We dont stand still for a minute, do we????
As always, there is never a dull moment at Viewpoints. Last night we launched another batch of changes to the website-- namely, more navigational improvements to the home page.
Check it out! Here are some of the improvements to look for:
1. At the top of the home page is now a new tab-- called community; it is a direct link to our member center and member search
2. Categories are now listed at the top of the page so that no matter where you go on the site, you have a sense of place. You will also see a breadcrumb (a trail listing where you are on the site) at the top of all the pages.
3. Read Reviews tab. It is now a site map of the site. You will see a listing of a lot of our categories and subcategories there!
Those are just a few of the big changes that we made. There are also a series of small changes. (p.s. dont worry-- editing comments is coming soon!!)
Also, we need your help...
1. If you could customize the home page, what information would you like to see there? What is most important to you as a reader AND a writer?
2. Several of you mentioned that you wanted to be able tell a person that their review is not helpful. (for example: was this review helpful? thumbs up and thumbs down) Tell us your thoughts on that? Should that be a priority? And, if so, how do you do it so that it doesnt appear negative or nasty?
3. Writer levels. Do you like them? Do you hate them? Would you prefer earning something different like- the Beauty Diva badge or the Gadget Geek badge?
4. Lastly, did you happen to notice that we now have 80,000+ travel reviews on the site. Did you see the reviews from our friends at Orbitz. If not, check them out. Dont worry-- your travel reviews should always trump theirs. Do you mind them????
8 comments:
Maybe instead of just flat pro or negative for the reviews, maybe we need to rate the reviews as well, just as we do the product and services. That way you aren't specifically telling someone their review isn't a good one, but instead are leaving an anonymous feedback, so that you don't lose that sense of community.
Here goes: 1. If you could customize the home page, what information would you like to see there? What is most important to you as a reader AND a writer?
I think the home page could incorporate some of the member page. For ex. I think right up front people should know what Viewpoints is and not have to hunt it down. I like the use of the tags but someone new won't understand them without an explanation. The most helpful reviews are really a misnomer, imho, which I can talk to you, Jolie, about. I can write a book here and don't want to!
2. Several of you mentioned that you wanted to be able tell a person that their review is not helpful. (for example: was this review helpful? thumbs up and thumbs down) Tell us your thoughts on that? Should that be a priority? And, if so, how do you do it so that it doesnt appear negative or nasty?
I have sent you two I believe inappropriate reviews. I like that feature. I think we have to define what isn't helpful. I see lots of "reviews" that are one liners (perhaps coming from Orbitz) and though they aren't what I'm used to what makes them not helpful unless they are inappropriate? Then again it does irk me a bit because I can spend all day and write two reviews and people get good points for two sentences. jo whining
3. Writer levels. Do you like them? Do you hate them? Would you prefer earning something different like- the Beauty Diva badge or the Gadget Geek badge?
I think if you give people badge names you may be locking them into those categories but again this may not apply to me so we'll see what others say.
4. Lastly, did you happen to notice that we now have 80,000+ travel reviews on the site. Did you see the reviews from our friends at Orbitz. If not, check them out. Dont worry-- your travel reviews should always trump theirs. Do you mind them????
See #1 and I didn't realize there were so many but I am certainly seeing one and two liners about lots of items. Some of them I can't give a good point to because although the little bit might be helpful I don't want to encourage two sentence reviews. I once left a very nice comment on a great review that was one paragraph suggesting that it would be so much easier to read for my old eyes if it could be broken down. I'm not sure what happened to it. I think I said it in a way that was not at all critical. It's the only time I commented on style but again it was a great review but to let this person continue with one paragraph reviews seems silly. As a consumer I would skip over it if there were other reviews on the product.
I don't know why my identity and VPs pic isn't showing up. I signed in here under my own blog name and picture. Jo
I like the new additions. I think there should be some way to distinguish really good reviews without necessarily telling someone that their review doesn't cut it. I think that in this case, positive re-enforcement may work better than negative.
I'd like to be able to tell a writer that his/her review is well thought out and presented without necessarily saying that I agree with it.
One of the enhancements I'd like to see is the ability to respond to a question or comment directly without having to resort to using "send a compliment". I know that we can leave a response to a comment, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the member will receive it unless the re-visit the review. That is right, isn't it?
Keep up the good work. This is becoming a helluva site!
Rudi
Jo makes some excellent points, especially regarding those very short reviews which I have noticed as well. Sometimes you read a review and it really isn't bad or inapproriate, it just says nothing other than a paragraph saying they like something. That's great, but we need to know why you like something.
Yet, the VP community has always been so warm and welcoming, that you hate to put heavy guidelines in it, as it takes away from that overall feeling.
Maybe that's the problem w/ rewards for number of reviews, though. Some can do that number very quickly, as they're just writing things that aren't helpful to get to that next level.
It's kind of a touchy area, I think.
Love the comments... keep em coming!! It is so helpful to get your insights.
FYI. The Orbitz reviews are in HOTELS only. The other short reviews are from programs that we are running.
We always want full stories, but if someone wants to only leave a quick rating, we dont want to turn them away either... :) A bunch of ratings can be really helpful. As Laura said, we try to be soooo welcoming-- anyone can particiapte.
Rudi has a great comment about saying "good point" but not saying "I agree".
Do you all use Digg??? They have digg and bury. I like the tone of that since it isnt personally attacking.
The trick is that you have to do something fun to make it easy for a reader to just click it while not making it offensive. Any suggestions???
I'm always about "theme." And the theme with VP is just that "point." And there's even a dot to hit to show many people thought you had a good point. So to me, there needs to be something that is the opposite of "point," like ... counterpoint, but that isn't quite right either, as that indicates a differing view, and that's not exactly what you're getting at. There's "chalking up a point," but the opposite of that would be erasing a point, and that depicts too much negativity.
1) I like the overall look of the home page. I might be kind of old school, but I really don't get the purpose of "tags." As a reader and a writer, I wouldn't mind if the tags were eliminated. I don't find them helpful.
In addition, I feel that the list of "Weekly top rated items" and the "Good Point – Most Helpful" list are redundant. Many times the same reviews appear on both lists.
On another note, it might be fun to showcase a product and highlight two reviews on the Homepage that provide two points of view of the same product. For example:
KitchenAid Mixer
He Says: Best Mixer on the Market;
She Says: Doesn't Cost a lot of Dough
I don’t know, something like that. I'm just brainstorming here. It could be fun for both readers and writers to see two viewpoints side by side. They don't have to be pro and con – just different enough to be interesting.
2) The main reason I never joined Epinions is that the experience has a negative vibe (in my opinion). That said, it might be helpful to let people know if their reviews are helpful or not. Perhaps instead of a thumbs up or down, readers could click on a button list
(1) Good point; I agree
(2) Good point, but I have a different view;
(3) Good point, but more details would be helpful; etc.
If Viewpoints adopts the helpful/not helpful model, it would be nice to let folks know that their contribution is appreciated, whether it's a quickie or a lengthy review.
3 I think the writer levels are fine. I don't like the idea of badges. Personally, it feels like you'd be stuck in a category. What I like about Viewpoints is that there aren't a great deal of levels and titles and cliquish webs, etc. I guess my tag would be "I appreciate simplicity."
4) I haven't noticed the travel reviews – I guess I'll have to look for them now.
My humble opinions, for what they're worth. Now, I've got a review to write...
-LoveisJoy
Ok, I like the new changes. IF I were to give input on what changes I'd like to see they would be -
1. All reviews must be 200 words or 400 even. Sometimes I don't have a clue as to what is being written about!
2. I think instead of a thumbs down I would just like to know who has read the review. Maybe a "stopped by" or something button to let us know.
3.Haven't checked the travel but as long as mine go to the front, sounds good to me :-)
4. I agree with Jo about having something on the front page announcing what Viewpoints is - a mission statement so to speak maybe in the existing Find Reviews areas.
Ok I will think about this more :-)
Kristy
who is on pain meds (pulled my back out) right now, so hoping this is making sense LOL
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