How to collect online reviews

In the vast ocean of online shopping, customer reviews are like a beacon guiding ships safely to shore. They illuminate your ecommerce strengths, guide you through areas for improvement and ultimately lead you to a treasure trove of trust and credibility. But how do you encourage customers to leave those golden chunks of feedback? Here are a few tips for collecting valuable reviews for your online store.

1. Make it easy and intuitive

The path to leaving a review should be smooth - like sailing on a calm sea. Make sure the review process is straightforward and easy to get into. RateCompass sends your customers a direct email with a link to submit a review. The fewer clicks required, the more likely customers are to complete the process.

2. Timing is everything

Just as the timing of the tide is crucial for sailors, so is the timing of your review requests. Contact customers when their experience with the product is still fresh in their minds, usually a few days after the product is delivered. In the RateCompass settings, you can easily define yourself how many days from the order date you want a review request to be sent. Calculate the average number of days it takes you to get the product you ordered to the customer, and add a few more days - depending on the type of product you have - to give the customer time to gain some experience of the product itself. This increases the likelihood of getting a review and also ensures that the feedback is relevant and detailed.

3. Encourage, but wisely

Offering an incentive for reviews can be like having the wind in your sails and get customers to take action. However, it is important to navigate these waters carefully to maintain the authenticity of your reviews. You can offer discounts, loyalty points or entry into a prize draw in exchange for honest feedback. Make it clear that the reward is for a review, not a positive review, to maintain integrity. For example, you can offer a small discount after submitting a review, on the Thank You page, so your loyal customers know that submitting a review is worthwhile.

4. Participate and respond

Engagement is the anchor that keeps the customer relationship stable. Responding to reviews, both positive and negative, shows that you value customer feedback and are committed to improving it. Engagement not only encourages more reviews by showing customers that their opinions matter, it also turns any negative experiences into positive ones.

5. Make the most of social media

Social media is a vibrant marketplace where word spreads at the speed of light. Share your best reviews on your social media platforms and encourage satisfied customers to share their experiences. By tagging your business and using special hashtags, you can extend the reach of these positive stories and inspire others to leave feedback.

6. Take advantage of European review services

Partnering with a reputable and European review platform like RateCompass can streamline the collection and management of reviews. RateCompass provides tools to automate review requests, collect feedback across channels, and display reviews prominently on your website and in search results, further increasing your store's visibility and credibility.

7. Educate your customers

Sometimes customers don't leave reviews simply because they don't know how impactful they can be. Educate your customers on the importance of reviews not only to your business, but to the community as a whole. Highlight how their feedback can help improve your products and services, making their voice an integral part of your store's development. You can emphasize the importance of feedback not only on your online shop's website, but also in your order confirmation and even in the review request itself. You can also encourage your customers to leave reviews through other channels, such as social media.

Summary

Collecting reviews is a skill that, if mastered, can significantly improve the visibility, trust and credibility of your online store. By making the process easy, timing requests wisely, encouraging honesty, engaging with feedback, leveraging social media, using native review platforms and educating your customers, you can build a robust review ecosystem. This ecosystem will not only accelerate the growth of your store, but also foster a community of engaged and satisfied customers. Remember, in the vast sea of e-commerce, reviews are your beacon of light - make sure they shine bright.

Author: Linnea Orimus, Marketing Manager

RateCompass / Vilkas Group