“Community…:All the people who live in a particular area, or a group of people who are considered as a unit because of their shared interests, background, or nationality”

THIS REVIEW IS ABSOLUTELY GENERALISED AND NOT DIRECTING ON ANY ONE OR ANY WEBSITE.
This is basically for all the community forums around on the Internet.

During the early era of internet where we had usnet groups were people used to come and speak their heart out. Shouting, screaming, debating and arguing on every other topic in the world. Though, you would see, Sex as the most important topic. But though as they say, “SEX” Sells. These usnet groups were nothing but an open forum, there were no restrictions, and no barriers people can talk on any topic right under the sun. The other name for these things was the bulletin boards.

Came…Community Forums…

Then started community forums like MS, where things were more organized and more streamlined and most important people could actually earn few bucks. Though, many a times these community forums promise many things and in the end don’t deliver the goods. Hence, you will find lot of failed

We all, visit so many restaurants and major shopping malls, on thing we will always find is a suggestion book were we can write our thoughts about our experience. Similarly, CF is to be taken as a suggestion book wherein you are writing about your experiences.

There are some tips for these CF’s…
Promise, only which you can deliver…

One thing, these CF’s should understand that many of the members come here with lot of expectation hence, don’t promise which you feel you can’t deliver in future.

Redemption…the cause…

In excitement most of the CF’s promise of high redemption if the person reads or rates the review. Here, most of the member expects high redemption returns and they spend most of the time spending reading and rating reviews. But, after few months, they see that their effort is not paid, and then they leave the CF’s dejected and in turn bad publicity starts which not only stop them from getting new members but also spoil the name of the CF in the Long terms. I have always maintained, one customer loss churns into 10000.
10>100>1000>10000…and on.


User agreement…and policy…

Just one, request to all CF’s, please, for god sake make your user agreement and policy very simple and easy to understand. Because, the people who come here are common people and they don’t understand the legal terms. Hence, make your agreements and the redemption policy in simple English and not Legal English.

Prizes…and Gifts…

I always felt, prizes and gifts are the better way of encouraging the members instead of getting into this monetary mess of redemption. Because there will be always some or the other questions asked while reimbursing the money. The CF’s usually have a smart way of making the policy’s and agreements which will have lot of hidden statements which a normal person like you or me won’t understand. Hence, instead of getting into these redemption stuff, its better to give out gifts and prizes.

Advertisements…

The problem with all the CF’s, the revenue is not determined; hence their only source is the advertisement. But the problem is too, much advertisement spoils the entire point of having these consumer forums. Not only the website becomes slow, also the consumer always has something behind the mind. They always have a doubt that their point won’t be put across, as the view must be on one of the advertiser. I know that you can’t live without these advertisements, but that you should have thought before deciding the revenue model for your website.

Proper Customer Care…

Please maintain a proper customer care, because you have thousands of members interacting and expecting frequent replies. Though many of the CFs has got very good customer care, but as usual many of them have failed in the long term. As they know that they have gained popularity they start taking members for granted and you would get all kinds of rude replies. Hence they have to maintain a level of consistency. In the initial stages you would expect real quick replies but in the long term things really gets fizzled out somewhere and the customer focus gets lost and in turns in the long run lot of these CFs have failed.

Too much Lobbying…& Favoritism…

This is definitely an issue; many of you will have a comment to give. We have seen that usually, these websites becomes the pick of few people. The very few people get attention, may be becoming a star writer or getting in to the hall of fame. However, the CF’s say that we have advanced technology which say’s that we pick people randomly, its seen that people who don’t write review for months and years, you can see them frequenting the Hall of Fame section. There is definitely a point to ponder.
All CF’s should understand that you must be having some or the other rules for selecting your Star Writer and all the other stuff, you should maintain that level for everyone. No body will question your authority of selection once you have given your guidelines, hence should not get into pressure of selecting the Star Writer. The pressure can be of any type, whether you call it blackmail or what ever. Because, if you come under pressure because of one person then you will see things replicating and every other person here will use that pressure. Hence, use your discretion of selecting the member.


After all this talks for the CF’s, something for our dear fellow members.
1.     Don’t make these CF’s as your livelihood.
2.     This is not the place to do your earnings. Make this your addiction for writing and making new friends and increasing your knowledge.
3.     This place is only for sharing your thoughts about something; it may be a product, place or idea.
4.     Every person here is of different ideas and different experiences hence, appreciate his thoughts.
5.     Don’t worry about, Hall of Fame or Being a star writer. You are a star in your self and if people are rating and reading your reviews, that itself makes you a star.
6.     No doubt being their always brings a source of encouragement and motivation, sometimes it becomes your drawback because people start expecting more and more out of you hence it becomes really difficult.
7.     One can never expect monetary motivations from this CFs instead expect your thoughts to be reached 1000s of people from all across the world.
”Finally, be happy and share your experiences and increase your knowledge Highway…