by our product's failure." But also take their criticism into consideration, because they may have a reasonable gripe.
Ask for Reviews
You already have happy customers. Why not ask them?
Using a professional email template when asking is the first step to getting more product reviews. Make sure that it's clear what you want the customer to do, and make it easy for them to leave a review. Also, don't be pushy—if they aren't interested in leaving a review yet, there may be another time!
Automate Your Product Review Emails
You can also automate this process by using a service like Shopify, which allows you to automatically send out product review emails.
HubSpot also has an e-commerce product review template that you can use.
Mailchimp is another example of an email marketing automation tool that lets you set up automated emails for each stage of your funnel. You can also use Mailchimp as a CRM and import reviews from your customer database into your store.
Amazon also lets customers leave feedback on products directly from their account page, but this won't appear on the seller's visibility or rating system until they've left at least five stars and written an honest review.
Post Reviews on Your Website and Social Media Accounts
Posting product reviews on your website is a great way to help encourage customers to purchase more products (which leads to more reviews). If they see that other people have bought the same thing and enjoyed it, they're more likely to make a purchase themselves. This will also give you another avenue for new customers who are searching for reviews of similar products. Posting these positive comments on social media can also be beneficial because it increases the amount of exposure you get from users who may not be looking for a specific product but see something interesting enough to click through and learn about what else is available at your online store or local business location.
Multiple Reviews Attract More Customers
Studies have shown that online shoppers are more likely to purchase a product if it has multiple reviews. In fact, a study by Nielsen Norman Group found that 68% of online shoppers say they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
This means that if you want to increase your online sales, you need to make sure that your products have plenty of reviews.
What is Social Proof and Why Does it Help?
Social proof is the idea that people are more likely to do something if they see that others have done it first. This concept can be applied to online reviews, which act as a form of social proof.
When potential customers see that other people have bought a product and left a positive review, they're more likely to make a purchase themselves. This is because they see that others have had a positive experience with the product and that it's safe to buy.
Include a Call-to-Action on Various Categories
A call-to-action (CTA) is an element on your website or online store that encourages visitors to take a specific action. This could be anything from signing up for your newsletter to making a purchase.
Including a CTA on your product review pages is a great way to increase the number of reviews you get. By asking customers to leave a review, you're more likely to get the reviews you're looking for.
Make sure that your CTAs are clear and concise, and that they stand out from the rest of the page. Use strong language that urges visitors to take action, such as "write a review," "leave a comment or rating," or "share your thoughts."
When a review proves that a certain product was as effective as the product ratings suggested, it builds customer confidence in your online store. Purchasing decisions are easier to make when customers can see that other people have had positive experiences with the product.
Don't be Tempted by the Allure of Fake Reviews for a Particular Product to Increase Sales
There are a few disadvantages to consider before posting fake reviews for your online store. First, it's important to note that most online shoppers can spot a fake review from a mile away. This means that if you're caught posting fake reviews, you could lose the trust of potential customers.
Additionally, online platforms such as Amazon have been cracking down on businesses that post fake reviews. If you're caught doing this, you could face serious consequences, such as having your account suspended or banned.
Finally, posting fake reviews is simply unethical and dishonest. If you're caught doing this, it could damage your reputation and make it difficult to build trust with potential customers.
If you're considering posting fake reviews, we urge you to consider the potential risks and disadvantages first. It's not worth it to risk your business for a few positive reviews.
If your product performs below par, you might get some really bad reviews. In this case, you could end up losing more customers than you would have if you had no reviews at all.
Conclusion
If you want to increase your product review count, there are a lot of ways to do it. The trick is finding one that works for you and your brand. For example, if you’re a small business with limited resources and time, automating the process might be an option. If not, offering incentives may be another good way to get reviews—and don’t forget about asking customers directly!
If you're looking for a full review or e-commerce strategy, get in touch! we are experts that can help you manage your customer's entire experience.
