Comments on: SharedReviews Paid Opinions http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:46:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: SharedReviews - ny konsumenttjänst med potential « Slumpnavigator http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-2024873 SharedReviews - ny konsumenttjänst med potential « Slumpnavigator Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:43:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-2024873 [...] TechCrunch berättar om nya SharedReviews som erbjuder de bästa användarrecensenterna – framröstade av läsare naturligtvis – samlade på ett ställe. Och de framröstade får del av SharedReviews intäkter. [...] [...] TechCrunch berättar om nya SharedReviews som erbjuder de bästa användarrecensenterna – framröstade av läsare naturligtvis – samlade på ett ställe. Och de framröstade får del av SharedReviews intäkter. [...]

]]> By: David N. Welton http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385700 David N. Welton Sun, 20 May 2007 07:57:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385700 Wow - is it just me or is the graphic describing the whole thing kind of off-putting? It's not actually that complicated, but when displayed in a "look how easy this is" style, it kind of ruins the effect. Also, the arrows aren't quite strong enough to distract my eyes from the normal reading pattern. They should have made it an actual circle. Wow - is it just me or is the graphic describing the whole thing kind of off-putting? It’s not actually that complicated, but when displayed in a “look how easy this is” style, it kind of ruins the effect. Also, the arrows aren’t quite strong enough to distract my eyes from the normal reading pattern. They should have made it an actual circle.

]]> By: Ian Bell http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385303 Ian Bell Sat, 19 May 2007 22:04:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385303 I am biased in my opinion of this site, for obvious reasons, but will throw in my .02 anyways. Personally, they are no better than PowerReviews, PayPerPost or any other site that does not produce original content. The untold goal of SharedReviews is not to provide a good service to readers, but to work the Google long tail as much as possible - and do it using your readers instead of doing it yourself. Compensate your readers with pennies on the dollars, and make sure that any product indexed by Google is added to the site. It's as simple as that. Google and the other search engines need to start penalizing sites like this (Google already does this with the shopping comparison sites like Shopping.com etc) by lowering their rank position in search results. Anyone with a marketing research background will tell you what people look for when researching a product: 1) Professional opinion/review 2) Peer opinions/review 3) Price/value Peer reviews only go so far, you still need the other two components in order to make a knowledgable purchasing decision. I am biased in my opinion of this site, for obvious reasons, but will throw in my .02 anyways.

Personally, they are no better than PowerReviews, PayPerPost or any other site that does not produce original content. The untold goal of SharedReviews is not to provide a good service to readers, but to work the Google long tail as much as possible - and do it using your readers instead of doing it yourself. Compensate your readers with pennies on the dollars, and make sure that any product indexed by Google is added to the site. It’s as simple as that.

Google and the other search engines need to start penalizing sites like this (Google already does this with the shopping comparison sites like Shopping.com etc) by lowering their rank position in search results.

Anyone with a marketing research background will tell you what people look for when researching a product:

1) Professional opinion/review
2) Peer opinions/review
3) Price/value

Peer reviews only go so far, you still need the other two components in order to make a knowledgable purchasing decision.

]]> By: ebayaholic http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385219 ebayaholic Sat, 19 May 2007 19:17:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385219 agree with Aaron from wikipedia "Epinions.com originally had both an Eroyalties plan and an Income Share Plan. The Eroyalties plan paid writers per read of their opinion. The payment per read has steadily decreased and finally been unilaterally abolished, partly because cheating was taking place." disagree with Aaron epinions merged with dealtime became shopping.com bought by ebay no death in the near future agree with Aaron
from wikipedia

“Epinions.com originally had both an Eroyalties plan and an Income Share Plan. The Eroyalties plan paid writers per read of their opinion. The payment per read has steadily decreased and finally been unilaterally abolished, partly because cheating was taking place.”

disagree with Aaron
epinions merged with dealtime became shopping.com bought by ebay no death in the near future

]]> By: Aaron http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385187 Aaron Sat, 19 May 2007 18:23:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385187 Isn't this just Web 1.0 company Epinions respun with a Web 2.0 face? C'mon. This isn't revolutionary or even interesting. The world can do without it. It already has. Epinions has been flirting with death for a few years now. Isn’t this just Web 1.0 company Epinions respun with a Web 2.0 face? C’mon. This isn’t revolutionary or even interesting. The world can do without it. It already has. Epinions has been flirting with death for a few years now.

]]> By: SK http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385185 SK Sat, 19 May 2007 18:21:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385185 This model will only attract set of unwanted reviewers. Making money like this (or similar to this) on the web has not worked. This model will only attract set of unwanted reviewers. Making money like this (or similar to this) on the web has not worked.

]]> By: Looks like Ad pyramid scheme http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385137 Looks like Ad pyramid scheme Sat, 19 May 2007 17:25:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385137 Why didn't TC do enough research about ponzi and pyramid scheme? Why didn’t TC do enough research about ponzi and pyramid scheme?

]]> By: Khang Toh http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385106 Khang Toh Sat, 19 May 2007 16:53:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385106 wow.. just could not think how much similarity SharedReviews and my site, http://gizmoojo.com are. Gizmoojo was started as a pet project and I did not have time to keep up with development but.. it's just so reminds me of my site. I mean 1) The idea of community sharing reviews, and earning ad revenue from their review page was the main idea of Gizmoojo. Users can vote for the review by cheering a review or ranting a review. 2) The site layout, the top rounded corner banner and the color scheme( orange, silver and white… the left main column, then the right sub-column. wow.. just could not think how much similarity SharedReviews and my site, http://gizmoojo.com are. Gizmoojo was started as a pet project and I did not have time to keep up with development but.. it’s just so reminds me of my site.

I mean
1) The idea of community sharing reviews, and earning ad revenue from their review page was the main idea of Gizmoojo. Users can vote for the review by cheering a review or ranting a review.

2) The site layout, the top rounded corner banner and the color scheme( orange, silver and white… the left main column, then the right sub-column.

]]> By: Bill Worple http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385076 Bill Worple Sat, 19 May 2007 16:09:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385076 We’ve got a site in Beta called 3LUXE (http://www.3luxe.com/ ). It’s an editorially driven site that reviews the reviews (online and offline), monitors new product launches, and basically does the research you’d do if you had the time to find the best 3 products or services in any category. We then give users the ability to vote and comment on the picks to help make sure we get it right. We still have a lot of fine tuning to do, and reviews to add, but hopefully people will it to be a helpful tool. We’ve got a site in Beta called 3LUXE (http://www.3luxe.com/ ). It’s an editorially driven site that reviews the reviews (online and offline), monitors new product launches, and basically does the research you’d do if you had the time to find the best 3 products or services in any category. We then give users the ability to vote and comment on the picks to help make sure we get it right. We still have a lot of fine tuning to do, and reviews to add, but hopefully people will it to be a helpful tool.

]]> By: David Copithorne http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385032 David Copithorne Sat, 19 May 2007 15:01:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1385032 Loudervoice.com has a better shot at getting better review content, I think. I'd prefer have my own review content on my own blog. Likewise, I'd prefer to read reviews from somebody elses blog where my feeling is that people would have more personal investment in what they write. My initial response to SharedReviews was similar to Kewtr above that their model is ripe for illegitimate jacking up of reviews once money is introduced. I don't think Loudervoice offers reviewers money but the payoff for me would be access to reviews that I feel (rightly or wrongly) have more integrity. Loudervoice.com has a better shot at getting better review content, I think. I’d prefer have my own review content on my own blog. Likewise, I’d prefer to read reviews from somebody elses blog where my feeling is that people would have more personal investment in what they write. My initial response to SharedReviews was similar to Kewtr above that their model is ripe for illegitimate jacking up of reviews once money is introduced. I don’t think Loudervoice offers reviewers money but the payoff for me would be access to reviews that I feel (rightly or wrongly) have more integrity.

]]> By: amiz http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384966 amiz Sat, 19 May 2007 13:11:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384966 1:10:89 rule is problematic with their business model voters being 10% will take greater cut then 1%. Ami Z ViewScore.com 1:10:89 rule is problematic with their business model
voters being 10% will take greater cut then 1%.

Ami Z

ViewScore.com

]]> By: Thomas http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384918 Thomas Sat, 19 May 2007 12:22:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384918 What do you think about a new project called amazingstartups.com? What do you think about a new project called amazingstartups.com?

]]> By: HawaiiVacationGifts http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384900 HawaiiVacationGifts Sat, 19 May 2007 11:48:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384900 Will there be a conflict of interest if the reveiwer honestly doesn't like the product of one of the advertisers? Will he or she be pursuaded into downplaying or ignoring a products faults? Will there be a conflict of interest if the reveiwer honestly doesn’t like the product of one of the advertisers? Will he or she be pursuaded into downplaying or ignoring a products faults?

]]> By: Dekut.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384868 Dekut.com Sat, 19 May 2007 11:23:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384868 <strong>SharedReviews Paid Opinions...</strong> Most product review sites fall into one of two categories: professional or community driven. Sites like CNET Reviews and blogs like CrunchGear pay their staff to review the latest gadgets and give you an authoritative, and hopefully unbiased, opinion o... SharedReviews Paid Opinions…

Most product review sites fall into one of two categories: professional or community driven. Sites like CNET Reviews and blogs like CrunchGear pay their staff to review the latest gadgets and give you an authoritative, and hopefully unbiased, opinion o…

]]> By: Ali http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384860 Ali Sat, 19 May 2007 11:14:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384860 50% of the cut gets distributed to the community and then that is further split into half between contributor and voters? Something doesn't add up here? Looks like the reviewers are getting shortchanged. 50% of the cut gets distributed to the community and then that is further split into half between contributor and voters?

Something doesn’t add up here? Looks like the reviewers are getting shortchanged.

]]> By: TinyUrl http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384817 TinyUrl Sat, 19 May 2007 10:29:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384817 The ratings will be skewed somewhat because people have preferences before they review a product but I'm sure they take that into consideration when whether to approve the rating or not. If you have a person filling out 300 reviews in an hour you know his "insight" isn't worth crap. At least I hope they know that. The ratings will be skewed somewhat because people have preferences before they review a product but I’m sure they take that into consideration when whether to approve the rating or not. If you have a person filling out 300 reviews in an hour you know his “insight” isn’t worth crap. At least I hope they know that.

]]> By: Vaibhav Domkundwar - iNods.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384739 Vaibhav Domkundwar - iNods.com Sat, 19 May 2007 09:33:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384739 Reviews are becoming central to buying decisions and there is a lot of value in making it easier for consumers to find all reviews in one place. However, getting users to write reviews on a walled garden site is challenging. Its just not natural for most of us. And the ones for whom it is natural, they are posting reviews on their blogs, websites and other places....including Amazon which is probably the largest review site (its not easy to replicate that though). Reviews are becoming central to buying decisions and there is a lot of value in making it easier for consumers to find all reviews in one place. However, getting users to write reviews on a walled garden site is challenging. Its just not natural for most of us. And the ones for whom it is natural, they are posting reviews on their blogs, websites and other places….including Amazon which is probably the largest review site (its not easy to replicate that though).

]]> By: Kewtr http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384721 Kewtr Sat, 19 May 2007 08:56:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/19/sharedreviews-paid-opinions/#comment-1384721 I think it's a great idea. It'll be tough to sort out if ratings are jacked up illegitimately, since there's money at stake for the reviewer. I was going to say a better way would be connecting their rating to sales conversions from their review, but I guess then you'd get stacks of falsely positive sales material instead of reviews. I guess what would be optimal would be purchasers of the products rating the reviewer after they buy, but that'd be tough to get the info. If you could, I think you could get truly good reviewer feedback. I think it’s a great idea. It’ll be tough to sort out if ratings are jacked up illegitimately, since there’s money at stake for the reviewer.

I was going to say a better way would be connecting their rating to sales conversions from their review, but I guess then you’d get stacks of falsely positive sales material instead of reviews.

I guess what would be optimal would be purchasers of the products rating the reviewer after they buy, but that’d be tough to get the info. If you could, I think you could get truly good reviewer feedback.

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