Published | 17 min read
Key Takeaways
- Increasing customer conversions on an eCommerce site involves optimizing the user experience, building trust with potential customers, and encouraging them to take action.
- Consumers trust online reviews, so it's vital to seek out company reviews that accurately portray your business.
- This can be achieved through a variety of methods, including improving website design and functionality, offering competitive pricing and discounts, providing detailed product information and reviews, simplifying the checkout process, and utilizing effective marketing strategies such as social media and email campaigns.
- It is also important to provide excellent customer service and support to build loyalty and encourage repeat business. By implementing these strategies, eCommerce sites can improve their conversion rates and drive more sales.
- Knowing why reviews are important is an excellent step to finding just the right balance of online reviews for your company and gaining more positive reviews.
Are you looking to increase eCommerce conversions? Do customer online reviews have anything to do with it? The answer is yes! Increasing customer reviews can be an invaluable tool in helping you reach your eCommerce goals.
It's no secret that customers want to hear from other customers when making decisions about a product or service. In fact, 88% of consumers want to hear about product reviews as much as personal recommendations. That's why customer online reviews are essential for any successful eCommerce store. They give potential customers the confidence they need to make a purchase.
So, how can you use customer reviews to your advantage? That's what we'll discuss in this article—10 key steps for increasing conversions with customer reviews. We'll look at how to get more positive reviews, how to respond promptly and effectively, and more. Why are customer reviews important? Let's find out.
Step 1: Encourage Customers to Leave Reviews
Encouraging customers to leave online reviews on an eCommerce website is essential for building trust and credibility, as well as increasing conversions. Here are some strategies for asking customers for reviews and incentivizing them to leave feedback:
How to ask customers for reviews:
- Send a follow-up email after a purchase, thanking the customer for their business and asking them to leave a review.
- Use in-product pop-ups or prompts to ask customers for feedback while they're using your product.
- Offer an incentive, such as a discount code, for leaving a review.
- Include a call to action (CTA) on your website or in your email campaigns, encouraging customers to leave a review.
Tips for incentivizing reviews:
- Offer a small discount code or free gift for leaving a review.
- Hold a contest or giveaway for customers who leave a review.
- Create a loyalty program that rewards customers for leaving online reviews.
- Provide early access to new products or exclusive content to customers who leave reviews.
Best practices for review requests:
- Personalize your requests and address customers by name.
- Keep your request short and simple, explaining why online reviews are important and how they can help other customers.
- Make it easy for customers to leave a review by providing a direct link or instructions.
- Thank customers for leaving a review, even if it's negative, and respond promptly to any concerns or feedback.
When asking for online reviews, it's important to follow ethical guidelines and avoid fake or misleading reviews. Customers should feel empowered to leave honest feedback, and reviews should not be manipulated or incentivized in a way that undermines their authenticity.
By encouraging customers to leave reviews and providing an excellent customer experience, eCommerce businesses can increase conversions, build trust, and drive long-term success.
Step 2: Respond to Reviews
Now that you’ve encouraged customers to leave online reviews, the next step is to respond to them. Responding to customer reviews is just as important as getting them in the first place.
By responding to a customer review online, you are demonstrating that you care about their feedback and value their opinion. You also have a chance to address any problems or issues they may have had before they post their review online or talk about it with others.
Take Every Online Review Seriously
Responding to customer reviews shows that you take customer satisfaction seriously. It also reflects positively on your brand and can help increase conversions. Customers are more likely to purchase from a company that takes the time to respond and listens to what they have to say. It will also help build trust between you and your customers, which is essential for long-term success in eCommerce.
Responding to Negative Reviews
It’s important to be professional when responding to online reviews, even if a customer has left a negative one. Always stay polite and thank them for taking the time out of their day to leave a review. If there was an issue with the product or service, offer them a solution such as sending out a replacement or giving them a discount on their next purchase. Doing this will show your customers that you value them and want them to be happy with your product or service.
Boost Your SEO
When responding, use keywords that are relevant for SEO purposes so potential customers can easily find your business online when searching for products or services related to yours. This will help increase visibility and attract more potential buyers who may convert into paying customers.
Taking these steps will ensure that all customer reviews are taken into consideration and handled in an appropriate manner while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction and increasing conversions at the same time!
Step 3: Display Reviews on Product Pages
Displaying product reviews on product pages is a great way to increase conversions on an eCommerce website. It's important to ensure that you display reviews in a prominent location, so customers can find them easily. This is especially true for new customers who may be unfamiliar with the product quality and need reassurance.
The Positives of Negative Reviews
When displaying eCommerce product reviews on your website, make sure that you include both positive reviews and negative reviews. A positive review will help boost confidence in the product, while a negative review will help potential customers get an unbiased opinion about the product's quality.
Be sure to include detailed information about each review such as customer rating, helpfulness of review, and other pertinent information. This will give customers more insight into what others think about the product before they make their purchase decision.
Never Fake Positive Reviews
It's also important to take steps to ensure that all customer reviews are authentic. Use tools like automated moderation systems or manual moderation tools to weed out spam or fake online reviews from genuine ones. This will help maintain trust in your brand and build credibility among customers, which could lead to increased conversions over time.
It's also beneficial to respond to customer feedback in a timely manner. Showing appreciation for good feedback and addressing any concerns with bad feedback can go a long way towards building trust in your brand and ultimately increasing conversions on your eCommerce site.
Step 4: Use Review Aggregators
Using review aggregators on an eCommerce platform can be an effective way to showcase client feedback and increase conversions. Here's what you need to know about using review aggregators
What Are Review Aggregators?
A review aggregator is a tool that collects online reviews from various sources, such as social media, Google Reviews, and third-party review websites, and displays them on your eCommerce website. Review aggregators can provide a comprehensive view of feedback and can help build trust and credibility for your business.
How to use review aggregators to get more reviews and increase conversions:
- Display review aggregators prominently on your website, such as on the homepage or product pages, to showcase feedback and build trust.
- Utilize review aggregators in email campaigns to encourage customers to make a purchase.
- Use review aggregators in paid advertising to showcase social proof and increase click-through rates.
- Respond to both positive reviews and negative reviews to show that you value client feedback and are committed to providing excellent service.
Best practices for utilizing review aggregators:
- Use a reputable and reliable review aggregator tool to ensure the accuracy and legitimacy of feedback.
- Monitor and review aggregator data regularly to identify areas for improvement and respond to feedback promptly.
- Use review aggregators in conjunction with other marketing strategies, such as email campaigns and paid advertising, to maximize their effectiveness.
- Encourage customers to leave online reviews on a variety of platforms, as this can help increase the volume of reviews available for aggregation.
When using review aggregators, it's important to prioritize authenticity and transparency. Avoid manipulating or incentivizing reviews in a way that undermines their authenticity, and respond promptly and professionally to any negative feedback.
By utilizing review aggregators and providing an excellent customer experience, eCommerce businesses can build trust, increase conversions, and drive long-term success.
Step 5: Share Reviews on Social Media
Sharing customer reviews on social media is a great way to increase eCommerce conversions. Social proof plays an important role in influencing the decisions of online shoppers, and showcasing customer satisfaction can be highly effective in driving sales.
Be Thorough and Attract Attention
When sharing online reviews on social media, make sure to include relevant visuals that catch the eye of potential customers. It’s also helpful to include a short description of the product or service alongside the review, as well as any hashtags that may be associated with it. This helps to provide context and adds an element of authenticity.
Use the Right Language
It’s also important to use language that resonates with your target audience, as this can help to encourage engagement and build trust with potential customers. You should also consider responding to comments and questions related to reviews posted on social media, as this can help create positive interactions with existing customers and prospects alike.
By using visuals, relevant descriptions, targeted language, and engaging conversations around customer reviews, businesses can make a lasting impression on their audiences and build trust with their customers, which is key for making successful sales online.
Step 6: Utilize Visuals in Reviews
Adding visuals to customer reviews can help drive up eCommerce conversions. Visuals in online reviews are a great way for an online store to stand out from the competition and attract more potential customers. By displaying visuals in company reviews, shoppers get a clearer understanding of the product or service and can make more informed decisions about their purchase.
First off, customers appreciate seeing visuals when they’re reviewing products or services on an online store. Photos of the product, screenshots of the ordering process, or even videos about the company can all be helpful for customers who are unfamiliar with what they're buying.
It's also important to ensure mobile compatibility, as most people now shop on their smartphones or tablets.
Visuals should also be used to highlight positive customer experiences. Whether it’s photos of happy customers using the product or screenshots of customer interactions with customer service representatives, visuals allow shoppers to see how others have benefited from your business and encourage them to make a purchase too.
Step 7: Incorporate Reviews into Email Marketing
Incorporating online reviews in email marketing can be an effective strategy for eCommerce businesses looking to increase conversions and build trust. Here are some benefits, best practices, and examples of using reviews in email marketing:
Benefits of including online reviews in email marketing:
- Increased click-through rates: Including customer reviews in email campaigns can increase click-through rates and encourage customers to make a purchase.
- Increased trust: An online review provides social proof and build trust with potential customers, making them more likely to make a purchase.
- Increased engagement: Including reviews in email campaigns can increase engagement and encourage customers to share feedback or leave their own review.
Best practices for using reviews in email marketing:
- Include a clear call to action (CTA) that encourages customers to make a purchase based on the reviews.
- Use personalized subject lines and email content that address customers by name and speak to their specific interests.
- Use a mix of positive reviews and negative reviews to provide a balanced view of feedback.
- Make sure reviews are relevant to the products or services being promoted in the email campaign.
Examples of successful email marketing with reviews:
- Amazon: Amazon's email campaigns often include customer reviews of the products being promoted, with a clear CTA to make a purchase based on the reviews.
- Sephora: Sephora includes customer reviews in their email campaigns and encourages customers to leave their own reviews in exchange for loyalty points.
- Airbnb: Airbnb sends review requests to customers after a stay, and includes these reviews in email campaigns to encourage future bookings.
By incorporating reviews in email marketing, eCommerce businesses can increase conversions, build trust, and drive long-term success. It's important to follow best practices and personalize email content to speak to each customer's unique interests and needs.
Step 8: Address Negative Reviews
No matter how great your product or service is, it's likely that you'll receive a negative review from time to time. While responding to negative reviews can be difficult and uncomfortable, addressing them head-on is essential for maintaining customer loyalty. Here are some key steps for addressing a negative review:
Read It Carefully
Make sure you understand the issue being raised and the customer's expectations. Once you have a clear understanding of their complaint, it's important to respond quickly and professionally. Show empathy towards the customer by acknowledging their feelings and giving an honest explanation of what went wrong.
Offer a Solution
Offer a solution or resolution to the problem that was raised in the review. This could be an apology or refund, or even a discount code for future purchases. Offering customers something as an apology will demonstrate that your business takes customer service seriously and values feedback.
Follow Up
Make sure you follow up with customers after they've received your response. Ask if they're happy with the resolution provided and if there's anything else you can do to help them both now and in the future. Taking this extra step shows that you genuinely care about your customer’s satisfaction which can help build trust in your brand.
Finally, use feedback from any negative reviews to improve your eCommerce business going forward. Reflect on what went wrong, consider changes that need to be made within your organization, and look at ways to prevent similar problems from occurring again in the future.
Step 9: Leverage Influencers
Leveraging influencers to get reviews on an eCommerce website is an effective way to increase brand awareness and build trust with potential customers. Here's what you need to know about using influencer marketing for reviews:
Influencer marketing involves partnering with individuals who have a large social media following and a high level of engagement with their audience. Influencers can help promote your products or services to their followers, and can provide valuable feedback and reviews to help build trust with potential customers.
How to use influencer marketing for reviews:
- Identify influencers who align with your brand and target audience.
- Reach out to influencers and offer them a free product or service in exchange for an honest review.
- Encourage influencers to share their review on their social media platforms and provide a link back to your eCommerce website.
- Use the influencer's review in your own marketing campaigns, such as email marketing or paid advertising.
Examples of successful influencer marketing with reviews:
- Glossier: Glossier partners with influencers to promote their beauty products and encourage honest reviews on social media platforms.
- HelloFresh: HelloFresh partners with influencers to promote their meal kit delivery service and provide recipe inspiration and reviews to their followers.
- Warby Parker: Warby Parker partners with influencers to showcase their eyewear and provide honest reviews on social media platforms.
By leveraging influencers to get reviews on an eCommerce website, businesses can increase brand awareness, build trust with potential customers, and increase conversions. It's important to choose influencers who align with your brand and target audience, and to encourage honest and transparent feedback.
By using influencer reviews in your own marketing campaigns, you can amplify their reach and impact on your target audience.
Step 10: Continuously Monitor and Improve Reviews Strategy
Now that you have implemented strategies to increase customer reviews and maximize their potential, it is essential to continuously monitor and improve your review strategy. To do this, consider the following steps:
- Stay on top of all Google Reviews posted on your website. This includes monitoring what customers are saying about your products or services and responding in a timely manner. This will help build trust with potential customers who may be considering buying from your eCommerce website.
- Ask customers to write reviews after they complete their purchase. You can do this by providing them with an email link or using automated messages sent through platforms like Shopify. This will give customers another opportunity to express their opinion about your product or service and help you identify areas for improvement.
- Regularly review client feedback from other sites such as Yelp or Trustpilot. This will provide valuable insights into how customers perceive your brand and what improvements can be made to increase conversions on your eCommerce website. It’s also important to make sure that any negative reviews are addressed in a professional manner so that future customers know that you take feedback seriously.
- Use analytics tools such as Google Analytics or Kissmetrics to track changes in conversion rates over time. By doing this, you can determine which strategies are working best for increasing conversions on your eCommerce website and adjust accordingly.
Conclusion: Online Reviews Make a Big Difference
The success of an eCommerce business depends on its ability to convert leads into customers. Utilizing customer reviews is a powerful tool that can help increase conversions and improve customer experience. By following the 10 steps outlined in this article, you can create a comprehensive review strategy that will help you achieve your eCommerce goals.
By implementing these key steps, you’ll be well on your way to increasing conversions and building trust with potential customers. With the right strategy, customer reviews can have a positive impact on your eCommerce business and help you reach new heights of success.