Amazon sellers are busy. Between inventory management, product page optimization and marketing efforts, there’s barely any time to eat or sleep, let alone read product reviews. What many fail to realize, however, is that those customer comments are absolutely vital to the success of any business. This is because they provide valuable insight.
From inspiration for new products to warnings about existing ones, your reviews are basically a treasure trove of information. Still not convinced? Here are seven reasons why you absolutely need to monitor your Amazon reviews.
Provide better customer service
If you’ve been selling on Amazon for any length of time, you’ll know that the company is all about pleasing customers. As such, you’ll want to do everything you can to satisfy your customers, stay in Amazon’s good graces and protect your good standing as a merchant.
Keeping an eye on customer reviews shows that you are committed to providing excellent customer service. Respond to questions, comments and concerns quickly and effectively, and you’ll see your reputation improve! Plus, you’ll be more connected to your buyers and attuned to what they are looking for.
Make product improvements
Product reviews are a goldmine of information about the products you sell, which is exactly why you should be paying attention. You can spend hours researching an item, but one of the quickest and best ways to gain insight is to simply read what people are saying about it.
If you already carry a certain product and people make suggestions or complaints, see it as an opportunity to do things better. If you haven’t invested in the specific item, look for something similar and see what type of comments customers are making about it. Are there any additional features that people want? Are there common complaints? You’d be amazed by how one small detail can make a huge difference in your product's success.
Get inspired
Whether you’ve got an established Amazon business or are just starting out, one of the hardest things to do is determine what you’re going to sell. Sometimes, you can carry just one or two items and never have to think about it, but most people will need to freshen up their inventory from time to time.
Before spending hours on market research, take a few moments to scan through your Amazon reviews and look for inspiration. You may end up discovering an entirely new niche that you’d never considered for your business!
Find bundle ideas
While you’re looking for suggestions, pay attention to comments about similar or related items. Do your customers wish they could buy something along with your products as a packaged deal? Get creative and come up with some bundle or kit ideas to add value for your buyers.
There are several reasons why this is advantageous. Offering a unique kit sets you apart from the competition while giving your customers what they need. You’ll also open up the opportunity for a seasonal or holiday bundle that can be customized and tailored year after year. You may need to tweak the set a little to get it right, but again, that’s why reviews are so useful.
Monitor the product life cycle
Remember fidget spinners? That short-lived craze is the perfect example of how jumping on board at the right time can give your business a boost, but can leave you with a warehouse full of inventory if you miss the boat.
You don’t want to continue restocking a product when its past its prime (no pun intended) and one of the easiest ways to keep your finger on the pulse of trends is to regularly monitor your reviews. Customer comments will give you an idea of when a product’s popularity is declining so that you can make smarter stocking decisions.
Identify problems immediately
Of course, one of the most important reasons to pay attention to your reviews is so that you can identify problems as soon as they arise. By being proactive, you can keep a minor hiccup from turning into a major issue. No one wants to hear that customers are complaining, but paying close attention can help you protect your Amazon business in the long run.
If you notice a pattern emerging, such as people are saying the quality of the product has changed, you might need to investigate if something is happening within your supply chain. Being vigilant can also ensure that any potential safety issues are handled immediately.
Protect your reputation
The Amazon marketplace gets more crowded every day, and you need to find ways to stay ahead of the game. The last thing you want is to be doing well, and then have everything fall apart because you weren’t paying attention to reviews.
When you consider the things we’ve already discussed, it all comes together to help you accomplish a goal — protecting your brand. Staying relevant, being innovative, offering great customer service and addressing potential problems immediately is exactly what you need to do in order to be successful on Amazon.
Worth the effort
Whether you discover a new way to market a product or are alerted to a potential safety hazard with an existing one, monitoring Amazon reviews is worth the effort. Of course, it’s also time-consuming. As a busy marketplace seller, efficiency is the key to running a successful business.
Fortunately, tools such as FeedbackFive can automate the process so that you get the information you need in a glance. You can even sign up to receive negative feedback alerts, allowing you to take action and provide excellent customer service quickly. Reputation management never felt easier!
