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Some tips
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jo.com Original Post: Dec 02 '04,  6:47 am           Reply
Reviews written: 1641
Member since: Feb 23 '00
Post: 7688
Some tips

Ok I'm not a TR and should be writing a review but I thought I would put my thoughts down as an advisor in terms of what I like to see. Without a long thought out essay on the subject some off the cuff remarks.

1. Make sure you are reviewing the exact product on the product page.

2. Tell us about the product. What is it? What is it used for? For whom would you recommend it? Why did you choose it? What other kinds, brands, etc. have you tried (if applicable)? Tell us (again if applicable) the size, weight, ease of use, features, functions. In other words describe in as much detail as possible. You might say "but if you are reading it (the consumer) then they know what it is) but that isn't true. They may be buying it as a gift or want one but don't have the newest with one that has the features you are mentioning and don't understand what you are saying so make sure you describe technical jargon if possible.

3. Use Word. Do not type right on the product page. Although it will pick up some typos it will not pick up a lot of them. On top of that I don't know many people who haven't gone to submit and it didn't go through. Then the whole review is lost. So my advice, write it, edit it, proofread it then post it on epinions.

4. Please let us know how much it costs. I know there are categories that don't care because costs vary (yard sales etc.) but I, for one, like to know about what price range you are talking about without having to go back to the product page or manufacturer's website. If you got it as a gift, please look it up to see what the going price is.

I hope this helps. I've covered a bit but if you are new and reading this make sure to read VH reviews in the category first to see what people want. It will help you out a lot. Also if you get low ratings, go ahead and edit the review putting in people's suggestions and then you can e-mail the ones who rated you low and ask that they read it again.

Feel free to e-mail me if you have questions and of course have fun at the site. jo

   
jps246 Posted: Dec 07 '04,  9:26 am           Reply
Reviews written: 774
Member since: Jan 25 '01
moderator in Outdoor Gear, Sporting Goods
Post: 7911
RE: Some tips

Quote: jo.com
3. Use Word. Do not type right on the product page. Although it will pick up some typos it will not pick up a lot of them. On top of that I don't know many people who haven't gone to submit and it didn't go through. Then the whole review is lost. So my advice, write it, edit it, proofread it then post it on epinions.


All great advice for writers. I'd only caution that if you do use word - you are going to have the 'character mess' bug that everyone has been complaining about. Word creates characters that don't transfer over into Epinions correctly and hence we get that mash of unknown characters.

Save the file in Word as a text file first and then cut and paste and you should solve most of the character mashing problems.

Jeff
   
jo.com Posted: Dec 11 '04,  11:12 am           Reply
Reviews written: 1641
Member since: Feb 23 '00
Post: 8092
Good catch, Jeff

I'll have to figure out how to do that! Now I'm being very creative or just leaving out apostrophes. I'm also making use of Mobiprof's essay that showed us how to fix the mess. Thanks..jo

   
jps246 Posted: Dec 18 '04,  11:10 am           Reply
Reviews written: 774
Member since: Jan 25 '01
moderator in Outdoor Gear, Sporting Goods
Post: 8388
RE: Good catch, Jeff

I also figured out if you use Window's Word Pad (the really simple word processor that comes with Windows), it doesn't edit the text and you can cut and paste directly from it without any text mashing problems.

Jeff

   
jo.com Posted: Dec 20 '04,  4:25 pm           Reply
Reviews written: 1641
Member since: Feb 23 '00
Post: 8468
:)

You lost me at Word Pad. Do I have that and where do I find it? Although I have it down pretty well thanks to MobiProf's very handy guide to how to fix the characters. I have his review in my favorite places. I don't use apostrophes if I do not have to - just like I used do not rather than don't. But if I have to use an ' as in Dunkin' Donuts then I cut and paste the code all the way through. It only takes me an additional 20 minutes!! jo

   
tch7 Posted: Dec 20 '04,  8:19 pm           Reply
Reviews written: 112
Member since: Jan 19 '03
moderator in Hotels & Travel
Post: 8476
RE: :)

Click on your start menu, go to all programs, then the folder Accessories, and it should be in there, as it is a Windows component.

The character problem seems to be fixed for the most part though, with only a few instances here and there now.

   
jo.com Posted: Dec 23 '04,  3:51 am           Reply
Reviews written: 1641
Member since: Feb 23 '00
Post: 8545
I noticed

that. Gosh that was a horrible disease! The biggest bug of them all! jo

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