Handling web site reviews

[Adam Randall]

There are a lot of web site reviews in here now and the amount of requests seem to be increasing all the time.

A couple things I have noticed:

The same questions being asked of the reviewers after the initial request.

Some people with one or two posts coming in like crop dusters for a quick freebee and then never posting again.

I have seen on another forum that gets a lot of web site review request how they handle it and I think it would be good to follow their example.

To post a web site review request, you must:

1) Have at least 20 posts against your name

2) fill out a template of 20 common questions

This would stop website review spam & would also make the person requesting the review think more clearly about their own site prior to posting.

Example below:

http://www.highrankings.com/forum/in...?showtopic=113

[Chris Bates]

I agree with the template, lots of poorly asked questions for reviews that tend not to get any responses.

The post requirement is a bit iffy though. It infuriates me when I go join a forum and I have to jump through hoops before I can be considered a member. I think it just prompts people to spam, get their advice, and never come back anyway.

I think active members tend to get the better feedback anyway.

[Robert Gerrish]

Great points guys, thanks for raising it Adam.

We'll get to work on something and be back to you v shortly.

Robert

[VideoTraining]

Yes, it is interesting to watch - says the new guy!

I would think that if FS implemented a "must be a member for n days" policy it would cut down a lot of this.

Good point though.

Tony Morris
www.DVDcoach.com
Online Computer Training Made Easy

[Emroy]

Ohh ... No, don't bring in the "must be a member for x days" or "must have made x posts" ... When I joined, I wanted to hit the ground running ... I probably would have left if I didn't achieve the goals I wanted in a short time.

I like the idea of a questionnaire though, with regards to everything else, isn't that what we have moderators for?

[vxd]

Originally Posted by Emroy

Ohh ... No, don't bring in the "must be a member for x days" or "must have made x posts" ... When I joined, I wanted to hit the ground running ... I probably would have left if I didn't achieve the goals I wanted in a short time.

I really hate that too, I was on a forum that you had to wait 45 days and 25 post to post in a section.

It was the classified section so it's understandable but to wait x days and have x post to post in the review section would be ridiculous

[King]

I am an admin on a forum that had this issue. They ONLY way we found to solve it was through the X posts first (proper posts, we ban them otherwise). We have no qualms about ensuring they give to the community first.

Also made all links no-follow, plus have moderators constantly on the site - easy with 4-5 people in different time zones. (this is sadly lacking on this forum, spam still existing 12 hours after the spammer posted).

[Emroy]

Originally Posted by King

I am an admin on a forum that had this issue. They ONLY way we found to solve it was through the X posts first (proper posts, we ban them otherwise). We have no qualms about ensuring they give to the community first.

Also made all links no-follow, plus have moderators constantly on the site - easy with 4-5 people in different time zones. (this is sadly lacking on this forum, spam still existing 12 hours after the spammer posted).

Your going to get spam no matter what you do... Perhaps Flying Solo should look at having a few other moderators?

I'm not sure if the links are no follow at the moment or not, but if I think they were intentionally moved to no follow would be stupid. Why not make the most of the time we are here by getting a few link backs to our site?

[King]

Yes it may be that more moderators are needed or those that exist to check in more often.

It is only the links for site reviews that are no follow in the other forum. The system has cut down significantly on link dropping by people who never return and participate by taking up at least some of the suggestions made.

[JohnSheppard]

The no follow thing likely doesn't act as a deterrent to spaming as it's easier to post than to read the rules.

I would think having a 2-3 post limit on just the community review subforum would prevent review request abuse without imposing a deterrent on possible new good members.

That is, coming and posting a review request straight up is not a good indicator of someone who wants to contribute anything worthwhile to the forum as a whole.

Myself I rarely read the review requests because I figure it's a one way street and I'm here to learn not to give my services away for free (which I presume is the same for most people)..

Fewer requests with higher quality responses...might turn into a two way street where learning occurs for all....