What are the pros and cons of using a 3rd party platform for sending product review solicitation emails?

Email marketer from Shopify Community Forum shares that they experienced deliverability issues when using a lesser-known review platform. They believe it's vital to check the platform's sending reputation and authentication practices to avoid landing in spam folders.

Marketer from Email Geeks recalls that such providers are one or two dodgy customers away from it all going south deliverability-wise and, if they have a branded/white label option, it is best to take it, even if it costs more.

Email marketer from G2 explains that using a review platform can streamline the review collection process, improve review quality, and enhance brand credibility through verified reviews. They also mention that these platforms offer tools for review syndication to various channels.

Email marketer from Reddit explains that one con is the lack of full control. You're limited to the platform's features and customization options, which may not align perfectly with your brand or desired customer experience.

Email marketer from Email Geeks recommends sending the review link from your established sending infrastructure if possible, highlighting that many review platforms take MTA shortcuts and you should ask which one they are using before proceeding.

Email marketer from Quora indicates a benefit is having a system to manage reviews and respond in a timely manner, which makes it easier to handle negative feedback or questions about products

Email marketer from MarketingProfs explains that one advantage is they often support multi-channel review collection. Some will collect reviews by sending review invites, and also on external websites. This makes it possible to collect more reviews.

Email marketer from Neil Patel states that using third-party review platforms enhances customer trust. He explains having an external source validate reviews adds credibility that direct website testimonials might lack.

Email marketer from Trustpilot states that third-party platforms can assist with brand reputation management by providing a centralized space to collect, manage, and respond to customer feedback. This can improve transparency and build trust with potential customers.

Email marketer from Capterra shares that relying solely on a third-party platform can limit customization options and control over the review process. Additionally, the cost of using such platforms can be a significant factor, especially for small businesses.

Marketer from Email Geeks advises against using a 3rd party for review solicitation emails due to concerns for data privacy, customer journey, and branding. They suggest that the post-purchase survey can still be used for branding and building loyalty, and using your own domain is important.

Email marketer from BigCommerce Community Forum shares that a pro of using an external platform is seamless integration with various e-commerce platforms (like BigCommerce). Automated review requests triggered by order fulfillment can save a lot of time.

Expert from Word to the Wise (Laura Atkins) explains that it's essential to thoroughly evaluate any email service provider. If you choose a 3rd party they must have solid authentication, good sending practices, and clear compliance with email regulations. Otherwise you are inheriting that risk and can affect your brand.

Expert from Email Geeks shares that if the 3rd party properly configures branded emails/authentication, there are no immediate issues with using them. Many companies use multiple ESPs/platforms for different messaging streams.

Expert from Spam Resource (John Levine) explains that using a review service can damage your reputation if the service engages in questionable practices, as their problems become your problems due to association.

Expert from Email Geeks says that if they do not allow for custom subdomain use, it is not ideal. It moves all of the reputation onto their shoulders, not theirs. It may also cause concerns with your customers that they’re hearing from someone they didn’t give permission to and that some companies in that type of space do end up with delivery / reputation problems because their understanding of email compliance and enforcement isn’t the best.

Expert from Email Geeks explains it is fine if it’s being sent to customers, give them their own subdomain for authentication, e.g. `review.bounce.whatever.yourdomain` for the SPF record and `review.whatever.yourdomain` for the d= domain, and you can use reviews@whatever.yourdomain in the from address.

Documentation from Mailchimp notes that when using a third-party platform, it's essential to ensure they comply with data privacy regulations (like GDPR) and email marketing best practices. You are ultimately responsible for how your customer data is handled.

Documentation from DMARC.org states that proper DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) implementation is essential for preventing email spoofing and phishing attacks. If the third-party platform isn't DMARC compliant, it could expose your brand to these risks.

Documentation from SendGrid explains that using a dedicated sending domain and proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial when using a third-party platform to send emails. This helps maintain your sender reputation and ensure deliverability.

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help emphasizes that the reputation of the sending domain directly impacts email deliverability. Using a third-party platform with poor sending practices can negatively impact your domain's reputation and lead to emails being marked as spam.

Documentation from SparkPost explains that third-party review platforms often use shared IP addresses for sending emails. This means that if one user of the platform engages in poor sending practices (like spamming), it can negatively affect the deliverability of all users on that shared IP.