Getting customer reviews for an online store is pretty much a necessity these days. Shoppers are looking to justify their purchases, particularly if they stumble upon an online store they have never visited before.
It is one thing when someone you know and trust recommends you a store, and it is quite another thing when you use search engines.
Trusting your money with the site itself or the goods and services it offers should come with caution.
Customer reviews work as social proof, and they are one of the best ways to persuade interested leads to become actual shoppers.
Let’s take a look at some of the most effective ways to gather more reviews on a site and take an online business to another level.
Use Import Tools
One of the first things to note is that many eCommerce ventures operate using the dropshipping model. It means that they are not manufacturing the goods themselves but rely on third-party suppliers.
If that is the case, importing reviews from already established platforms for the same products could save a lot of resources, particularly time. Unfortunately, learning how to add reviews on Shopify stores and make the most is complicated.
You can also use tools that prioritize the best reviews (rating-wise) and put them in front, which gives shoppers an even bigger incentive to spend money.
Simplify the Process
Hardly any customer would be willing to leave a review if the process of submitting one is too difficult. For someone who has never written a review before, providing a template or an example is necessary.
Another way to simplify the process is to use a survey-like approach. Instead of forcing customers to write walls of text, why not provide them with a questionnaire where they need to select ratings to questions about the product, delivery, service, customer support, etc.
Ask and Follow Up
It might seem obvious, but not every eCommerce business is bothering to ask their shoppers to leave a review. After a purchase is complete and the customer is about to leave the site after the transaction, it could be worth your while to create a pop-up asking for a review.
An email asking for feedback is worth a shout as well. For example, a customer might have a better idea of how to review a product after using it for a bit, and an email a few days after the product has been delivered should be fine.
Following up on a request is another necessary approach. For example, shoppers might want to leave a review, but they forget about it or are too busy at the time to sit down and write their thoughts. A follow-up email is a good reminder.
Organize a Raffle
Incentives are another example of persuading more customers to leave reviews. Think of this method as a contest on social media. If you have been running giveaways on Facebook and Instagram, you must have seen how engagement-wise these posts are better if you compare them to other content.
Well, a similar thing applies to raffles for customer reviews. Announce that you will select a lucky winner for submitting the best customer review every week (you can pick a different time frame) and you are pretty much set.
Even simple prizes like discount coupons or free shipping on the next purchase are enough to incentivize more customers to submit feedback. And if there is something in it for them, you can bet that they will try extra hard to come up with a great review and submit it.
Engage With the Feedback
Customer reviews can lead to discussions. For example, when someone posts a review and interested shopper replies by asking a question, you get a chain of comments that generate interest.
Involving one of the store’s staff members in the conversation is a great way to show that it cares and wants to communicate with the customers. In return, shoppers will find that their opinions (reviews) matter and will find it easier to connect with the store and use it more in the future because they get a sense of community from it.
Share Reviews on Social Media
Sharing reviews on social media is this article’s last bit of advice. If a brand’s social media account has a lot of followers, giving customers the spotlight for a well-written review could be worth considering.
On the other hand, it is worth noting that not everybody might be too keen to be the center of attention. Therefore, as a rule of thumb, you should ask a customer if sharing a review on your social media channels is okay. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry.
