How To Legally Get More Product Reviews In Amazon: 16 Ways

"How to get product reviews on Amazon?" is a confounding question for every Amazon seller.

As a seller, you're no stranger to the thrill of receiving a glowing, five-star review, just as you're aware of the sinking feeling that accompanies a negative one.

Yet, whether positive or negative, these reviews carry immense weight in your e-commerce journey. They are the mirror that reflects the value of your product to potential buyers and the compass that directs your product sales and review ranking algorithm. 

These reviews can determine your online business's success or failure. This article will guide you through this process and features effective strategies to encourage more of your customers to leave their honest thoughts on your products.

1. Sell A Great Product

A successful journey to get product reviews on Amazon begins with a great product. After all, the key to garnering positive reviews lies in the hands of satisfied customers. You can have the most persuasive review requests, but your positive review count will likely stagnate without a high-quality product.

Consider the following factors:

Product Quality

Ensure that your product is well-made and durable. Quality isn't just about the product itself but also the user experience it delivers. 

The higher the quality, the more satisfied your customers will be, making them more likely to leave positive reviews.

Functionality And Ergonomics

Your product should deliver on its promises. If advertised to perform specific tasks, ensure it does so effectively and efficiently. Nothing leads to negative reviews faster than a product that doesn't live up to its description.

Value For Money

Customers should feel that the product is worth their hard-earned money. A product offering more than its price tag suggests will impress customers and invite positive reviews.

Regularly evaluating your product against competitors and adapting to customer needs are also crucial. Be in the know of the latest customer feedback and market trends, making necessary improvements to ensure your product remains appealing.

Remember, a satisfied customer is not just likely to leave a positive review; they can contribute to a steady stream of five-star reviews and enhance your brand's reputation.

In addition to offering a great product, how you list your product on Amazon is equally critical. Here are some quick tips for listing your products effectively:

• Use high-quality, clear images that showcase your product from multiple angles.

• Write compelling product titles and descriptions filled with relevant keywords.

• Be detailed and honest in your product descriptions.

• Include all necessary information, such as dimensions, weight, material, etc.

• Set competitive prices by researching similar products.

2. Make Up For An ‘Okay’ Product With Excellent Packaging

Even if your product matches the quality of what others offer without necessarily outshining them, you can still stand out in the crowd with excellent product packaging. 

Exceptional packaging not only sets the stage for a positive impression but also amplifies the perceived value of your product.

The unboxing experience can bridge the gap between a transaction that's soon forgotten and one that's so memorable it motivates a customer to pen a product review. 

In this context, your product packaging has a voice – it speaks to your brand's personality and dedication to a remarkable customer experience.

Below are some specific packaging tips to enhance the unboxing experience, promoting positive reviews and fostering deeper connections with your customers:

1. Quality Material: Opt for high-quality, durable packaging material. Not only does this protect your product during transit, but it also communicates your commitment to quality to your customers.

2. Branding: Your packaging should reflect your brand identity. Consistently use your brand colors, logo, and tagline. These elements enhance brand recall and add a layer of professionalism.

3. Innovative Design: Uniquely shaped or designed packaging can make your product stand out. Consider innovative packaging design that is aesthetically pleasing yet functional.

4. Personal Touch: Add personal touches to your packaging. This could be a thank-you note, a fun sticker, or a small freebie. Small gestures like these can make customers feel valued and appreciated, which may encourage them to leave a review.

5. Sustainability: Eco-friendly packaging is good for the environment and appeals to environmentally conscious customers. Using recyclable or biodegradable packaging materials can enhance your brand image and attract positive reviews.

6. Informational Inserts: Add product inserts with instructions or suggestions on using the product, making it easier for the customer. This shows your dedication to customer satisfaction.

7. Tell Your Brand Story: Include a small booklet or note that tells your brand's story or mission. This helps build an emotional connection with your customers.

Investing in attractive, durable packaging and adding personal touches contribute to a remarkable unboxing experience and encourage your customers to leave positive, helpful reviews. 

Ultimately, thoughtful packaging can turn a relatively ordinary product into an extraordinary experience.

3. Use Product Inserts

One of the most effective strategies for encouraging customers to leave reviews is using product inserts. These handy tools can significantly increase the likelihood of a customer leaving a review. 

A product insert is a small card included in your product packaging, which can serve several purposes - from asking for a review to providing instructions on using the product or sharing customer support information.

However, you must tread carefully when using product inserts to request reviews. Amazon has strict policies regarding review requests. Refrain from explicitly asking for positive reviews or offering any incentives for a review. 

Instead, frame the request in a manner that reminds customers to leave a review if they are satisfied with their purchase.

Consider including QR codes for your product inserts. A QR code is a type of barcode that customers can scan with their smartphone. Upon scanning, the QR code can direct the customer to a specific web page - your product review page.

Remember, while product inserts can be an effective tool to get more reviews, they must be used correctly and in compliance with Amazon's policies. With the thoughtful inclusion of QR codes, you can further engage your customers, simplify the review process, and boost the likelihood of receiving those much-sought-after product reviews.

4. Request Reviews

A straightforward way to get more reviews is to request them. Amazon's 'Request a Review' button makes this process easier. The review button sends a personalized review request to customers, politely asking them to leave a review.

Remember, people are more likely to leave reviews when asked. However, refrain from being pushy or intrusive. 

A single, well-timed request after your customer has received and used your product is usually enough.

5. Let Buyers Know They Don't Have To Add Comments

When requesting reviews, let your customers know that they don't necessarily have to write lengthy comments. While detailed feedback is valuable, the star rating itself is beneficial. 

The idea of writing too detailed and lengthy reviews might deter some customers. Informing them that a star rating alone is helpful may encourage more customers to leave reviews.

6. Offer Freebies (If You Sell Books)

The Amazon 'Giveaway' feature is a unique tool to encourage more book reviews. This feature lets you set up sweepstakes where the prizes are your products. 

Offering a free eBook or a physical book can spur many reviews, as people are generally more likely to leave reviews when they receive something at no cost.

Amazon Giveaway is straightforward to set up. Once you've identified the book you'd like to give away, follow the step-by-step process provided by Amazon, which includes deciding how many prizes are available, setting up the giveaway rules, and entering the necessary information.

There are a few different options for the style of your giveaway:

1. First-come, first-served: The prizes are given to the first set number of participants.

2. Random Instant Win: Prizes are awarded at random throughout the giveaway duration.

3. Lucky Number Instant Win: Prizes are given to every nth eligible entrant (you decide the nth number).

Each type of giveaway can create a sense of excitement and encourage participants to leave reviews after they've read your book. But note that while you can encourage winners to leave a review, you can't require it as a condition of winning the giveaway, according to Amazon's policies.

7. Offer Discounted Products

Offering discounts on your products is another effective way to encourage customers to leave reviews. While Amazon has strict policies concerning incentivized reviews, a well-executed discount strategy can legitimately boost your sales and increase the likelihood of garnering reviews.

Let's first understand Amazon's rules regarding incentivized reviews.

Amazon has made it clear in their Community Guidelines that they do not allow any form of incentivized reviews:

• Leaving reviews on Amazon in exchange for a free or discounted product

• Money

• Gift cards

• Other incentives

These rules also apply to family members or close friends of sellers and sellers using third-party services that offer free or discounted products when leaving reviews. 

Any attempt to manipulate reviews, including incentivized reviews, can lead to penalties such as suspension of your seller account.

With the above in mind, here is a short guide to offering discounts in line with Amazon’s policies: 

1. Run a Sale: Regularly running sales or offering discounts on your products can attract more buyers. The more customers you have, the higher the likelihood of receiving reviews.

2. Use Amazon's Promotional Tools: Amazon provides several promotional tools like Lightning Deals, Deal of the Day, or Sales x Savings. These can boost visibility and encourage customers to purchase your product.

3. Offer Discounts to Everyone: Unlike incentivized reviews, which are specifically targeted, offering discounts should be open to all Amazon customers, making it a legitimate way to encourage reviews.

8. Try The Amazon Vine Program

The Amazon Vine Program is a potent tool in your arsenal if you're part of Amazon's Brand Registry. It's designed to generate honest reviews for new or pre-release products, aiding their initial success. 

Vine invites the most trusted reviewers, "Vine Voices," to post opinions about these products. These reviewers are known for their thorough, honest reviews, which customers value highly and can help drive initial sales and reviews for new products.

But what exactly is Amazon Vine, and how does it work? Let's break it down:

Amazon Vine: An Overview

Amazon Vine is an invite-only program where Amazon invites select customers to review certain products. 

These customers, known as Vine Voices, are selected based on their reviewer rank, which measures the quality and helpfulness of their product reviews as judged by other Amazon customers.

How Amazon Vine Works

As a vendor or seller registered with Amazon's Brand Registry, you can submit products to the Vine Program. 

You'll provide free samples of these products to Amazon, who then distributes them to Vine Voices. These reviewers offer honest and unbiased reviews on your product's page with the label "Vine Customer Review of Free Product."

Here's how you could benefit from the Vine Program:

1. Boost Visibility: Vine reviews are often the first reviews that potential buyers see when they visit your product page, as they are labeled as Amazon Vine reviews.

2. Trusted Reviews: Vine Voices are chosen for their helpful, trusted reviews. When they review your product, potential customers are more likely to trust their opinions, increasing the chance of sales.

3. In-Depth Reviews: Vine Voices are known for their detailed, comprehensive reviews. They often discuss various aspects of the product and their experience, giving potential buyers a clear idea of what to expect.

4. Early Reviews: Getting those initial reviews can be challenging for new or pre-release products. The Vine program can help accumulate those first few reviews to get the ball rolling.

While Amazon Vine can be a great way to generate initial product reviews, remember that Vine Voices must post honest reviews, whether positive or negative. Honest feedback ensures Vine reviews provide real value to customers and can significantly influence the purchasing decisions of potential buyers.

9. Follow-Up On Multiple Feedback Channels

Establishing communication with your customers through various feedback channels can enhance customer service and increase the likelihood of receiving positive reviews. 

It's not just about emails. Leveraging other platforms, such as social media and direct customer service, can significantly build strong relationships with your customers. 

Regular interaction on these platforms, be it responding to queries, acknowledging suggestions, or just simple greetings, can create an atmosphere of trust and prompt customers to share honest reviews.

10. Contact Customers Who Leave Negative Reviews

Negative reviews, while initially disheartening, can be converted into opportunities for growth. If a customer leaves negative feedback, reach out to them directly. 

Understand their concerns, acknowledge their issues, and offer concrete solutions to their problems. Showing a genuine commitment to improving their experience, may change their perception of your product/brand and motivate them to modify their review or post a new, positive one.

11. Try Third-Party Automated Email Responders

Third-party automated email responders can be a game-changer for your Amazon business. These tools can send personalized review requests at optimal times, giving customers a gentle nudge to leave a review. 

These automated yet personalized messages can increase the number of customers who decide to share their experiences. Just ensure that these messages balance encouragement and compliance with Amazon's guidelines. 

12. Follow Amazon's Rules On Reviews

Amazon's review landscape requires strict adherence to Amazon's rules. Amazon takes review manipulation seriously, and actions like paying for reviews, providing incentives, or soliciting only positive reviews can land you in trouble, even leading to the suspension of your seller account. 

While gathering positive reviews is essential, maintaining the integrity of your business on Amazon is non-negotiable.

13. Respond To Review Comments Constructively

Responding to your product reviews, whether they're positive or negative, can demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction. 

Craft responses that thank the customer for their feedback and highlight how you're using their feedback to improve. This practice can foster a personal connection with your customers and increase the likelihood of them leaving reviews in the future.

14. Ask For Product Reviews From Customers You've Provided Customer Service Support To

Have you ever resolved a query or concern for a customer in the past? If yes, then don't hesitate to ask for a review. 

Customers who have experienced your high-quality service first hand are more likely to leave a positive review. But remember, your request should not come off as a demand. Keep it polite and considerate.

15. Build Positive Relationships With Customers

At the heart of every successful business lies a loyal customer base. Building positive relationships with your customers fosters loyalty and leads to a steady flow of reviews. 

Engage with your customers frequently, understand their needs, address their issues, and let them know their opinions matter. After all, a satisfied customer is the best brand ambassador you can have.

16. Don't Use Black Hat Tactics

As you try getting more reviews for your products on Amazon, you might come across some quick fixes or so-called "Black Hat" tactics. Named after the villains in old Western films who typically wore black hats, these are unethical methods employed by some sellers to gain an unfair advantage. 

They may seem tempting, especially when you're eager for positive product reviews, but they can result in severe penalties from Amazon, including having your Amazon seller account suspended.

Here are a couple of black hat tactics to steer clear of:

1. Fake Reviews: The most common Black Hat tactic is posting fake reviews. Some sellers may be tempted to create multiple fake accounts or hire people to post glowing reviews of their products. Although it might seem like a shortcut to getting positive reviews overnight, Amazon uses sophisticated algorithms to spot and remove such reviews.

2. Review Manipulation: Another unethical tactic is manipulating reviews. This can involve offering discounts or freebies in exchange for positive reviews or asking for a positive review in return for a refund.

3. Removing Negative Reviews: Some sellers use various techniques to have negative reviews removed. While it's reasonable to report reviews that violate Amazon's policies, trying to remove negative reviews simply because they're negative is not.

4. Buying Reviews: This involves paying third-party companies to post positive reviews for a product. These companies often have networks of people who will post these reviews for payment.

5. Review Swapping: This is when sellers agree to post positive reviews for each other's products.

6. Upvoting Positive Reviews: Some sellers manipulate the 'Helpful' votes on reviews to push the positive reviews to the top and the negative ones to the bottom.

7. Downvoting Negative Reviews: Similarly, sellers might downvote negative reviews to lower their visibility.

8. Product Variation Manipulation: Some sellers create product variations with one main product and several related items. The main item receives most of the positive reviews, which are then shown on all the product variations, misleading buyers.

9. Listing Hijacking: A seller dishonestly claims to sell the same branded product as another seller, effectively 'hijacking' their listing to benefit from their positive reviews.

10. Keyword Stuffing: This involves overloading a product's title or description with keywords to improve visibility, even if the keywords aren't relevant to the product.

These Black Hat tactics might seem like an easy way to get more reviews or better visibility on Amazon, but using them comes with significant risks. 

Amazon is dedicated to maintaining a fair marketplace and has sophisticated systems to detect these tactics. Once detected, the penalties can be severe, including suspending or banning your seller account.

Sellers need to stay ethical and follow Amazon's guidelines. The road to gaining genuine positive reviews may be slower, but it's more rewarding in the long run. 

Ready to deepen your understanding of Amazon PPC? Explore these informative articles: How Much is Amazon PPC, Best Amazon Analytics Tools, and Advanced PPC Strategies.

Conclusion On How To Get Reviews On Amazon

Every review you earn, whether a glowing commendation or constructive criticism, brings valuable insights to your business. They allow you to see your business from the customer's perspective, highlighting where you excel and where you can improve.

Looking to boost your Amazon sales? Give Scale Insights a try. It's an AI-powered Amazon PPC automation software designed for scalability. With its unique algorithms, Scale Insights can automate your PPC campaigns efficiently, even at the smallest details.

When trying to get customer product reviews, remember that it's about genuinely earning them. The path may seem long, but with ethical practices, dedication, and an unyielding commitment to your customers, those coveted five-star reviews are well within your reach.

With Scale Insights, optimizing your Amazon selling experience becomes more intuitive, giving you the competitive edge needed to maximize your potential in this expansive marketplace.

Frequently Asked Questions On How To Get Reviews On Amazon

Is Buying Reviews On Amazon Legal?

No, buying reviews on Amazon is not legal. It violates Amazon's policies and can result in severe penalties, including suspending or terminating your seller account.

Can I Use A VIP Email List To Get Reviews On Amazon?

Using a VIP email list to get reviews on Amazon can be a grey area. While you can reach out to your customers via email, you must ensure that your email doesn't violate Amazon's review policies.

Do Amazon Reviews Get Deleted?

Yes, Amazon deletes reviews that violate guidelines. Amazon's algorithms continually assess reviews. And any review that's deemed fraudulent or inappropriate can be removed. 

Why Are Some Amazon Reviews Rejected?

Amazon reviews are rejected if they violate the company's review guidelines. This can include offensive or inappropriate content, promotional content, off-topic comments, or reviews written by someone with a financial interest in the product.

What Are Words To Avoid In Amazon Reviews?

Words that imply a relationship with the seller or product creator, promotional language, or language that suggests the review was incentivized or requested should be avoided in Amazon reviews. Here are some examples:

1. Promotional language: Words like discount, sale, promotion, or freebie may indicate a promotional review and are likely to be flagged.

2. Incentivized language: Terms such as compensation, reward, in exchange for, contest, or sweepstakes suggest that the review may have been incentivized, which is against Amazon's policies.

3. Bias-indicating language: Any terms that indicate a personal relationship with the seller or product creator, such as friend, partner, relative, or even the specific names of the company or individuals involved.

4. Offensive or inappropriate language: Any offensive, profane, or inappropriate words are against Amazon's guidelines and should be avoided.