“A Five-Star Experience!”, that’s every founder’s dream when someone uses their product. Product reviews are not just a nice-to-have—they’re essential for your startup’s growth and credibility. In the early days, there’s very little content about your company online. Users search your name, and nothing shows up. No mentions. No reviews. No stories. The lack of storytelling doesn’t help —especially if you’re raising money. Investors look for signs of traction, and real feedback from users is one of the best indicators that your product is solving a real problem. So, how can you start collecting valuable product reviews?
Here are 5 proven strategies to get reviews that help build trust, drive conversions, and attract attention:
1. Engage Your Early Beta Users
Your first users are gold. Don’t just get them to try the product—bring them into your journey.
Start a private Slack group or Discord server. Share product updates, ask for feedback, and involve them in small decisions. Once they’ve had a great experience, kindly ask for a review or testimonial. Early adopters love being heard. Give them that space and they’ll champion your product.
2. Don’t Wait for Funding to Get Press
A common startup mistake: waiting until a funding round to pitch the media. Start early. You don’t need a million users or a flashy valuation to get noticed. What you do need is a clear story—what you’re building, why it matters, and who it’s for. A good story can lead to early coverage, backlinks, and yes—valuable user trust through third-party validation.
3. Submit to Trusted Directories and Aggregators
Before submitting, research the platform’s domain authority and reputation. Avoid low-quality directories that could harm your SEO rather than help. Also, monitor and respond to comments—it shows you’re active and care about feedback.
4. Submit to The FoundersPress Product Reviews Section
The FoundersPress has a dedicated section for top early-stage startups and product reviews. If you’re building something great, don’t hesitate to share it with them. They highlight standout products and help get your startup in front of an engaged audience.
5. Create a Dedicated Review Page on Your Website
As you grow, so will the feedback. Don’t let valuable testimonials get scattered across email threads and DMs. Create a simple page like yoursite.com/reviews and collect them all: ,Written testimonials, Tweet screenshots, Video reviews, and Case studies.
This becomes your social proof hub—a powerful tool when you’re pitching to customers, partners, or investors.
As you continue acquiring users and scaling your product, make collecting reviews a priority. Whether it’s a blog post, a tweet, a LinkedIn share, or a directory listing—reviews build momentum. Start small, but be intentional. Every authentic voice advocating for your product pushes you one step closer to becoming the company people trust and talk about.