Fake reviews are drawing the attention of FTC regulators

Thanks for the post. I do not think an algorithm would do much to change things. I know I have been tempted to buy positive reviews before.
I wonder if there is a way around this to protect the integrity of a products review or if everything is going to turn into one big affiliate sales pitch...

The reviews mentioned in the article are very close to the concept of receiving "review copies" of items with a few exceptions:

1. You buy the item first.
2. The seller offers a refund in exchange for a review.
3. A review is written without disclosing the fact that an incentive (free copy) was offered for the review.

This type of review wouldn't fly on the Warrior Forum, and it is easy to see that it sheds doubt on the sincerity of a review. The major issue is that the reviewer does not disclose the fact that the review is based on an incentive that he or she receives.

Though this may indeed draw the attention of FTC regulators, I doubt that there can be sufficient overall enforcement due to the sheer volume of areas where this practice occurs. The best they can hope to do is to make a very strong example out of those who are caught.

Thanks for sharing the article. It's encouraging to see the mainstream media pay attention. Being involved with internet marketing, sometimes it's easy to forget that not everyone is paying attention to what goes on online.

Recently, I bought a product about Kindle publishing that encouraged marketers to buy reviews from fiverr, and the marketer couldn't see a single thing wrong with that. If we don't pay attention, internet marketing is going to get a reputation like - or worse than - used car salesmen and elected officials.

I ask customers if they would do a review for me. I go to where they are and shoot a short 25 second video. Video reviews really work well because the prospect can see that there is a REAL person involved. I never pay them for their time etc. . .

Sometimes, when a new product is about to be launched, I have them try it for free and then do a video on the spot. Who would not want free chocolate?

Not only should you not post fake reviews, but I would go one further...you should never post reviews that you do not have documentation for.

I used to never post reviews on sales pages but recently started posting a few of them and what I do for every review that I post is to keep the original review/email on file from the reviewer.

One thing that burns in my soul when I see the "review copy" being perceived as an incentive for the review.

To me, YES it is an incentive for me to provide the review, because that's the deal. But I won't take the review copy as a payoff to promise a POSITIVE review.

I've received review copies, and given reviews criticizing the product. I provide my reviews from an editorial, end-user and marketing standpoint all at once. I feel half the reason I have the review copy is to give honest feedback on the product. If the author chooses to utilize my review, he or she is free to do so, as that's part of the agreement. But if I tear the product apart, and have almost nothing positive to say about it, though I probably hurt their feelings (no one likes for their product to shredded to pieces), normally, there is so much constructive criticism that the author will take the advice, and in the end produce a better product.

Sometimes they even send me a revised copy for free about the time of the official product launch, with sincere (sincere sounding at least) thanks for helping them improve their product.

That's a good question. For a start, here on the WSO threads, look out for the reviews from members that joined around the time the offer was posted and that have a very low post count.

That probably sounds a bit rich coming from someone with one post to their name

ha. good luck preventing this from happening. There's really no way to stop it. If a company gave me a free case I'd leave a positive review too. Why not? As long as the case isn't junk, I don't see a problem with it. They're not creating reviews out of thin air. People are actually leaving them. If the product is complete garbage or a scam that's one thing, but if it works fine, then offering incentives to leave a 'review' shouldn't be an issue.

As stated, review copies of a WSO are an incentive. No ones obligated to leave a positive review. It's the desired outcome, but no one's forced into anything.

Incentive reviews have been around forever, and in my opinion, it's simply good marketing.