Adding Testimonials and Reviews to Your Store

I used to completely underestimate the power of a good review.

Back when I launched my first little Shopify store (selling planners, if you’re curious), I figured people would just trust the product pics and descriptions. I mean… I wrote those blurbs myself, they were good! But sales? Flat. Like, painfully flat.

Then I added three customer testimonials and bam. Sales picked up literally overnight.

What I didn’t realize back then is that people don’t buy based on what you say. They buy based on what other people say about you.

Real Talk: Social Proof Is the New Sales Pitch

I know it sounds dramatic, but it’s true. We live in a world where we don’t even try new pizza places without checking Google reviews. So why would someone trust your product without hearing from another real person first?

Once I added a widget with real customer feedback (with photos!), things changed. I wasn’t even doing anything fancy—just grabbing reviews from emails or Instagram DMs and posting them with permission.

And honestly, most people don’t even need a perfect review. They want honesty. A “This didn’t fit at first but customer service fixed it fast” kinda review actually builds more trust than a 5-star rant with no detail.

Want your storefront to reflect the same kind of trustworthiness visually? Check out how to customize your Payhip storefront to make it look professional and sell more. Design + trust = conversions.

Where to Put Reviews? (And Where Not To)

Okay, this part took me way too long to figure out. I thought just slapping a “Reviews” tab in the footer was enough. Spoiler: It’s not.

Here’s where I’ve seen the best conversion bumps:

On the product page, right under the description (especially helpful for hesitant buyers).
Near the ‘Add to Cart’ button, ideally with a quick star rating or short quote.
On the homepage, especially if you’re newer and trying to build credibility fast.
In email marketing, where I toss in a quote from a happy customer like a little cherry on top.

But don’t overdo it either. I once had a full-on testimonial carousel on every product page. It slowed the site and made it feel like I was begging for validation. Keep it tight. Strategic.

If you want to take your page layout up a notch while you’re at it, here’s a killer walkthrough on designing a high-converting homepage that pairs perfectly with testimonials.

How to Ask for Testimonials Without Feeling Weird?

I used to hate asking people for reviews. It felt awkward, kinda like asking for a compliment. But once I automated it, everything got smoother.

Here’s what I do now:

Send an email 7 days after delivery with a super casual ask like:
“Hey! Just wondering how your order worked out. If you’ve got 30 seconds, I’d love a quick review—it helps us more than you know.”
Offer a small incentive (like 10% off the next order or a freebie download).
Keep it easy—include a direct link to the review form.

And if they reply to your email with praise instead of using the form? Ask if you can share their comment. Most people are totally cool with it.

Bonus tip: Video reviews are gold. I had one customer record a 45-second unboxing and upload it to IG Stories. I reposted it and embedded it on the site. My conversions for that product? Up 32% over the next month.

Want to reinforce that credibility even further? Add it to your about page that builds trust—nothing says “I’m real” like a face, a story, and some love from past customers.

Don’t Fake It, It Always Shows

Real talk… I tried to “fill in” reviews early on with generic-sounding quotes like:

“This product changed my life!”

Yeah. Don’t do that.

People can spot fake reviews a mile away. If you don’t have any real testimonials yet, offer a few products for free in exchange for honest feedback. Or ask beta customers to review. Authenticity beats perfection every time.

I even posted one 4-star review that said, “Love the product, shipping took longer than expected.” Know what happened? People trusted the page more because it wasn’t all sunshine and unicorns.