7 Product Review Website Best Practices
While product review websites abound in the wide oceans of the internet, finding one that is neutral and works with integrity can be like locating a needle in a haystack.
Consumers are inundated with information, and it can be difficult to separate the trustworthy pearls from the clutter. The following are some rules that trustworthy websites follow in order to adhere to industry standards for product review websites:
1. Is There a Justification for the Reviewer’s Method of Conducting Product Reviews? A critical component of the integrity checklist is if the site discloses how products are reviewed – what they search for, how they rate a product, and whether they purchase the products themselves or obtain review copies. This information should be completely given and clearly available (not hidden at the bottom of the footer in the hope that the consumer would miss it.)
2. Is There a Page About Us? This is a critical characteristic to search for. Numerous “reviewers” conceal their identities, and you never know who operates the site – or what their objective is! Transparency is a significant characteristic of an honest product review site. If the reviewer identifies himself or herself and provides context for why they created the site.
3. Is an FTC Disclosure Required, and Is It Displayed Properly? In the United States, product review sites that use affiliate links ARE REQUIRED to publish an FTC disclosure. This must be presented prominently on the site without requiring a user to navigate to another page. Additionally, it should appear ‘above the fold,’ i.e., on the top half of the web page, so that the viewer is not need to scroll down to find it.
4. Does the review site include additional consumer or marketing information, or is it just focused on reviews? A consumer-oriented website will be focused on the consumer’s wants and interests. Reputable product review sites typically include additional advice and practical information alongside their reviews – rather than simply marketing each thing they “review.”
5. Is There a Privacy Statement on the Site? You have a right as a consumer to know how your personal information and IP address are utilised. Reputable review sites will include the mandatory privacy statement outlining how your information will be used.
6. Do You Have a Balance of Positive and Negative Reviews? Genuine, unbiased product review websites will provide both positive and negative feedback. Be suspicious of sites that only provide great reviews for each product they review or that are focused on a single product. A reputable review site should be consumer-oriented and unafraid to criticise products that do not meet the purchasing public’s needs.
7. Do the Reviewers Own the Products? While some credible reviewers are capable of evaluating a free review copy of a product objectively and without bias, the fact that they received it for free undermines the illusion of neutrality. Reviewers who purchase their own products can maintain objectivity and hold the product to the same criteria as a typical consumer.
Bear in mind that there are legitimate product review websites. As a consumer, you must assess a site’s legitimacy prior to relying on its reviews. Visit us for reliable evaluations and information on how to bushwhack your way through the web marketing jungle.
