You need to look into every avenue for obtaining product evaluations if you want your product to flourish on Amazon. Customer reviews contribute to the development of trust and social proof that your product is worthwhile purchasing, which is crucial early on in a listing’s lifetime.
Before changing its review policy in 2016, Amazon allowed sellers to offer their goods for free or at a significant discount in exchange for a product review. It’s no longer permitted, and as a result, getting early evaluations on Amazon is getting more and more challenging.
Fortunately, different approaches, such as the Amazon Vine program, have been developed throughout time for gathering product reviews. As of late 2019, third-party merchants can now access Vine, which was previously exclusively accessible to first-party sellers (vendors).
Let’s examine what the Amazon Vine program is, its advantages and disadvantages, how to sign up, how much it costs, and whether the Amazon seller community thinks it’s worthwhile to participate.
What Is The Amazon Vine Program?
The Amazon Vine program is an invitation-only program run by Amazon that allows trusted reviewers to receive free or discounted products from participating vendors in exchange for writing honest and unbiased reviews. It was designed to help vendors generate product feedback and boost sales by increasing the number of customer reviews. Amazon selects Vine reviewers based on various factors, including the quality and helpfulness of their previous reviews, their reviewer rank, and their overall activity on Amazon. Once selected, Vine reviewers can choose from a list of available products and request items they are interested in reviewing. Amazon then sends the selected products to the reviewers, who have a set period to test the product and write a review. Vine reviewers are not required to write positive reviews, and they are encouraged to provide honest and unbiased feedback. Additionally, they are not allowed to resell the products they receive through the program.
The Vine program benefits both vendors/sellers and customers. Vendors gain valuable feedback and exposure for their products, while customers can rely on the Vine reviews to make informed purchasing decisions. However, it’s important to note that the program has faced some criticism in the past, with concerns raised about the potential for biased reviews and the influence of free products on reviewer opinions.
Brief Description
A program called Amazon Vine was created to assist Amazon’s vendors and sellers in obtaining reviews for their recently released or upcoming products. Members of Amazon Vine, also known as “Vine Voices,” are chosen by Amazon based on their reputation overall, helpfulness ratings, and reviewer rank. The chance to join the program and obtain free goods in exchange for their reviews is then presented to these reviewers. The program is advantageous for both Amazon sellers and buyers because it enables sellers to get real, worthwhile ratings from verified customers, while buyers may base their purchases on these reviews.
How Does The Amazon Vine Program Work?
So, the general operation of the Amazon Vine program is as follows:
- Vendors or sellers on Amazon can seek to be part of the program by submitting their goods to Amazon.
- Products that qualify for the program are chosen by Amazon based on criteria such as the product’s category, consumer demand, and availability.
- Vine Voices, Amazon’s most reliable reviewers, are invited to take part in the program. Vine Voices are chosen based on their reputation overall, helpfulness ratings, and reviewer rank.
- Amazon provides a list of available products to the chosen Vine Voices. Up to five goods can be chosen by Vine Voices at once.
- Vendors or merchants on Amazon provide Vine Voices with the chosen products at no cost to them.
- Within 30 days of receiving the product, Vine Voices are required to submit an honest and objective evaluation.
- Amazon publishes the Vine Voice reviews together with a unique Vine emblem designating that the review was written as part of the program on the product information pages.
It’s vital to understand that Vine Voices are not compensated for their evaluations and are not obligated to provide the product a positive rating in return. Vine Voice could be fired from the program if they frequently produce poor-quality or unfavorable evaluations.
Positive Review:
Not-So-Good Review:
How Does Vine Program Benefit Amazon Sellers?
The Amazon Vine program is set up to assist you in increasing the number of excellent ratings for your products on the Amazon marketplace. Some advantages of joining the program include the following:
1. High-Quality Reviews
Members of Amazon Vine are chosen based on a track record of writing excellent and beneficial reviews. This implies that reviews of goods submitted by Vine users are likely to contain well-written criticism that will aid future customers in making wise selections.
2. Brand Recognition
By putting products in front of more potential buyers, the Amazon Vine program can aid in raising brand awareness for goods. When Vine users review a product, their comments are identified as such, which might help the item stand out from similar items on Amazon.
3. Increased Review Potential
Vendors and sellers who take part in the Amazon Vine program may get more product reviews than they otherwise would. This could contribute to the development of a product’s review base, which is beneficial for SEO and social proof.
4. Increased Traffic & Conversion
More reviews and higher ratings increase the likelihood that a product will appear in Amazon’s search results and recommended product sections. By doing this, you may enhance traffic to a product listing and conversion rates.
5. Helpful & Practical Feedback
Members of Amazon Vine are frequently very attentive and intelligent reviewers who take the time to offer helpful and practical advice. This might be helpful for vendors and sellers who want to enhance their goods or find areas where they can do so.
Who Benefits From The Amazon Vine Program?
Both sellers and buyers can benefit from the Amazon Vine program, however, new companies or products may find it particularly difficult. Before their products are released, sellers offer samples to Vine reviewers to make sure they earn early reviews that can spark fresh sales. Such early evaluations, particularly those with ratings of 4 or 5, are frequently favored by customers and can help the seller’s product listing. Vine helps increase the conversion rates for your products. Positive evaluations are therefore essential for driving sales and keeping a top ranking in browse and search queries.
How Much Does The Amazon Vine Program Cost?
Right now, participating in the Vine customer review of a free product is FREE for Vendors. However, they used to pay a fee of $2,500 per enrolled ASIN.
It’s crucial to realize that simply signing up for the Vine program does not ensure favorable product reviews. The product listing page must appropriately represent the item being offered because false or incomplete information may result in unfavorable evaluations. The accuracy and clarity of all information, including product descriptions and photographs, should be guaranteed by sellers.
What Are The Requirements To Enroll In Amazon Vine Program?
Before 2019, only merchants could sign up for the Amazon Vine program; starting in 2019, sellers can as well. Sellers must adhere to the following guidelines to be qualified for the program:
- A professional selling account on Amazon is required for the seller.
- The vendor needs to register with Amazon’s brand registry.
- Vine program participants must have fewer than 30 reviews or ratings for their product.
- The item must be accessible through Amazon’s FBA service in brand-new condition.
- The merchant needs to have enough products on hand.
- At enrolment, the product must be made available.
- An image, title, and description must all be present on the product listing page.
- The Vine program does not accept adult items, digital software, or applications.
Sellers can join the Amazon Vine program and offer their products to Vine members in exchange for frank and objective reviews by fulfilling these requirements. Given that Amazon evaluates each application on a case-by-case basis, it is crucial to remember that not all applicants will be admitted into the program.
How To Get started With The Amazon Vine Program
To sign up for the Amazon Vine program, do the following:
1. Vine can be selected after logging into your Amazon Seller Central account and choosing the Advertising page.
2. Select the number of units (up to 30) you wish to make accessible for Vine Voices and type the ASIN you want to enroll in the search box.
3. By using the ‘Details’ button on the enrollment details page after the ASIN has been registered, you may keep track of your progress.
4. As a result of Amazon raising the enrollment cap from 60 to 200 ASINs, brands are now able to enroll up to 200 ASINs at once, potentially expanding their market share and revenue.
5. Vendors who sign up for the Vine program are required to give away free samples of the goods that Amazon Vine Voices will be reviewing. Vine Voices can request the product after 24 hours of enrolling, analyze it, and begin reviewing it.
There are three levels of participation in the Amazon Vine program:
- Basic Level
- Plus level
- Premium level
Five products can be registered at the Basic level, ten products at the Plus level, and up to twenty products at the Premium level.
How Many ASINs Can A Brand Enroll In The Amazon Vine Program?
Every product that is registered in the Vine program is qualified to receive a maximum of 30 reviews per ASIN. Accordingly, if your product already has 20 reviews, Vine could result in an additional 10 reviews.
How Do You Remove Yourself From Amazon Vine?
The steps below will let you quickly and easily cancel your Vine enrolment if you need to:
- Visit the home page of your Amazon Seller Central.
- Navigate to the “Advertising” page and choose “Vine.
- To cancel your enrollment, select the product ASIN and then click “Stop enrollment” at the page’s bottom right corner.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- One of the simpler methods to start seeing results with your first 30 product reviews.
- good evaluations. The entire Amazon community and Amazon trust an Amazon Vine Voice. It is possible to argue that Vine reviews are more credible (and contribute to higher sales) than those from “average Joe” consumers.
- There are currently no costs associated with participating in Vine as an Amazon vendor.
- Positive or unfavorable, a completely frank evaluation of your product will ultimately aid in its improvement.
Cons
- If your enrolled product already has 25 reviews, due to the program’s 30-review cap, you won’t benefit as much from it as other participants.
- Vine reviewers frequently give more critical feedback. In a previous blog, we talked about this in conjunction with the Amazon Early Reviewer Programme. However, your product needs to talk the talk and live the walk if you want to receive any five-star ratings.
- giveaways of goods. No way around it, kissing a sale away is never enjoyable. It’s up to you, the vendor, to compare the importance of early product reviews and sales. Advice: Often, one of these things will lead to the other.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amazon Vine Program
The Amazon Vine Program: Is It Reputable? What are the Restrictions?
Yes, Amazon’s Vine program, which helps sellers get early reviews for their new products, is genuine. Vine reviewers are hand-picked by Amazon and obligated to write objective, truthful reviews. Participating in the program has a cost, but it can benefit sellers by giving them access to user feedback and boosting their product’s visibility and sales on Amazon. However, not all items are accepted by the Vine program, and sellers should think about the restrictions and available options before opting to take part. The below image shows the items that Amazon does not allow for Vine enrollment.
Is There Still A Program For Amazon Vine?
Yes, there is still a program called Amazon Vine. It is a program designed for sellers to get early reviews for their products from a group of pre-approved Amazon Vine reviewers. While there are some limitations and qualifications to be eligible for the program, it can be a beneficial tool for new or lesser-known products to acquire early evaluations and boost their visibility on the Amazon marketplace.
What Number Of Reviews Can An ASIN Get On Amazon Vine?
For each ASIN, Amazon Vine enables up to 30 reviews. A product can only get a maximum of 5 reviews through the program if it already has 25 reviews. However, if a product hasn’t received any reviews yet, Amazon Vine will only allow for a total of 30 reviews.
What Does Amazon Vine Payout?
The reviewers of the Amazon Vine program are not compensated for their reviews. In return for their unbiased reviews, the program offers the reviewers complimentary products. The Amazon Vine program aids merchants in raising the visibility of their products, which eventually boosts sales.
How SIPRANSH ECOMMGROWTH Can Help Sellers With Amazon Vine Program?
Program Understanding: Amazon Vine is an invitation-only program designed to generate honest reviews for new and pre-release products. Our Amazon consulting experts will guide you through the program’s requirements, guidelines, and best practices to ensure you fully understand how it works.
Application Process: To participate in Amazon Vine, you need to submit your products for consideration. Our Amazon account services you in preparing and submitting the application, ensuring that you provide all the necessary information and meet the program’s criteria.
Product Selection: Not all products are eligible for the Amazon Vine program. Our Amazon specialist helps you identify the products in your catalog that have the highest potential to benefit from the program, considering factors such as customer demand, competition, & review generation goals.
Reviewer Recruitment: Amazon Vine relies on a community of trusted reviewers to provide honest and unbiased feedback. Our Amazon seller agency identifies and recruits reviewers who align with your target audience and have a track record of writing insightful reviews. We also manage the communication and logistics with reviewers on your behalf.
Inventory Planning: Generating a substantial number of reviews through the Amazon Vine program can lead to increased sales and demand. Our Amazon agency assists you in forecasting and planning your inventory to ensure you have sufficient stock to meet the anticipated demand resulting from the reviews.
Review Monitoring & Analysis: After the reviews start rolling in, our Amazon eCommerce agency can help you monitor and analyze the feedback received. We provide insights into the sentiments expressed by reviewers, identify common themes or concerns, and recommend strategies to address any issues raised.
Review Utilization: The reviews generated through Amazon Vine can be utilized in various ways to improve your product listings and marketing efforts. Our Amazon e-commerce solution optimizes your product descriptions, images, and overall presentation based on the valuable feedback received, making your listings more compelling to potential customers.
Performance Tracking: Our Amazon seller experts track the impact of the Amazon Vine program on your sales, conversion rates, and overall performance metrics. This data can help you assess the program’s effectiveness and make informed decisions for future participation.
Final Thoughts
The Amazon Vine program can be a fantastic way for sellers to enhance their visibility on Amazon and receive early product reviews. Even if it can have some restrictions and prerequisites, there are still other solutions available for people who don’t meet the program’s eligibility standards. Additionally, sellers need to remember that getting sincere and truthful customer reviews is essential for the popularity of their products on Amazon.
