If you’re just getting started with your e-commerce business, you might feel like your services or products are so unique that no one would possibly care what other people think about them.
But there’s no denying that online customer reviews have a big impact on sales and marketing for businesses of all sizes.
That’s why it’s smart for new e-commerce businesses to start building up their reputation from the very beginning. The more positive reviews you have from happy customers, the easier it will be to market yourself and reach a wider audience in the future. Here are some of the best ways to get more customer reviews for your online business:
Use social media ads
One of the best ways to get new customers to your website is through paid social media ads. But if you want to get the most out of this marketing strategy, you’ll want to make sure you include customer review prompts in your ads. And don’t forget to read the guide to Facebook reviews so you won’t miss anything.
So, for example, if you’re advertising for a new website design service, you could add a short call-to-action asking customers to leave reviews for your website design services after clicking through the ad.
This can be especially helpful if your business is just getting started and you don’t have many customer reviews yet. Getting this prompt in front of potential customers can help you avoid losing sales because of a lack of social proof.
Ask for customer reviews directly
The best way to get more customer reviews is to ask for them directly. You can do this on social media, in your email marketing campaigns, and on your website. The key is to make your request as genuine as possible.
What should you say in your request for reviews? Consider including a line like “your honest review would help us tremendously.” If you’re struggling to get more reviews, you can also consider including a “badge” or “nag-screen” on your website.
This is a pop-up message that asks customers for reviews and remains visible on your website as they are browsing.
Run a review-contest campaign
Another great way to get more reviews is to host a review-contest campaign. You can do this by offering a prize like a gift card, free service, or discount to customers who leave you reviews and mention the contest on social media, in your emails, and directly to customers on your website.
However, you should keep in mind that if you are running a contest that asks customers to leave reviews in exchange for a gift, you could potentially violate the FTC’s guidelines.
That’s why it’s important to make sure you follow the FTC’s rules and state clearly that the gift isn’t required and that customers can still leave reviews even if they don’t win.
Hold a giveaway
Another great way to get more reviews is to host a giveaway with an incentive to leave a review. This can be as simple as asking customers to leave a review in order to enter the giveaway or a more complicated system where you require a certain number of reviews before the giveaway ends.
While giveaways are an effective way to get reviews, you will want to make sure you are following any rules and laws that are in place in your country regarding paid gifts or incentives to leave reviews.
In the United States, the FTC has put rules in place to make sure that consumers are protected from any false or misleading reviews posted online. If you decide to offer a giveaway with a chance to win a gift card, you will want to make sure that you are following the rules regarding sweepstakes.
Make sure you have the basics in place
Before you start trying to get customer reviews, you’ll want to make sure your basic business operations are in place. That means having your business name, address, and contact information listed correctly on your website, social media, and any other sales or marketing channels you’re using.
You’ll also want to make sure you have a privacy policy and terms of service in place so that customers know their information is safe and that they understand their rights as customers.
You can use an online generator to create these documents quickly and easily. Finally, you’ll want to make sure you have a solid customer service team in place to respond to questions, complaints, and reviews. This will help you respond to issues quickly and with a genuine level of care and concern.
Summing up
Getting customer reviews is an important part of any e-commerce business. It can help you stand out from your competitors and make it easier to generate sales and find new customers.
There are many ways to get more customer reviews, from hosting giveaways to asking for them directly. Make sure your basic operations are in place before you start getting customer reviews, and you’ll be on your way to growing your business.