A Review site without Reviews = The Pub with No Beer

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[Jezz]

I just wanted to start a discussion on how to get a Review site up and running.
For those that are lucky enough to have an established site with a large userbase, this should be easy.

For the rest of us it's going to be a struggle.

I imagine it would be similar to starting a Forum.
If there are no posts, people will not post.
But once there are some, things begin to snowball.

I know that it is common practise for some forum admin to make up users, and start posts by themselves or with friends. Some of them pay people to post, just to get the ball rolling.

So to get things started, Some options might be:

• Write a heap of reviews yourself and make up Author names
• Pay freelance writers to write some reviews
• Review swapping with other members of this forum 
• Including a revenue sharing module and incorporating this into jRreviews
• Hold a competition and offer prizes for the best reviewers

Any other ideas?

[Gamersea]

Also give normal contests, Try to find some sponsors that will give your members special offers.
Make some nice newsletters and send it each week/two weeeks/each month with the best userreviews etc.
Don't start with a empty database, Make sure you have atleast 10 products on each category.
Somewhere on the site explain to "normal" people how they can use the system etc.
Make sure you have a nice lay-out for example JS_Simplicity (it does have some little bugs with Jreviews)

[rob]

My solution is a little different. I plan to write simple, factual write ups for venues, and then invite the venue owners themselves, to ask their regulars to visit my site to add their opinions. This should be enough to generate interest for my drink and movie reviews too.

I like the idea of a sharing module though, even sharing content with other members. Although I doubt I will run into many people here who are reviewing pubs, bars and clubs in and around London.

[Jezz]

Thanks guys

You've given me a few new ideas.

I guess Editor reviews are another option, Even if you have not used the products / services yourself, If you Google and research other Peoples opinions, you could combine this to give a valid review.

My site will not be having Editor Reviews though, And this is a bit of a moral dilemma for me.
But I'm considering posting some reviews from Made up users, But based on real reviews/opinions from some other sites/forums etc..
Ok... this is not ideal, But at least these would have a factual base.
Not like some of these "top 10" sites that "coincidently" have services ranked according to affiliate payouts

I already face strong competition, so starting of with an empty site is not an option for me.

I'm still not sure if I'll do this, but would this be such bad thing?

[RJP1]

Would any of you guys like to swap reviews with my site? It's a music based site - www.MusicMouth.co.uk

It's a good idea to swap, because (strange as it seems) I'd rather write about a different subject. So please PM me if you want to help me and I'll help you in return!

RJP1

[Alejandro]

Man you have done a great job with that site, I like how you have used the dashboard I know this is off topic but I suggest you turn off the detailed ratings in the Reviews tab. So for example on this page:

http://www.musicmouth.co.uk/rock/bon-jovi/crossroads%2c-the-best-of-bon-jovi/

It would remove the duplicate rating stars in the user review and just show the one before the title.

[RJP1]

Hi Alejandro,

Thanks! I saw what you meant, and I heeded you advice and sorted it out. Thank you.
Would you like to "feature" musicmouth as a testament to your jReviews? That would be very cool of you!


RJP1

[Morpheous]

Would any of you guys like to swap reviews with my site? It's a music based site - www.MusicMouth.co.uk

It's a good idea to swap, because (strange as it seems) I'd rather write about a different subject. So please PM me if you want to help me and I'll help you in return!

RJP1

Hi RJP1,

I think your idea is great. We are a "community" here on this board. I am happy to place reviews on your site. Maybe there's something here others could add as well. Have you travelled by air in the last couple of years? You can take a look at my site at http://jet-vista.com and I will add a review on your site.

[Missy]

My site will not be having Editor Reviews though, And this is a bit of a moral dilemma for me.
But I'm considering posting some reviews from Made up users, But based on real reviews/opinions from some other sites/forums etc..I already face strong competition, so starting of with an empty site is not an option for me.

I'm still not sure if I'll do this, but would this be such bad thing?

Firstly, thanks for sharing your good ideas on overcoming the 'pub with no beer' situation. I appreciate your moral dilemma.  I have to agree, your idea is not SUCH a bad thing, but it still is a bit false.  And maybe there are alternatives.  Since you are not having editor reviews, but considered that as an option, it seems to imply that one review per listing may be enough for starters?  If that is true, what about this for another idea:
Create a user id for yourself using your real name, and create a review being quite real about it.  (Good old ausie reality check!).   Say, for example, that you've searched the web and the overall consensus seems to be 'such and such'.  Get creative about it, but be real.  This way, you are starting off your site with an energy of being real and true.   Users may appreciate it.

Best of luck

[onder]

Hello RJP1,

How come your site is lightning fast? That's just incredible..

While yours has the speed of light, mine is lika a snail.

Alejandro, am I missing something here? Some components, same modules, same amount of images but incredibly huge difference. I realy got jealous. How come such a big difference?

[Alejandro]

I have a dedicated server which costs me $$$, maybe that's why? Don't need to share resources with anyone else.

[onder]

It might be the lowest configuraton, but after all mine is a dedicated server too.

I was talking about this site:

http://www.musicmouth.co.uk/rock/bon-jovi/crossroads%2c-the-best-of-bon-jovi/

I must be missing something.

My JS/CSS Cache is OFF but zlib compresion is ON. Which one would give better performance, the way it is now or the other way around: I mean zlib compression is OFF but jReviews JS/CSS cache ON?

May be I am using too many modules: I have 7 with auto detect is ON and 7 with auto detect OFF

[Alejandro]

Oops 

Not sure which is better, I guess you need to test. But having 14 modules on the same page might be a bit too much. Make sure you at least have the query cache on in jReviews.

[David Stockelberg]

I just wanted to start a discussion on how to get a Review site up and running.

.....

• Including a revenue sharing module and incorporating this into jRreviews

Do you know of any such "revenue sharing module" ??
(all I have found is this one, and I haven´t tried it yet: http://joomladev.boddunan.com/joomla-extensions/2-components/4-article-reviews-and-points-a-cash-rewards.html)

[Stew C]

Hi

This is directed towards RJP1 of musicmouth,  I was wondering what plugin you are using to provide the 'Quote this article on your site' link? 

Thanks

Pete