Reviewing advice

Who are the readers?

Remember we're writing for all levels of readers, ranging from experts, average users, even newbies. The net grows on, new users are still arriving. Knowing less about it than you, so explain at a level for everyone.

Who are the reviewers?

Reviewers are anonymous, but they still have a past and a reputation. You can read their earlier reviews, and vote them up if you liked them and down if you didn't. You can check if they just began, or posted for years.

All of us can choose to be reviewers and report our experiences both good and bad of the sites we visit. Our reviews are anonymous but are public for the world to see. Make your reviews credible and consistent with the facts.

Consider that anonymous is not nameless. Our online identity need not be physical and tangible, only consistent, with a history of credibility.

Take a Stand

When commenting, consider all the possible categories. Safety isn't the only aspect. If a website is safe but you dislike the product, let people know! Comments are designed to help people, so take advantage of all that you can use them for!

Investigate it

You're not the only one spammed, phished, or infected with malware. Nor the first time they did it. Investigate and learn more, follow the trail. Search and ask for larger patterns, background, history, comments. domaintools.com + archive.org + mywot.com + siteadvisor.com etc.

But don't confuse feelings with facts! Please don't howl at the moon. Maybe you think Microsoft stinks, but rating them red is also phony. Gates does not phish or scam, Windows isn't malware. Really, there are other inside fora for fan fights, ranting or trolling.

Document it

Document your claims, if you want credibility and trust. Explain and display what further investigation revealed. Link to longer versions, but use well known, credible sources. (Supply a short resume, as a general idea before clicking to get the long story.)

However, don't conclude more than you can prove. Being suspicious isn't enough, no matter how tempting. If you're not sure, then at least phrase it as a question, label it as a possibility; others may later dig out more.

Formulate it

If you want a text read a thousand times, read it yourself at least twice. Reconsider your phrases, find a better formulation, concentrate content. Remember, most texts can be reformulated to half the original size. If a template review, try to improve it each session, evolve.

Avoid obscure inside jokes and rude expressions, the forum is global, visited by all kinds of people. Everybody may read you, one day, including your boss, neighbors, family, parents, kids, friends, even the proverbial aunt Nellie, who just got her first PC.

Learn about it

The goal isn't to leave comments on every single website you come across. Leave comments on websites you know well enough, for better or worse. The best goal is not to leave lots of one word comments "safe" or "unsafe". Take your time on making comments, and feel free to edit your comments, if you change your opinion, or learn more later.

Identify yourself

Consolidate your online identity by using same name in related fora, making you consistent in that category. Remember your position: If you review your own website, then mark it correctly as a 'website owner's own comment'.

Don't praise yourself, posing as a satisfied customer, just to rate your own site green, again and again. Creating multiple bogus profiles is even worse. Remember, your credibility is nuked, if we cannot trust your online identity.