Comments on: ReviewMe.com http://webgazette.co.uk/2006/11/11/reviewmecom/ Change is the only constant... Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:11:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ainslie http://webgazette.co.uk/2006/11/11/reviewmecom/#comment-16242 Ainslie Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:46:41 +0000 http://webgazette.co.uk/2006/11/11/reviewmecom/#comment-16242 I think it can work but as an advertiser you will want to be sure you are going to get a fair review. I may say this is good... I like this... and that's great but I don't like the way it does this. I can see that if it is honest, constructive and written well it can be good advertising but then you will probably have to address what the reviewer doesn't like and use it as a positive exercise. Like you have suggested, I think you will need to pick your reviewers carefully to ensure that you get a fair review. It is a bit of a chicken and egg situation - you won't know what to expect until there is enough reviews to be able to review the reviewer. Personally I don't think I shall be doing many paid reviews as I'm not really sure it's what blogging is about but if I did I would probably turn down reviews where I couldn't find anything good to say about the product. I think it can work but as an advertiser you will want to be sure you are going to get a fair review.

I may say this is good… I like this… and that’s great but I don’t like the way it does this. I can see that if it is honest, constructive and written well it can be good advertising but then you will probably have to address what the reviewer doesn’t like and use it as a positive exercise.

Like you have suggested, I think you will need to pick your reviewers carefully to ensure that you get a fair review. It is a bit of a chicken and egg situation - you won’t know what to expect until there is enough reviews to be able to review the reviewer.

Personally I don’t think I shall be doing many paid reviews as I’m not really sure it’s what blogging is about but if I did I would probably turn down reviews where I couldn’t find anything good to say about the product.

]]> By: Vincent http://webgazette.co.uk/2006/11/11/reviewmecom/#comment-16231 Vincent Mon, 20 Nov 2006 23:54:16 +0000 http://webgazette.co.uk/2006/11/11/reviewmecom/#comment-16231 Hi Ainslie In retrospect I agree with you about the ethics of blogging and yes it should probably be stated that it is 'sponsored by your company.com.' On the other hand I am still unsure about having products reviewed, I guess it is down to trust factor and the history of the reviewer.I'll keep an open mind about this and watch. If it works then that would be great as it is soemthing I would use for some clients products. Hi Ainslie
In retrospect I agree with you about the ethics of blogging and yes it should probably be stated that it is ’sponsored by your company.com.’
On the other hand I am still unsure about having products reviewed, I guess it is down to trust factor and the history of the reviewer.I’ll keep an open mind about this and watch. If it works then that would be great as it is soemthing I would use for some clients products.

]]> By: Ainslie http://webgazette.co.uk/2006/11/11/reviewmecom/#comment-16227 Ainslie Mon, 20 Nov 2006 20:07:32 +0000 http://webgazette.co.uk/2006/11/11/reviewmecom/#comment-16227 Hi TechZ, No I don't either but there does seem to be a strong feeling against paid reviews amongst some bloggers. Vincent, I'm not sure it is a licence to say what you want. What I mean is that it has to be truthful. If I wrote about your product and wasn't truthful wouldn't you think about taking some sort of legal action against me? I can see that some may be tempted to write negative reviews because they can, but I can't see that happening for long. Advertisers aren't going to put up with untruthful negative reviews. As for the sponsored by link, I think this is almost a unwritten rule of blogging ethics and it is here to stay. Anyone who doesn't disclose that a review was paid for will probably face a lot of critisism from their peers. Hi TechZ, No I don’t either but there does seem to be a strong feeling against paid reviews amongst some bloggers.

Vincent, I’m not sure it is a licence to say what you want. What I mean is that it has to be truthful. If I wrote about your product and wasn’t truthful wouldn’t you think about taking some sort of legal action against me? I can see that some may be tempted to write negative reviews because they can, but I can’t see that happening for long. Advertisers aren’t going to put up with untruthful negative reviews.

As for the sponsored by link, I think this is almost a unwritten rule of blogging ethics and it is here to stay. Anyone who doesn’t disclose that a review was paid for will probably face a lot of critisism from their peers.

]]> By: Vincent http://webgazette.co.uk/2006/11/11/reviewmecom/#comment-16226 Vincent Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:56:37 +0000 http://webgazette.co.uk/2006/11/11/reviewmecom/#comment-16226 Well a couple of things come to mind. In theory it is a good idea for making some extra money for reviews. As an advertiser in various areas on the web this appeals to me to reach a larger audience. What I do disagree with is the license to 'say what you want' in your review. Quite frankly this leaves the process open to abuse and from sharp practise by business competitors. A also don't like the idea of having to state this is sponsored by 'your company.com' this leaves me with the feeling "oh it's another ad" don't bother reading. Nothing seamless or discreet about it really Well a couple of things come to mind. In theory it is a good idea for making some extra money for reviews. As an advertiser in various areas on the web this appeals to me to reach a larger audience.
What I do disagree with is the license to ’say what you want’ in your review. Quite frankly this leaves the process open to abuse and from sharp practise by business competitors.

A also don’t like the idea of having to state this is sponsored by ‘your company.com’ this leaves me with the feeling “oh it’s another ad” don’t bother reading. Nothing seamless or discreet about it really

]]> By: TechZ http://webgazette.co.uk/2006/11/11/reviewmecom/#comment-16081 TechZ Sat, 18 Nov 2006 22:11:51 +0000 http://webgazette.co.uk/2006/11/11/reviewmecom/#comment-16081 As long as it's clearly labelled, I dont see the harm in a blogger making some money! As long as it’s clearly labelled, I dont see the harm in a blogger making some money!

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