Key Takeaways 

Customer reviews have become essential in the world of ecommerce with the rise of user-generated content. Reviews are crucial for building consumer trust and are effective for increasing sales, driving traffic, and boosting conversions. This article breaks down step-by-step methods for integrating reviews into your Shopify store using Shopify’s tools or third-party apps. You’ll also learn advanced strategies and best practices for leveraging reviews to increase conversions.

How to Add Reviews to Your Shopify Store

Okendo offers a straightforward solution for adding customer reviews to your Shopify store—Okendo Reviews. Our platform integrates seamlessly with Shopify, enabling you to quickly set up and display authentic feedback that builds trust and credibility.

Why Adding Reviews to Your Shopify Store is Crucial 

User-generated content and third-party validation are no longer optional in the world of ecommerce. Consumers have become accustomed to seeking reviews before making purchasing decisions because of how readily available they are. From YouTube’s top 10 lists to Yelp ratings, reviews provide social proof for your product, reassuring potential consumers of the quality and value. Modern shoppers are not likely to give your products the benefit of the doubt, and without reviews, they will quickly seek alternatives that have more information to support their purchasing decisions. 

Not only are reviews critical in building consumer trust, but they also play a significant role in boosting SEO rankings which ultimately increase conversion rates. Search engines prioritize fresh, user-generated content over key-word heavy sales-pages, making customer reviews a great tool for increasing organic traffic to your online store. 

According to the Spiegel Research Center, products with reviews are 270% more likely to be purchased than those without, and considering the trust-building and SEO benefits, it’s not difficult to see why. They not only foster consumer confidence in your brand but also drive traffic to your site, making them a must-have feature for your Shopify store.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Reviews to Your Shopify Store 

Adding customer reviews to your Shopify store is incredibly useful for driving sales, but is it difficult to implement? Does it require an expensive development team? The short answer: no. 

Gone are the days when you needed code to unlock features like this. Okendo is a user-friendly app that seamlessly incorporates customer reviews into your Shopify store. Here’s a step-by-step guide on adding reviews using Okendo.

Adding Reviews with Okendo

Adding Okendo to your Shopify store is a straightforward process that requires minimal technical knowledge:

1. Install Okendo Reviews from the Shopify App Store.
2. Customize the review display settings to align with your brand’s aesthetics. Choose from various layouts, colors, and fonts to ensure reviews match your store’s design.
3. Enable photo and video reviews in the app settings. Visual content helps shoppers see your products in real-life settings, building trust.
4. Set up automated review request emails and SMS messages to encourage engagement. Okendo’s automated processes source reviews from customers, providing a steady stream of feedback for your sales pages. These emails and messages can be personalized to reflect your brand’s voice.

Customizing Review Placement and Display

The Customer Marketing Platform interface offered by Okendo is highly intuitive, making the customization process easy for even the most tech-adverse business owner.

• Use Okendo’s drag-and-drop widget editor to strategically place reviews on product pages, homepages, and collection pages. This flexibility allows you to highlight reviews where they will have the most impact.
• Adjust styling to maintain a seamless brand experience. Design consistency plays an important role in your brand’s online presence and Okendo offers various features to tailor the visual style of your reviews to keep your store aesthetically appealing. 
• Showcase high-impact reviews and user-generated content for better conversions. Customize your site to feature high-impact reviews, like those from influencers or industry leaders, to add an extra layer of credibility.

Why Okendo is the Best Choice for Shopify Brands 

There are several review apps out there, but does Okendo stand out as the best option for adding reviews to your Shopify store? Here are the key features that set Okendo apart:

Key Features That Set Okendo Apart 

• Tailored for Shopify Stores: Okendo is tailored specifically for Shopify, so integration is a seamless experience without compatibility issues or complicated setups. It is one of the select apps to reach Built for Shopify Status, meaning it has met Shopify’s standards for brand utility, performance, integration, installation and asset management, design, and general user experience among other category-specific metrics.

• Rich Media Reviews: Unlike many review apps, Okendo supports rich media reviews allowing you to feature photo and video reviews on your Shopify store. This makes reviews for your product accessible to the largest audience possible and engages consumers in ways that written reviews alone cannot.

• Customizable Review Displays: Create a cohesive shopping experience with Okendo’s customizable review displays. These tools match review widgets to your brand’s visual identity, elevating the online experience for your customers. 

• Automated Review Collection: Sourcing reviews manually is a painstaking and time-consuming process that Okendo automates for you. Instead, you can request reviews with automated, beautifully designed emails that encourage higher response rates. These messages are highly customizable and provide a direct line of communication with your target audience. You can also integrate Okendo with your ESP or SMS platform to send review requests.

• Customer Loyalty Rewards: Okendo Loyalty allows you to incentivize reviews by offering points for your loyalty program, driving both engagement and repeat purchases. By rewarding customers for their feedback, you create a positive loop of engagement and loyalty.

• Actionable Insights: Most analytics dashboards give you a mountain of data and leave you the hard work of sorting through to find actionable insights. Okendo’s analytics dashboard provides detailed metrics on review activity, customer experience, and product feedback, giving you real information to drive your business decisions.

• Advanced Segmentation: Using audience data from Okendo’s full platform, you can target specific customer segments with personalized messages post-review to drive continuous customer engagement. 

• Social Proof Enhancements: The customization features on Okendo’s dashboard allow you to highlight high-performing reviews on product pages, homepages, or dedicated testimonial sections to boost trust and conversions. Okendo is optimized for low-site speed impact, ensuring smooth performance without compromising your website’s speed. 

Best Practices for Displaying and Managing Customer Reviews 

Authentic reviews are essential for building trust. Here are the best practices for displaying and managing customer reviews:

Moderation and Spam Prevention 

It may be tempting to only feature overly positive reviews for your product, but featuring honest, constructive criticism demonstrates transparency and integrity. When handling negative reviews, respond promptly and professionally. Acknowledge the customer’s concerns, offer solutions, and show your commitment to improving their experience. Okendo offers moderation tools to filter out spam or inappropriate content which ensures that real feedback is visible to your audience. 

Strategically Showcasing Reviews

Where you feature reviews matters. Place them on high-traffic pages like the homepage, product pages, or checkout to maximize visibility. Incorporate reviews into email campaigns and social proof pop-ups to re-engage past customers and attract new ones. 

Encouraging Customers to Leave Reviews

Send personalized, timely review requests shortly after purchase. Offering incentives like discounts or loyalty points while the experience is fresh increases the likelihood of quality reviews. Simplifying the review process will also encourage higher submission rates.

Advanced Strategies to Maximize the Value of Reviews

Once you have Okendo set up in your Shopify store, here are a few ways to get the most out of your reviews:

Using Reviews for SEO Benefits

In your site’s backend, implement structured data (schema markup) to enable rich snippets, which allow reviews and star ratings to appear directly in search results. This increases visibility and click-through rates especially when you feature review content for relevant keywords.

Integrating Reviews into Social Media Campaigns 

Leveraging social media to share consumer feedback about your product is a great way to utilize free channels to build consumer trust. Photos or videos from satisfied consumers is one of the best ways to increase organic traffic to your site. 

Analyzing Review Data for Insights 

Analyze review data to identify recurring themes, common complaints, or frequently praised features. Use this feedback to refine your products, address customer concerns, and enhance your service offerings.

FAQs About Adding Reviews to Shopify Stores 

How do I add customer reviews to my Shopify store? 

Add customer reviews using Shopify’s built-in Product Reviews app or a third-party app like Okendo, which makes it easy to collect, display, and manage reviews.

What are the best apps for Shopify reviews? 

There are several apps that can do this. Okendo does stand out among these as it has reached Built for Shopify status, and offers customization features, data analytics, and personalization options that the other apps do not. 

Can I customize the look and feel of review widgets? 

Yes, apps like Okendo offer customization for review widgets in the drag-and-drop editor which allows you to adjust layout, colors, fonts, etc. so that you can create an ad display that feels visually in line with your brand.

How do I encourage customers to leave reviews? 

Offer incentives like discounts or loyalty points to encourage reviews—just ensure these comply with platform guidelines.

How do I let people leave reviews on Shopify?

Enable review functionality through an app like Okendo and guide customers with prompts throughout the buying process. Simplifying the review process will boost submissions.

How Okendo Can Help You Build Credibility with Customer Reviews 

Okendo offers impactful features that help brands build credibility and trust with customers in their Shopify store. With support for photo and video reviews, our platform enables you to showcase authentic, rich media content that engages potential buyers. Our easy integration with Shopify ensures an effortless setup process, and our user-friendly interface makes managing and displaying reviews straightforward. Book a demo today to see how Okendo can elevate your Shopify store and strengthen customer trust.