How to Get More Customer Reviews (5 Proven Strategies)

Get customer reviews to create word-of-mouth in the digital space. 

The reviews you get from actual users are not just testimonials, but trust signals that skyrocket your SaaS sales and boost credibility and brand reputation. This is because 93% of customers will search reviews online before purchasing.

It's just not a review or two; 67% of users usually analyze between one and six reviews before buying something.

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However, many businesses need help to get consistent customer reviews. But how do you get those glowing reviews? It's more than just asking nicely.

So, we now have these five proven strategies that help encourage customer reviews and transform satisfied customers into your biggest brand advocates. 

Let’s begin by exploring the tactics that work to get customer reviews.

#1. Simplify the Review Process

The easier it is for customers to leave a review, the more likely they are to do so. Research shows that 70% of users will leave reviews when asked.

For instance, Amazon has mastered gaining reviews by offering buyers a one-click review option from their email or app. After a purchase, customers receive an email prompting them to leave a review.

Consider sharing an email with a review link once the user completes the purchase.

Here’s an example of the same.

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To get users to review your products upfront after making the purchase, here are some actions you can take:

• Offer Multiple Review Platforms: Give customers options. Some prefer Google, others Yelp, and others may want to review it on social media. These social media reviews provide direct links in your social bios, which help customers navigate straight to your review page. Moreover, some may also want to remain anonymous and prefer to leave feedback directly on your website.
• Send Follow-Up Emails: Send a personalized email asking for feedback shortly after purchase. Include a direct link to the review page. Tools like Mailchimp or HubSpot can automate this process.
• Optimize Mobile Experience: Make sure the review submission process is mobile-friendly because over 58% of web traffic comes from mobile devices.
• Clear Instructions: Don't assume everyone knows where to go or what to do. Instead, provide quick, easy steps for review requests, making it easy for them to follow the process of sharing the review.

#2. Incentivize Reviews Carefully

Think of what pushes users to write reviews. 

That’s where you can leverage a reward process for users when they leave a review. This can be a small yet powerful incentive. You don’t need to break the bank for it, but at least provide something that motivates users.

Research shows incentivized reviews are more positive and detailed, providing valuable insights for businesses and potential customers. That said, the quality of reviews should remain genuine, so offering only a small reward can motivate customers to share their experiences.

Here’s an example of how this can be done through an email.

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Now, if you want to start rewarding the reviews, here’s what you can do.

• Gamify the Process: Create a points-based system where customers can earn rewards for different actions, like leaving a review, referring a friend, or sharing on social media.
• Create a Loyalty Program: Implement a loyalty program where customers earn points for various activities, including leaving reviews. Points can be exchanged for products, services, or exclusive access.
• Offer Tangible Rewards: Consider offering discounts on future purchases, free samples, or gift cards.
• Run Contests and Giveaways: Host periodic contests where customers who leave reviews are entered into a draw to win a prize. Make the rules clear and ensure the process is transparent to maintain trust.
• Exclusive Access: Offer early access to new products or services to customers who regularly leave detailed reviews. This can create a sense of exclusivity and appreciation.

#3. Respond to All Reviews To Show That You Care

Respond to all reviews, positive or negative. This demonstrates that you value customer feedback and are committed to providing a great experience.

This will also show potential customers you're engaged and attentive, creating a ripple effect. Research by BrightLocal found that 89% of consumers are 'highly' or 'fairly' likely to use a business that responds to all its online reviews. Moreover, 56% of consumers say that a business’s responses to reviews changed their perspective about the business — for better or worse.

Moreover, negative reviews can be disheartening, but they present a chance to turn a dissatisfied customer into a brand advocate. 

Here’s an example of how to respond to positive and negative reviews.

Take a look at how you can manage handling a negative review.

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Rather, consider responding to a positive review. Consider leveraging it for a better reach, like the example below.

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Let’s explore some of the best ways to respond to online reviews to get customer reviews more often.

• Address Negative Feedback Promptly: Respond promptly to negative reviews by acknowledging the issue, apologizing if necessary, and offering a solution or compensation. This highlights your commitment to customer satisfaction.
• Personalize Your Responses: Address customers by name and reference their specific comments. Don’t provide generic or similar-sounding responses that are obviously automated and insincere.
• Take the Conversation Offline: This is especially true for negative reviews. If you cannot address negative reviews upfront due to the complex nature of customer issues, then offer to contact them directly to discuss it further. This will help de-escalate the situation and show that you're committed to finding a resolution.
• Thank Positive Reviewers: When a customer leaves a positive review, respond with a personalized thank-you message. Mention specific details from their review to show that you read and appreciate their feedback.

#4. Partner with Review Platforms and Industry Influencers

You have given enough emails and also offers to users that entice them to share a review. However, there are other ways. One such effective way is to partner with established review platforms and industry influencers. 

It is purely to significantly expand your reach and credibility. You can leverage it to gain their audience and expertise, helping you tap into new customer bases and encourage more reviews. Part of the reason it works is that 69% of consumers trust influencers’ recommendations.

For example, a SaaS firm might partner with a prominent review site like CNET, G2, Capterra, TechRadar, etc., to promote their reviews. It can thus encourage its users to leave reviews on these well-respected platforms.

Similarly, an eCommerce firm selling beauty products may collaborate with influential beauty bloggers and YouTubers to review their products and encourage followers to share their reviews.

Let’s look at the example to understand it better.

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If you think getting started with influencer marketing for a product is a bit tricky, consider using the following email template.

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Once set, you can use some of the following tips to get the ball rolling.

• Identify Relevant Review Platforms: First, try to search for platforms that have a high influence on your users. These platforms should be very popular in your industry or niche.
• Collaborate with Review Sites: Reach out to popular review platforms in your industry and establish a partnership. Now, it could be about featuring the products or services on their site, participating in sponsored reviews, or engaging in co-branded content.
• Engage Industry Influencers: Identify key niche influencers with a large and engaged following. This will work best in an eCommerce space where you offer them products in exchange for an honest review. Even for SaaS, you can offer free services for the time being for them to share screenshots or comment organically on its UX. But then, make sure these disclose the partnership by mentioning (or tagging) your brand on social platforms.
• Host Joint Promotions: SaaS businesses can partner with review platforms and influencers to run joint promotions or contests. For example, customers who leave a review might be entered into a giveaway that an influencer would host, providing an incentive to connect and speak with them.

#5. Integrating Rewards for Reviews

Lastly, garner more reviews by incentivizing it with rewards through loyalty. This means you turn reviewers (positive ones) into loyalists, wherein you reward them for their feedback.

Offering rewards for feedback encourages reviewers to share their thoughts, drive engagement, and reinforce loyalty to the brand. You can also introduce points, exclusive discounts, or other perks as incentives for this.  

Also, some gamification elements should be blended to engage customers further and encourage repeat customers to become brand advocates. For gamification, you can show progress bars, badges, and leaderboards that add elements of fun and competition. 

Incentivizing reviews through loyalty programs and gamification helps create a positive cycle in which customers are motivated to provide feedback, resulting in increased engagement and loyalty.

Here’s an example of an email that incentivizes reviews.

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If you want to get customer reviews and incentivize them, the tips below can help you.

• Promote Review Rewards: Clearly communicate how leaving reviews can benefit users within your loyalty program. Clearly highlight the rewards and incentives that they will get upon sharing their feedback.
• Exclusive Benefits for Reviewers: Give special benefits to reviewers, such as early access to new products or special events. These are your loyalty members if you sell products requiring frequent purchases. It will have them leaving reviews regularly on every purchase, boosting the overall value of being a loyalty program member.
• Reward Points for Reviews: Introduce and implement a system where loyalty program members earn points for each review they submit. It should make them earn substantial points to motivate without overshadowing genuine feedback's importance.
• Integrate Reviews into Your Loyalty Program: If you have a loyalty program, include reviews as part of the points-earning system to get customer reviews. You can also add more bonuses for reviews with photos or videos.

Conclusion

After all, customer reviews are vitally important to build trust, credibility, and brand reputation in the digital space. While it surely isn’t an easy task, these tips will help encourage customer reviews.

For starters, review requests are good but it is not just about asking for reviews but creating a seamless and rewarding experience. This will motivate customers to spread the word about your product or service. 

The above-mentioned five proven strategies can help get customer reviews, ultimately contributing to sales.