Getting more product reviews as an Etsy seller is essential for building trust with potential customers and improving your shop’s overall reputation. Positive Etsy reviews from other customers are also one of the strongest ways to encourage shoppers to make a purchase! But how are you supposed to get more Etsy reviews in the first place? Here are some strategies to help you encourage more reviews in your shop.
How Positive Reviews Influence Shoppers
Imagine you’re a shopper ready to commit to a product line. You’re shelling out a pretty penny for something important and locked between three final choices. All three are similar in price, quality, and shipping time.
What other listing detail will help tip the scales, putting one product over the rest? The reviews.
A listing complete with positive reviews will almost always win over a comparable listing with fewer or more negative reviews. Why? Because shoppers want proof that they’re making a sound purchase. And when it comes to shopping online, the proof is often in the reviews.
Social Proof in Etsy Reviews
Customers want to feel confident in their purchase. If there’s little to no social proof, most shoppers will hesitate to give you the time of day. Why risk their purchase on a new shop, when they can go with another seller who’s already made a name for themselves.
This puts most new sellers in a Catch-22. They need more reviews to sell more, but they need to sell more before they can get more reviews.
So, what do you do?
If you’re an Etsy seller struggling to get at least one sale, the rest of this article won’t help. Instead, you should spend more time and effort into optimizing your product listings. A well-optimized listing can significantly improve visibility, attract potential buyers, and increase the chances of making a sale… which will lead to more reviews.
Follow These Tips to Get More Etsy Reviews
Etsy reviews are a potent tool for establishing trust and driving sales in your shop. However, a crucial reality is that many customers may not spontaneously leave reviews unless you actively encourage them. Even with Etsy’s automatic reminders, the review rate hovers around 25%.
But don’t worry, if you haven’t been proactively asking for reviews, Etsy’s got your back to some extent.
In this guide, we’ll share effective strategies to boost your review count and harness the potential of customer feedback. Follow these tips to inspire your buyers to share their experiences, ultimately enhancing your shop’s credibility and success.
#1. Follow up with your Etsy customers to get more reviews
Most customers aren’t just going to leave a review unless you ask them to. So ask them to. It’s really that simple.
Even with Etsy’s follow-up reminding them for a review, it’s only like a 25% success rate. So don’t leave it up to just that. You’ll need to follow up with customers yourself!
When you start making your first sales on Etsy, the app will actually even tell you, “Look, you just made a sale! You should follow up with this customer and make sure everything’s good (maybe even thank them for their purchase!)”
But we often see Etsy sellers ignore this crucial step in the review process. Simply because they don’t have a process in place yet or they feel icky at the thought of reaching out to an existing customer.
How to Follow Up With Your Etsy Customers
A straightforward way to follow up with an Etsy customer and ask them for a review is to send them a polite and personalized message through Etsy’s messaging system. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
- Wait for the Right Time:
- Give your customer some time to receive and use the product before reaching out. It’s best to follow up a few days after the estimated delivery date, or after you know they’ve received the item.
- Start in Your Etsy Shop Manager:
- Log in to your Etsy seller account.
- Click on “Shop Manager” at the top right of the screen.
- Access Your Orders:
- Under the “Orders & Shipping” section in Shop Manager, click on “Orders.”
- Find the Order to Follow Up On:
- Locate the order for which you want to request a review.
- Contact the Buyer:
- In the order details, you will see an option to “Contact the buyer” on the right-hand side. Click on this option.
- Compose Your Message:
- Write your own polite and friendly message. Use the template below as a starting point.
- Include a Direct Link to Leave a Review:
- To make it as easy as possible for the customer to leave a review, include a direct link to the review page for the specific product. You can obtain this link by visiting your product’s listing and copying the URL while logged into your seller account.
- Send the Message:
- Once you’ve composed the message and included the review link, click the “Send” button to deliver the message to the customer.
- Be Responsive:
- If the customer responds with questions or feedback, be quick to respond to them. Excellent customer service can leave a great impression on your customers.
Not sure where to start with your own message to customers? Edit this template so it aligns with your brand and messaging:
Hi [Customer’s Name],
I hope you received your [Product Name] in good condition. We sincerely hope you’re enjoying it! Your satisfaction is important to us, and we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to share your feedback with us by leaving a review.
Leaving a review is quick and easy. Simply click the link below, and it will take you to the review page:
[Insert Link to Leave a Review]
Your honest opinion will help other shoppers make informed decisions, and it means a lot to our small business.
Thank you so much for your support, and if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us. We’re here to help!
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Shop Name]
Remember: When asking for reviews on Etsy, don’t be pushy
Something important to remember is that this messaging process shouldn’t come across as pushy. When businesses genuinely care about their customers’ experiences, most shoppers won’t perceive it that way.
However, if you don’t receive a response from your customers, it’s okay to move on. Avoid repeatedly messaging them in hopes of getting a quality review, as this may lead to undesirable outcomes.
Instead, focus on providing excellent service and products, and let positive reviews come naturally. Overly persistent messaging can have the opposite effect, potentially resulting in less desirable reviews and an unsatisfactory experience for everyone involved.
#2. Write Thank you cards to get more reviews on Etsy
It’s simple, it’s sweet, and a little note goes a long way. Similar to our first tip, a “Thank You” card is a great way to show your customer that you genuinely appreciate their business and care about their satisfaction. Here’s how you can make the most of thank you cards to encourage more Etsy reviews:
Personalize the Message: When you include a thank you card with your customer’s order, take a moment to write a personalized message expressing your gratitude for their purchase. Use their first name if possible, and keep the message warm and friendly.
Mention the Importance of Reviews: In your thank you card, subtly mention how much reviews mean to your small business. You can say something like, “Your support means the world to us, and we’d love to hear about your experience. Your honest review helps other shoppers make informed decisions.”
Provide Clear Instructions: Make it easy for the customer to leave a review by including clear instructions on how to do it. You can direct them to the product page on Etsy and suggest they click the “Write a review” button.
Offer a Small Incentive: While not necessary, some sellers choose to include a gentle incentive, such as a discount code for their next purchase, as a thank you gesture for leaving a review. This can motivate customers to take that extra step.
Keep it Short and Sweet: Your thank you card should be concise and to the point. Customers appreciate brevity, so avoid overwhelming them with lengthy messages.
Quality and Presentation Matter: Ensure that your thank you cards are of high quality and visually appealing. A well-designed card with a professional look can leave a positive impression and make customers more likely to engage.
By including a thoughtful thank you card with each order, you’re expressing your appreciation and subtly encouraging customers to share their experiences through reviews. It’s a personal touch that can enhance the overall shopping experience and boost the likelihood of positive feedback for your Etsy shop.
#3. Share What a Good Etsy Review Looks Like
What does a good review actually look like? A significant reason why some shoppers hesitate to leave reviews is because they’re unsure about what to write or say. It’s easy for them to simply assign a star rating to a product and move on. However, you can make the process easier for them by providing some guidance.
Ask Them Some Questions! Whether it’s on the thank you card we mentioned earlier or in your follow-up Etsy messages, consider asking customers specific questions about their experience. For example:
- Did everything arrive in perfect condition?
- Is the product meeting your expectations?
- Did it arrive in a timely manner as promised?
Encourage customers to share their thoughts and feedback in their reviews, addressing these questions. By doing so, you not only make it simpler for customers to compose their reviews but also steer them toward providing valuable information that can assist other potential shoppers in making informed decisions.
#4. Follow All of Etsy’s Rules When Asking for Reviews
It’s crucial to remember that you should strictly adhere to Etsy’s official rules and guidelines rather than relying on unofficial information from online forums or other sources. By following Etsy’s rules, you ensure that you’re not inadvertently harassing your customers or engaging in practices that could harm your shop’s reputation.
Seek Information from the Source: To stay compliant with Etsy’s policies, always refer to the official seller handbook provided by Etsy itself. If you’re ever unsure about a particular aspect of their policies, don’t hesitate to reach out to Etsy support for clarification. Simply ask them, “I was thinking about this, and it’s a bit unclear. Can you confirm if it’s okay?” Etsy’s support team is there to help and provide accurate information.
By obtaining information directly from Etsy, you can be confident that you’re operating within their guidelines and avoiding any potential issues that may arise from relying on unverified information.
#5. Get More Etsy Reviews When You Measure the Data
Just like with any aspect of your business, it’s essential to measure your efforts to determine what’s working and what isn’t. Whether you’ve recently started adding thank you cards to your products or initiated follow-up messages with customers after a purchase, tracking your results is key.
Why Measurement Matters: By keeping an eye on key metrics, such as the number of reviews you were receiving per week or per month before and after implementing changes, you can gain valuable insights. This data allows you to identify which strategies are yielding the best results.
Make Informed Decisions: If you don’t measure the impact of your efforts, you won’t know whether to continue or refine them. For instance, should you invest more time in crafting thank you cards, or is it more beneficial to focus on reaching out to customers?
By understanding what works best for your shop, you can create a well-informed plan to integrate successful strategies into your regular workflow.
Final thoughts on Etsy reviews
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep an eye on the changes you’re making. You can even get creative and use a spreadsheet if that keeps you excited about experimenting!
And speaking of success, we absolutely love hearing your stories and receiving reviews here at Marmalead. So, feel free to email us anytime! See how easy it is to ask for that review? 😉
In conclusion, reviews play a massive role in the success of your shop. As shoppers browse Etsy, they compare products and rely on reviews to gauge the experiences of others. The more reviews you accumulate on your listings, the better it is for your conversions and overall sales on Etsy.
Happy selling, everyone!
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