Did you know that e-commerce reviews increase around 18% of sales of the business? If you are an e-commerce business owner, you are probably looking for ways to build trust and transparency with your customers. For that, you need to look closely into what your customers think about the product you are selling. And like any other progressive e-commerce business owner, these questions should pop into your head:
- Are they satisfied?
- Do they find it to be too expensive?
- How can I get their feedback?
This is where product reviews come into the picture. A product review can be one of the simplest yet most effective ways of communicating with your customers and knowing their honest views on your product performance. They help you earn customer trust as well as enhance SEO, conversion rates, and customer engagement while differentiating your business from that of the competition.
You can significantly boost your e-commerce business's success and reputation by actively encouraging and leveraging customer feedback. Let’s explore some of the most effective ways to get more e-commerce product reviews.
5 Effective Ways to Get More E-commerce Product Reviews
1. Make it Easy to Leave Product Reviews
The easier it is for customers to leave a review, the more likely they are to do it. Simplify the process by reducing the steps needed to submit a review. Often e-commerce businesses miss out on realizing that by giving multiple levels to write a review, customers are more likely to leave it mid-way.
Here’s how you can simplify asking for product reviews:
- Ensure your review process is optimized for mobile devices since many customers will use their phones
- Only ask for essential information to avoid overwhelming customers
- Include direct links in emails or text messages that take customers straight to the review page
It is always ideal to offer a one-click process either on your website or via email, which directs customers to the review page easily.
2. Ask for Product Reviews at the Right Time
Timing is critical when asking for product reviews. The right moment ensures customers are most likely to respond positively and provide valuable feedback. Here are some key points to consider:
Post-Delivery Timing. The most effective time to ask for a review is shortly after the customer has received and had a chance to use the product. This timing allows customers to form a genuine opinion about their purchase. In case of standard requests, you can send a review request 5-7 days after delivery. In the case of complex products like electronics or appliances, wait for 10-14 days after delivery because it requires more time to assess.
Upon Achieving Milestones. Customers who reach certain milestones with your brand are often more engaged and willing to provide feedback. You can build your custom milestones ranging from loyalty programs and birthdays to the anniversary of their first purchase.
Follow-Up Reminders. If the initial request does not receive a response, sending a follow-up reminder can be effective. Ensure the follow-up is courteous and not too frequent to avoid annoying the customer.
Personalizing the timing of your requests using logistics CRM software and considering time zones can further enhance the effectiveness of your review solicitation efforts. By carefully timing your review requests, you can significantly increase the quantity and quality of feedback, helping to build trust, credibility, and customer satisfaction in your e-commerce business.
3. Send Product Review Email Requests
One of the most straightforward methods to get reviews is through email. Post-purchase emails are highly effective if they are personalized. Use your customer’s name and mention the product they purchased to enhance the personalization in your email. This builds a connection with them, and they are more likely to appreciate it. Don’t forget to make it easy for customers to leave a review by including a direct link to the review page.
Using email automation tools can automate these follow-up emails, ensuring that every customer is contacted at the optimal time without manual intervention.
4. Offer Incentives to Attract
For any e-commerce business, it is imperative to offer an unforgettable customer experience. It’s all about enhanced CX! Incentives can be one of the most effective ways to motivate your customers to leave reviews.
Research found that 55% of consumers who don’t write reviews said they needed a reward or recognition to do so. Consider offering discounts, loyalty points, cashbacks, or small freebies in exchange for honest feedback. You can keep these things in mind while offering incentives to your customers:
- Be clear that the incentive is for leaving a review, not necessarily a positive one
- Ensure the incentive is valuable enough to encourage participation but not so high that it feels like a bribe
- Leverage social media to maintain the review's authenticity by clearly disclosing the name and picture of the reviewer. This helps gain customer trust.
5. Provide a Lot of Options on Multiple Platforms
Offering customers multiple platforms to leave reviews enhances convenience, broadens your reach, increases visibility, and leverages platform-specific features. The multi-platform strategy encourages more customers to leave reviews and strengthens your brand’s online presence and credibility.
You can try integrating your online platform with feature-rich extensions like Amasty’s Advanced Product Reviews. From displaying the reviews on any page to sending review reminders to the customers, this extension can be of great help in boosting e-commerce sales and attracting customers.
Conclusion
In the end, don’t forget to give enough reasons to your customers to leave a review. Getting reviews can be crucial but it is equally essential to keep honing your product that offers value and desired outcomes. This can happen when you actively indulge in responding to both - positive and negative reviews. While you need to learn the areas of improvement for your product, it gets easier to enhance the customer experience.
