Reviews are increasingly vital to the overall success of your eCommerce business. But why do they matter so much, and how can you keep positive and thorough reviews flowing in at all times?
This guide will help you hack the review game, so you can focus on making your brand the best it can be.
What is a product review?
A product review is a written or visual assessment of a product or service from a customer who has experienced it firsthand. More often than not, these reviews contain detailed feedback, opinions, and ratings based on the customer's personal experience with the product. They can be found on product pages, review platforms, social media, and other online channels.
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Why product reviews matter
Product reviews are a vital component of the modern eCommerce landscape, and their importance can’t be overstated.
Product reviews serve as social proof that your products or services are trustworthy and credible. Potential customers often seek validation from others who have already used the product before making a purchase decision.
Many consumers rely on previous buyers' experiences to gauge a product's quality, performance, and value. Positive reviews can sway potential customers towards making a purchase, while negative reviews may deter them. Customers are more likely to trust the opinions of fellow shoppers over marketing messages from the brand.
Reviews not only influence your current and potential customers but also impact your search engine ranking. Search engines favor fresh, user-generated content; product reviews provide exactly that. Customer reviews contribute to SEO efforts by adding relevant keywords, generating more content on product pages, and increasing the time users spend on your site.
Constructive feedback from product reviews, can provide valuable insights into what customers love about their offerings and areas that need improvement. This feedback loop enables businesses to refine their products and services, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Responding to product reviews allows brands to engage with their customers, express gratitude for positive feedback, and address concerns in a transparent manner. This engagement fosters a sense of community around the brand and encourages customer loyalty.
Benefits eCommerce product reviews
eCommerce product reviews offer a wide range of benefits for both businesses and customers. From driving sales to building trust, these valuable user-generated assessments play a pivotal role in shaping the success of an online store.
Drive sales
Positive product reviews act as persuasive testimonials that encourage potential customers to make a purchase. Customer reviews are needed so that when shoppers see that others have had positive experiences with a product, they are more likely to trust its quality and value, leading to increased sales and conversions.
Boosts credibility
Authentic customer reviews enhance the credibility of your brand and offerings. They demonstrate that real people have used and enjoyed your products, validating your claims and establishing your brand as trustworthy in the eyes of potential buyers.
Enhances SEO
Product reviews contribute to valuable user-generated content on your website. Search engines favor fresh and relevant content, and reviews add relevant keywords, which can improve your website's search rankings and visibility, driving organic traffic to your eCommerce store.
Creates personalized customer experiences
Product reviews often provide specific insights and use cases from customers with diverse preferences. This personalized feedback helps potential buyers understand how the product aligns with their needs, fostering a deeper connection and increasing the likelihood of a purchase.
Builds trust with customers
Trust is crucial for any eCommerce business. Positive product reviews demonstrate that your brand delivers on its promises and provides satisfactory customer experiences. This trust-building element can lead to repeat purchases and word-of-mouth referrals.
Opportunity to grow from negative feedback
Negative product reviews, while challenging to receive, offer a valuable opportunity for growth. They highlight areas of improvement and allow you to address customer concerns directly. Responding empathetically and offering solutions to negative feedback can convert dissatisfied customers into loyal brand advocates
How to ask for an eCommerce product review?
Asking customers for product reviews is a delicate process that requires a thoughtful and strategic approach.
Time it right
If you want to increase customer reviews, you need to send your review requests at the right time, ideally after the customer has received the product and had sufficient time to use it. This usually falls around 7-12 days post-delivery. Steer clear of requesting reviews right after a purchase, as it might seem rushed, and customers may not have had ample time to fully engage with the product.
Be personal
Personalize your review request by addressing customers by their names and mentioning the specific product they purchased. A personalized touch shows that you value their individual experiences and can help you get more positive reviews. The review block will auto-pull the product purchased on each send.
Keep it simple
Keep your feedback request email concise and to the point. Make the process as seamless as possible by including a clear call-to-action with a direct link to where they can leave a review.
Express gratitude
While still staying true to your brand voice, start your request with a sincere expression of gratitude for their purchase. Thank them for choosing your store and being a valued customer.
Encourage honesty
Encourage customers to provide honest feedback, whether positive or negative. Let them know that their insights are essential in helping you improve your products and services.
Offer an incentive
Consider offering a small incentive, such as a discount, coupon, or loyalty points, for customers who take the time to leave a review. However, ensure that the incentive does not influence the content or authenticity of their feedback.
Send a gentle follow-up
If a customer doesn't respond to your initial request, you can send a gentle follow-up reminder after a reasonable amount of time. Avoid being too persistent or pushy, as it might deter customers from leaving a review altogether.
How to get product reviews on your eCommerce website
To collect product reviews effectively and enhance your eCommerce website's credibility, you can utilize various tools and platforms. Here's how to get product reviews using Sendlane, Yotpo, Shopify Reviews, and BigCommerce Reviews.
Sendlane
Sendlane is an fully unified email, SMS and reviews solution for eCommerce brands.
Using Sendlane's email automation features, marketers can send personalized review request emails to customers post-purchase. Customize these emails with details like customer name and specific product information and time the review request strategically after customers receive their orders and have had a chance to experience the products. Then, use Sendlane's analytics and reporting capabilities to track the open rates and conversion rates of your review request emails. The best part? Sendlane’s Review product is completely free for all users!
Yotpo
Yotpo is an eCommerce marketing platform that helps brands collect product reviews.
With Yotpo, embed review forms directly into post-purchase emails to simplify the review submission process for customers. Make it easy for customers to provide feedback without leaving their inbox. With customizable review widgets, you can place on your eCommerce website to showcase customer reviews and ratings. These widgets allow you to leverage UGC as social proof and build trust with potential buyers. Yotpo's management dashboard helps you to monitor incoming reviews and engage with customers who provide feedback.
Shopify Reviews
Shopify is a leading eCommerce platform that enables brands build and manage their online stores.
By enabling the Shopify Product Reviews feature within your Shopify store settings you can enable customers to leave written reviews and star ratings directly on your product pages. Although the customization options are limited, ensure the review display fits well with your store's theme and design. Promote customer participation by showcasing the existing reviews and encouraging customers to leave their feedback after making a purchase.
Benefits of Sendlane's product review feature
Sendlane's product review feature offers a comprehensive set of tools to effectively collect, manage, and leverage customer feedback for eCommerce businesses.
Seamless Integration
Sendlane's product review feature seamlessly integrates with your existing eCommerce platform, making online review monitoring easy so that you can start collecting reviews without significant technical hassle. Whether you're using Shopify or BigCommerce, Sendlane provides a smooth integration process.
Automated Review Requests
With Sendlane, you can automate the process of sending review request emails to customers after they make a purchase. These personalized review requests can be timed strategically, ensuring that customers receive the email when their experience with the product is still fresh in their minds.
Personalization and Customization
Sendlane allows marketers to create and send personalized review request emails. Using custom fields, you can auto-pull information on each send to include details like customer name and product purchased. Customizing the review requests creates a more intimate and engaging experience, increasing the likelihood of customers leaving feedback.
Actionable Analytics
The product review feature in Sendlane provides actionable analytics and reporting on the performance of your review requests. You can track open rates, conversion rates, and other key metrics to measure the success of your review collection efforts and make data-driven decisions to optimize your strategy.
Customer Engagement
Sendlane's product review feature enables direct engagement with customers who leave reviews. Using the reply center, you can respond to their feedback, address concerns, and express appreciation for positive reviews. Or, set up an automation funnel to fire off responses based on star ratings!
Conversion Boost
Positive product reviews act as persuasive testimonials that influence potential customers' purchase decisions. By showcasing these reviews on your website or marketing materials through Sendlane, you can boost conversions and drive more sales for your eCommerce store.
Integration with Marketing Campaigns
Sendlane's Rreview data can be seamlessly integrated into your marketing campaigns, too!You can leverage positive reviews as social proof in email marketing like abandoned cart messages and be exported and used for social media or paid ads.
If you’re ready to unify your tech stack and generate reveue through the power of reviews, speak to a Sendlane expert today!
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