Online reviews can mean the difference between your Shopify store’s success or downfall. Good customer reviews can get customers knocking on your door but bad reviews can tarnish your online reputation.
Don’t just take our word for it. 93% of customers base their buying decisions on online reviews. The big question is, how do you collect customer reviews and how do you deal with negative reviews? Fortunately, we have these answers for you today.
Why Customer Reviews are Important
Reviews expose the cold hard truth about your Shopify store that advertising might conceal. Here’s why you shouldn’t underestimate the value of customer reviews.
Provides social proof
Using the experience of like-minded shoppers to persuade customers in similar situations is a powerful marketing tool. Customer reviews help buyers who are on- the- fence to take action. The social proof that other buyers provide validates your potential customer’s decision that it’s okay to buy your products based on the experience of others.
Creates user-generated content
Product reviews from your customers generate content that you can leverage for marketing. User-generated content adds a new perspective to your products. It offers an unbiased view from real people who actually used them. They relay how they interacted with your brand and shape the perception of how you’ll be received by others.
Increases search traffic
When you display customer reviews on your Shopify store and include an average rating badge to your products, buyers will be able to see that in Google search results. This kind of detailed review on your website boosts your product page ranking on Google’s search results.
People who see rates and reviews tied to your Shopify store will more likely click on your site because it appears reputable and that’s how customer reviews give you a boost on organic search traffic.
Boosts conversions
A consumer review survey conducted by BrightLocal shows that customer reviews not only inspire trust but also increase conversions. The results show that:
- 54% of people visit a company after reading its positive reviews
- 58% of customers believe that the “star rating” is the most important metric
- 84% of customers trust online reviews just as much as a personal recommendation
How to Get Customer Reviews on Your Shopify Store
Let’s look at some ways that you can make the most of your customer reviews and take your Shopify store to another level.
Leverage on a great product review app
The first step is to select an awesome product review app for your Shopify store. Shopify has its own free app known as Product Reviews that gets the job done but it’s too basic.
There are dozens of options to choose from in the app store. Just make sure that the review generation process is user-friendly and simple when choosing a product review app.
Some great Shopify product review apps you could try our include:
Make it easy for customers to leave reviews
Your primary goal is to provide a seamless customer experience throughout their buying journey. Writing a review is part of this journey so you should strive to make the process as frictionless as possible.
Complicated forms don’t make the cut. Keep your review process simple by using the 5-star rating system, a text or a photo. Amazon already set the standard for reviews. You could include calls to action on your product pages, receipts or within your confirmation pages as well as email.
Ask for customer reviews
Find friendly ways to ask your customers for reviews for the products they buy. Don’t just ask for a review. Use your brand voice to make the ask personable such as:
- How did you like your purchase?
- Share your thoughts
- Leave feedback
- Tell us about your experience
You could use your POS to track the purchases of individual shoppers. Use this information to build customized follow-up email campaigns and track their activities so you can tailor requests.
Schedule reminder emails to ask again after your initial request. Chances are, the first ask will get customers at a bad time.
Ask for the review at the right time
Speaking of timing, the best time for a customer review is when the product gets delivered. This is when the anticipation and excitement for the package is high. However, products that take a little time for customers to try out like skincare products or vacuum cleaners, it’s better to wait a bit before sending the review request.
Work with your shipping partner to calculate the average delivery time. After that, add a safety margin of 4 to 5 days to guarantee perfect timing. This way, your customer will have ample time to try out your product.
Personalize your customer review requests
Personalization helps you connect with your customers and boost engagement. Customize your email subjects to increase the number of reviews you’d like to generate. To do this, you could use the following tips:
- Emphasize the incentive in your subject line
- Run a contest and give customers a chance to win prizes for leaving a review
- Show them that they’re helping to spread the value that your product offers to spike interest in your cause
Offer incentives for reviews
Incentives motivate customers to fill out a review request. Notice that you’re not buying them off to give you a favorable review. The types of incentives you can offer include discounts and loyalty points.
You could also send them giveaways and samples by hosting periodic drawings and choosing winners for those who submit their reviews within a given timeframe.
Encourage customer reviews on social media platforms
People spend an average of 144 minutes each day on social media. You should use this to your advantage by encouraging your customers to leave reviews in their favorite social media platforms.
Display customer reviews on your Shopify store
It’s important to highlight your reviews on your Shopify store. Make sure that the reviews match your store’s theme. Equally important, don’t dismiss the negative reviews. You should show everyone that your business values its customer’s opinions.
Displaying even the bad reviews shows that you’re authentic. As a damage control strategy for bad reviews, make sure you respond to them as well. Respond to the bad review in a professional yet empathetic way. This projects a great image for your Shopify store. It says that your top priority is your customer’s satisfaction and not just the sales.
Bottomline
Customer experience is what makes your Shopify store stand out. Getting online reviews for your Shopify store doesn’t have to be a daunting experience. Use the above tips and your customers will be more than happy to share their experiences with others. Negative reviews don’t have to be that intimidating. Use them to show potential customers that you value what they have to say and they will know you value them.
