Product Review Request Email
Learn how to send product review request emails through Retainful's Automation feature
What is a Product Review Request Email?
‘Product Reviews’ provide customers an opportunity to rate and also offer comments on the products they have purchased from your store.
Once customers place orders at your store, after a week or so, you can send them automated emails asking them to write a review for the products that they have bought. This email will serve as an opportunity to stay connected with your customers after purchase and it can help you get reviews/feedback from customers prominently...
Why are Product Review Request Emails Important?
‘Product Reviews’ are an extremely powerful tool for online conversions as they render social proof. As per a recent survey, 70% of the customers look at product reviews before making a decision to purchase and over 63% of customers are more likely to purchase if a site has good product ratings and reviews. The more reviews you have, the more convinced a shopper will be that their decision is flawless.
Reviews can also facilitate in augmenting the online presence of your online store. As the customer feedback can be seen on each product’s page, reviews can also help pages to be seen on the search engines with the help of unique keywords. Additionally, if customers share the products they’ve reviewed across their social networks, it will lead to further exposure for those products and also your brand.
Even though ‘Product Reviews’ are extremely powerful selling tools, they’re mostly underutilized by many online stores. The main reason is that they are unaware of the best practices in its utilization. Let’s glance at some of the best practices involved in the ‘Product Review’
According to a study by the Bazaarvoice network, one product review can result in a 10% increase in sales, and 200 reviews can result in as much as a 44% increase in sales.
Best Practices
When focusing on sending Product Review Request emails, some best practices can be followed for better and expected results.
Some of them are listed below:
1. A Catchy Subject Line
Ensure that it grabs the attention of the customers in their cluttered inboxes. When the subject line seems attractive, your inactive customers will definitely go through the entire content of the Email.
Some of the catchy subject lines include:
We need your help, Laura
Laura, here's a little gift for you
Tell us about your experience and get 10% OFF
2. Email Content
Email Personalization: Personalized Emails will always enhance customer engagement, and a personal connection will be much appreciated by the customers.
Example:
Addressing them with their name (Hey Steffie….)
Engage in one-on-one connect with your customers
When personalized emails hit the inbox of the customers, then they will feel that you missed them and you want them back in your community very hard.
Short & Meaningful Conversation: It's always advisable to keep your win-back emails crisp and meaningful so that you can get high click-through rates.
Offering Incentives: Most of the customers prefer reading online reviews rather than writing reviews on their own. It will be really difficult for people like you to enhance customer participation. So, while creating the message, it is very vital to step into the shoes of the customers and answer yourself ‘Why should I open this email?’ ‘What value lies in this message for the customer?’
For example, you can offer a discount on their next purchase. This may turn out to be the motivation, the customers really need to boost the product reviews.
Integration- ‘Leave your Review’ Message with Post-Purchase Communication
When it comes to creating post-purchase messaging, it is necessary to think about the beneficiary. If all the messages ask customers to make a purchase or do something that the company benefits (For Eg. leave a product review), then it is crystal clear that it will not enhance the customer experience in any way.
The goal is to find a balance between those messages benefiting the customer and those benefiting the company alike.
For example, you can send a ‘Thank-you’ message and provide product care instructions, share related blog articles, or offer an incentive for their next purchase.
When you offer something valuable to your customers, they will obviously feel more indebted to provide something of value in return—and it is nothing more than ‘Feedback’.
Strategies
Invite only returning customers to rate you/give the feedback/reviews.
Your chances of getting good reviews will be increased when you ask for feedback from repeat customers.
Split your first-time purchasers from returning customers.
Different post-purchase workflows can be set-up for them and you need to focus more on loyalty-oriented emails for first-time purchasers.
Render the contact information of your customer service and include a link to leave feedback for your team (not a public review).
By following the above strategies, negative reviews can be avoided and any customer service can also be resolved simultaneously, resulting in higher brand satisfaction.
Email Template Examples for Inspiration
The following email template examples can give you ideas on creating an ideal product review request email.
NOTE: The email templates examples are for inspiration purpose only.
Takeaways:
Providing guidelines to come up with the review
The ordered item is displayed
A direct CTA provided
Takeaways
Thanking the customers for placing the order
Clear CTA
Reviews provided by other customers displayed
Takeaways
Incentive mentioned (Free Shipping)
Personalized approach while seeking the review
Various perks offered are listed
Creating Product Review Request Email Workflow
Retainful lets you create your own Product Review Request Workflow with the easy-to-use automation workflow editor. Also, Retainful comes with a Product Review Request Workflow template, it will help you to configure and set live a Product Review Request Workflow in a few minutes. It allows you to focus on other tasks and become more productive.
Follow the below steps to create the Product Review Request Workflow:
1. Login to your Retainful dashboard
2. Go to ‘Automation’ -> Create Workflow -> Choose ‘Product Review Request Email’
3. Give a ‘Name’ to your Product Review Request Workflow and click ‘Continue’.
Now, you will be redirected to the automation workflow builder.
Trigger - You can find the ‘Trigger’ on the top of the workflow. The trigger lets you determine when a customer can enter into the workflow. By default, the trigger is set to allow anyone who makes a successful purchase at your store to enter into the workflow.
If you would like to set up any custom trigger rule or customer rule for the workflow, you can set it up on the right side. You learn how to configure the trigger here.
Wait - The ‘Wait’ block allows you to set up a time delay before the customer moves forward in the workflow.
The wait condition can be set for 7 days, so you can have the Product Review Request email to be sent 7 days after a customer has made a successful purchase. (You can customize the wait condition if you want).
Coupon Settings
You can click on the coupon block to find the ‘Coupon Settings’ on the right side.
Here are the steps you need to follow to configure the Coupon:
Click on the ‘Coupon’ block
Select the ‘Generate a coupon code based on rules’ option
Enter a rule name, select the coupon type, enter the coupon value, and set up the coupon expiry (Optional: You can enter a minimum order value if you would like to set up a minimum order value required for using the coupon)
Save
NOTE: For WooCommerce - We don’t recommend you to use the ‘Use the coupon generated by Retainful plugin’ option since it has been deprecated.
Now you’ve successfully configured the Coupon block in the Workflow.
Email settings
You can click on the 1st ‘Email’ block to configure the email subject line, preview texts, and email content.
Subject Line: The subject line should be interesting enough to get the customer to open the email.
Preview text: You can set up a captivating preview text to motivate the customers to open the email.
Edit Email Content: Click on the "Edit Email Contents" button to edit the contents of the email. This will bring up the visual drag and drop email editor.
If you would like to change the email template, you can click on the ‘Change template’ button on the left top and select a template of your choice.
Change the Logo: Click on the ‘Placeholder Logo’. On the right side of the panel, you will see the option to ‘Change the Logo’.
Editing the Email Content: Just "double-click" on any content section to edit the default text on the email. You can use the following shortcodes to personalize the email,
{{billing_address.first_name}} - The First name of the customer.
{{billing_address.last_name}} - The last name of the customer. {{customer_name}} - The full name of the customer (the first and the last name)
Email Components in Editor
Retainful provides a few special components / blocks in the Email Editor for your Next Order Coupon emails. Here is the list of components.
Coupon Block: When the coupon block is included in the email, it will display the coupon you have configured for the block.
You can use the coupon block {{retainful_coupon}} - Unique coupon codes will be dynamically generated when the coupon block is used in your email template.
Call-to-Action Button: Retainful generates a redirect URL for each next order coupon email. When the email is sent, customers can click on the "Shop Now” button to come back to the store and make another purchase at your store.
The Call-to-Action button in the default email templates are linked to your shop using the shortcode: {{retainful_shop_url_with_coupon_code}}
This shortcode also lets the coupon code auto-applied in the checkout page, when a customer clicks on the CTA button and is redirected to the shop.
Testing Email
Once you have completed editing the email template, you can test the email.
With an email customized, return to the top of the email editor and click the ‘Send Test Email’ button to make sure all of the content displays are as expected in your inbox.
Click the "Save" button once you have added the desired content and changed the logo in the email template.
Now, click on the 'Close' button to go back to the workflow builder.
Your Product Review Request Email Workflow is ready now.
Here is how it would look like:
Going Live
If you are ready to set live the Product Review Request Workflow, you can click on the ‘Start Workflow’ button on the right top to set live the Workflow.
That's it. You have successfully set LIVE the Product Review Request Email Workflow.
How to Test Your Product Review Request Email Workflow
This article will let you know how you can test the Product Review Request Email Workflow in your store
Requirements
Make sure you have set live the Product Review Request Workflow at your Retainful dashboard -> Automation (The status of the workflow should be ‘Live’)
Testing Steps
The recommended way to test your Product Review Request workflow is by placing a successful order in your store. You can consider choosing a low-value product in your store for placing this order
Open your storefront (your online store front) in a Private / Incognito window (so that you can test like a customer)
Place a successful order
You should receive the first Product Review Request email based on the interval you’ve set.
Example
By default, a customer will enter into the Product Review Request Email Workflow as soon as he/she placed a successful order
If you've set the 'Wait' condition as 7 days before sending the email, then you should receive the Product Review Request email 7 days after placing the order
However, if you would like to test the workflow with a short time span and see if the email comes through correctly, you can try this ‘Alternative Approach’.
Alternative Approach
Step 1: Go to your Retainful dashboard -> Automation -> Edit your 'Product Review Request Email’ Workflow'
Step 2: Click on the 'Wait' block, set the time delay for 15 minutes, and save.
Step 3: Click on 'Start Workflow' to Set it Live or 'Save & Publish' the changes.
Step 4: Visit your store in an incognito/private window and place an order.
You should receive the Product Review Request Email after 15 minutes.
For example: If you have placed the order at 10:00 AM, you should receive the Product Review Request Email at 10:15 AM.
NOTE: Ensure to reset the 'Wait' block time delay to 7 days after testing the workflow. So, you can assure that the ‘Product Review Request’ email will be sent out automatically after 7 days since a customer placed an order.
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