How to Tell a Solid Online Review From a Bad One?
Written by Peter Lawlor Sunday, 15 May 2011 08:31
Are you researching a product or service such as an SEO software service or vehicle? If so, you probably reading online reviews. Can you tell a good review from a bad one?
The fact is online reviews are very helpful for researching purchases. I rely on them all the time.
That said, it's impossible to determine a service's effectiveness by reading the sales page or squeeze page. Those sales pages promise the world and often deliver nothing.
Over the years, I've purchased some bad products, even though I read positive reviews. The problem is I relied on influenced reviews; written for money alone.
It's true, many reviews are written purely for the money (i.e. affiliate commission and paid advertisements). You need to look for and rely on reviews that neutrally present the facts
11 pointers for telling a good review from a bad review:
1. Avoid sales language. If it's an advertorial or press release, ignore it.
2. If you get the sense it is trying to persuade or convince, then it is not very helpful.
3. Check out the rest of the website - what are its affiliations and what is the rest of the website informative or just hype.
4. Look for and read any disclosure statements to look for affiliations (affiliations are necessarily bad; but it helps to know about them).
5. Read other reviews on the site if any in order to determine whether they are routinely biased.
6. Read for any real solid information about the reviewed product or service. Is it vague or are there actual facts, details, and a sense the author actual knows the product or service.
7. Try to determine if the writer actually uses, tried, or purchased the product or service.
8. Compare the review to others.
9. Did you access the review through a sponsored link or organic link? If it's a sponsored link it's definitely a well-paid affiliate article. Again, not necessarily bad, but it's good to know all aspects.
10. Just because it's a respected publication doesn't mean it's not a paid advertisement (i.e. advertorial or affiliate link).
11. Look for reviews that set out both the good and the bad.
I want to make it clear paid ads and affiliate marketing are not necessarily bad. Some offer excellent information and are very helpful. I never discount a review because it's an affiliate link. That said, I like to know that it's an affiliate article or paid advertisement. I just read it carefully with a slight bit more skepticism.
It's worth researching your purchases by reading reviews and reading what people have to say. It can save you time, money, and heartache. Just don't rely on entirely biased information; know what it is you're reading and you'll make smarter purchases.
About the Author:
For examples of excellent reviews, read this Genesis Framework Review and this Builder Theme Review.