by Costas Chryanthou

Created on: August 03, 2008

In the digital age where information, data, opinions are so vital in making decisions and for information purposes the websites receive income from advertisers of products, services and information. On almost all retail sites the products being sold contain consumer reviews of that particular product from a limited range of people who have bought the product and made some personal opinions of that product. The retail sites do not tend to pay writers for product reviews. Certain websites at the moment limited mainly to helium, dealtime aka epinions, ciao, and dooyoo and to a certain extent trivago pay writers a small payment for a review.

I feel strongly that if a newspaper article writer who say earns a salary or a fixed payment for their work then why can not the amateur or freelance writer have a small bit at the cake. It makes sense that at times a amateur reviewer can detail events and write helpful reviews on a wide range of products, or topics that help a reader reach a buying decision or extends their own learning then surely websites from around the internet must realise an opportunity for themselves by encouraging paid articles. By having more and more websites that pay writers would help engage the community of that website to engage in better decision making in carrying out transactions, doing business with, and also in naming and shaming poor quality experiences.

I feel that some readers and external neutrals of review sites would agree that a common complaint of reviews is the poor spelling and grammar issue. Well I feel that if the website paying, has a well designed website and has proof readers of their own then why are the reviews not amended to fit in with this criteria. Common sense applies that if a review is well detailed then the review has a very good case for inclusion in any website. Some reviews by comparison can waffle on about the history and background of a topic which creates a woeful level of padding just to make it appear more detailed. I think that where details and true personal opinions are involved then the review helps in itself promotes and informs.

Whilst this is a certainly great futuristic idea, it may design a more segmented and community based way of doing business. Good businesses should be praised and the details of their business activities, products, etc should be informed and act as a guide for other consumers and readers to understand. Websites surely should take note.

Say in a travel arena, the hotels advertised on some travel agents may or may not be good. By having paid reviews of such sites can help the reader much better now that digital cameras specifications now are close to 14.8 mega pixels and almost at or are now up to the Hi-definition standard. The internet community is not so easily fooled and soon the quality of product, travel reviews will soon increase. This will be some hotels own downfall in coming years and good hotels will continue to prosper. The information contained on a good paid article will count for a good level of business, and in turn a lot of word and mouth recommendations. Now that camera technology is advancing regularly. The images of which are in effect as good as being their yourself.

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