Did you know, online reviews can mean the difference between the success and failure of your Shopify store?

Take my word for it, but don’t just take my word for it. Online reviews influence 93 percent of customers’ purchasing decisions.

But how do you convince customers to leave reviews? Here, we’ll go over the ins and outs of getting customer reviews, as well as how to get them.

We are going to cover:

• How can you encourage customers to leave reviews?
• How can a new Shopify store get product reviews?
• What is the best way to get Shopify customer reviews?

How can you encourage customers to leave reviews?

Feedback request via offline way: You might want to start asking for a review in person from your long-time/ regular customers. Display your business cards with all the information at the counter and ask your customers to take one while leaving. This way, they’ll know where to find you online if they want to leave a review on.

Feedback request via SMS:  If SMS is a part of your retail marketing strategy, it’s also a great way to seek customer feedback. You can program a text message to be sent to the customer one to two weeks after receiving their order. Include a direct link to the product they purchased to leave a review using their smartphone easily.

Feedback request via Email:  Feedback can also be requested via email. You can also set up automated post-purchase emails that are personalized for each customer and send them out one to two weeks after the customer receives their order.

The Review Reminder: You can also include a postcard in the package with online orders asking for a review. As a result, the customer is reminded to go online and leave a review about their experience with your company and the products they purchased.

And, once you’ve gathered a few testimonials share them on Instagram. This can encourage more people to submit reviews for consideration, either via direct message or email. Encourage people by some caption like, “Do you want to share your review and be featured as well?” Send us an email at [insert email address here] or a direct message.”

 

How can a new Shopify store get product reviews?

Ok, so as the value of reviews in business is in front of you, the last question is how do you get reviews if you don’t yet have any customers?

So, here we come!

Free product or a significant discount

Give the product away in exchange for a review.

(Be careful, they may accept the offer and never provide feedback. One solution is to give them a discount or their money back after they leave a review.)

Make use of a Loyalty Program

You can use a loyalty program such as Smile.io to award points for product reviews. This is also a great way to increase repeat business.

Benefit from your Customer Service

Use your customer service team to request feedback from those who have contacted your store. People respond better to personal connections than to other types of automated outreach.

Leverage the Social Media

Using social media to drive traffic and interact with customers is also a great place to get customer feedback. To announce and promote your rewards program, for example, you can pin a post on Facebook and add Instagram highlights.

Wait for the customers

The final option is to wait until you have customers and then send them a review request, asking if they like the product and if they could leave a review.

Another option is to share the reviews on your social channels and express your genuine appreciation while encouraging others to leave a review as well. You can also reward them with a discount code to encourage them to review your product.

 

What is the best way to get Shopify customer reviews?

Going above and beyond your customers’ expectations is the simplest way to get more customer reviews. Most people are likely to leave a review if they had a fantastic experience.

Here are some suggestions to help you get more customer reviews:

Send review requests

When asked, 70% of customers will leave a review about a company. You must send a follow-up message after delivery to remind your customers to leave feedback and to thank them for their orders.

If possible, you should include a thank you note in the package to personalize your customer’s shopping experience and make them feel special and warm.

Remember, the more customer reviews a product gets, more likely it is to receive more reviews from future customers.

Respond to both, positive and negative feedback

Don’t just accept the good; be ready for any possible backlash. Always own up. Make a point of responding to customer feedback. This is an excellent way to demonstrate your store’s dependability and transparency. You must listen to your customers and address and solve their problems as soon as possible.

Responding to reviews demonstrates to potential customers that you are willing to assist them and encourage them to write something. They are also less likely to leave a negative review of your store.

Reward your customers for their feedback

After a successful purchase, you can encourage your customers to write a review and offer rewards or discounts in your post-purchase emails.

Use the Reward and Loyalty Program to encourage your customers to leave a review and create an email campaign to reward them with discounts, coupons, gifts, and so on. Numerous loyalty apps can assist you, such as Loyalty Lion, Smile, and others.

 Wrapping it up

Encouragement for customer reviews is critical for moving the needle.

Using online reviews for local SEO will help you sell more online and attract more local customers to your retail store.

Many in-store shoppers also conduct online product research before purchasing in person. Having many customer reviews can help convert browsers into paying customers, regardless of the channel they’re shopping on.

How have customer reviews served you in increasing your online and offline sales? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.