How to Get Reviews on Amazon in 2021 (10 Proven Ways)

When you’re running an eCommerce business, customer reviews are an absolutely crucial piece of the puzzle.  From a psychological perspective, being able to show social proof that you’ve added value to other customers gives you credibility with new customers who are trying to find out if your product is worth buying.  The better your reviews, the better your business is going to perform.

There's a bit of a chicken and egg situation when you get started.  At the start, you don’t have any reviews, and you need those early customers to get the reviews that will then persuade future customers. 

But How do you get that flywheel spinning?

Well, here are ten proven ways to get reviews on Amazon:

Create/Sell a good product. 

We’re putting this up top because this is the most important piece of this.  You can have all the growth tactics in the world, but if the product isn’t good, then it’s not going to work.  Be sure that you’ve got something valuable that solves a customer need, because that is a pre-requisite for any of this.

Be strategic with your keywords. 

Take your time to understand how the Amazon search algorithm works, and how your specific niche works from a keyword perspective.  The only way you’ll receive organic traffic is if you understand what your potential customer is searching for and you optimize your listings for those search intents.  The way you describe your product will also set the expectations for the customer, which affect their overall review at the end.

Ask for reviews. 

Do not buy reviews, please.  That is not a good strategy.  But it is totally acceptable to send a message to someone who has genuinely purchased your product and ask them for a review.  Be tactful and humble in your message, explaining that reviews are the lifeblood of your business and you’d really appreciate the gesture – and most people will help you out.

Use the ‘Request a Review Button’. 

In addition to the personal message mentioned above, you can also take advantage of some Amazon automation and click on the ‘Request a Review Button’ in the Amazon dashboard to send an automated reminder on your behalf, asking your customer to leave a review.

Include a physical insert with your product. 

If you’re selling a physical item, why not include a small card with the product that asks the customer to leave a review and tells them how to do it.  You could even bundle this with a special offer for a future transaction if you want to sweeten the deal.

Manage poor feedback. 

Negative reviews really can damage your operation, and they’re an inevitable part of the process – so what matters is how you deal with them.  Be proactive and understanding when interacting with people who’ve left bad reviews and try to identify where things went wrong so you can adjust your offering accordingly.

Offer discounted product specials and/or giveaways. 

In the early days, you need to build awareness of your products in order to win customers and you can do this by creating a discounted offer or giveaway that’s impossible to ignore.  What you lose out on in the beginning will be well worth it if it leads to a couple of great reviews that get you running.

Use the Amazon Vine Program. 

If your product has fewer than 30 reviews, you can enroll in the Vine Program which sends 30 units of your product to a selection of top reviewers who will give you honest feedback on your product.  They tend to be a bit more critical than your average customer, but to get your first few reviews, it’s a great way to do it.

Run advertisements with Facebook Retargeting. 

If you have a list of previous buyers, you can create a custom audience on Facebook and run ads against them, asking them to leave a product review.  This can be expensive, but if you do it well with a personal element to it – it can work.

Build relationships with your customers. 

The best way to get reviews on your product is build genuine connections with your customers.  Interact in the forums, be personable and approachable on your social media, and you can build relationships that lead to reviews.

There you have it!  10 proven ways to get that review flywheel going.  Stick to these and you’ll have that social proof in no time.  If you’re looking to take things to the next level and would appreciate some professional assistance in this regard, be sure to check out what we’ve got to offer here – we’ve worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs just like you and we'd love to see how we could help.  Book your free call today.