Do you know that customer feedback plays an essential role in generating trust for your online print-on-demand store? It’s safe to say that testimonials put the T in trust for customers buying products online.  One of the most significant changes in e-commerce over the past few years is the proliferation of online reviews. As a customer, you might have noticed that reviews pop-up whether you are encouraging them or not. However, if you use these reviews strategically, they act as social proof, which persuades customers to purchase custom design products from your store. According to the statistics, 88% of consumers believe they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations; and we are not just talking about positive reviews, but bad ones too.

Positive as well as negative reviews can help your print-on-demand business to reach the zenith.  Positive reviews give customers confirmation, while the quick resolution of negative reviews builds trust amongst customers. Negative feedback allows your brand to identify what you can do to impress and satisfy the needs of your customers.

In this post, we will talk about the benefits of online reviews for your POD store. So, let's get started!

Benefits of Positive and Negative Customer Reviews

Before talking about the benefits, let’s look at some figures.

1. 70% of customers use reviews before making any purchase.

2. 63% of consumers prefer to purchase products from online stores which display ratings and reviews.

3. 79% of customers consider product reviews as necessary as personal recommendations.

4. Going by the average, 75% of reviews on websites are positive and customers agree that reviews motivate them to purchase products and services.

So, we can say reviews have great value for e-commerce stores, but only if they know how to make correct use of them.  Now, let’s talk about the benefits of online reviews.

Change in how customers perceive you: What’s the biggest hurdle you face as an e-commerce store owner? It's the challenge of building trust between your brand and customers. Nobody wants a bad reputation. Good quality products, reliability and helpfulness determine how customers will perceive you and your business. Positive reviews will encourage customers to buy products from your store in comparison to competitors, and encourage customers to go the extra mile to attain a higher customer experience.

Detailed and unbiased insight: Reviews provide unbiased information but at the same time, they provide third party insight into the quality and experience of your products. Reviews help people imagine themselves using your products and services. Through reviews, customers can get answers to all their questions that come to mind when making a purchase.

A boost in revenue: As a print-on-demand business owner, your main goal is to increase that revenue figure. By collecting and publishing customer feedback, businesses can drive more sales and acquire new customers. When customers see reviews of custom printed products online on the landing page, they are willing to take the step in their customer journey. By adding value to the customer journey, you will increase customer satisfaction and retention.  Customer reviews also help in engaging new customers, leading to more revenue.

Increase in trust: For the small print-on-demand store owners, building customer trust is a catch-22. As customers have more information than ever, building their trust has become more challenging. With the increase in a number of e-commerce scams, malware and security concerns, POD store owners need trust indicators to secure their position in the virtual marketplace; when we talk about trust indicators, customer reviews always come to the forefront. Reviews encourage customers to get their wallets out and make a purchase. At present, customers trust the reviews of strangers more than they trust advertisements and the marketing efforts of the company. If you want to gain an edge over your competitors, it's time to capitalize on this opportunity and use social proof to entice customers to purchase from your store. People are influenced by other people's experiences, making it essential to collect feedback from customers. The more trust and value is associated with the brand, the more sales conversion there will be.

By now, you will be aware that it's essential to take advantage of customer reviews, positive and negative. Now the question is how to encourage customer reviews. What can you do to motivate customers to leave a review?  Let’s find the answer!

1. Send emails to customers: To become a good marketer, you not only have to sell more products but also encourage customers to take an active part in your virtual community. Build and send email campaigns to customers who recently purchased your products asking them to share their experiences. Be polite and courteous when asking for feedback.

2. Easy review: Never, and we say never, force customers to share their reviews as it will leave them agitated. It should be easy for customers to share their reviews, and you can also give them a reward for doing so. Ask registered members to share their reviews and make it easy for them to enter and send their feedback. 

3. Coupons and discounts:  Even the smallest discount or incentives can encourage customers to share their experience. For instance, give a special coupon to customers after they submit their reviews. Also, discounts and a ‘sneak peek’ at upcoming product lines is a great way to encourage customers to become a part of the virtual community.

4. Act fast to bad reviews: Bad reviews can also be helpful if you act quickly to solve the issue. Don't take time to reply to angry customers as it may result in a switch. Apologize if there is a mistake on your part and show your empathy towards disgruntled customers.

Hopefully, this post will give you an idea of how to maximise the use of customer product reviews. Reviews are a powerful way of boosting the sales of your custom printed products. If you sell products online, this guide will definitely help you in building your brand.