Positive reviews are the lifeblood of any successful Etsy shop. They build trust, boost your shop's visibility, and ultimately drive sales.
But what about customers who check out as guests, without logging into an Etsy account? You might be wondering: can these guest customers actually leave a review for their purchase?
In this quick guide, let's dive in and see how your guest customers can still leave a review for your shop.
Let's get started.
The Short Answer is ... With a Twist
Directly, someone who completes a purchase purely as a guest cannot leave a review while remaining a guest. Etsy's review system is tied to registered accounts. However, this doesn't mean their feedback is lost forever.
There is a simple way for a guest buyer to leave a review. They simply need to associate their purchase with an Etsy account after the sale.
How Guests Can Leave a Review
When someone buys from your shop using guest checkout, Etsy sends them an email receipt. This email is the key to enabling a review. To leave feedback, ask the guest buyer to follow these steps:
- Locate the email receipt sent by transaction@etsy.com
- Click on the order number link within that email
- They will then be prompted to create an Etsy account
- Once they've created and logged into their new account, that guest order will be automatically linked or 'claimed'
- After claiming the order and once the review eligibility window opens, they can leave a review just like any other buyer
The key here is to take the extra step of creating an account to connect it to the order. Doing so can help you increase the chance of capturing more valuable reviews.
Helping Your Guest Buyers Leave Reviews + Message Template
Knowing that guest buyers can leave reviews after creating an account, how can you gently guide them? If you interact with a customer post-purchase (perhaps via Etsy messages if they contact you first, or through a carefully worded thank you note included with the order), and you know they purchased as a guest, you could potentially share helpful information if it feels appropriate.
Avoid putting pressure on buyers for reviews. However, if a guest buyer expresses enthusiasm or asks about leaving feedback, you could provide instructions similar to this:
I'm so glad you love your item! As you purchased through a guest account, leaving a review involves one extra step. You'd need to open the email receipt sent by 'transaction@etsy.com', click the order number on the first line, and create an account on Etsy. After that, you will be able to find your order and can leave a review when the review window opens. Thank you again for your support!
Remember to always communicate politely and respect the buyer's choice.
Keep in Mind the Review Window
It's important to note that the standard Etsy review window still applies. A buyer (even one who just created an account to claim a guest order) can only leave a review after the item's estimated delivery date and for 100 days thereafter. They cannot leave a review before this window opens.
What's Next
Other than guest buyers, the majority of your shop's customers will likely have their Etsy accounts. To improve your chance of getting positive reviews for them, follow this guide to build up your shop's reputation.
