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He misses another benefit of writing reviews: rewarding good businesses. And even, in the case of a thoughtful review, enabling a diversity of services -- simp
by ianb 16y ago
He misses another benefit of writing reviews: rewarding good businesses. And even, in the case of a thoughtful review, enabling a diversity of services -- simple star reviews can't express the give and take of different kinds of service, and so a decrepit-but-lovable hotel can't be distinguished from a decrepit-and-neglected hotel. Reviews make it possible for people to find the right hotel (or any other service) for their wishes, and they don't have to rely on crude measures like brand loyalty.
I honestly can't decide what the personal benefit is. If reviews can make a difference in a business, then one review can make a difference -- unlike "likes" or votes or stars a review is not automatically aggregated, it is specifically read by other people. So there is real potential that a review can positively impact a business you like, and provide you real benefit as a result. The negative impact of a bad review has no direct benefit that I can think of -- you will never return, and the only happiness you might derive is schadenfreude if the business's fortunes decline. Either way though there is a sense of satisfaction, which seems to be the primary reason people submit reviews.
- thetrumanshow 16y agoRepeat business is how you reward a business for being awesome. Its over-and-above to give them word-of-mouth recommendations or to post positive reviews. In general I don't think its wrong to ask for something in return for staking your reputation on a recommendation.
- ianb 16y agoWait... are you proposing that you get a kickback for your positive review? I'm not sure that will work so well...
- thetrumanshow 16y ago"I want direct benefits....free parking, a free night, coffee for free or dessert, discounts and so forth" If you provide illiquid perks for participating in a review process, I don't see much wrong with that. If they were handing out cash, then yes, that is a grey area.
- stonemetal 16y agoYeah just like those video game mag writers who got to go to flight school for their reviews of an air combat game. Ohh wait, paying people in things of value is similar to paying them in cash, even if they would have never bought those things in the first place. Especially if said perks can be sold for cash latter( free laptop for review etc.) Paying for reviews is paying for reviews integrity compromised, trust lost.
- thetrumanshow 16y agoThe OP described perks that were illiquid, of low value, and generally non-transferrable in nature. I think that is what we're talking about.
- civilian 16y agoI think that giving word-of-mouth recommendations is just another form of "repeat business". You, personally, are leading to another sale.