Product reviews play a vital role in influencing consumer decisions and shaping a business's reputation. Statista’s 2024 report revealed that 62% of US consumers found online reviews quite helpful in their purchasing journey. This proves that whether you are an online retailer or a brick-and-mortar store, understanding how to effectively collect and use customer feedback is potent to attract and retain customers.
However, many businesses are still clueless as to how to get more product reviews. You may be selling excellent products, but you’ll find it hard to build an online reputation if you don't know how to convince buyers to leave ratings or testimonials. Here is a detailed guide about product reviews. Learn some fool-proof and creative ways to get reviews and how a platform like a form builder with QR code can streamline your review collection process.
Why do you need to get more product reviews?
Part of knowing how to get more product reviews is understanding why they are essential. Here is why you should care about them:
Builds a trustworthy reputation
Imagine choosing between two restaurants for dine-out. One has numerous positive reviews about its food, ambiance, and service, while the other has no review section at all. Needless to say, the majority of people will choose the first restaurant. Statistics show that 90% of people read customer reviews before making a purchase. These reviews help build trust and credibility and inspire people to choose one brand over another.
Increases sales and revenue
Positive customer reviews directly impact your sales by influencing potential customers' potential decisions. People are more likely to trust your brand when they see that others have had a positive experience with your products. This trust can lead to increased customer confidence and a higher possibility of making a purchase.
Customer reviews and recommendations can indirectly impact your online presence. When people share their positive experiences on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or X, it can generate backlinks to your website. These backlinks can signal the SERP that your website is valuable and relevant for ranking.
Upgrades products and services
The primary goal of product reviews is to gather honest and authentic insights. Pay close attention to each content and identify specific areas where customers may be struggling. While negative reviews are inevitable, you can use them as an opportunity to address issues and improve certain features or specifications.
How to get more product reviews for your business
Here are some of the most useful and practical tips on how to gather feedback from your customers:
Choose an easy review collection system
When you ask customers to review your product or service, it’s important to make the process as simple and accessible as possible. Facebook’s user-friendly interface, for instance, allows customers to leave reviews through ratings and comments conveniently. Your Google Business Profile’s review section, on the other hand, offers a straightforward platform for direct customer input. Businesses with a strong Instagram reputation can also encourage customers to share their reviews in Instagram Stories.
Use QR code forms for product reviews
Customers are usually reluctant to share their views, as traditional methods are complex and difficult to navigate. However, the e-commerce industry is increasingly moving towards QR technology to provide a fast and mobile-friendly solution for today's tech-savvy consumers.
Businesses can use a form builder with QR code to create a QR-based feedback form and integrate it into various parts of their customer journey. You can include QR codes on product packaging, receipts, or email confirmations. Customers can simply scan the QR code with their smartphone, fill out the form, and submit their feedback.
QR codes are highly customizable and can be tailored according to your brand’s aesthetic. Additionally, they offer tracking capabilities that allow you to measure the effectiveness of your review campaign by monitoring the number of scans, devices used, and location data.
Highlight positive customer reviews
You must have seen numerous e-commerce businesses highlighting customer testimonials across various platforms. This is a successful strategy because people trust the experiences of others.
When reviews are openly displayed, potential customers can see that others have had positive experiences with your products or services, encouraging them to make a purchase. Showcasing satisfied customer reviews for the website, social media, and Google creates a sense of social proof and encourages customers to try your products or services.
Incentivize customer's reviews and recommendations
What's better than rewarding people for sharing their reviews and opinions? Offering incentives in exchange for reviews increases feedback submission and improves the product's average rating. However, such initiatives should be planned very carefully so as not to turn them into a review purchasing program. Here is how you can incentivize customers while maintaining the integrity of your reviews:
- Free samples: Offer free samples of your products and allow customers to experience them firsthand.
- Rewards and redeemable points: Offer redeemable points on each purchase, which customers can enjoy later.
- Free delivery: Encourage customers to leave reviews in return for a time-limited free delivery offer.
- Gift cards: Provide gift cards to customers who write detailed and helpful reviews.
Collect visual product reviews
Written reviews are good, but visual reviews are even better. Wisernotify, a social proof tool, found that 95% of customers remember video reviews rather than written ones. Encourage customers to share photos and videos of how your products are meeting their needs. This can include images of the product being used, unboxing videos, or before-and-after comparisons. Using visual content such as photos and videos during your campaigns can create a more engaging and interactive experience and improve your brand's reputation.
Respond to negative feedback
No business is immune to mistakes or negative reviews. There will always be some mishaps leading to a bad customer experience. When these challenges arise, all you need to learn is how to manage and respond to negative reviews.
Customers value businesses that acknowledge their concerns and take proactive steps to address their issues. Instead of using automated responses and generic messages, take time to personally address your customers' problems. Communication with a personalized approach improves customer satisfaction and encourages more people to reach out to you.
Here are a few examples of personalized responses:
- "We apologize for the issue and will make sure it doesn’t happen in the future.”
- "Thank you for your feedback. Please let me know how we can make things right.”
Ask customers directly
Encourage customers to leave a review after their purchase. While satisfied customers may leave positive feedback on their own, a polite reminder can significantly boost response rates. Consider asking for feedback at the end of the check-out process, after receiving an order, or when resolving a complaint. This direct approach increases the chances of receiving reviews and insights about your customers' experiences.
Contests, giveaways, and partnerships
Contests and giveaways are great tools for generating positive reviews and increasing online visibility. To boost the number of reviews on your platform, encourage participants to leave a review as a condition of entry.
Collaborating with influencers in your industry is another effective strategy. These people can promote your products or services to their followers, who are often highly engaged and likely to trust their recommendations. This partnership helps you reach a wider audience and encourages their followers to leave reviews on your products or services.
Send post-purchase emails
The best time to ask for feedback is after customers have had a chance to use and experience your product. Collect customers' email at the point of sale so you can send personalized follow-up emails that remind them to write a review. In your follow-up email, include a link to the specific product they purchased with a simple call to action (CTA), such as "Please leave a review".
The timing of your product should depend upon the type of product they purchased. For example, if they purchased a physical product, you might wait a few days to allow them to use it. For digital products, you could send an email shortly after the purchase.
Wrap Up
Product reviews are crucial for businesses to see what they do well and where they can improve. And it’s equally important to be strategic in collecting reviews from customers. From building review systems to sending post-purchase emails and collecting visual content, there are various methods to facilitate customer communication. Businesses can also follow new trends, like using a form builder with a QR code to encourage customers to leave honest feedback. For best results, choose a review method that aligns with your business goals and your target audience's preferences. This will help you increase your customer engagement and build a robust online presence.
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