Online reviews make and break your conversion: products with just five reviews are already 270 % more likely to be sold than items without reviews. At the same time, the proliferation of fake reviews shows that authenticity is the new gold. Below is a practical step-by-step plan to get real, verified reviews with Product Rater – including clear explanations of touchpoints, channels and incentive options.
Why “Verified Purchase” is the new seal of approval
Research shows that a “Verified Buyer” badge increases the likelihood of purchase by 15%, because consumers trust proof of an actual purchase.
For both SEO and conversion, it’s not just about stars, but about the origin of the reviewer.
Touchpoints vs. channels – the real deal
| Touchpoint (entry) | Fixed channel (medium) | Reminder? | Why does it work? |
|---|---|---|---|
| QR code on product box / POS poster | SMS or WhatsApp (customer’s choice) | ✔ | Review request right at the unboxing moment |
| Thank you page in webshop | Anonymous link (email/URL) | ✖ | Zero extra clicks right after purchase |
| Service poster in store | ✔ | Conversational and room for photo/video | |
| Soft banner in app / loyalty email | SMS | ✔ | 98% open rate, so high visibility |
*A reminder is always sent through the same channel as the first invitation; for email/anonymous flows, no automatic reminder is available.
Channel mix that generates the most reviews
Frictionless verification
- Upload invoice or payment proof (default). Smart fields validate amount and date.
- Auto-approve or reject via the Product Rater dashboard.
- Unique links are optional and mainly useful for exclusive product tests; they remain secondary to keep friction low.
Incentives – your full option list
According to a PowerReviews survey, 76% of shoppers say an incentive motivates them to write a review. Choose the reward that fits your margin and audience:
| Incentive type | Advantages | When to use? |
|---|---|---|
| Voucher / discount code | Directly boosts revenue | For repeat purchases or upselling |
| Cashback | Feels “cash-like”, high perceived value | For price-sensitive segments |
| Premium product / gift-with-review | Tangible, adds storytelling value | Lifestyle & high-involvement products |
| Loyalty points | Strengthens ecosystem engagement | Webshops with points systems |
| Charity donation | Shows brand values | Sustainable or purpose-driven brands |
| Sweepstake / prize draw | Viral buzz, low budget | Seasonal or limited-edition campaigns |
- Internal voucher engine – Product Rater generates unique codes (JSON feed) and sends them after review approval.
- External loyalty or coupon system – your platform provides codes, Product Rater triggers distribution. You can vary both options per touchpoint to test ROI.
Demo flow: Velonova as example
Velonova is a fictional bike brand that you can explore in the demo. The flow shows:
via QR code → SMS channel
choice of voucher, premium bottle, or cashback
via WhatsApp share for referral
All figures in the demo are illustrative; no real customer data is required to experience how it works.
From idea to live in ~2 months
Campaign spec (touchpoints, channels, incentives)
Campaign plan & flow sketch
Technical setup
Flows, voucher engine, API hooks
Test & launch
UAT, dashboard live
*Depends on internal approval speed; with short lines, total lead time can be significantly shorter.
Privacy & GDPR
- Data minimization – only order ID, channel, and incentive status.
- EU hosting – all data remains within the EU.
- Customizable opt-in copy – seamlessly fits client’s legal framework.
