š Amazon's New Review System: What You Need to Know
If you're an Amazon seller or a frequent shopper on the platform, you may have noticed some changes in the way product reviews are being displayed. Amazon has recently made a significant change that will impact both customers and sellers. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what these changes are, how they will affect you, and what you can do to adapt.
š The Changes
Amazon has replaced the traditional five-star rating system with a single star icon and the actual rating out of five. Additionally, the product review count has been removed entirely for some products and replaced with a statistic on how many reviews are rated at four stars or above. For other products, the review count remains but is rounded to the nearest 100 if it exceeds 1,000.
š¤ What Does This Mean for Customers?
The removal of the review count and the change in the rating system means that customers will have to rely more on the product's title, main image, and price when deciding which listing to click on. While reviews act as social proof, they are no longer the deciding factor. This change may benefit new sellers and make launching into new niches more accessible. However, for established sellers with hundreds of thousands of reviews, this change could be catastrophic. Customers will no longer be able to use the review count to guide them on who is the most established brand in the search results page.
š¼ What Does This Mean for Sellers?
For sellers, this change means that building a brand and a protective moat on Amazon will become even harder. It will be more challenging to differentiate yourself from your competitors and establish yourself as a trusted brand. However, by focusing on providing high-quality products that maximize customer satisfaction, having an eye-catching and compelling title and main image, and selling your product at an attractive price, you can increase the number of clicks and sales you make.
š¤ Why Did Amazon Make These Changes?
Amazon has not officially stated why they have made these changes. However, it is most likely to help them manage the battle against fake reviews and to make customers focus more on metrics that show whether a product is actually good or not.
š Pros and Cons
Pros
- New sellers may benefit from the removal of the review count.
- Customers will focus more on metrics that show whether a product is actually good or not.
Cons
- Established sellers with hundreds of thousands of reviews may suffer.
- Customers will have to rely more on the product's title, main image, and price when deciding which listing to click on.
š Highlights
- Amazon has replaced the traditional five-star rating system with a single star icon and the actual rating out of five.
- The product review count has been removed entirely for some products and replaced with a statistic on how many reviews are rated at four stars or above.
- Customers will have to rely more on the product's title, main image, and price when deciding which listing to click on.
- Building a brand and a protective moat on Amazon will become even harder for sellers.
ā FAQ
Q: Why did Amazon make these changes?
A: Amazon has not officially stated why they have made these changes. However, it is most likely to help them manage the battle against fake reviews and to make customers focus more on metrics that show whether a product is actually good or not.
Q: Will these changes be permanent?
A: These changes are currently being tested by Amazon and are not set in stone yet. However, if the testing proves successful with customers, you should expect to see this change rolled out permanently in the coming weeks.
Q: How can sellers adapt to these changes?
A: By focusing on providing high-quality products that maximize customer satisfaction, having an eye-catching and compelling title and main image, and selling your product at an attractive price, you can increase the number of clicks and sales you make.
