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How to display (and increase) WooCommerce product reviews

Reading Time: 12 minutes

Is it really necessary to devote resources to collecting customer reviews? After all, your marketing worked — someone placed an order, and you received their money. So why not just move on to finding the next customer?

While you might be tempted to think like this, WooCommerce product reviews are one of the most powerful marketing tools. They make all of your marketing efforts easier and more successful. They give visitors more confidence to make a first purchase. They help identify areas for improvement and enhance your offerings. 

They’re really important.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the positive impact of product reviews. Then, we’ll show you how to enable WooCommerce product reviews and look at some plugins that let you collect more detailed feedback. Finally, we’ll discuss strategies to encourage more shoppers to leave reviews.

Save time & drive sales with automated WooCommerce product review requests

Why you need product reviews in WooCommerce

Product reviews have the power to influence purchasing behavior. In fact, around 70% of online shoppers read one to six customer reviews before committing to a purchasing decision. 

Reviews provide shoppers with unbiased information about the quality or usability of your products. This can help them decide if an item is right for them.

If your shop has a lot of positive reviews and ratings, it shows prospective customers that you’re a credible and trustworthy vendor. This makes them feel more confident about completing a purchase from your store, especially if it’s their first time. 

Feedback from customers also helps identify areas for improvement. You might discover quality issues with your product or learn that expanding your range of colors and sizes could greatly boost customer satisfaction

How to enable product reviews in WooCommerce

Now that you know why reviews are so important, let’s discuss how to enable them in your store. Note that you’ll need to make sure your theme supports WordPress comments — since reviews are stored as comments.

You can do this by checking your theme feature list or documentation. If you can’t find this information, reach out to the developer or switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four

1. Configure your WooCommerce settings

By default, WooCommerce lets you display customer reviews and ratings. To enable this feature, go to WooCommerce > Settings within the WordPress dashboard. 

Navigate to the Products tab and scroll down to the Reviews section, as pictured in the image below: 

WooCommerce product reviews section

All you have to do is check the Enable product reviews box. A few additional options will appear, as seen below:

enabling Woo product reviews

You can choose to show a “verified owner” label on reviews. This way, other shoppers will know the review is authentic because it was posted by someone who made an actual purchase from your store. You also have the option to display reviews only by verified shoppers. 

In the Product ratings section, you can give customers the option to leave star ratings, or make it mandatory. 

When you’re ready, click on the Save changes button.

2. Test the reviews

To make sure that everything is working correctly, view your products as a visitor. 

To do this, head to the Products tab in your dashboard, select an item and click on the View option. Under the product image, you should find the Reviews tab, as you can see in this screenshot:

product page

Depending on your theme, reviews may be positioned higher or lower on the page. While they are usually displayed in a tab, they may also appear in other styles, like “accordions.” 

To test the review functionality, write a brief comment and select a star rating, then click on the Submit button as shown below:

testing product review function

Your comment should instantly appear on the page. 

3. Tweak your discussion settings

If your theme supports WordPress comments, but you’re not seeing reviews, you might need to adjust your settings. 

Head to Settings > Discussion as shown in this image:

discussion settings

You should enable the following settings:

  • Allow people to submit comments on new posts
  • Enable threaded (nested) comments

You might also want to enable the following options:

  • Email me whenever anyone posts a comment
  • Email me whenever a comment is held for moderation

When you’re done, save your changes.

4. Enable or disable reviews on certain products

If you’re still not seeing your WooCommerce product reviews, there’s one more thing left to try.

While we’ve shown you how to enable reviews across your store, you can also turn reviews on or off for individual products. Select an item from your product list and scroll down to the Product data section.

Move to the Advanced tab next and locate the Enable reviews checkbox that’s shown in this image:

enabling or disabling reviews on certain products

Make sure the box is checked, and save your changes.

If you want to remove reviews from particular WooCommerce product pages, simply uncheck the box for Enable reviews.

How to manage product reviews

Earlier, we mentioned the option to be notified when a customer leaves a review. It’s a good idea to enable this feature so you can remove any fake or inappropriate comments that could harm your brand’s reputation. 

To view your product reviews, go to WooCommerce > Home or Product > Reviews, as you can see below:

managing WooCommerce product reviews

If you submitted a comment to test the review form (as we did in step two of the tutorial), you should see it listed here. Hover on the comment to see the moderation options, as shown here:

review moderation

Approve or unapprove the comment, reply, mark the review as spam, or delete it. If you have many comments to sift through, use the Bulk actions dropdown at the top of the page to approve or remove them all at once. 

How to add product reviews from the backend

WooCommerce also allows you to add reviews to a product page from the backend. As the shop manager or administrator, you might want to publish a review on behalf of a customer who bought the product from your physical store. 

Go to Products, locate the item you want to leave a review for and click on the Edit option.

In the product editor, scroll down to the Reviews section, as you can see below:

adding product reviews from the backend

Click on the Add Comment button and write your review in the box. You can also manage or moderate comments from this section. 

How to export product reviews in WooCommerce

You may have products featured across multiple platforms, including marketplaces like Amazon, or perhaps you’re migrating from one platform to another.

In these instances, you might want to export your customer reviews. WooCommerce doesn’t provide this functionality, so you’ll need to install a plugin. 

For this tutorial, we’re going to use Product Import Export for WooCommerce. This plugin is free and lets you export your reviews as a CSV file. 

Go to Plugins > Add New Plugin and look for “product import export for WooCommerce.” Then, click on Install Now, followed by Activate:

adding product import export plugin for woocommerce

Once it’s been activated, the plugin will take you to a page to prepare your export. You can also go to WebToffee Import Export > Export

The first step is to select a post type. Choose Product Review, as shown below:

exporting Woo product reviews

On the next page, select an export method. The Quick export option exports the basic fields of your reviews. The Advanced export method provides an opportunity to configure filtering options, column selections, and more. 

Next, filter the data that needs to be exported using various criteria, as you can see in this image:

filtering export data

Determine the total number of reviews to export, specify a date range, or even export reviews for specific star ratings. Edit the column names or reorder the arrangement if you’d like.

Finally, choose how many reviews to export at one time, as shown here:

exporting product reviews in batches

If the export fails due to timeout issues, lower this limit. Then, use the Export button to complete the process. 

When it’s ready, download a CSV file with all the details. To import your reviews on another WordPress website, use the same plugin. This time, you’ll just need to select the Import option.

The six best review plugins for collecting advanced feedback

WooCommerce allows customers to leave basic product reviews. If you want to collect more details or give customers the option to upload photos, you’ll need a plugin.

Here are six of the best review plugins for WooCommerce stores to add more review features:

1. Customer Reviews for WooCommerce

customer reviews for woocommerce
Image via WordPress

Customer Reviews for WooCommerce can help you build trust and increase engagement with detailed reviews. 

Customers have the option to attach photos to their comments. They can also vote on reviews to agree or disagree with the feedback from another shopper. This is similar to the review feature on Amazon.

The plugin still lets you approve, edit, or delete reviews and includes an import/export function.

It also has features that encourage customers to leave feedback, such as automated review reminders via email or WhatsApp and post-review coupon delivery to thank shoppers for their time. 

2. WP Review Pro

WP product review
Image via MyThemeShop

WP Review Pro comes with extensive spam protection to filter out inappropriate or fake reviews. It also gives a high level of control over how you display reviews.

For a more professional look, use pre-designed templates so your reviews slot in nicely with your site’s design. You can also choose from different rating systems including percentages, points, and stars. 

The plugin automatically implements schema markup for you. This means your products are more likely to appear with rich snippets in search results, displaying reviews and ratings. 

This is a premium plugin with pricing starting at $67/year for all updates and support.

3. WP Customer Reviews

WP customer reviews
Image via WordPress

If you’re looking for a simple solution, WP Customer Reviews might fit the bill.

This plugin lets customers provide more detailed information about your products or services. For instance, you can configure a pros and cons section for reviews. Customize the review fields and determine which WordPress user roles can leave feedback.

Also, the plugin lets you set up a dedicated landing page for your reviews using blocks or shortcodes. Note that the customization options are limited, so it can be difficult to create review sections that match your brand’s aesthetic.

WP Customer Reviews is available for free.

4. Smash Balloon Reviews Feed Pro

reviews feed pro
Image via Smash Balloon

Smash Balloon Reviews helps you build credibility by displaying real customer reviews from Yelp, Google, Facebook, WordPress, Trustpilot, and other platforms.

It also offers a high level of customization. Control how customer reviews are displayed using a simple editor that allows you to change the layout, colors, buttons, and a lot more.

Moreover, this plugin can improve the user experience for your customers. Thanks to its caching features, your product review feed will load much faster. Plus, customers can filter comments using criteria like keywords or ratings. 

This is a premium plugin. Prices start at $49/year for one website. 

5. YITH WooCommerce Advanced Reviews

YITH woocommerce advanced reviews
Image via YIThemes

This premium WooCommerce extension gives you the ability to add filters, customer voting capabilities, and other useful features to your reviews. YITH also supports photo and video uploads to make reviews more engaging, and you can reward customers with coupons for leaving reviews.

Use this extension to set up a dedicated review page and display your best reviews on your site’s homepage using blocks or shortcodes. You can also ask customers for information about criteria like size, shipping, and usability to get more detailed feedback. 

This premium extension starts at $89.99/year for the first year. The regular price is $99.99/year.

6. Wiremo

wiremo
Image via Wiremo

Wiremo is another dedicated WooCommerce review plugin. Like other options on this list, it supports review photos and lets you reward customers with promo codes. 

This plugin is best for those who want to create a review box that’s a bit more exciting than the standard ones. For example, you can display comments in a carousel that highlights your best reviews.

You’ll also be able to display star ratings for each item in your product catalog. This way, shoppers won’t need to navigate to the product page to see its ratings and popularity. 

Wiremo provides a 14-day free trial and pricing starts at $19.99/month. 

How to encourage customers to leave product reviews

Product reviews play an important role in influencing purchasing decisions, but if you’ve just set up your store, you might struggle to get the first few comments from customers. 

Here are five strategies to encourage customers to write reviews for your WooCommerce products:

1. Send follow-up emails

It’s a good idea to ask customers for feedback while the experience is still fresh in their minds. Send them an email a few days after their purchase — allowing time for delivery. An effective way to do this is by using an email marketing tool like Omnisend.

With Omnisend, you can set up automated email workflows using an intuitive editor. Choose from a range of fully customizable pre-designed templates.

Omnisend enables you to automate a range of promotional post-purchase emails and SMS messages, including review requests, as highlighted here:

Omnisend product reviews
Image via Omnisend

It also gives you the power to create segments based on customer behavior. You could send emails to shoppers who leave five-star ratings and ask them to provide more detailed feedback. You could also offer a discount or other incentive to prompt them to take action.

Send tailored offers to people who left positive reviews as part of a campaign to turn one-time buyers into loyal, returning customers.

It’s also worth noting that Omnisend gives you the opportunity to display top reviews directly in marketing emails. This is useful when sending “items in cart” reminders or targeting customers who have created an account but haven’t placed an order yet. It might be just the thing that compels them to make their first purchase.

2. Simplify the review process

If you’re trying to convince shoppers to leave product reviews, make the process as easy as possible. 

Make sure your review form is short and to the point. The same goes for your email review requests. Also, make the review link instantly clear, perhaps by creating a call to action button.

Providing multiple options for leaving reviews is another good idea. For instance, customers can provide feedback on your website, social media pages, or review sites like TrustRadius. 

3. Showcase positive reviews

Displaying positive reviews helps attract new customers since it increases trust in your business. It can also remind satisfied customers to share thoughts about their experiences too.

Proudly display recent reviews on your WooCommerce website. Then, feature your best testimonials in emails using Omnisend, or post glowing reviews on your social media platforms.

4. Incentivize customer reviews

Some people are more likely to write a review when they know they’ll be rewarded for their efforts. Popular incentives include discount codes, store credits, loyalty points, and contest entries.

However, be very careful when offering incentives. You don’t want to encourage fake reviews or be accused of bribing customers to get favorable responses. Make it clear that you’re only interested in honest opinions and your business values transparency.

5. Respond to all feedback

Another way to encourage new reviews is to engage with previous comments. This shows customers you take time to read reviews, which could make them more inclined to express their thoughts.

Some business owners make the mistake of only responding to positive reviews. While it’s great to show appreciation, it’s just as important to engage with negative reviews (politely). 

This demonstrates you pay attention to all comments and that you’re committed to improving your product and service. It also provides an opportunity to win back customers who had a poor experience.

Wrap up

Product reviews encourage other customers to complete a purchase. They can also lend credibility to your store and communicate the value of your products or services, which could lead to more sales.

WooCommerce lets you collect product reviews, but you might prefer to install a dedicated plugin. This way, you can collect more detailed feedback, allow photo uploads, and implement review voting.

Encouraging shoppers to leave reviews is a good idea as well. Omnisend helps with this by letting you automate email review requests and offer incentives like discount codes. 

Turn your customer feedback into real growth with Omnisend product reviews

FAQs

We’ve covered most aspects of WooCommerce customer reviews here, but if you still have questions – read on.

Does WooCommerce have product reviews?

By default, you can enable basic product reviews and star ratings in WooCommerce by going to WooCommerce > Settings > Products. If you want to collect more detailed feedback from customers or enable photo uploads, you’ll need to install a review plugin.

How do you export product reviews in WooCommerce?

There’s currently no built-in method for exporting WooCommerce product reviews. For that, you’ll need to install a plugin like WooCommerce Product Import Export, which is free to use.

What is the best review plugin for WooCommerce?

There are many plugins for collecting product reviews in WooCommerce. One free solution is Customer Reviews for WooCommerce, which lets shoppers upload photos and vote on other reviews.

How do I leave a review on WooCommerce?

If you have reviews enabled on your WooCommerce store, you should see a review box and rating system on the product page. The location of the review section can differ based on the WooCommerce theme, but it can usually be found below the product photo.

Karolina Petraškienė
Article by

Karolina is a content project manager and team lead at Omnisend, where she blends creative strategy with a keen focus on competitive intelligence. Outside of work, Karolina finds balance through her love of gardening, exploring new hiking trails, biking, and raising a bunch of boys.