From Zero to Trustworthy: Launching a Website With No Reviews
You’ve poured hours and heart into building a brand-new website. The design looks sharp, your value proposition is clear, yet something still feels… empty. Visitors land on the page, hover, and then leave. What is missing? Social proof.
Online reviews are today’s word-of-mouth. A striking 93 percent of consumers read them before buying anything, and 72 percent refuse to take action until they do.(chatmeter.com, Fera - Reviews App for Shopify) For a start-up with exactly zero feedback, that can feel like a chicken-and-egg dilemma. The good news: you don’t need hundreds of ratings to build credibility—you just need a plan, a few early champions, and smart amplification.
1. Why Reviews Matter on Day One
- Trust at first sight
Three-quarters of shoppers say they trust reviews, and 90 percent read them in every purchase journey.(CX Today) - A proven lift in sales
When visitors engage with reviews, conversion rates jump by 144 percent and revenue per visitor by 162 percent.(GatherUp) Even a single review can raise conversions by 10 percent; 30 reviews push that to 25 percent, and 100 reviews to 37 percent.(Fera - Reviews App for Shopify) - Visibility in Google
Eighty-seven percent of people now use Google listings to judge local businesses.(BrightLocal) Showing stars on your site and on your Business Profile helps you appear in map packs and “near me” results.
2. Collecting Your Very First Reviews
- Ask personally
Reach out to your first customers while the experience is fresh. A warm, specific request (“Could you share what made the biggest difference for you?”) converts far better than a generic “Please leave a review”. - Make it frictionless
Provide a one-click Google review link. Pre-fill a few prompt ideas so customers know what to mention. - Time it right
Trigger the ask at the moment of delight—immediately after delivery, milestone achievement, or positive feedback in chat. - Follow the rules
Never pay for or gate reviews. Beyond eroding trust, fake feedback now draws regulatory scrutiny; Amazon alone blocked 275 million fraudulent reviews last year.(The Guardian) - Say thank-you publicly
Businesses that respond to every review earn trust from 89 percent of shoppers.(capitaloneshopping.com)
3. Turning a Few Reviews Into a Trust Engine With Bragly
Bragly was built for the “review-poor” phase. Here is how to squeeze maximum impact from a handful of golden comments:
| Bragly Feature | What It Does | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic widgets | Rotate each review in a clean, animated carousel | Keeps the page fresh and avoids “only three reviews?” objections |
| Auto-sync with Google | New ratings appear on your site instantly | Saves hours of manual copy-paste and shows authenticity |
| Rich-snippet markup | Adds schema so stars can surface in search results | Higher click-through equals more traffic and more reviews |
| Custom themes | Match any Webflow, WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix design | Consistency reinforces brand credibility |
Remember, Bragly currently pulls directly from Google. As we add Shopify, Yelp, and more, your reviews will update automatically—no migration headaches.
4. Alternatives While You Build Volume
- Client testimonials
Capture quotes in onboarding calls or emails. Summaries like “This saved me three hours a week” are specific and persuasive. - Expert endorsements
A line from a partner agency or mentor (“We recommend Bragly to all our e-commerce clients”) carries authority. - Social shout-outs
Embed X (Twitter) or Instagram posts praising your brand. Social proof feels organic and injects real-world context. - Numbers-based proof
Showcase metrics you can verify: “1,200 items shipped with 99.8 percent on-time delivery”.
These devices do not replace reviews, but they bridge the gap until your organic feedback grows.
5. Growing Review Volume Over Time
- Automate the ask
Use Bragly’s upcoming email and SMS triggers to send review invitations at key moments. - Set internal goals
Aim for 1-2 fresh reviews per week in the first quarter. Consistency matters: 63 percent of consumers lose trust if recent reviews are mostly negative or absent.(BrightLocal) - Celebrate milestones
Share “We just hit 25 five-star reviews!” on social media. Momentum encourages more customers to contribute. - Close the loop
Thank every reviewer, address concerns openly, and show improvements. Transparency converts critics into advocates.
Ready to Go From Zero to Trusted?
You do not need a perfect score or pages of feedback to win your first customers. A single authentic voice can boost conversions by double digits. Multiply that with Bragly’s amplification, and trust compounds fast.
Start collecting your first reviews today, plug Bragly into your site, and watch credibility grow alongside your business. Your future five-star self will thank you.
