Selling on Amazon is very competitive so gaining customer reviews is very important. Reviews can help with buying decisions, rankings, and building credibility. For newer or smaller businesses, gaining consistent positive reviews can be difficult. This is usually where the use of an Amazon reviews agency come into play.
Why use an agency or even use Amazon reviews? Although the promise of having reviews in a short amount of time may be tempting, there are important factors, risks, and ethics to consider. This article looks to cover the review services on Amazon and the pros and cons in order to help the seller make a best decision.
The Importance of Amazon Reviews
Amazon reviews give proof of social validation. When a product has good reviews and genuine feedback, customers are more likely to trust the product, which in turn converts customers to buyers, and helps the product rank better in the search results. Reviews also help customers get a better idea and understanding of the product, how it works, and if it works at all. Selling is more than just getting good reviews from customers, it also increases the speed at which the product sells, how easily it can be found, and how successful the brand is in the long run. Getting reviews in less competive categoreies is much easier to do, especially when it comes to being more patient.
What Is an Amazon Review Agency?
Most sellers use Amazon review agencies to get more seller feedback. These agencies say they help sellers with things like reviewer management, feedback campaign management, and review strategy. Some review agencies use legal methods like customer email follow-ups and engagement, while others use illegal methods like bribing reviewers and paying reviewers which go against Amazon rules.
Why Sellers Consider Buying Amazon Reviews
Many sellers think about using an amazon product review service or even try to buy amazon reviews because:
- Intense competition in popular product categories
- Slow review accumulation for new listings
- Pressure to improve conversion rates quickly
- Desire to appear trustworthy and established
New sellers might think they need outside help to compete with listings that have hundreds or thousands of reviews. Sellers are often crushed by the competition.
Pros of Using an Amazon Review Agency
1. Extra Genuine Review Generation
Almost all review generation software handle reviews quickly. The process can be more streamlined by an agency, especially during your product roll outs. Early traction on reviews can really help listings take off.
2. Increased Click Rates
Products with higher ratings and more reviews typically do better with Amazon’s search engine. Getting automation and services to help get Amazon reviews can help with your click rates and conversions.
3. Sellers Saving Time
Review management, customer feedback, and follow ups can be really draining. Selling more focus on your stock, promotions and reviews and let an agency manage these.
4. Scheduled Review Plans
Some agencies give review generation coaching so review automation, customer feedback optimization, and experience monitoring are all compliant.
Cons of Using an Amazon Review Agency
1. Risk Related to Violating Reviews Policy from Amazon
Paid, fake, or incentivized reviews are considered absolute no-goes at Amazon. These types of reviews are what a lot of agencies promising quick results resort to. Most sellers face the consequences of having to deal with removals of their listings, suspensions of their accounts, and even permanent bans.
2. Losing Trust of Customers
Due to having a more or less fake review, customers may choose to not trust or lose trust in the brand. Losing trust for one review and no reviews on the account is better, but the brand is built with authentic reviews.
3. Risk to Company Finances
It’s costly to create false Amazon reviews, or to buy them. If attempts to get a review fail, you will end up with worthless posts that will not give you any further profits.
4. More Damage than Good
Although buying reviews seems like a quick tactical fix to the more manic issue of lacking sufficient reviews, the damage that is done is far worse. Amazon is focusing its abilities more and more on collecting data to catch review systems that are unfair, abuses of systems, manipulations, or anything even close to what may be perceived as an unfair trade.
Amazon’s Policy on Reviews
Sellers must stick to the rules if they want to operate on Amazon. One of the main rules is to conduct business fairly. Sellers are not allowed to:
– review pay services
– give products away to obtain reviews
– review manipulate
Overall, Amazon review agency are crap, especially the ones that claim to provide reviews in bulk or that they will give you 5 stars.
Ethical and Business Considerations
There is more than just following the rules. Reviews are created to assist customers in deciding. If we play tricks to get more reviews and get more customers, we are tricking people.
A business can only grow if they make their customers happy. Only the brands built on trust will survive in the long run.
Safer Alternatives to Buying Amazon Reviews
Instead of buying fake reviews on Amazon, sellers can choose better and safer options:
Join Amazon Vine (if eligible)
- Use Amazon compliant auto email after purchase
- Make better products and packaging
- Provide better customer service
- Ask for reviews, but do not offer anything in return
These may take more time, but would be more honest and better for the brand in the long run.
Final Verdict: Should You Go for an Amazon Review Agency?
It all comes down to what company you choose to provide amazon product reviewing services. Compliance, customer experience, and ethics based review services should be of value to you. On the other hand, review selling and guaranteed review agencies are to be avoided, as they are high risk.
Although amazon review services may be tempting, the risk of policy violations, getting your account suspended, and losing the trust of your customers make the service hardly worth it. Quality of products, customer service, and review strategies that are in line with the rules should be the main focus of sellers.
Success on Amazon comes from building trust and providing genuine products. Avoid Amazon product reviewing services if you want to be successful in the long run.