How to Get Positive Reviews on Amazon Quickly (and 100% Legally)

As an Amazon seller, you know that reviews are your lifeblood. Research shows that 79% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations from friends and family.[^1] What‘s more, products with at least 5 reviews have a 270% higher likelihood of being purchased than those without.[^2]

But securing a steady stream of glowing reviews isn‘t always easy, especially with Amazon‘s strict policies and savvy shoppers who can sniff out inauthentic feedback. In this ultimate guide, I‘ll share proven (and 100% legal) strategies to get more positive reviews on Amazon, fast.

Understand Amazon‘s Review Policies

First things first, you must play by Amazon‘s rules when it comes to reviews. Violate their policies and you could face severe consequences like account suspension or even legal action. Here‘s a quick recap of what you can and can‘t do:

Don‘t:

Incentivize reviews with discounts, free products, gift cards, or other perks
Review your own products or a competitor‘s products
Cherry-pick by only asking happy customers for reviews
Pressure reviewers to change or delete their negative reviews

Do:

Send one review request per order within 30 days of delivery
Enroll in Amazon Vine to get trusted reviews on new products (if brand-registered)
Include neutral product inserts asking for honest reviews
Use the Contact Customer feature to communicate with critical reviewers

Amazon‘s policies evolve frequently, so check Seller Central often for the latest guidelines. When in doubt, consult with an Amazon legal expert to ensure compliance.

Master the Art of Review Requests

The most effective way to get more reviews? Simply ask for them! Amazon allows you to send one review request per order, so make the most of this opportunity.

Use Amazon‘s ‘Request a Review‘ Button

The easiest way to solicit reviews is Amazon‘s "Request a Review" button on the order details page. Clicking it sends a standard, Amazon-approved email asking the buyer to rate their purchase and write a review. It looks like this:

While this method is quick and compliant, it‘s rather impersonal. The email comes from Amazon, not you, and you can‘t customize the wording.

Craft Customized Review Request Emails

To add a personal touch, send tailored review request emails using Amazon‘s Buyer-Seller Messaging templates. You can create your own subject lines and body copy, but keep it concise and avoid marketing or promotional language.

Here‘s an example of an effective review request email:

Subject: How was your [Product Name] from [Your Brand]?

Hi [Buyer Name],

Thank you for your recent purchase of [Product Name]! We hope you‘re enjoying it so far.

If you have a minute, we‘d really appreciate if you could share your honest feedback in a quick product review on Amazon. Your opinion helps us improve and assists other shoppers in making informed decisions.

To leave a review, just visit: [Product Review Link]

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We‘re always happy to help!

Best regards,
[Your Name] and the [Brand Name] Team

See how this email is short, sweet, and to the point? Aim for a friendly yet professional tone and always include a direct link to streamline the review process.

Automate at Scale with Review Software

Manually sending review requests is fine when you‘re starting out. But as your sales grow, automation becomes a must. Tools like FeedbackFive, Jungle Scout, and Feedback Genius allow you to auto-send review requests based on customizable timing rules and templates.

These tools also provide valuable analytics to track your reviews over time, spot trends, and benchmark against competitors. Some key metrics to monitor:

Metric	Definition	Benchmark
Review Rate	% of orders that result in a review	3-10%
Average Rating	Average star rating of all reviews	4.0+
Review Velocity	# of new reviews per month	Varies by product
Negative Review Rate	% of total reviews that are 1-2 stars	<5%

Use these insights to continuously fine-tune your review generation strategy and spot issues before they snowball.

Don‘t Forget About External Traffic

Customers who buy your products outside of Amazon are also valuable sources of reviews. Leverage your own website, email lists, social media presence, and other off-Amazon channels to drive buyers to your listings and ask for their feedback.

You can even use product packaging inserts to cross-promote your Amazon listings and review requests. Just make sure to keep the language neutral and avoid violating Amazon‘s policies against manipulating reviews.

Nail Your Review Request Timing

Timing is everything when it comes to review requests. Ask too soon and the customer won‘t have enough experience to review. Ask too late and they may have forgotten about the purchase altogether.

In general, aim to send requests:

2-5 days after delivery for consumables and simple items. The product will still be top-of-mind and in use. Think groceries, toiletries, phone cases, etc.
7-14 days after delivery for more complex or considered purchases. This gives buyers sufficient time to use the product and evaluate performance. Examples: Electronics, kitchen appliances, educational courses.
2-4 weeks after delivery for gifted or seasonal items. Delay your request to allow time for gifts to be given and enjoyed. For holiday purchases, wait until just after the occasion has passed.

Of course, optimal timing will vary based on your unique product mix. Test out different schedules and analyze your review and conversion data to land on the perfect cadence.

Provide True VIP Treatment

The key to earning positive reviews? Creating an absolutely stellar customer experience from start to finish. Wow shoppers at every touchpoint and they‘ll be more than happy to sing your praises.

It starts with selling top-notch products, of course. Extensively test and inspect your goods for quality, safety, and performance. Partner only with reputable suppliers and regularly audit their processes.

But don‘t stop there – go the extra mile to surprise and delight. Some ideas:

Include a small freebie or sample in the package
Write a personalized thank-you note
Provide bonus content like how-to guides or video tutorials
Offer exceptional post-purchase support and service
Check in with customers to ensure their satisfaction

Case in point: Death Wish Coffee wows customers with colorful, custom packaging and personal touches in each order. Their efforts have earned them a loyal following and over 20,000 glowing Amazon reviews![^3]

Even small gestures can leave a big impression. Audit your customer journey for opportunities to exceed expectations and inspire buyers to reciprocate with a positive review.

Leverage Negative Reviews for Growth

No one likes getting negative reviews. But here‘s the thing: They can actually be good for business if you handle them right.

At the most basic level, negative reviews lend authenticity and trust to your overall rating. A study by Northwestern University found that probability of purchase peaks at ratings in the 4.2-4.5 range and starts to decrease as ratings approach 5.0.[^4] Too many 5-star reviews with no negatives can seem "too good to be true."

More than that, critical reviews can surface valuable insights for improving your offerings. Look for patterns in complaints around quality, sizing, features, or performance. Then, use that intel to:

Update product listings with clearer information. Avoid future disappointment by aligning your descriptions and visuals with reality.
Make product design and manufacturing improvements. Fix common defects or frustrations in your next production run.
Develop new products to fill unmet customer needs. Mine competitor reviews too for ideas on how to build a better mousetrap.
Hold suppliers and service providers accountable. Share negative reviews to push for higher quality and service standards.

Consider that a 1-star increase in Yelp rating can lead to a 5-9% boost in revenue for restaurants.[^5] While not a perfect comparison, the principle holds true on Amazon. Small improvements inspired by negative reviews can drive big gains.

Respond to Critical Reviewers with Tact

Negative reviews also present an opportunity to showcase your commitment to customer satisfaction. Amazon‘s Contact Customer feature allows Brand Registered sellers to directly message buyers who left critical (1-3 star) reviews.

You can select from a few templated options to communicate with the reviewer:

The key is to approach these interactions with empathy, respect, and a genuine desire to make things right. Avoid getting defensive or arguing with the reviewer.

Here‘s a simple response template to get you started:

Hi [Name],

Thank you for sharing your feedback on the [Product Name]. I‘m so sorry to hear that it didn‘t meet your expectations.

We pride ourselves on providing high-quality products and excellent service. I would love to personally ensure that we resolve this issue for you.

Please let me know if you‘d like me to:
– Send a replacement item
– Provide a full refund
– Assist with troubleshooting
– Discuss any other concerns

You can respond directly to this message. I‘m committed to making this right and earning back your trust.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Customer Service Manager, [Brand Name]

If you‘re able to turn the situation around and create a happy customer, there‘s a good chance they‘ll edit or delete their negative review. At the very least, other shoppers will see that you‘re a responsive, customer-centric brand.

Know How Amazon Handles Review Manipulation

With so much at stake, it‘s no wonder that some sellers resort to shady tactics like buying reviews or planting fakes. Amazon is getting smarter and smarter at spotting these schemes.

From banning over 600 Chinese brands for review fraud[^6] to filing lawsuits against Facebook review exchange groups[^7], Amazon is cracking down hard on review manipulation.

So, what exactly constitutes "manipulation" in Amazon‘s eyes? Some big no-nos:

Offering incentives like free products, discounts, or gift cards for reviews
Writing reviews for your own products or a competitor‘s
Using review exchange sites or groups to trade positive reviews
Flooding listings with multiple reviews from the same account
Planting fake negative reviews on competitor listings

If caught, you face penalties ranging from lost selling privileges to legal action. Amazon may also strip your listings of reviews entirely.

Not even established brands are immune. Fashion label Sunday Riley was outed for faking reviews back in 2018.[^8] It took two years for their products to start ranking again.

Review gaming just isn‘t worth the risk. Stick to legitimate, above-board tactics and you‘ll achieve long-term success.

Putting it All Together

Earning consistent, positive reviews on Amazon takes hard work and careful strategy. But the payoff in enhanced credibility, rankings, and revenue is well worth the effort.

To recap, a solid Amazon review generation plan should include:

Studying and abiding by Amazon‘s review policies
Providing an outstanding product and customer experience
Soliciting reviews through Amazon‘s native tools and third-party software
Optimizing your timing and templates for review requests
Monitoring reviews for actionable product and service insights
Responding professionally to negative reviews and making things right
Avoiding banned or black-hat review tactics at all costs

One final tip: Stay on top of your reviews weekly, if not daily. Small issues can quickly snowball, tanking your hard-earned star rating. Regularly audit your reviews, conversion rate, and seller feedback to spot red flags early.

Want to go even deeper? Here are some additional resources for mastering Amazon reviews:

With the right strategies and a commitment to wowing customers, you‘ll be well on your way to glowing reviews and Amazon domination. Now go get that 5-star feedback!

[^1]: Local Consumer Review Survey 2022 (BrightLocal)
[^2]: How Customer Reviews Affect Sales on Amazon (Profitero)
[^3]: How Amazon Helped Death Wish Coffee Go Viral (CNBC)
[^4]: Online Customer Reviews: Does Negative Feedback Hurt Retailers? (NielsenIQ)
[^5]: Reviews, Reputation, and Revenue: The Case of Yelp.com (HBS Working Knowledge)
[^6]: Amazon Bans Over 600 Chinese Brands for Review Fraud (TechCrunch)
[^7]: Amazon Sues Facebook Group Admins Over Fake Reviews (The Verge)
[^8]: Sunday Riley Caught in Fake Review Scandal (The Fashion Law)