People Feel Compelled To Give Away Reviews Online
from the just-can't-help-it dept
One of the most useful features of Amazon are all the book reviews from other readers. I use reader reviews all the time in deciding whether or not to buy certain books. The Seattle Times is now looking at why people give up so much free time and free content writing reviews. For some, it's almost an obsession. They even quote someone who realizes that his 664 reviews on Epinions are practically a book's worth - and he's not getting any royalties for all that work that Epinions now uses to sell ads. Of course, this is the general economics of the web. The market for this guy's reviews when he starts out is basically none (other than a few friends and family, who are unlikely to pay for them). Online sites give this guy a place for his reviews that gets them attention. He wouldn't have any attention without those sites. Now, if he's used the free content of all of his reviews, and has a following, perhaps he can now take that fame and leverage it for a paying gig - such as writing a book or creating his own reviews website where he can sell ads or something else along those lines (or maybe not). But without giving away the free content, he has nothing. At the same time, there's a wide variety of competition out there, made up of lots of others giving reviews as well - all for free (or close to free). Therefore, the market has set the price fairly low for these reviews on their own.
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It's no always money
My website is a money making venture, but it didn't start out that way, and someday, when I retire, that part will be far less important once again. I'll keep doing it because I enjoy it - which is just why people write reviews for Amazon (and I've done some of those myself).
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why is it always about money?
Corporate types just don't understand that sometimes people do things because they like to.
Money isn't everyone's driving force.
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Re: why is it always about money?
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Is it Worth Money?
Is that review valuable? Is it worth as much as a review from someone who has been using the device for three months and can include information about problems or good points that might not be apparent immediately?
Who can determine whether a review is worth the price paid for it?
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Re: Is it Worth Money?
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