When it comes to asking for feedback on Amazon, there are very specific things you should and should not do. Before you risk making a mistake, read on to learn what FeedbackExpress has to say on the best practices of soliciting feedback.
Do: Adhere to Amazon’s Guidelines
Amazon has very clear rules on what’s allowed and what can get you suspended or banned. And while they encourage you to reach out to buyers, you have to do so within their boundaries.
They have their rules available on the Seller Central site, but if you’re the type who doesn’t like to go over the fine print with a detailed eye, there’s another option for you: using feedback software. This ensures that each message is crafted similarly and in adherence with their guidelines, so you never have to worry about straying too far.
Don’t: Try and Get Sneaky With Amazon’s Rules
If you want a quick primer on what’s good and what isn’t before committing to feedback software, here’s a little list for you.
- Reaching out to buyers to market or promote your business is a no-no.
- You also can’t promote other products (use your Amazon page to cross- and up-sell).
- Don’t refer buyers to products and/or promotions from a third party. I’m sure you’re starting to see a pattern here…!
- Don’t include links to storefronts or Amazon detail pages.
- Better yet, just don’t include links to any websites.
- You can include your logo, but not if it shows a link to your website.
Do: Be Straightforward In What You’re Asking
It might sound redundant to say, but too many sellers are ambiguous in their messages asking for feedback. It’s not a fancy email you should agonise over, it’s a short and simple message that should contain the following:
- A subject line that explains what’s in the message.
- Using their name in the greeting.
- Using the next line to introduce yourself.
- A line or two saying you’d love it if they could leave you a review so that it can help you keep improving and let other buyers make an informed decision.
- A link to the Amazon review site.
Don’t: Make Typos and Errors
While the feedback message is short and straightforward, it should still be properly written. If you’re using feedback software, you don’t have to worry about this. But if you want to do it on your own, take the time to review each message and fix any errors. Not doing so can give your buyers the impression that you don’t care about details and they’ll think that transfers over to the buying process.
Do: Include a Call-to-Action
We briefly mentioned this in the point above, but every email should explicitly say why you’re writing. Otherwise, buyers might read your message and forget about it. And as we mentioned before, including a link that’ll take them directly to the review site helps make things really fast and easy for them.
Don’t: Ask For a Positive Review
This is one of the biggest mistakes you could make. When it comes to feedback solicitation, you’re supposed to remain neutral. You absolutely cannot say something like, ‘If you liked this product, can you leave us a 5-star review?’ That’ll put you on Amazon’s hotlist right away. Just leave any mentions of positivity or negativity out of the message.
Do: Get Your Timing Down
One of the most important things when soliciting feedback is the timing of it. You’ll want to give buyers enough time to receive the product, open it, and test it out a bit, but not so much time they forget about reviewing it.
Generally, here’s the schedule you should follow:
- non-FBA Send a message 2-3 days after the estimated delivery date. So if should arrive on a Friday, email the buyer on Monday.
- FBA Go by the order date, and wait a week-ish. For example, if the buyer ordered on Monday, feel free to email them anytime from Friday to the following Monday.
- Stick to regular business hours for best chances of the buyer reading your message and being close enough to a computer to act.
Don’t: Ignore Negative Feedback
A negative review isn’t the dagger through the heart that many sellers think it is. Sometimes you can get the review removed on a technicality, while other times you’ll have to work a little harder at getting it erased.
But whatever the circumstances, definitely reach out to the buyer and see what you can fix on your end to make their experience a positive one.
Do: Optimise Your Feedback With Automated Emails
If it seems like we sounded like a broken record trumpeting feedback software, it’s because it makes your life a lot simpler and easier. You don’t have to worry about when or how to send out messages, FeedbackExpress, will do it for you. We’re pros at knowing what Amazon and buyers like and we’re on your side every step of the way. But the life-simplification only starts when you sign up, so do so and get your first 14 days entirely free.
