How to Get an Amazon Product Review – the Right Way!

The Amazon product review – an elusive little thing that has so much impact on your Amazon business. It’s almost entirely out of your control if and when an Amazon customer leaves a product review, much less positive product reviews, so it’s a pretty nerve-wracking exercise. Since the dawn of time, there have been tips and hacks on how to get reviews from customers – and some of them are so black hat they’ll leave you clutching your pearls in shock.

Nevertheless, there’s zero doubt that great reviews spell great success on Amazon, and although there’s no way you can ensure positive reviews, there are ways to influence a customer to leave a review.

Let’s get into it – how to get product reviews on Amazon in 2024 – legally, respectfully, and in full compliance of the Amazon review policy!

You might also be interested in why it’s important to localize customer service – especially for the European market!

Section 1: Why the Amazon Product Review Matters

According to e-Satisfaction, there are 7 reasons why an Amazon product review is important:

1. Reviews from buyers help you understand your customers better, and improve customer service
2. Authentic reviews provide credibility and social proof, helping other customers understand your product better
3. Positive ratings and reviews actually protect your margins by drawing the focus away from discounts and pricing
4. An Amazon product review gives the customer a voice, encouraging customer loyalty
5. Reviews may impact search on Google and/or Amazon
6. When your customer leaves a positive Amazon product review, they’re doing your marketing for you
7. New reviews generate even more reviews

Let’s put it this way. An Amazon product review is the modern word-of-mouth; Brightlocal reports that 50% of consumers trust Amazon product reviews as much as recommendations from friends and family.

Furthermore, consider the things that the Amazon A9 algorithm looks out for:

• Product relevance
• Customer reviews
• Sales history
• Product pricing
• Product availability

That’s because the algorithm is programmed to provide customers with the best product choices given their search queries. So, if your product has negative reviews, you can expect that the A9 will prioritize your competitor, which has a bunch of positive reviews.

Also, it’s just basic human nature. You’re more likely to buy a product that has good reviews over a product that has negative reviews – or zero reviews. So, get reviews on Amazon to improve your conversion rates.

Section 2: Strategies to Get More Reviews on Amazon (the Right Way)

So, given that Amazon product reviews play a massive role in your success in the Amazon marketplace, getting reviews should be a crucial part of your regular operations. Keep in mind that Amazon’s rather protective of how reviews are requested, and will be pretty upset if you don’t get Amazon reviews legally.

Here are white hat ways to get product reviews – without getting Amazon or your customers upset with you:

• Use Amazon’s “Request a Review” Button:
  • The “Request a Review” button is a simple yet powerful feature available in Amazon’s Seller Central. It allows sellers to send a review request directly through an automated email sent by Amazon. This tool is especially valuable because it ensures sellers remain compliant with Amazon’s strict review guidelines. By using the “Request a Review” button, you’re following Amazon’s Terms of Service, avoiding potential penalties like suspension for manipulating or incentivizing reviews.
  • Keep in mind, timing is important when you ask for reviews. The ideal window is 4-30 days after a customer receives your product. This way, customers get to experience a product before leaving feedback – this is great because customers get to leave an honest review based on actual, authentic use. Sending a request too early may lead to incomplete reviews – perhaps the customer hasn’t even had the chance to unwrap the product yet! – while waiting too long may result in the customer forgetting their experience.
• Leverage the Amazon Vine Program:
  • The Amazon Vine Program is an easy way to get Amazon product reviews. A registered Vine reviewer, or a “Vine Voice,” will provide an honest and unbiased review in exchange for free products. Vine Voices provide an account of their experience with the product – and they won’t hold back. So, you can’t always expect glowing reviews from the Vine Voices. Just because these trusted reviewers get free products in exchange for a product review, they’re not under any pressure to leave a good one.
  • This is actually a good thing, because customers need to see honesty. Don’t be too disappointed with a bunch of 4-star reviews; it’s unrealistic to think that your product will please every Tom, Dick, and Harry out there, so a slew of 5-star reviews looks suspicious – especially if your brand isn’t established just yet (so, you’re not a Sony, Adidas, or Lululemon, for instance), and you’ve got less than 100 reviews. Vine reviews showcase the reviewer’s real experience when they use the product, so a potential customer can decide for themselves if your product is for them or not.
• Use Product Inserts:
  • The best way to request reviews is through product inserts. Read about how to localize product inserts, and understand how to design a nice insert that will encourage customers to leave an Amazon product review. An Amazon compliant, pretty product insert that encourages shoppers to leave a review can really boost the experience of your product. Just make sure you read up on the best practices when you ask for product reviews through inserts, so you stay white hat.

Now, this last step happens after you’ve gotten those reviews – customer service is crucial for every Amazon seller. How you respond to negative reviews matters just as much as getting the review in the first place. A negative review can help you refine your product quality and logistics to please your customers better, and responding to them with respect and timeliness can help turn a negative review into a positive one. Read reviews everyday, and study up on customer service best practices, so you improve your customers’ experience on Amazon.

Section 3: Get More Amazon Reviews, but Don’t Do These Things!

Reviews can make or break a business – so it makes sense that there’s a list of rules regarding what Amazon allows and what Amazon is against. Amazon banned companies that buy reviews or publish fake reviews in the spirit of transparency – the platform wants customers to have the best possible experience, so any form of trickery or deceit through review manipulation is a huge No-No.

Wired shared a fascinating tell-all on the underground world filled with agents that purchase reviews. Agents from China, India, and Pakistan, known as “Jennies,” vary their purchases, wait to write reviews, add photos, and even post negative reviews for competing products. Jennies earn $4-5 per review, and some Jennies write up to 10 reviews a month.

These “review farms” use advanced machine-learning techniques to avoid detection – although Amazon works hard to develop its fake review detection systems. In tandem, regulators such as the FTC in the USA and the CMA in the UK are pushing hard for stronger action against fake reviews to protect customers.

So, although there are several white hat ways to go about the Amazon review request, these paid reviewers are still spread out across e-Commerce platforms.

Let’s summarize what not to do while asking for an Amazon product review, straight from Amazon’s mouth, so to speak:

Let’s summarize the above.

It’s prohibited to offer compensation, discounts, or free products in exchange for reviews. If caught doing this, your account faces suspension or even permanent removal from the platform. This also applies to product inserts; you can’t  ask for a review and offer a coupon code or a free product at the same time. You can request for a review with a nice thank you note, but you can’t accompany this with a discount on a future purchase. If you really want to give customers discounts, freebies, and coupon codes, leave the request for reviews out of the insert.

Do not, in any circumstance, purchase fake reviews, or engage in unethical practices to get reviews fast. Doing this carries long-term harm to your brand’s reputation. Furthermore, Amazon will ban non-compliant sellers from the platform. Amazon takes unethical behavior very seriously, and will take measures to stop deceptive reviews altogether.

Some sellers manipulate reviews by adding product variations to listings to boost the number of positive reviews. Technically, this isn’t sustainable or honest. Adding completely unrelated products to a listing with positive reviews can mislead buyers. Amazon’s algorithm is getting more adept at detecting such schemes, leading to penalties or product de-listing. Focus instead on genuine strategies that build trust with customers.

Section 4: How YLT Translations Can Help You Get an Amazon Product Review

Something we haven’t yet addressed here – getting Amazon feedback will be easy if your product holds water, and you’ve marketed it to manage customer expectations adequately.

If you look at your competitors’ customer reviews, you’ll see the usual pain points of customers. Is it that the product is too small or too large? It could be that you need a sizing infographic to adequately manage expectations. Perhaps the actual product color is totally different from the product images? Improve your graphic design. Does the product arrive damaged or broken? Invest in good product packaging.

And, localize.

Here’s how localization can help you get an Amazon product review, especially when you’re expanding globally:

• Localization and Review Accuracy:
  • How you market your product in a new region is absolutely crucial. Your keyword research needs to attract your ideal customer, and you need to have images that appeal to your target customer. That’s why accurate localization is important. Read up on localization for Amazon to understand the different aspects of your Amazon selling journey that need localization, so you can adequately manage customer expectations in language and imagery that they’re used to. Make sure that your title is written well, with the correct keywords, and that your bullet points and product description accurately present the product. In short: no false advertising. Be honest, be clear, and be transparent; that’s the best way to score a product review from your customers all over the world.
• Multilingual Support:
  • Customer service is crucial to getting reviews and ratings! Whether you’re answering questions from would-be buyers, or providing an after sales service, good customer service can influence the rating that a customer might give you. This isn’t always easy (or cheap), especially when you’re selling in a country whose language you don’t speak. Think about multilingual chatbots, which can address FAQs in a customer’s language in real time, or a multilingual Amazon virtual assistant that can engage your customers in their preferred language.

Reach out to YLT Translations for these localization needs; we’ve got you covered. Once the product development, product listing optimization, and customer service are performing properly, you’ll find that it’ll be much easier to get an Amazon product review.

Conclusion: Get More Product Reviews, Get More Money!

Folks, product reviews can make or break you. You can’t always ensure you get positive reviews, but there’s a way to ensure that you get quality reviews, if you approach it with integrity.

Stick to Amazon’s guidelines, and use white hat strategies like Amazon’s “Request a Review” button. Leverage the Vine Program. Incorporate compliant product inserts. It’s the best way to get Amazon product reviews. Of course, be sure your product is top-notch and your customer service is primed to answer customer queries with timeliness, respect, and scrupulousness. Avoid the temptation of manipulative or unethical tactics, as the risks far outweigh the short-term gains.

Ultimately, gaining authentic reviews is about providing excellent customer experiences, being transparent in your product listings, and fostering trust. As you expand globally, Amazon product reviews can help establish your foothold in every new market. Don’t forget the importance of localization to better meet your customers’ expectations.

With YLT Translations, you’ll have the expertise you need to ensure your products speak to the right audience in every region, making it easier than ever to earn those all-important reviews.

Reach out and let’s optimize your product listing together! Read up on how to grow your Amazon Business with YLT Translations.