Rethinking the Role of Product Reviews in Consumer Research

Do reviews really matter? Absolutely.

Remember when you used to ask your friends for product recommendations? Well, those days are long gone. Today, consumers rely on digital word-of-mouth — product reviews — more than any other type of research.

But in this digital era, people don't just want a generic review. They want one that says something useful and is presented well. And how you handle the feedback might be even more important than getting it in the first place.

So let's talk about why product reviews have changed, why they're so important now, and how you can use them to take your Shopify store to new heights.

Why Product Reviews Matter More Than Ever?

Product reviews create trust

Trust is everything these days. That's where reviews come in: they help build trust with potential customers by showing that lots of other people have had a positive experience with your brand before them. It's like having a friend vouch for you! And they do more than that! 

Product reviews help you demonstrate social proof. 

In addition to building trust, Shopify product reviews provide social proof which could make-or-break someone's decision whether or not to purchase from you. Customer reviews are the deciding factor for 90% of American purchasers.

Product reviews support your SEO efforts.

Also, don't forget about SEO! Reviews count as fresh content created by users – this keeps search engines happy because they know there is activity happening on your site. 

This means if there were 1000 pages on the internet talking about "best shoes ever," but only 10 had customer product reviews, then those latter ten would rank higher. 

 Types of Shopify Product Reviews and Their Impact

Not every review is created equal, though; some matter more than others:

Text Reviews

These are by far the most common type – detailed written reviews give potential buyers deeper knowledge around specific features/benefits/downsides, etc. 

Star Ratings

These Shopify product reviews provide an "at-a-glance" assessment of products quickly using stars. Customers can learn what levels people consider satisfactory without having to read lengthy texts. 

Photo and Video Reviews

These days, people are increasingly sharing their experiences through images and videos. Seeing a product in action or being used by someone real can help other shoppers imagine how they might use it, too. This works particularly well for clothes, gadgets, and home decor items! 

Verified Reviews

Some platforms like  MyAppGurus's Product Review allow users who have actually bought & used products leave feedback marked as "verified". This adds an additional layer of authenticity which is helpful when there may be doubts about reliability etc.

Creating a Review Strategy

Since we know the importance of reviews, let's talk about how to make them most effective.

Ask for Reviews

Make it as easy as possible for customers to leave product reviews. Send a follow-up email after purchase with a direct link to the review page. Offer incentives like discounts or loyalty points in exchange for a review.

Respond to Reviews

Show customers that you care about their feedback. Respond to positive and negative reviews alike. Thank them for the kind words or address their concerns – this builds trust not only with them but potential buyers too.

Feature Reviews

Don't let your product pages be where good reviews go to die. Incorporate them into your marketing strategies, social media content, and even homepage. Use snippets from positive Shopify product reviews in your product descriptions – it helps establish credibility.

Use Verified Badges

Verified badges help to show that the reviews you're posting are genuine. This helps you create trust in the online world. 

The Power of Negative Reviews

You might think negative customer testimonials can hurt business – but they actually help more than you'd think! They add authenticity. Having an occasional bad word among all the good ones makes those compliments seem genuine.

If there are no negative product reviews, 95% of people suspect that positive reviews are phony, censored, or otherwise manipulated.

But more importantly, it's how you respond that can turn things around completely. Professionally addressing these criticisms while expressing empathy towards their experience shows that you care about your customers. 

Now It's Your Turn

If you've been considering adding product reviews onto your Shopify store now's the time! You should check out MyAppGurus's Product Review app.

What can I expect?

• Star Ratings: Give customers a quick visual representation of satisfaction levels with products they're interested in buying.
• Photo and Video Reviews: Enable shoppers to upload images/videos so others get more detailed information about what exactly is being talked about here.
• Automated Review Requests: Make sure you never miss out on gathering fresh insights by sending follow-up emails asking for opinions automatically.
• Customizable Widgets: Showcase feedback across different parts of the website using various formats – from homepages down through individual item listings.

Managing Reviews: A Guide

Here are some best practices for managing reviews about your products:

Moderate the Reviews

Make sure that they follow all of your guidelines. Remove inappropriate content while keeping a mix of positive and negative product reviews to keep them authentic.

Analyze Review Data

Use analytics tools to find patterns or trends in what people are saying about your product or service offerings through their feedback. This could help with future marketing strategies and even product development!

Feature Top Rated/ Best Reviewed Items

Promote those items which have received great reviews by including them as part of promotional materials such as adverts, testimonials from satisfied customers who had similar needs might just convince others into buying too!

Automate Review Requests

Take advantage of various applications like MyAppGurus's Product Review, which can automate asking customers for their opinions on purchased items. 

Conclusion

Instead of treating consumer reviews merely as one more source to gather information, use them for creating trust and therefore more sales. This involves getting more robust systems that will capture client feedback and continuously improve our businesses based on what they say. 

Therefore integrating strong reviewing systems into your websites while also interacting with clients would be highly recommended when running online stores.