Back to E-commerce for Small Businesses

What are Product Ratings and Reviews?

3 min to read

Product reviews and ratings are comments from customers who have purchased and used a product.

They provide information on the positive and negative aspects of a product or service, enabling other potential clients to make thoughtful buying decisions.

Product reviews and ratings influence making up one’s mind about a product’s usefulness and increase trust in companies.

Pro Tip:
Photo and video reviews help potential consumers understand what to expect.
Key Takeaways:
  • Smart shopping
    • Customers rely on reviews to decide if the products are worth buying.
  • Credible sources
    • Check detailed reviews on trustworthy websites.
  • Be reasonable
    • Avoid reviews that are too negative or too complimentary.
Hocoos small logo Answers E-commerce for Small Businesses

What are Product Ratings and Reviews?

How do product reviews and ratings influence consumer behavior?

Positive and negative feedback can be truly crucial in people’s perception of a product and whether or not they will purchase it. Positive reviews increase trust in a product, while negative reviews may discourage the purchase of a product. Product ratings and reviews help to make decisions and build people’s confidence in products, as well as consider different opinions.

Pro Tip: 
Observe the volume of reviews concerning a product. The more reviews, the more accurate the impression.

What are the different types of product reviews?

Product reviews come in different formats:

  • Written reviews: Comments regarding a product with details and explanations.

  • Star ratings: A simple score, like 4 out of 5 stars.

  • Online discussions: Post queries and experiences shared online by customers.

Pro Tip: 
Look at the various kinds of evaluation so that you get a thorough view. A video review may show you something a text review might not.

Where can I find reliable product ratings and reviews?

Product reviews and ratings can be found in many places, including:

  • Review websites: Yelp, TripAdvisor, CNET, etc.

  • Social media: Check the available product reviews.

  • Consumer Reports: Expert reviews you can trust.

What are the potential drawbacks of product ratings and reviews?

Consider the following aspects when exposed to product reviews and ratings: 

  • Just opinions: One single experience cannot represent everybody else’s opinions. 

  • Fake reviews: Depending on the intent, to overpraise, or discredit a brand, some opinions might not be real.

  • Following the crowd: It is important to consider your instincts, even when faced with popular opinions.

How can I spot fake or biased product reviews?

Identifying fake or biased opinions can be simple. Here are some examples of what to observe when reading product reviews:

  • Contrasting comments: Very positive or negative opinions that include no details.

  • Vague comments: Reviews with unclear or insufficient details.

  • Copied reviews: Repeated reviews with generic phrases in different sources.

  • Unrealistic claims: Too-good-to-be-true promises.

  • New reviewers: Accounts that were just made to post reviews.
Pro Tip: 
For a comprehensive product or service evaluation, gather information from diverse sources and carefully evaluate it, particularly if you have concerns about the provided information.

Conclusion 

Product ratings and reviews are effective resources for helping customers make informed purchasing decisions online. Knowing the different forms of reviews and potential problems like fake reviews, consumers can use these statements to their advantage. Reading reviews with a healthy amount of skepticism is good, also, seek to find reviews from different sources. In the end, offering your consumers ways to make smart purchase decisions strengthens consumer relationships with your brand. Open a safe space to share viewpoints and build a relationship of trust with your clients.

Table of Contents

Other articles that can help

READY TO KICK-START YOUR SMALL BUSINESS JOURNEY?

Important Consideration: The information provided by our expert team is designed to give you a general understanding of the website creation process and the features available to you. It's important to note that this information is not a substitute for professional advice tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Read our editorial standards for Answers content.
Our goal is to empower you to create an amazing website. If you have questions or need guidance during the building process, don’t hesitate to Contact us. We're happy to provide assistance and point you in the right direction.