Review site decorum

[karomesis]

As I have read through many a thread here I have yet to discover how review sites approach potential sites to review.

I have been trying to contact the site reps and have had little luck in doing so, is it considered bad form to contact them? or should I just get my site up and wait for them to contact me asking to be reviewed?

As it stands I'll probably be trying to contact the reps for the next thousand years or so|shocking| , any help is appreciated.

[msanchez]

Well usually I just take sponsors that I have sent a few sales first then ask. Usually never have a problem getting access.

If you contact them out of the blue they might be a bit skeptical, but if you have a few sales to them usually makes them much more open.

Just what I have experienced

[karomesis]

Yeah, currently I'm batting 100 with only 2 sites so far letting me review them, my sites not up yet, but my template lets them know I'm quite serious.

I guess it may be a problem if the site's not live yet with certain sponsors but I won't know till I try.

[Jensen]

I would't have a problem with such requests unless they come from a hotmail with no site up and running..

[msanchez]

yeah it goes a long way to see a working site with other reviews and such.

Get the site complete and start asking your current sponsors for a 24 hour pass to check out the sites so you can promote them better.

[karomesis]

good idea, I'm actually only going to do 1 niche of sites and do it extremely well. (hopefully)

[msanchez]

1 niche if your really into it, could do well for you. Best of success.

[karomesis]

Thanks for the help.

[Simon]

One problem you'll encounter is that some program owners and reps don't yet understand the value of review site traffic. Just like they don't realize the difference between tgp and link list traffic. I'm not sure what you're sending, but you may need to outline the value to them in more detail than you'd think.

Also, if you're not getting responses at all from the reps, you can also try sending your detailed email to someone higher up with the question being who should you contact regarding doing a review of their site. (Don't mention that no one replied to your earlier email.) You may get your request answered right there, or at least get handed to someone who knows how they got connected with you.

Good luck with the site.

[karomesis]

One problem you'll encounter is that some program owners and reps don't yet understand the value of review site traffic. Just like they don't realize the difference between tgp and link list traffic. I'm not sure what you're sending, but you may need to outline the value to them in more detail than you'd think.

Interestingly enough, the three reps I've contacted so far have been eager to have me review them, I think it may be partially due to the fact that there are few if any review sites catering exclusively to this niche.

Simon, do you think it may have an effect of their desicion if I tell them that the site is part of a hybrid blog/directory? I would hope that i wouldn't have to outline the value at all, but then again, I've seen some of the responses by "program owners" and they scare me|shocking|

[Simon]

It's hard to say what may have an effect on their decision across the board. You'd have to know something about each one in advance to know what's most likely to influence them.

So my suggestion is to give them enough details for someone who doesn't know what you're talking about to understand what you mean.

What I mean is, if you believe a review of their site will be valuable to them, be sure that when they're done reading your email they believe it too.

The one caveat is that some programs may not want reviews done of their sites and you won't get anywhere pursuing those.

[emmanuelle]

Personally, we rarely co-operate with review sites. Rabbits is the exeception as they have gone over & above to work with us.

One of the big issues is credibility. What makes you an authority on paysites, the niche, feel etc. Everyone is entitled to free speech, but opinions expressed by those who don't 'get it' are disruptive to my business. The only ones who matter to me are my members, and their opinions. We work very closely with our members, developing relationships (of a sort) with many of them.

I suggest paying for a few memberships, writing your reviews, then you will have a portfolio to show other paysites. This will give them a better opportunity to gauge your credibility.

[karomesis]

One of the big issues is credibility. What makes you an authority on paysites, the niche, feel etc.

I'm an authority on hedonism. I have a keen eye for quality as well, even if the niche is not my favorite I can understand where the surfer finds it appealing and what the site is doing to cater to their needs.

Everyone is entitled to free speech, but opinions expressed by those who don't 'get it' are disruptive to my business. The only ones who matter to me are my members, and their opinions. We work very closely with our members, developing relationships (of a sort) with many of them.

I suggest paying for a few memberships, writing your reviews, then you will have a portfolio to show other paysites. This will give them a better opportunity to gauge your credibility.

You bring up and excellent point Emmanuelle, And I completely understand what you're saying...if an individual reviewer happens to find your particular niche or site unsavory, they are far les likely to write up a good review. I would have to say there is alot of merit to that given the fact that subjectivity is rampant in porn and those people have no business in giving reviews, as they clearly lack the eye of the surfer.

I am looking at it from a connosiuers point of veiw, not my own. I'm highly critical where thier point of veiw counts, as well as appreciative of the little details that small programs sometimes put into their sites layout and usage that work with as you said, the customer.


To me, it's the little details, the subtle nuances that make something worthy of great appreciation. Which I'll be talking alot about on my blog as well as my camsite reviews.