Understanding Etsy’s Review System

Etsy’s review system is an integral part of the marketplace that allows buyers to leave feedback and ratings for sellers. As an Etsy seller, reviews can make or break your shop’s success. That’s why it’s so important to understand how Etsy’s review system works and how to use it to your advantage.

In this blog post, we’ll break down the key things you need to know as an Etsy seller about Etsy’s review system!

What Gets Reviewed

On Etsy, buyers can leave reviews at two levels – for individual orders and for your overall shop. For individual orders, buyers can rate and review:

• The item itself: Its quality, accuracy to the listing description, etc.
• Seller communication: How responsive you were, clarity of communication, etc.
• Shipping time: How long it took you to ship out the order
• Shipping and packaging: Whether you packed and shipped the item well

For your overall shop, buyers can leave an overall 1-5 star rating and a short review based on their experience.

The Importance of Reviews

Reviews are crucial because they build up your credibility and reputation as a seller. Positive reviews give buyers confidence to purchase from you while negative reviews can deter buyers. Etsy prominently displays your overall shop’s star rating and reviews on your shop homepage so new visitors immediately see them.

Etsy also has a “Star Seller” program that gives special badges to shops that meet certain criteria like fast shipping, excellent customer service, and a 4.5+ overall rating. Having the Star Seller badge can really help increase sales.

How to Get Reviews

To get those all-important reviews, you need to proactively ask happy buyers to leave you feedback. Etsy makes this easy by sending an automated email to buyers a few days after confirmed delivery asking them to review. But don’t rely solely on that. Follow up personally with a quick, friendly message checking that they’re satisfied and requesting an honest review.

Respond Appropriately

If you get a negative review, always respond professionally. Thank the customer for their feedback, apologize for the issue, and explain how you’ll improve or make it right. Other buyers will see your response so it’s important to handle negative reviews graciously.

Review Removal Policies

Etsy does allow sellers to flag inappropriate reviews for removal, but has strict policies about this. Reviews can only be removed if they contain private information, offensive language, or aren’t related to an actual transaction. You cannot have negative reviews removed just because they’re bad. Trying to get valid negative reviews taken down looks very shady to buyers.

How Reviews Affect Search Ranking

Etsy does use reviews as one factor in determining search ranking and visibility. Shops with more 5-star reviews tend to rank higher in search results. So getting positive reviews is doubly important – for reputation and for discovery!

Reviews are a fundamental part of the Etsy ecosystem that impact your shop’s success in many ways. Focus on providing excellent customer service so you earn great reviews organically. Proactively ask happy buyers to leave feedback. And always respond professionally to any negative reviews. If you make customer satisfaction a priority, your reviews will reflect that.

Learn more about the power of reviews here!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many reviews do I need to be considered a top Etsy seller?

There is no definitive number of reviews required to be deemed a top seller on Etsy. However, most successful Etsy shops have at least 50-100 reviews, with an overall rating of 4.5 stars or higher. The more 5-star reviews you can accumulate, the more Etsy will favor your shop in search results and on the platform. But quality is more important than quantity – focus on getting genuine positive feedback from satisfied buyers.

Can buyers leave multiple reviews for different orders?

Yes, buyers can leave multiple reviews on Etsy. They can review each individual order they place in your shop, and they can also leave an overall shop review of their general experience purchasing from you. It’s a good idea to politely ask happy returning customers to leave a quick review each time they buy something new. This will continue building up your overall positive shop rating.

What happens if I get a negative review?

Negative reviews happen from time to time. The best response is to remain calm, thank the customer for their feedback, apologize for their poor experience, and offer to make it right if possible. You can publicly respond to a negative review to explain your side of things. If the review seems intentionally malicious, you can report it to Etsy for removal according to their policies. But legitimate negative feedback, as frustrating as it is, must stay visible to shoppers. Use it as a learning experience for improving your shop.