How much trust should you have in online reviews?
I am searching for online writing assistance. I am having difficulty determining if the online reviews are genuine or not. For example, this is a review site: http://toptenwritingreviews.com
In my opinion, I think the site looks extremely professional and I haven't seen any bad reviews, therefore I believe the service providers are genuine.
Am I putting too much emphasis on online reviews? How much should online reviews factor into my business decision making?
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Mar 15, 2015
I use forums over specific reviews and make sure that the research is done through good reliable sources
Mar 13, 2015
Reviews depend on the product or services you are looking for. If you are looking a product to buy from Amazon, i don't think there you can get some non genuine reviews. People who faced problems and people who feel great will review. But in the case of opting any services looking into yelp or Google ratings i may doubt. Am not saying every business result will have negative review, but you should really take care of services you opt by checking online reviews either its a product or services
Feb 9, 2015
Hi Sarah,
As a branding professional I will share my experience with you from a customers perspective as well as a vendor:
Things to be aware of as a customer:
1) Professional sites are easy to come by nowadays and you shouldn't place too much emphasis on it. Don't decide to go with a company just because they have a fancy website. This is the same as saying I wear fancy clothes therefore it makes me a good person.
2) Finding a good company that matches your needs is the same as dating, don't just jump straight in with both feet - you will get burnt. instead give them a very small project and see how well they handle it or better yet ask for a referral list from the company in question (a list of people you can call to verify the level of service the company provides)
3) Do not judge a company by reviews alone good or bad - some people are just difficult and will give any company problems (these reviews usually turn up on social media where a company can't regulate or control it as much) so I would check out how they deal with their customers on social media and how quickly.
As a Vendor/Company:
1) First off any respectable business will always put their best foot forward, in other words everything I show you (the customer) has to be the best. So you won't be able to see any bad reviews and even if you do I will try my best to conceal it (Social media complaints, etc.)
2) Sometimes companies may fake their reviews i.e. get a relative to write one. They may even write some themselves or hire a company to do this (social media can also be faked) - That being said most respectable companies would try and avoid this at all costs as honesty and integrity are very important traits for a company.
3) As a company I will do whatever I can to get your business If I think you are my ideal client - If I believe that there is value in creating a business relationship with you then I will do whatever I can to look after you and keep you. You have to understand Sarah as business sometimes some customers are just not worth it. We will spend time and resources servicing this customer only for them to keep demanding the impossible and sometimes withhold payment as a result. So when looking for a company make sure to manage your expectations especially when it comes to the scope of your project.
I.e. don't expect exceptional service and support for a $100 project.
My recommendation:
If it is a large long-term project - look for 3 comparable companies (google is your friend) ask them each to give you a quote or proposal and a list of references that you can call to verify. then give your selected company a small project to start and see how they handle it.
If it is a small project, just find the most price competitive company and go with it.
Hope this helped Sarah.
Feb 9, 2015
Hi Sarah,
Here is what I recommend in hiring a writing assistant.
1) Check out the reviews from the websites you are searching
2) Ask to speak to their references
3) Do a test project with them that you can measure their performance and see if it meets your requirements.
Online reviews should only be a piece of the hiring process, I would recommend you truly rely just on reviews alone.
Feb 8, 2015
Depends on site standard and their criteria but at the same sides its depends on your observation skill, Eagle eye and knowledge of dot connecting theory,its ability to draw a picture from given data,...its best example that policeman draw a picture of thief on the behalf of public data,...
Feb 8, 2015
I find that people write reviews either:
1- when they're really really angry about something that didn't go their way; or
2- when they're really really elated because of the great service they received.
As for this website, I don't trust anyone selling their writing so others can use it as their own.
Feb 8, 2015
Sarah,
In my experience, you should approach any review site with a grain of salt—or even outright skepticism. If there are no credentials of the reviewers on the site, you have no way of judging their opinions. Even worse, you have no clear way of judging their motivations. Are they trying to help you, or generate affiliate revenue by sending traffic to the highest bidder?
Ask yourself: What's in it for them? If it's not clearly spelled out, then you have no way to judge their ability or motivation to give you advice.
Proceed with caution and do your homework rather than trusting the word of a stranger.
Good luck,
Jon
Feb 8, 2015
Online reviews are always suspect. A series of reviews should be only a partial indicator for you in making a selection decision. Read the reviews completely. Do not pay attention to the scale. Look for specific details written by the review that can show you they have real experience with the product, and have realistically explored the product's features, and that they have given an honest try at challenging the merits of the product.
If a review cannot do this for you, ignore it. Generalities and platitudes have no value.
Feb 7, 2015
Online reviews are to be taken at Face value and should not be a major influencer in decision making especially on Critical things.
Feb 7, 2015
Now a days we are mostly depends on online sources but yes it is true that there are thousands of sources and authentication is a question. I think we can not avoid depending on online resources but we can justify by cross checking with several sources and if the info found similar in all resources then we can depends on them. There are also several recognized links available. So first verify if the site is a recognized one or not.
Feb 7, 2015
Online reviews can be extremely biased. In my experience I've found that forums have much less biased information than review sites. The majority of review sites are built for the purpose of generating referral commissions. I wouldn't use them as a credible source, you really have to cross check your information with several different forums.
Feb 7, 2015
Search engines rank sites higher if they have a higher percentage of positive reviews. If you want reviews you can trust, look for a range of opinions. Real world experiences range from horrific to heavenly - and so will genuine reviews.
Feb 7, 2015
I suppose the most important "review" is how you feel about their writing examples. Testimonies can be fraudulent and, in any case, they may not reflect how you will be served given your needs.
BTW..."Toptenwritingreviews.com" is seems to be owned by an Indian company, Sarobal Consultancy (if that is there real name!?) I am suspect they have other websites promoting similar services, but I'm not inclined to waste time searching.
If you are looking for writing assistance, there are many very reputable US based and international sites that can service you.
Feb 7, 2015
Send them a sample, get to know them some, trust your belly/gut and go from there...If you like how they responded to your sample, feed them something that is little more difficult and test and then decide.
Feb 7, 2015
Hi Sarah, online reviews can be a good starting point. The value depends on what you want. Are you hiring, purchasing, evaluating, bench-marking, etc? Trust can be earned and you should trust your intuition. Best, Richard
Feb 7, 2015
Do not trust that website.
Other online reviews should be considered a guide only and put your BS detector on high. If they sound genuine, they probably are. If they seem even a little bit off, they are probably not genuine and run from the company.
Regarding a writer, this can be VERY tough to find. Be sure to ask for samples before you hire them so the writing is what you want. I have hired wonderful, trustworthy writers in the past who could NOT write in the style and tone I needed, even with hours of guidance. Like artists, writers have styles and can be challenging to write against your natural style, which can make the writing stilted and read strangely.
Feb 7, 2015
Online reviews are very influential now-a-days. It is more likely for people to enter bad reviews instead of good ones. Take about 30% of the reviews to be legitimate and make your decision accordingly.
Feb 7, 2015
All of my reviews, on my website, have links to that person's company website--but I work for other businesses. Maybe an independent 3rd party review like Yelp or Epinions for products or services
So, do you think that positive reviews are only for getting good ranking for the website? I have seen this website redirects to another and some information about online writing services seems to be genuine in it. Now I am confused so much. I hope I should write it my own. Thank you for all your comments and support.