How To Get Shopify Reviews

Introduction

Customer reviews are one of the single most powerful levers for converting shoppers into buyers. Reviews increase trust, improve SEO with organic user-generated content, and give you honest product feedback that drives better decisions. For merchants dealing with "platform fatigue," a unified retention solution can help collect, display, and act on reviews without adding more tools.

Short answer: The fastest way to get Shopify reviews is to make it effortless for customers to leave feedback at the right time, reward that behavior, and automate follow-up while keeping the experience mobile-first. That means using timed review requests after delivery, offering meaningful incentives through a loyalty program, allowing photo and video reviews, and repurposing positive reviews as shoppable social content.

In this post we’ll explain why reviews matter, how to set up review collection on Shopify and the Shop channel, what messaging and timing work best, and how to scale reviews using automations, loyalty, and UGC. We’ll also show how a single retention suite replaces multiple point solutions so you can focus on growth instead of integrations—more growth, less stack. Along the way we’ll provide ready-to-use templates, workflow examples, recommended KPIs, and common mistakes to avoid.

Our goal is to give Shopify merchants a practical, step-by-step playbook for consistently getting high-quality reviews and turning them into higher LTV and repeat purchase rates. If you want to try a unified solution that combines loyalty, reviews, referrals, and shoppable UGC, you can start a 14‑day free trial to test the platform on your store.

Why Reviews Matter For Shopify Stores

Reviews are not just stars and quotes on a product page; they are social proof that reduces perceived risk, improves search visibility, and feeds other retention loops.

Reviews Drive Conversion and Reduce Risk

When shoppers hesitate, reviews help answer tacit questions about fit, quality, and real-world usage. Seeing recent reviews—especially with photos or short videos—reassures buyers and shortens the decision process. That confidence translates into measurable lifts in conversion and average order value.

Reviews Improve SEO and Organic Traffic

Every new review is unique content on a product page. That fresh, user-generated content helps pages rank for long-tail queries and phrases that your product descriptions don’t cover. Over time, more indexed review content can improve organic visibility across many product variants.

Reviews Give Actionable Product Feedback

Reviews are a direct voice of your customers. When parsed systematically, they reveal quality issues, feature requests, common use cases, and packaging problems. Acting on review insights reduces defects and can inform merchandising, product copy, and even your roadmap.

Reviews Power UGC and Social Proof Loops

Photo and video reviews become shareable social content. When you combine reviews with shoppable social experiences, you create a cycle: social content drives traffic → traffic buys → buyers leave more reviews and UGC → you reuse that content for marketing.

Reviews Support Retention Strategies

Collecting reviews isn’t just for acquisition—it's a retention signal. Rewarding reviewers with points or perks deepens customer loyalty, and reviews from repeat customers carry extra weight. A platform that unifies reviews and loyalty makes it simple to close the loop.

The Foundations: What You Need Before Asking For Reviews

Before you start bombarding customers with review requests, get your foundation right. That reduces friction, protects you legally, and ensures higher-quality feedback.

Choose How You’ll Collect and Display Reviews

Decide whether you’ll rely on a single integrated retention suite or multiple standalone tools. A unified approach replaces several disjointed platforms and removes integration overhead, lowering maintenance time and improving data consistency. We build with merchants in mind to be a stable, long-term partner—if you’d like to explore a platform that bundles reviews with loyalty and UGC, you can install Growave on your store.

Make sure the solution you pick supports:

• Verified purchase flags or order-linked review collection to increase trust.
• Photo and video uploads on reviews.
• Widgets that are mobile-optimized and theme-friendly.
• Easy import of legacy reviews via CSV so you don’t lose existing proof.

Legal and Policy Basics

Follow disclosure rules and platform policies. If you offer incentives for reviews, ensure you require honest feedback and disclosure of material connections where necessary. For reviews submitted through platform channels (for example, Shop), be familiar with review policies and reporting procedures so you can flag abusive or fraudulent content quickly.

Technical Setup on Shopify and Shop Channel

Shopify allows reviews to be visible through the Shop channel and you can customize when review requests are sent after delivery. Within your admin you can:

• Set how many days after delivery customers get a review notification.
• Choose whether to allow reviews for purchases made outside the Shop app.
• Reply to, edit, and delete replies to Shop product reviews (replies may be screened before publishing). These settings let you tailor timing and visibility to your product lifecycle—heavier or technical products often benefit from longer use time before asking for a review.

Prepare Your Product Pages

Optimize product pages to receive reviews:

• Place the review summary (average rating and number of reviews) near the top so shoppers see social proof early.
• Include a clear call-to-action to “Write a review” with a simple modal or inline form.
• Allow media uploads; encourage short captions for context.
• Make the widget accessible and fast-loading across devices.

How To Get Shopify Reviews: High-ROI Tactics

Below are practical, high-impact tactics you can implement immediately. Each tactic includes why it works, how to execute it, and tips for increasing response rates.

Post-Purchase Timing: Ask When It Matters Most

Timing is everything. Ask too early and customers haven’t formed an opinion; ask too late and the request is ignored.

• For fast-moving consumables, send the first review request a few days after delivery so customers can try the product and then ask again if needed.
• For products that require setup or break-in time (furniture, electronics), delay the first request for several weeks.
• Consider adding a short in-email survey asking whether they’ve used the product. If they haven’t, delay the review request automatically.

On Shopify’s Shop channel you can set review request intervals for orders. If you use an external reviews system, match its timing to expected usage windows.

Make It Mobile-First and One-Click Where Possible

Most shoppers open review emails on mobile. Reduce friction by:

• Using a one-click button in email that opens a lightweight review form (no login required beyond confirming email or order).
• Prefilling product details and star rating UI to make submission a single tap.

Ask With a Human Touch (Templates You Can Use)

Personalized messages convert better than generic blasts. Use the customer’s name, reference the specific product purchased, and keep the ask short.

Email subject line ideas:

• "How is your [product name]? Quick question from [brand]"
• "Can you share a quick star rating for your new [product]?"
• "Loved your order? Tell others in 30 seconds"

Email body recommendations:

• One short sentence reminding them of the purchase and why their feedback matters.
• A clear CTA to leave a review (single button).
• Optionally offer to upload a photo or video with a short guide on what helps other shoppers.
• Reminder that honest reviews help improve products—not just to praise.

Example short email (friendly, direct): Hey [First Name], hope you’re enjoying your new [product]. If you have a minute, could you rate it and leave a short comment? Your feedback helps other shoppers and helps us improve. Add a photo if you like—every review makes a difference. [Leave a review]

Use Multi‑Touch Flows, Not One-Off Emails

A single request rarely captures a large percentage of buyers. Build a short, polite sequence:

• Initial review request a few days after delivery (or longer for complex items).
• A gentle reminder one week later for non-responders, with an alternate CTA (e.g., “Is it working as expected?”).
• Final, time-limited reminder offering loyalty points for leaving an honest review (if you choose to incentivize).

Make every email helpful and non-annoying. Remember to monitor opt-outs and adapt frequency.

Reward Reviews Using Loyalty Points (High ROI, Lower Cost Than Discounts)

Instead of discounting future orders outright, grant points for leaving a review and additional points for uploading a photo or video. Points are perceived as valuable and keep customers within your ecosystem.

• Offer a base points reward for any review and a higher tier for media-enhanced reviews.
• Use points only for experiences that deepen retention (discounts, free samples, early access), not as a straight cash-back equivalent.

A unified retention suite that combines loyalty and reviews lets you issue points automatically after review submission. If you want to reward customers for review activity, you can integrate that behavior with a loyalty program—reward customers with points for reviews.

Make Reviews Social and Shoppable

Gathering photos and short videos fuels your social channels and creates shoppable content. Display verified photo reviews in a “Real Customers” gallery and tag product SKUs so each piece of content is directly shoppable.

• Feature user photos on product pages, in cart pages, and in marketing emails.
• Turn top-performing review content into paid social creative to scale trust.
• Use shoppable UGC widgets on collection pages to surface highly rated items.

Growave supports Reviews & UGC and shoppable social features to help you repurpose feedback into revenue-driving content—learn how to collect social reviews and UGC.

In-Platform Review Prompts and On-Site Nudges

For returning customers and logged-in users, prompt reviews inline on the product page or account order history page. Examples:

• Add a “Leave a review” callout in the order confirmation page and account orders.
• Show a non-intrusive slide-up prompt for recent buyers who revisit product pages within 30 days.

Leverage SMS and Push Where Appropriate

SMS achieves high open rates, but it must be used carefully and compliantly.

• Use SMS for short, time-sensitive reminders with a direct review link.
• Keep messages concise and offer an opt-out. Always follow local regulations and carrier best practices.
• Use push notifications for logged-in customers who have allowed notifications—these can be effective for immediate prompts.

Segment and Personalize Requests

Not all buyers respond the same way. Segment by:

• Order value (ask high-value customers personally, perhaps offering a larger points reward).
• Repeat customers (they can be asked to leave longer-form reviews or become brand advocates).
• Product type (timing differs by category).

Personalization increases conversion and the relevance of the review request.

Use Referrals to Amplify Reviews

When customers leave a review, prompt them to share it with friends in exchange for additional points or a referral credit. This turns review activity into an acquisition lever while increasing social proof.

Offer Guided Review Formats

Some customers don’t know what to write. Provide a guided structure:

• Star rating with optional prompts (e.g., “What did you like most?” “How did it fit?”).
• Quick checkbox options (e.g., “True to size,” “Arrived quickly,” “Great quality”) to make feedback faster.

These small UX choices dramatically increase completion rates.

Implementation: Workflows, Automations, and Ready-to-Use Templates

Below we outline practical workflows and templates you can copy and adapt. Replace placeholders, and test variations.

Post-Purchase Workflow (Simplified Flow)

This flow is applicable across product types; adjust timing for usage.

• At fulfillment: mark the order as shipped; capture tracking so you can detect delivery.
• After delivery (timed per product category): send an initial review request email with a single CTA.
• If no response after one week: send a gentle reminder with a one-click star rating option.
• If still no response: send a final reminder offering loyalty points for leaving a photo review.
• For any review submitted: automatically issue points and trigger a thank-you message that encourages social sharing.

These automations reduce manual work and keep the review funnel moving.

Email Template: Initial Request

Subject: Quick favor—about your new [product name] Body: Hi [First Name], we hope [product name] arrived safely. Could you spare 30 seconds to rate it? Your honest feedback helps other shoppers and helps us improve. If you have time, upload a photo—it’s super helpful. [Leave a Review]

Email Template: Reminder

Subject: Still enjoying [product name]? Body: Hi [First Name], just checking in—did [product name] meet your expectations? A short rating helps us and other customers. If you share a photo, we’ll add loyalty points to your account. [Rate Now]

Reply Templates for Reviews

Positive review reply: Thanks so much, [First Name]! We’re glad you love [product]. If you’d like a small thank-you, reply and we’ll add some loyalty points to your account.

Neutral review reply: Thanks for the feedback, [First Name]. We’re sorry [product] didn’t fully meet expectations. Could you tell us more so we can make it right? Reply here or contact support at [email].

Negative review reply: We’re sorry to hear about your experience, [First Name]. Please contact our support team so we can fix this quickly—include your order number and a photo if possible. We’ll follow up within 24 hours.

These replies should be short, empathetic, and action-oriented.

Automations and Triggers (Examples)

Use your platform’s automation engine to:

• Trigger a staff notification when a 1- or 2-star review is posted so someone follows up.
• Automatically award loyalty points for review submissions.
• Add customers who leave media-enabled reviews to a “UGC contributors” segment for future promotions.

If you use Shopify Flow or a comparable automation engine, look for a review-published trigger and connect it to internal workflows to notify staff or apply tags.

Measuring Success: KPIs That Matter

Track metrics that link review activity to revenue and retention.

• Review Submission Rate: percentage of buyers who leave a review.
• Average Rating: overall sentiment; watch for trends, not just point-in-time.
• Media-Enabled Review Rate: percent of reviews with photos/videos.
• Conversion Uplift: compare conversion for product pages with vs. without reviews.
• New Organic Traffic from Review Content: monitor keyword ranking changes and traffic growth to review-heavy pages.
• LTV and Repeat Purchase Rate for Reviewers: measure whether reviewers become more valuable customers.
• Response Time to Negative Reviews: faster resolution typically improves retention.

Use cohort analysis to see how review-related incentives affect repeat purchases and referral lift.

Handling Negative Reviews, Fraud, and Policy Issues

Negative feedback is an opportunity. How you manage it impacts brand perception.

Respond Quickly and Helpfully

A timely, empathetic response publicly shows others you care. Move the conversation private when necessary, but reply publicly first to acknowledge the issue.

Escalate Serious Issues

If a review mentions safety, fraud, or legal issues, escalate to internal teams quickly and follow platform reporting steps. On Shop and Shopify channels, merchants can report reviews that violate policy through the admin interface; it may take a few business days for an investigation.

Detect and Stop Fraud

Watch for patterns:

• Multiple reviews from the same IP in a short window.
• Reviews with identical wording.
• Overly promotional content in review text.

If you suspect fraud, tag the reviews, remove them if allowed, report to the platform, and tighten your verification requirements.

Incentivized Reviews: Best Practices

If you incentivize reviews, require honest feedback and disclose the incentive in the review to stay compliant. Use points-based systems rather than direct discounts to reduce the appearance of paid-for praise.

Reducing Friction: UX and Design Best Practices

Small design choices increase completion rates.

• Keep forms short and mobile-friendly.
• Use star ratings with optional short comment field.
• Allow media uploads directly from mobile cameras.
• Use modal forms that don’t require account creation for quicker submission.
• Show progress bars or confirmations that reward users after submission.

Avoid forcing sign-in unless needed for verification. Wherever possible, verify purchases by order ID instead of requiring a full account login.

Advanced Tactics: Segmentation, A/B Tests, and Experimentation

Continuous improvement requires testing and segmentation.

A/B Test Ideas

• Test one-click rating vs full review form as the initial CTA.
• Try different subject lines and sender names (brand vs founder).
• Test incentive levels (points amount or type of reward) to find the sweet spot that maximizes ROI.
• Experiment with timing (7 days vs 21 days vs 60 days) for different SKUs.

Segment to Get Better Quality Reviews

• Ask high-value customers for longer-form reviews.
• Request photo reviews from customers who previously uploaded photos in other contexts.
• Invite product testers or early adopters to submit detailed feedback.

Reuse High-Value Reviewers

Create a contributor program where top reviewers get early access to products or exclusive points. These reviewers often create better UGC and long-form testimonials.

How A Unified Retention Suite Reduces Friction (More Growth, Less Stack)

Using separate platforms for reviews, loyalty, referrals, and UGC increases integration complexity and slows iteration. A single retention suite gives you:

• Single customer profile with review and loyalty activity visible in one place.
• Automatic points issuance for review actions without middleware.
• Easier repurposing of UGC into shoppable social widgets.
• Fewer breakpoints and faster troubleshooting.

We build for merchants first—trusted by 15,000+ brands and rated 4.8 stars on Shopify—so you can scale review collection without adding management overhead. If you want to see how combining loyalty and reviews streamlines these processes, consider checking plan options and testing how a unified approach works for your store—view plan details and start a free trial.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Avoid these pitfalls that reduce review volume or harm credibility.

• Asking for reviews too soon before customers have used the product.
• Over-incentivizing with cash-like rewards that can bias feedback.
• Hiding negative reviews or deleting critical feedback without response.
• Using long, cumbersome review forms that require account creation.
• Forgetting to allow media uploads—photos and videos convert best.

Fixing these issues typically yields quick improvements in review volume and quality.

Getting Started Checklist (Quick Wins)

Use these practical, immediate actions to kickstart your review program.

• Make sure your product pages show star ratings and review counts prominently.
• Set the delivery-to-review request interval per category (short for consumables, longer for durable goods).
• Create a short, personalized email template and an automated flow for review requests.
• Offer modest loyalty points for reviews, extra for photos/videos.
• Enable one-click mobile review forms and allow media uploads.
• Set up staff notifications for low-star reviews so you can react quickly.
• Track review submission rate and conversion uplift for pages with reviews.

If you’re ready to reduce tool sprawl and run these flows from a single platform that connects loyalty and review rewards, you can install Growave on your store and begin configuring review-linked rewards and UGC collection.

Troubleshooting Common Implementation Issues

If your review program is underperforming, check for these common blockers.

• Emails landing in promotions or spam: try different sender names, subject lines, and sending domains.
• Broken widget or slow loading on product pages: ensure scripts are optimized and hosted assets are minimized.
• Low photo review rate: explicitly request photos and show examples of the type you want.
• High negative review volume: look for systemic product or shipping issues and fix the root cause.

Use automation to surface underlying issues, and measure fixes against the KPIs listed earlier.

Final Thoughts

Reviews are the backbone of trust for modern e-commerce. They improve conversion, generate fresh SEO content, provide product feedback, and supply the media you need for social proof. The key to consistent review growth is low-friction capture, smart timing, meaningful rewards, and repurposing UGC into shoppable experiences. Using a single retention solution that combines reviews, loyalty, referrals, and UGC significantly reduces management overhead and increases the synergy between these retention levers—true more growth, less stack.

We’re merchant-first and focused on long-term partnerships. If you want to try a solution that unifies reviews with loyalty and shoppable UGC and offers a 14-day free trial, start a 14‑day free trial to see pricing and plans.

FAQ

Q: What’s the best time to ask for a review after delivery? A: It depends on the product. Fast consumables often convert quicker and can be asked within a week; complex or high-touch items benefit from several weeks. Use your product’s usage cycle to guide the timing and A/B test intervals.

Q: Are incentives allowed for reviews? A: Incentives are allowed if you require honest feedback and follow disclosure rules. A points-based reward system through a loyalty program tends to be lower-risk and helps retain customers beyond one purchase.

Q: How do I get photo and video reviews? A: Ask specifically for media, show examples, offer higher points for media reviews, and make mobile uploads easy. Show contributors that their media will be featured—visibility is often its own reward.

Q: How many reviews do I need to see a meaningful impact? A: Even a handful of high-quality reviews can improve conversion, but quantity builds statistical trust. Encourage media-enabled reviews and aim to keep review collection consistent over time rather than chase a single spike.