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Proposing WF Method of Identifying Top Reviewers?

by 01123581321345589144
10 replies
Okay, so hear me out.

Every day I go on WF and I see lots of shiny new WSOs and reviews. And a bunch of Review Copy reviews.

I wondered, where do they find good people to review copies of things for them? Basic reputation building-- which happens over time on WF, right? And a vague notion that this or that person is good for a review copy.

On Amazon they have a Top Reviewers system, where reviews who write solid, good reviews (not always positive). These people are to be trusted. It allows people to go directly to reviewers who are reputable and ask for reviews, or give them a free product in exchange. It allows the reviewers to get those free products and respect within the community.

There's a few problems with implementing a near identical system to WF, for obvious reasons. But what if everyone had a Reviewer Ranking or something?

What if you could post a "review post" and that could be liked by people and it would be calculated by WF, and added to your Reviewer Ranking. So someone with a reviewer ranking of 5 or Top Reviewer (for instance) would be more selective in who they reviewed for and continue to write solid reviews. People would covet their reviews and others would be climbing the ranks, with greater incentive than now to leave better reviews.

You would know who to give your review copies to, and people could build up their reputation by posting reviews on products they'd bought, etc.

What do you think?
#identifying #method #proposing #review #reviewers #top
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Hey Fibonacci, good to see you posting again.

    Originally Posted by 01123581321345589144 View Post

    On Amazon they have a Top Reviewers system
    Sure, but this is very, very different. Many/most/all are paying customers. Almost all are (probably) reasonably objective.

    "Habitual reviewers", here, of WSO's are exactly the opposite: they're typically people who have been given a "review copy" in exchange for a testimonial. Their testimonials/reviews are perceived as being worth less than others, not more. Seriously, have a good look through the WSO Forum: you'll see the same names coming round again and again and again: people whose only real input here is to write WSO reviews in exchange for free copies (which, contrary to the forum's rules, they don't always disclose in their review).

    They're also notable, for the most part, as being people whose reviews are centered on "first/superficial impressions", rather than people who have used the product and discuss their results with it.

    The testimonials that really help the vendors sell WSO's are testimonials from other members (to whom that doesn't apply), who have bought and paid for the product (and say so) and have used it and comment on their results.

    So it's radically difficult from Amazon (and other places).

    Directly or indirectly, reviews written in exchange for a free copy are "tainted". Both in the perception and in the reality, too. I'm not saying that's good, or bad, or avoidable, or dishonest, or anything of the kind; but it's undeniably how it is, and it's how it comes across, too.

    One more thought: now that there's "Warrior Payments", I wonder if it might be possible for the forum to provide (like Amazon's) an objective "certified purchase" imprimatur/stamp of some kind for WSO reviews? That would certainly be very helpful, toward "legitimising reviews".

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    • Profile picture of the author 01123581321345589144
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      Hey Fibonacci, good to see you posting again.

      Sure, but this is very, very different. Many/most/all are paying customers. Almost all are (probably) reasonably objective.

      "Habitual reviewers", here, of WSO's are exactly the opposite: they're typically people who have been given a "review copy" in exchange for a testimonial. Their testimonials/reviews are perceived as being worth less than others, not more. Seriously, have a good look through the WSO Forum: you'll see the same names coming round again and again and again: people whose only real input here is to write WSO reviews in exchange for free copies (which, contrary to the forum's rules, they don't always disclose in their review).

      They're also notable, for the most part, as being people whose reviews are centered on "first/superficial impressions", rather than people who have used the product and discuss their results with it.

      The testimonials that really help the vendors sell WSO's are testimonials from other members (to whom that doesn't apply), who have bought and paid for the product (and say so) and have used it and comment on their results.

      So it's radically difficult from Amazon (and other places).

      Directly or indirectly, reviews written in exchange for a free copy are "tainted". Both in the perception and in the reality, too. I'm not saying that's good, or bad, or avoidable, or dishonest, or anything of the kind; but it's undeniably how it is, and it's how it comes across, too.

      One more thought: now that there's "Warrior Payments", I wonder if it might be possible for the forum to provide (like Amazon's) an objective "certified purchase" imprimatur/stamp of some kind for WSO reviews? That would certainly be very helpful, toward "legitimising reviews".

      .
      Thanks for replying!

      You make good points. I did know that reviews by people who got free copies were considered lesser and not as trustworthy; but I guess I was just wishing there were a clearer way of seeing what products were legit or not based on reviews you could trust and knew were being honest.

      I agree there could be a way to legitimize reviews with a "certified purchase" sticker of sorts.

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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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        Originally Posted by 01123581321345589144 View Post

        I was just wishing there were a clearer way of seeing what products were legit or not based on reviews you could trust and knew were being honest.
        Yes ... I think you make a very good point about that.

        Originally Posted by 01123581321345589144 View Post

        I agree there could be a way to legitimize reviews with a "certified purchase" sticker of sorts.
        I'm even wondering whether it might actually suit the forum's owners to do that, too?

        I don't really know what their longer-term plans are for the forum, but I suspect that from their perspective, it might have two advantages: (a) they could perhaps charge something nominal for it, and/or (b) (perhaps more importantly) it would encourage more people to use "Warrior Payments" (which isn't compulsory at the moment).

        (I've already mentioned elsewhere that if I owned the place I'd want to make War Room membership far cheaper and WSO listing fees far more expensive. I think that could be (a) more popular, overall, and (b) earn more profits from the forum, and (c) provide "a better service", as well. I think that would be a better income/service plan, all round. But I strongly suspect they don't quite see it that way, and they paid all the money to buy it, not me! ).

        Anyway, it's very good that we have a Suggestions Forum (to which Admin might move this thread, I suspect?) and don't seem to mind other people discussing their business in public. I commend them a lot for that (and don't know quite how I'd feel about it, in their position, to be honest! But it's obviously very good, in principle, to "welcome discussion" and to be "open to suggestions" ).

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  • Profile picture of the author trevord92
    I get review copies quite often (and post about them less often) - mainly so I can check whether they live up to the hype and whether or not my list would be interested in them.

    Some people ask me for review copies and whether or not I send them depends on quite a few factors including whether I've dealt with them in the past or not.

    Some vendors offer review copies on Wanted - Members Looking To Hire You

    It's difficult to get long term reviews on most threads as most people don't read/watch what they've bought let alone apply it. Think how many PDFs there are on your hard drive that you're going to go back to some day or books on your bookshelf that you haven't finished reading yet. The same applies with WSOs.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
    Personally . . . I don't think WSO creators should be able to ask for people to write reviews. It should be a free-for-all. You'd get more honesty. Although policing it would be difficult, of course.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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      Originally Posted by Get Rich Methods View Post

      Although policing it would be difficult, of course.
      Yes, I think this is a difficulty with a lot of suggestions around WSO's, really.

      We can't really expect the forum to "police" things. They're mostly just "selling advertising space", after all.

      They actually do quite a bit more than that, and do it very well, too (contrary to the impression some people have!). Only a couple of days ago I reported a WSO product which I alleged (with no real evidence) included some stolen content: the moderator went to quite some lengths, and time and trouble, to investigate it, and immediately removed the whole thread when it actually turned out to be so. They do a lot more than they're credited with!

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      • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        Yes, I think this is a difficulty with a lot of suggestions around WSO's, really.

        We can't really expect the forum to "police" things. They're mostly just "selling advertising space", after all.

        They actually do quite a bit more than that, and do it very well, too (contrary to the impression some people have!). Only a couple of days ago I reported a WSO product which I alleged (with no real evidence) included some stolen content: the moderator went to quite some lengths, and time and trouble, to investigate it, and immediately removed the whole thread when it actually turned out to be so. They do a lot more than they're credited with!

        .
        Thoroughly agree with the above; and although I've yet to try selling a WSO, my experience of the moderators here leads me to believe they do an exemplary job of policing the WSO system.
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        • Profile picture of the author Steve B
          Have you considered that there is already a place for IM product reviews right here on the forum?

          WF Product Reviews and Rating

          Is there really that much demand by product owners or potential buyers for another rating system? I rarely see anyone asking for it.

          The idea of "professional" or master reviewers leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I would just as soon hear what "the guy off the street" felt about something - especially the guy that just bought it, not the five star reviewer that would never buy the product but since it was free he wrote a quick review.

          Reviews are a very subjective matter. Sometimes a highly skilled person leaves a bad review because the level of the information doesn't fit his status. Other times, that same person leaves a flawless review, when in actuality, the average person would find the product way over his head.

          I know others may feel differently, but I am in the camp that says leaves the reviews to the product review section and don't taint the system with ego-builders that will trade a good review for a free product.

          Steve
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          • Profile picture of the author 01123581321345589144
            Not really demanding anything. I was just thinking about products, WSOs and how the reviews with those usually work and how the system might change. IF that's a goal. Maybe it's not.
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          • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
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            Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

            Have you considered that there is already a place for IM product reviews right here on the forum?

            WF Product Reviews and Rating
            For those who don't know this already --> WSO reviews are not allowed in the reviews section of the forum.

            Cheers

            -don
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