How startups can gather their first reviews?

As a startup founder, I know firsthand how crucial those early reviews can be. They're not just a pat on the back; they're the lifeblood of your budding business.

In this article I will talk about how you can start collecting those all-important first reviews for your startup.

Why early reviews matter

Before we jump into the how-to, let's talk about why you need to start gathering reviews ASAP. Trust me, you don't want to make the same mistake I did with my first startup, waiting a whole year before we started collecting user feedback. That's a year's worth of missed opportunities!

Early reviews:

• Build trust with potential customers
• Provide valuable feedback for product improvement
• Boost your visibility on review platforms
• Can be used in marketing materials

And you should start early, like start with your first users. The moment you get your first user, it's go-time for reviews.

Here's how to make the most of those early adopters:

Provide GREAT support

Respond to support tickets lightning-fast – aim for under 2 hours. When customers are happy with your support, they're more likely to leave a positive review. It's the perfect time to send them a link to G2 or Capterra.

Every support interaction is a chance to prove you're serious business. You're not just solving problems; you're building relationships and potentially turning free users into paying customers who can't wait to tell the world how awesome you are.

Capitalize on upgrades

If you're running a freemium model, pay attention to those users who upgrade to a paid plan. They've just shown they value your product enough to pay for it.

Strike while the iron's hot and ask for a review!

Identify power users

Power users are the golden geese of your startup. They're not just potential review sources; they're a goldmine of insights. Here's how to spot them and make the most of their enthusiasm:

Spotting your power users

Look for users who:

• Log in daily or almost daily
• Use a wide range of features, especially advanced ones
• Have high engagement metrics (time spent, actions performed, etc.)
• Frequently interact with your support or success teams
• Actively participate in your community forums or social media

Beyond just asking for reviews

While reviews from these users are valuable, there's so much more you can do:

1. Study their behavior: Dive deep into how they use your product. What features do they love? What workflows have they created? This information is crucial for product development.
2. Conduct in-depth interviews: Set up calls to understand their use case better. These conversations can uncover pain points you've never considered and inspire new features.
3. Create case studies: With their permission, document how they're using your product to solve real problems. These stories are marketing gold.
4. Invite them to beta programs: Let them test new features before anyone else. Their feedback will be invaluable, and they'll feel even more connected to your product.
5. Learn about their acquisition journey: Understanding how they found you can help refine your marketing strategies to attract more users like them.

Finding more power users

Once you've identified what makes a power user, focus on finding more:

• Look for common traits: Are they from a particular industry? Company size? Job role? Use this info to target your marketing efforts.
• Analyze onboarding patterns: Did they follow a specific onboarding path? Optimize this journey for new users.
• Create lookalike audiences: Use the characteristics of your power users to create targeted ad campaigns on platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn.
• Encourage referrals: Power users often know others who could benefit from your product. Set up a referral program to tap into their network.

By focusing on these super users, you're not just gathering reviews – you're building a foundation for sustainable growth. Their insights can shape your product roadmap, refine your marketing, and ultimately help you find and nurture more users just like them.

Incentivize reviews

Let's talk about giving a little to get a little. There are several ways to incentivize reviews without breaking platform rules:

Extend free trials

If you've got a free trial model, consider offering an extension:

• 7 extra days for a Capterra review
• 7 more days for a G2 review
• Another week for a Twitter shoutout

Free upgrade for freemiums

For users on a free plan, offer a way to access one or two premium features that you're happily giving away for free in exchange for a review:

• Increasing locked capacity from 7 days filtering up to 30 days filtering
• Enable extra storage space from a free 10 to 15 files
• Give away a little bit more monthly usage limit

Remember, the key is to offer something valuable to the user without compromising the integrity of their review. Always be transparent about the exchange and make it clear that you're looking for honest feedback, not just positive reviews.

Just make sure you're following the guidelines of these platforms – some have strict rules about incentivizing reviews.

Build relationships through user interviews

Don't just ask for reviews; ask for feedback. Set up user interviews to:

• Understand your ideal customer profile (ICP)
• Build relationships with users
• Gather insights for product improvement

When you've built a rapport, asking for a review feels natural and less transactional.

Automate the process

Once you've got your review-gathering strategy down, it's time to scale it. Set up email automation to:

• Trigger review requests after positive support interactions
• Follow up with users who've upgraded
• Reach out to power users at the right time

This way, you're consistently gathering reviews without having to manually manage the process.

Leverage reviews for growth

Reviews aren't just for show – they can directly impact your bottom line. At my current startup, Mida.so, we saw a 56.94% improvement in sign-ups by embedding reviews in our sign-up form. That's real, tangible growth driven by social proof.

Check out our case study on how we doubled sign-up rates with testimonials

Best practices for gathering reviews

Here are some key tips to keep in mind:

1. Be genuine: Don't push for reviews; invite honest feedback.
2. Time it right: Ask when the user is most likely to be satisfied (after a successful support interaction, feature launch, etc.).
3. Make it easy: Provide direct links to review platforms.
4. Follow up: If a user agrees to leave a review, send a gentle reminder if they haven't done so after a few days.
5. Respond to all reviews: Show that you're listening and care about feedback, both positive and negative.

FAQs

Q: How many reviews should I aim for initially?
‍A: Start with a goal of 10-20 reviews across different platforms. This gives potential customers a good sense of your product without seeming overwhelming.

Q: Is it okay to ask friends and family for reviews?
‍A: While it's tempting, it's best to stick to genuine users. Authentic reviews from your target market will be more valuable in the long run.

Q: What if we get a negative review?
‍A: Don't panic! Respond professionally, address the concerns, and use it as an opportunity to improve. A mix of reviews can actually make your profile seem more authentic.

Q: How often should we ask for reviews?
‍A: It depends on your user base and product cycle. Generally, aim to gather reviews consistently but don't bombard users. Once every few months per user is a good rule of thumb.

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