Connections: Review Import Sources - Help Documentation
📋Prerequisites
Overview
This document contains detailed help text for the Connections page (Review Import Sources tab) to follow Polaris best practices for minimal on-page help text.
Section 2: Widget Availability and Pricing
Understanding Widget Availability Filters
Review platforms vary significantly in their widget offerings and pricing models. The Review Multiplier app categorizes platforms by widget availability to help you make informed decisions:
$$$ Paid Plan for Widgets
These platforms require expensive enterprise or premium plans to access widget functionality:
- Typical Cost: $100-$500+ per month
- Features: Advanced customization, multiple widget styles, API access
- Best For: Larger businesses with established review programs and higher budgets
- Examples: Premium tiers of major review platforms
$$ Paid Plan for Widgets
These platforms require mid-tier paid plans to access widgets:
- Typical Cost: $30-$100 per month
- Features: Basic to moderate customization options
- Best For: Growing businesses ready to invest in review display
- Examples: Standard paid plans of popular review platforms
$ Paid Plan for Widgets
These platforms offer widget access at lower price points:
- Typical Cost: $10-$30 per month
- Features: Basic widget functionality, limited customization
- Best For: Small businesses and startups looking to display reviews affordably
- Examples: Entry-level plans of review platforms
Limited Free Option
These platforms offer some widget functionality in their free tier:
- Typical Cost: Free (with limitations)
- Features: Basic widget with platform branding, limited reviews displayed
- Limitations: May show "powered by" branding, review count limits, basic styling only
- Best For: Testing platforms or businesses with very limited budgets
- Examples: Free tiers with basic embedding capabilities
Choosing the Right Platform
📋 Free: 1 | Starter: 3 | Pro: Unlimited
When selecting which platforms to import reviews from, consider:
- Existing Reviews: Do you already have reviews on this platform?
- Budget: What can you afford to pay monthly for widget access?
- Customization Needs: Do you need custom styling to match your brand?
- Platform Reputation: Is this platform well-known in your industry or region?
- Integration Complexity: How difficult is it to obtain and configure the widget code?
Widget Availability Research
Before committing to a platform, visit their website and:
- Check their pricing page for widget/embed features
- Look for "integrations," "widgets," or "embed" sections in documentation
- Contact their support to confirm widget availability for your plan tier
- Request a demo or trial to test the widget before purchasing
Section 3: Configuring Review Import
Step-by-Step Configuration Process
1. Choose Your Platform
- Navigate to Connections > Review Import Sources
- Use filters to narrow down platforms by widget availability
- Click Configure Import on your chosen platform
2. Create Account on External Platform
If you don't already have one:
- Sign up for an account on the review platform
- Verify your business profile
- Upgrade to a plan that includes widget access (if necessary)
3. Obtain Widget Code
On the external platform:
- Log into your account
- Navigate to Settings > Widgets (or similar section)
- Look for "Embed Code," "JavaScript Snippet," or "Integration Code"
- Generate code for your business profile
- Copy the entire code snippet (usually starts with
<script>or<div>)
4. Configure in Review Multiplier
- Paste the widget code into the configuration field
- Save your settings
- The widget code is now stored and ready to use
5. Display Widgets in Your Store
- Navigate to your store's theme editor
- Add the Review Multiplier app blocks to your pages
- Select which imported review sources to display
- Customize the layout and appearance
Important Configuration Notes
Widget Code Format:
- Most widget codes are HTML/JavaScript snippets
- They typically include
<script>tags and sometimes<div>containers - Copy the ENTIRE code provided by the platform - missing parts will cause display issues
Multiple Widgets:
- You can configure multiple platforms simultaneously
- Each platform requires its own widget code
- Mix and match to show reviews from different sources
Widget Updates:
- If the external platform updates their widget code, you'll need to update it in Review Multiplier
- Check periodically for widget version updates from platforms
Troubleshooting:
- If widgets don't display, verify the code was copied completely
- Check that your plan on the external platform includes widget access
- Ensure your Review Multiplier subscription supports the number of import sources you're using
Section 4: CSV Import Alternative
📋 Free: 100 reviews one-time | Starter: Unlimited | Pro: Unlimited
When to Use CSV Import
CSV import is ideal for situations where:
- No Widget Available: The platform doesn't offer widget code
- Manual Migration: You're switching platforms and need to import historical reviews
- One-Time Import: You want to import reviews once, not maintain a live connection
- Custom Sources: You have reviews from sources that don't have official integrations
- Data Portability: You've exported reviews from another system
CSV Import Process
-
Navigate to Import & Export
- Go to Connections > Review Import Sources
- Click Go to Import & Export under "Other Sites via CSV"
-
Prepare Your CSV File
- Required columns: reviewer name, rating, review text, date
- Optional columns: reviewer email, review title, platform source
- Follow the CSV template provided in the Import & Export page
-
Upload and Map Fields
- Upload your CSV file
- Map your CSV columns to Review Multiplier fields
- Preview the import to verify data is correct
-
Import Reviews
- Complete the import process
- Reviews are added to your database
- They can now be displayed like any other review
CSV vs Widget Import Comparison
| Feature | CSV Import | Widget Import |
|---|---|---|
| Update Frequency | Manual, one-time | Automatic, real-time |
| New Reviews | Requires re-import | Automatically appear |
| Setup Complexity | Moderate (data formatting) | Easy (copy-paste code) |
| Cost | Free (within plan limits) | May require platform subscription |
| Best For | Historical data, unsupported platforms | Live, ongoing review display |
| Data Ownership | Fully owned by you | Displayed via third-party widget |
CSV Import Best Practices
- Data Quality: Clean your data before importing - remove duplicates, fix formatting issues
- Date Formats: Ensure dates are in a consistent format (YYYY-MM-DD recommended)
- Ratings: Use numeric ratings (1-5 or equivalent)
- Character Encoding: Save CSV as UTF-8 to preserve special characters
- Test First: Import a small batch first to test your field mapping
- Backup: Keep the original CSV file as a backup
Section 5: Platform-Specific Import Guides
Trustpilot Widget Import
- Log into Trustpilot Business
- Go to Settings > Widgets
- Create a new widget or use existing
- Copy the embed code
- Paste into Review Multiplier
Yelp Widget Import
- Log into Yelp for Business
- Navigate to Yelp Badges & Widgets
- Select your preferred widget style
- Copy the HTML code
- Paste into Review Multiplier
Reviews.io Widget Import
- Log into Reviews.io dashboard
- Go to Widgets > Product/Company Reviews Widget
- Customize widget settings
- Copy the integration code
- Paste into Review Multiplier
Section 6: Displaying Imported Reviews in Your Store
After Configuration
Once you've configured widget code for platforms:
-
Theme Integration
- Use Shopify Theme Editor
- Add Review Multiplier app blocks to your pages
- Select which imported sources to display
-
Widget Customization
- Control which platforms appear on which pages
- Set display order and layout
- Apply custom styling to match your brand
-
Testing
- Preview your store to see imported reviews
- Verify reviews display correctly on desktop and mobile
- Check loading speed impact
Display Strategies
Homepage:
- Show combined reviews from multiple platforms
- Display highest-rated reviews first
- Rotate reviews from different platforms
Product Pages:
- Show platform-specific product reviews (if available)
- Display relevant reviews for that product category
- Include star ratings prominently
Dedicated Review Page:
- Create a page showcasing all review sources
- Group reviews by platform
- Allow customers to filter by platform
Section 7: Compliance and Best Practices
Review Display Guidelines
When displaying imported reviews:
Authenticity:
- Never edit or modify imported reviews
- Display reviews exactly as they appear on the source platform
- Include dates to show when reviews were written
Attribution:
- Always attribute reviews to their source platform
- Include platform logos where appropriate
- Link back to your profile on the source platform (if allowed)
Balance:
- Display both positive and negative reviews (if you have them)
- Don't cherry-pick only 5-star reviews
- Show a representative sample of your review history
Transparency:
- Clearly label the source of each review
- Don't misrepresent reviews from one platform as being from another
- Follow platform terms of service for widget usage
Legal Considerations
- Terms of Service: Ensure you comply with each platform's widget usage terms
- Data Privacy: Respect reviewer privacy - don't expose personal information
- Copyright: Review content is owned by the platform/reviewer - respect their rights
- Licenses: Ensure you have the right to display reviews via widget code
Platform Policies
Different platforms have different rules about widget usage:
- Some require you to maintain an active subscription
- Some limit where widgets can be displayed (e.g., only on verified domain)
- Some require specific branding or attribution
- Always check the platform's current widget policy
Recommendations for On-Page Text
For the Import Sources Tab Description:
Replace with:
"Display reviews from external platforms in your store using widget code. Learn about review import and widget code"
For Platform List Items:
Current: "Display reviews from your {platform.name} profile"
Keep as is - This is already concise and descriptive.
For CSV Import Option:
Current: "Import reviews from any platform using CSV files"
Keep as is - Already brief and clear.
Related Documentation
- Configuring Individual Platform Widgets
- Theme Customization for Review Display
- CSV Import Guide and Templates
- Publish Destinations vs Import Sources