Advice or Checklist for a Review Type Site

[MjrNuT]

This is about a Review type site for offline products and services. So not webhosting, for example. A good example of what I mean would be restaurant reviews, movie reviews, washing machine reviews, services, etc.


These type of sites will typically have some sort of rating scale. Also some boiler plate format of the review (depending on the service/product). Newegg.com is an easy product review system as they use number of Eggs for theirs scale and their format is Pros, Cons, Other, if I recall correctly.

Purpose of these sites is to provide raw information to other cutomers and/or competitors. It's also a form of feedback to the proprietor. Not everyone receives the same experience, not everyone knows of potential drawback or awareness items, and such reviews help to characterize each case, at will, the experience. A review is only as good as it's content, clarity, accuracy, etc., which can be said about a lot of things.


I'd like to know what would be the most important items to see in a site for it to be, in your mind, professional and credible. Those are the top things that come to mind right now.

Rating system (e.g., paid like WPreview)
Authentication system of post Review
Platform (i.e., wordpress, forums, other)


What other things should be included that would be mandatory (must have), highly suggested (really good, but not mandatory), recommended (extra cosmetics)?

Any sites you'd recommend looking at that would help fill in these questions or take to the right places is much appreciated.

[MjrNuT]

Sweet, this article rings my tone.

Customer Service - Review Sites Can Make or Break a Business

[Shelley]

Possibly a

- Comment system
-- smilies (cosmetics to be used within the comment system)
- Feature system (Review of the month for whatever is being reviewed
--placements for screenshots of this site (I assume) and links place where necessary
-- Some kind of award image system to the winners (Gold, silver, bronze) image awarded and remains with these winners.

Things from the top of my head.

Edit: Why not implement 2 rating systems. One from the staff and one from the members in the way of a numerical scoring system.

[MjrNuT]

“ Originally Posted by Shelley ”

Possibly a

- Comment system
-- smilies (cosmetics to be used within the comment system)
- Feature system (Review of the month for whatever is being reviewed
--placements for screenshots of this site (I assume) and links place where necessary
-- Some kind of award image system to the winners (Gold, silver, bronze) image awarded and remains with these winners.

Things from the top of my head.

Edit: Why not implement 2 rating systems. One from the staff and one from the members in the way of a numerical scoring system.

Shelley,

Thanks so much for shooting off the top of your head. I think everything you stated I would definitely use.

If it were you, then what software would you recommend? yes, off the top of your head, so I completely understand and would not think to ask anything of you to substantiate it.


Part of me wants the site to be raw and simple...just put down on paper. Allowing people to share at their own horn tooting or equal peril. Credibility is obviously, I think, the most important factor with this type of site.

I've got a loose vision at the moment and will expound it after some more looking around.

Thanks a lot Shelley!

[MjrNuT]

Ok, I've made some progress. I'm going for as KISS as possible, since I'm expecting the level of tech-savvy may be below average.

Hence, so far my progress is the following:

1. vB3.8.x forums
2. Specific forums for input from various parties. Will also include on a by state (USA).
3. Rating system/form intended and WIP. Input form is needed. For example a mod that shows user a preset entry form for a review, designated for a particular forum. Need to look at ORG!!
4. Category for Site info/news/feedback
5. Category for issues/questions/reviews
6. Category for industry resources
7. Category for Private Staff (i.e., discussion, infraction/post reports, archive)
8. Style is acquired and I just need a logo. I'm fine with all the default images that came with the Style. A very popular person created it. Need to request this, but I'm not ready for the site to be publically known.


Plugins installed already --

1. Double post prevention
2. Advanced Forum Rules
3. Latest New Thread on ForumHome
4. Tag Cloud
5. Post Thanks/Groan (possibly)



Considerations --

1. vBA for simple portal
2. Forum Rules -- currently feel that default vB ones are just fine...?
3. Screenshot of Service Company (unsure of this method and execution)


Best analogy to this may be like webhostingtalk, which is simple forums to convey feedback.




Anything people might further suggest having said the above?

[MjrNuT]

Anyone have experience w/ the following two mods? I think they might be beneficial for my aims, but I'd like to see someone using it.


[AJAX] Helpful Threads - Thread Rating System - vBulletin.org Forum


[AJAX] Helpful Answers - Post Rating System (plus many sub-features) - vBulletin.org Forum

Thanks!

[Azhria Lilu]

We had it installed here at the beginning.. you even used it a few times

[MjrNuT]

“ Originally Posted by Azhria Lilu ”

We had it installed here at the beginning.. you even used it a few times

Urr, so I guess it/they were not useful here?

and...no i did not use it. no way, no how... I don't remember.

[Azhria Lilu]

It was the Helpful Answers one we had here - we ended up switching it off because it was starting to be used just to irritate each other

[MjrNuT]

I've been working on my project here for a bit. whew!

I have to say that this mod: Easy Forms - Create a form or multiple forms without php or html knowledge - vBulletin.org Forum

Kicks some serious booty.

I'm using the FAQ system to contain basic shiz. Have taken guidance from a number of places. (is that bad?)