My 25th review. Rate it !!!. Review on Rating Reviews on MouthShut

This being my 25th review, I wanted to write something about Mouthshut. But, I did not want to write a review on MS.

So, I'm writing on another important topic, rating reviews at MS

Rating a review is as important, and perhaps more important than writing a review. This is so because, writing a review is just the action performed and the ratings you get on your review is the end result. And, the end result is always more important than the action.

I've given below some guidelines and informations about rating reviews at MS. The category asks me to give advice. But, I don't think I'm the one fit to advise. So, these are just my thoughts and not my advices.

Why was MS started? To help consumers reach a decision. If a person wishes to buy, say a washing machine, the he should know the pros and cons about that particular brand based on first hand experience.

When one reads a review at MS, one should keep in mind the above fact. Judge whether the review is of any help to the reader. Decide whether ample information is provided about why or why not the reader should use the product. Remember, Information is the Key to get good ratings.

Next comes the style. If the review is reader friendly and pleasing to eyes then it automatically gets good ratings.

In my opinion 80:20 weightage should be given to content and style respectively.

Don't rate a review ''very useful'' just because the reviewer is on your trusted list or is someone you know. Rate a review only on it's usefulness and style.

Suppose one of the star writers write a rubbish review ( which I know they can't even if they try) then don't rate is very useful just because it has been written by one of the most famous members of MS. Rate it taking into consideration that it is the reader who is more important than the writer.

Be lenient with first time reviewers. They are just starting off their innings at MS. Overlook some of the faults which you, as a seasoned reviewer, would surely notice. Suggest ways in which they can improve their writing in the comments section or by directly contacting them.

Pls.: If you are a first time reviewer reading this, let me tell you that the members of MS are generally lenient to your first and second review. This time is meant for you to learn.

It is very important to comment on the review. Tell the writer why or why not you liked the review. Suggest ways of improving. You may also give your views about the product reviewed or you may counter the writer on some points and applaud him/her on some other point.

In short you may write anything in the comments section as long as it does not distort the cleanliness and the spirit of MS.

I'm not a great reviewer. When I started off writing reviews at MS I got a useful rating(average) for almost 10-15 reviews. But, the members who rated were good enough to leave a comment behind on why my shortcomings. And many of my regular-review-readers will agree that I've improved my writing in this short span of time.

Suppose the reviewer had, earlier rated one of your reviews at not useful, a review which you thought would be rated very useful, don't avenge that ''wrong'' by rating a good review as not useful. Remember that the person helped you improve your standard of writing by rating your review.

One thing which is most important at MS is sportsman-spirit. Take the ratings sportingly and not personally. Most members do not know each other and they rate reviews on merit only.

All reviewers at MS, even a person who has written may be 500 reviews, wait excitedly to know if the readers have liked their reviews or not. This span of time between submitting the review and getting a rating is perhaps the most impatient one. Reviewers click on their reviews after every 5 min. to see if somebody has rated it or not.

Remember that you too are a reviewer and you know the importance of ratings for a writer at MS. So, pls. rate a review as soon as you read it.

I think I have said enough for you to start rating reviews seriously. I hope that by writing this I'll be able to, in a small way of mine, make MS a better place. So, before you click to read some other review RATE THIS FIRST.

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