16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Reviews with an Incentive

by humbledmarket Banned
14 replies
Recently I have been seeing a rising trend of WSOs starters using incentives to obtain review.

For example in the backend if a user leaves a review and pm then they get a add on to the course.

I have seen this on some of the most popular WSOs and perhaps it might also be part of their reason for successful WSO.

However what is your opinion on this. Isn't this essentially buying reviews?
#incentivized #reviews
  • Profile picture of the author Kecia
    In a way it is, but I see it as an 'thank you' for taking the time to read through the product and then return to leave a review.
    Signature
    KeciaHambrick.com - Blogger. Content Creator. Social Media Enthusiast.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4000199].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author salegurus
    Personally i take all "Review Copy" reviews with a pinch of salt, most of them consist of 10 sentences or less and they don't provide any value to a potential buyer anyway.
    Overplayed catch phrases such as: "no fluff", "no brainer", "real deal" and "info packed" are often sprinkled in among an otherwise nonsensical argument in favor of buying.

    It's getting harder to find good, honest reviews with some substance...
    Signature
    Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

    ― George Carlin
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4000346].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Gail_Curran
      I believe that offering an incentive for a WSO review is against the rules. The seller may request a review from buyers, but may not offer a reward for it.
      .
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4000387].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    For example in the backend if a user leaves a review and pm then they get a add on to the course.
    That will get a WSO closed, and quick, if it's reported and we can verify it. That can be quite embarrassing if the thing is doing well. Worse if it happens while the offer is being promoted as a WSO of the Day.

    Doesn't make much difference how the request is worded, either. If the "bonus" is contingent on leaving public comments, it creates pressure to say something nice or say nothing at all. Not everyone feels that pressure, to be sure, but most will, and it slants the response in a significant way.

    All in all, it's not a good plan.


    Paul
    Signature
    .
    Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4000389].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Kecia
      Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

      That will get a WSO closed, and quick, if it's reported and we can verify it. That can be quite embarrassing if the thing is doing well. Worse if it happens while the offer is being promoted as a WSO of the Day.

      Doesn't make much difference how the request worded, either. If the "bonus" is contingent on leaving public comments, it creates pressure to say something nice or say nothing at all. Not everyone feels that pressure, to be sure, but most will, and it slants the response in a significant way.

      All in all, it's not a good plan.


      Paul
      Oops, didn't realize it was against the rules, especially since I see it often.
      Signature
      KeciaHambrick.com - Blogger. Content Creator. Social Media Enthusiast.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4000755].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
    Paul, just out of curiosity, what is the difference between offering review copies of a WSO and offering something else for a review? Both are incentivized, yet the first one seems to be acceptable. Neither break any FTC guidelines either.
    Signature

    Founder of JVZoo. All around good guy :)

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4000769].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Brian,

      Review copies offered in a thread are the product that's being sold, and the deal is all up front and transparent. People can, and do, take the sources and incentives into account.

      Offering something behind the scenes keeps the people considering the offer from having relevant facts about the nature of those reviews. Combined with the psychological pressure to make the reviews positive, it's a very different animal.

      Whether it violates FTC guidelines would likely depend on the wording of the offer, but that's not important in this case. We just don't allow it.

      I should also point out that we no longer allow reviews/testimonials by anyone who offers to do them for pay, whether they got paid for the ones in use on any given offer or not. This was specifically designed to stop the abusive practices relating to video reviews being purchased through Fiverr and other similar sites.

      If we see a testimonial from anyone offering them on one of those sites that was posted after the rule went into place, the offer will be closed. No questions, no arguments, no appeal. And no re-opening it after removing the offending video.


      Paul
      Signature
      .
      Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4000855].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author CyberSorcerer
    I don't get asked to review products to much from marketers; because, most know my outspoken attitute. And I don't really care about incentives, bonuses, etc, you can keep them.

    Now that I've built a reputation for totally honest reviews, maybe not here on the forum as I've only reviewed two products here, I know when someone that knows me ask for a review of their product that THEY are very comfortable in the value they are presenting to their potential customers.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4001022].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author salegurus
    I'm glad to see we are all sort of on the same page, offering incentives for reviews, paying for reviews or reviews by friends and partners just erodes all confidence in the review system. Most buyers rely on honest reviews by their peers before making a decision...
    Signature
    Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

    ― George Carlin
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4001180].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Dr Dan
    I am surprised those rules are not in the WSO TOS. Any reason why they are not there? Might help clear this up for others that dont know it is not allowed. Just a thought
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4001342].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author PvPGuy
    Originally Posted by humbledmarket View Post

    Recently I have been seeing a rising trend of WSOs starters using incentives to obtain review.

    For example in the backend if a user leaves a review and pm then they get a add on to the course.

    I have seen this on some of the most popular WSOs and perhaps it might also be part of their reason for successful WSO.

    However what is your opinion on this. Isn't this essentially buying reviews?
    Buying reviews is clearly wrong. But I don't think that is happening at all - at least not that I've seen.

    I want to be clear on this, because I think this could hurt a viable method of adding incentive for people to give a review. (of course I concede fully to the powers that be and their judgement)...

    What I've seen is some WSO's that offer an additional bonus if you leave a review - usually another free product or report. However, this bonus is *still* available to anyone who purchased the WSO - whether they come back and review or not. <---This should be ok, imo.

    What should not be ok, and what I personally have never seen (since I first started lurking here)is someone saying they'll send you a bonus only if you review the product.

    I must admit that the reviews were one of the first things I noticed when I became a lurker on this forum a couple years ago...they were gutless. But I think that is owed to the culture of IM'ers, that is in general, they are glass half-full types who genuinely want to see people succeed.

    I hope that the responsibility here falls on the shoulders of the right people...namely on those who give the reviews, and not those honest marketers who are offering even more value as an incentive to receive those reviews.

    Sorry for the wall of text just my 2c
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4001393].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      pv1perry,
      What should not be ok, and what I personally have never seen (since I first started lurking here)is someone saying they'll send you a bonus only if you review the product.
      That is exactly what happens - a lot - and what we're saying isn't allowed. You haven't seen it because it only goes on behind the scenes, after the person orders.

      If someone gives an unannounced bonus to all their customers, and then says "Hey, tell me what you think of the product. Good or bad, we want your feedback," I don't see anyone having a problem with that. I certainly wouldn't find it objectionable.

      Dr Dan,
      I am surprised those rules are not in the WSO TOS.
      We didn't include everything, true. Things like "Don't take the money and fail to deliver the product," "don't lie about your software," etc.

      If people want to get sneaky and use questionable, or outright unethical, tactics to sell a product, there's no way we'll be able to predict everything they might come up with.


      Paul
      Signature
      .
      Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4001651].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author WillR
        Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

        If people want to get sneaky and use questionable, or outright unethical, tactics to sell a product, there's no way we'll be able to predict everything they might come up with.
        Exactly. That's why I would take more notice of the money back guarantee than what other Warriors have said about the product. There are always going to be people who say a product is great, even if it is not. There are always going to be people who say a product is not great, even if it is. You can't please everyone.

        All you have to do is look at how much crap is out there in the general IM market all loaded with testimonials. For that reason they are not something I would ever base my purchasing decision off nowadays - a lot of them aren't even worth the 'paper' they are written on.

        If, from reading the sales copy, you think the product is something that interests you and is going to help then by all means buy it. Make sure there is a money back guarantee and if the product does NOT do as it says in the WSO copy then you have every right to request a refund.
        Signature

        .


        .

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4002141].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Buxx
    This is a good point, this practice needs to be stopped soon, it devalues all WSO reviews
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4002220].message }}

Trending Topics