Etsy reviews are the bread and butter of shop growth. There’s no one a potential customer trusts more than other shoppers, and seeing a fleet of 5-star reviews can be what seals the deal. Forbes reports that 70% of consumers trust online reviews from strangers. But even if you’re selling well, how do you make sure that you can earn more Etsy reviews — and trust?
Quantity And Quality
Your shop’s sale-to-review conversion rate is probably not stellar. That’s only natural — people are busy, and it takes effort to log back into Etsy and navigate to your shop to leave some feedback. My review rate is currently 31%, which I feel pretty good about. But it can always be higher!
Not only do you want more reviews, you want better ones. What Etsy does well is attaching images of the product the shopper purchased to the review so customers can see exactly what’s being rated. Plus, the very best responders will post an image of themselves loving your product! Check out this adorable photo I got from a friend and her grandmother:
First I’ll deliver some ground rules. Then, I’ll share how you can earn more Etsy reviews — and inspire higher quality ones — without being a beggar.
Etsy Review Fundamentals
Buyers can leave a review between the estimated delivery date of their purchase and the first 100 days they have their new good. They must also have an Etsy account (I’ve had some customers buy through guest accounts) and have purchased the good via Etsy’s platform.
Other fun tidbits from Etsy:
- Shop rating is calculated only from reviews left from the past 12 months
- Etsy will prompt buyers who leave a photo with their 5-star review to share it on social media
Now here’s a biggie. Generally, many Etsy sellers you’ll meet are not willing to outright ask buyers for reviews. It can be seen as overly aggressive, which I totally get. I generally don’t do this because I prefer to encourage feedback through great service.
However, the only no-no from Etsy’s end is extortion:
“A seller offers a buyer additional goods, services, or compensation in exchange for a positive review.”
The tips I’ll outline in the rest of the post focus on polite, positive ways to invite interaction from customers. Obviously, you’re getting shady if you’re promising free goods, cold hard cash or other services for reviews. If for some reason you’re doing this, stop that right now. There are plenty of white hat ways to earn more Etsy reviews — trust me.
Invite Reviews in Your Packaging
The most direct contact you’ll have with your customer is when they open their package and get to behold your good for the first time. You already put so much effort into lovingly handcrafting or thrifting the product you sent out. Why not include a message inviting reviews inside?
I’ve designed a card I like to include with my packaging. It has my shop logo and social usernames on it so customers know where to find me if they want to connect. I’ve since added a line about how much I’d like to hear from them.
You don’t have to directly ask for a review if you aren’t comfortable with it, but mentioning how valuable their voice is to you — and what an awesome customer they are — can only help you earn more Etsy reviews. Leaving a note in your packaging is the most tangible way to help customers get the message and inspire them to log back in to give you some feedback long after they’ve deleted Etsy’s emails.
Offer Recognition For Great Reviews
People love to be loved. One cool way to show your appreciation for a great review is to share it on Facebook and/or Instagram — an option Etsy makes very easy from its sellers’ social media sharing tab. If you have the customer’s social handle, you can mention them in the post. Otherwise, shoot them a message once the review is complete to let them know you’ve raved about their kind words.
Flattery is effective, guys. Plus, people are more likely to understand the real impact their words have on Etsy sellers if they notice that a shop is displaying its best reviews. When I tag someone’s review on my Facebook page, they tend to be way more likely to interact with and even share the post. It’s a win win.
One thing I’d be a little careful about is posting someone’s face if they just so happen to attach their own photo to a review. You should always ask permission before using a person you don’t know’s image on your social accounts. Most of the time, however, simply sharing your own product photo will do the trick and help you build trust online.
Send Personalized Messages Online
You might have an automated message already set up when a customer makes an order, and one to go with the shipping notification. Even better, write one up a couple days after delivery to check in and see how they like the product. If you take the time to ask about it, you’re more likely to earn more Etsy reviews from touched customers.
If they don’t want to get back to you, they won’t — no harm no foul. But providing a little digital nudge that you’re committed to their shopping experience is excellent customer service no matter the aim.
Plus, it can still be a basic template that you tweak a little for each customer. You don’t have to draft a new love letter for each purchase, you just have to be willing to follow up. If you’re inviting feedback, they’re probably more inclined to close the deal by leaving it on your Etsy shop.
Offer Rewards For Reviews
Don’t let this section be where I lose you. No, I’m not talking about extortion. I’m talking about following up with customers who leave a nice review and giving them a discount code as a token of appreciation, or inviting buyers to sign up for your newsletter that gives out periodical deals.
Making a gesture like this not only gives your customer warm fuzzy feelings, it inspires them to become repeat buyers. The important distinction here is that you’re expressing gratitude, not incentivizing good reviews with free stuff. The stronger a connection you can invite, the better your chances are of earning more Etsy reviews in the future — and higher-quality ones at that.
Earn More Etsy Reviews The Right Way
One of the reasons people love Etsy is that they’re supporting a small business with a recognizable face with each purchase. The tips I listed above help you make a stronger human connection with your customers, and can ultimately help you earn more Etsy reviews just by strengthening your customer service and asking for feedback.
Most of us would never feel annoyed when asked to support an organization we care about. Let go of your hesitation and start incorporating these easy steps into your Etsy marketing plan. When the 5-star reviews are rolling in and boosting your shop visibility, you’ll be grateful.
How do you inspire more Etsy reviews? Let me know below!
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