Hi guys:

During the last few days we encountered few unexpected technical issues due to which some of you may not have had access to MouthShut.com.

Our team has resolved the issue and MouthShut is back at optimum usage.

A lot of you have been writing to us to find out if everything is fine. Yes, ALL IS WELL and we are back. Continue to use MouthShut as always.

We thank you for your support at all times.

luv
caretaker

And Week 3 of the Original Diary Contest comes to a close.

Time to announce the winner of this week. But before that let me tell you it was not an easy task. There were quite a few diaries to wade through. It took us a bit to get to the final shortlist and trust me announcing the winner was no mean task.

https://mouthshut.com/diary/iiebrmruq/Thoda-hai-bas-Jyade-ki-jaroot-hai by meghana.c
https://mouthshut.com/diary/aaiiomtuq/Dear-Daughter-I-will-be-there-always-for-you by maaz_nawaz
https://mouthshut.com/diary/eafdmpsuq/ConsumerFight-for-your-rights by deepak27

There were others too but these three were remarkable. However, unfortunately, since there is only one winner, this week’s Best Original Diary goes to:
https://mouthshut.com/diary/eafdmpsuq/ConsumerFight-for-your-rights by deepak27

Well done deepak27 but maaz_nawaz and meghana.c, you guys were also very good. Keep up the great work.

So a round of applause to everyone. And bhai and behn logs, Week Fouris underway. Chalo, chalo jaldi likho.

Luv

Caretaker

PS: For those who came in late.

Week 1 Winner: Geeta1963 for https://mouthshut.com/diary/fjigqqttq/LIFE-IS-THE-GREATEST-TEACHER

Week 2 Winner: sayanti.das for https://mouthshut.com/diary/gdccslpuq/GOD-Caged-in-A-Religion

Hello:

The Original Diaries Dearies Contestis in its third week now and thanks to all of you, it is a smash success. Well, time for recognizing the winner.

And hold your breath ….

The winner for Week 2 is ….

Hold your breath ….

sayanti.das for her powerful Diary – God Caged in a Religion? - https://mouthshut.com/diary/gdccslpuq/GOD-Caged-in-A-Religio n

Two weeks done with, but four more to go. Get the great stuff on board guys!

luv
caretaker

PS: For those who came in late, the winner of Week 1 was GEETA1963 for her extremely well written diary: LIFE IS THE GREATEST TEACHER - https://mouthshut.com/diary/fjigqqttq/LIFE-IS-THE-GREATEST-T EACHER

India: Diligent shoppers offer opportunity to manufacturers

By Amy Kazmin in New Delhi
Published: September 13 2010 17:21 | Last updated: September 13 2010 17:21
For decades after India’s independence from British colonial rule, Indian consumers were starved of choice.

During the socialist-era “licence raj”, nearly everything – automobiles, home appliances, phone connections, airline seats – was in short supply because of New Delhi’s restrictions on private sector activities, import controls and the inability of lazy state monopolies to meet demand.

Consumers, therefore, took whatever they could get, often after a long wait, and were generally grateful. Not any more.

Today, after two decades of liberalisation, Indians are among the world’s most demanding consumers, as they navigate a fiercely competitive market.

“People say that Indians want things cheap, cheap, cheap,” says Whitney Foard Small, Asia Pacific and Africa communications director for Ford Motor Co, which conducted extensive research on Indian consumers before launching its small car, the Figo, this year. “No. They want things that represent a good purchase for their hard-earned money,” she says. “It’s about value for money.”

Bindu Sethi, chief Asia Pacific strategy officer for Grey, the advertising agency, says: “Today’s customers are much more discerning.”

Before purchasing any big-ticket item, whether a vehicle or a phone, many Indians go on the internet to research specifications and manufacturers’ prices.

And then they will look for the lowest price. “They are diligent about shopping – careful buyers, who really do the research,” said Ford’s Ms Small.

Indians are also big fans of websites such as Mouthshut.com. Its 4m visitors a month check out consumer reviews for products and services ranging from electronics to banking and restaurants to holidays.

“Reviews are becoming an important determining factor,” says Faisal Farooqi, Mouthshut’s founder.

Consumers also challenge companies to respond quickly to complaints.

“A majority of brands in India have failed to give perfect after-sales service,” said Mr Farooqi. “Indians are very vocal. They will make a big deal about it.”

When it comes to non-durables, though, Indians are still more traditional. Grey’s Ms Sethi says: “They tend to make a list before they go to the store, or send the list to the store.”
That is changing, though. “Today, the retail outlet is no longer just a store, it’s a school where they go to learn about new products,” says Ms Sethi. “It will be a huge opportunity for consumer goods companies.

“When Indian consumers go to a hypermarket, they do what the rest of Asia is doing: they want to make the choice in the store.”

And the winner for the first week of the Original Diaries Dearies Contest is: GEETA1963 for her extremely well written diary: LIFE IS THE GREATEST TEACHER

https://mouthshut.com/diary/fjigqqttq/LIFE-IS-THE-GREATEST-T EACHER

Come on guys!!

Five more weeks and five more winners yet to go. You can do it, write a great original diary and win recognition and gifts. And Geeta, you can be winner yet again, so do not rest on your laurels.

luv
caretaker

Hi:

What’s up? How about writing an original diary and taking home some great prizes like books and DVDs.

Diary is your space where you can write about anything under the sun. Write about your childhood memories, the neighbourhood where you stay, festivals of India, the seasonal changes, the political governance …. anything and everything is welcome. Just make sure it is original.

There will be six winners, one for each week. So this contest runs for six weeks and yes, you could win all the six prizes if you have a diary for each week.

luv
caretaker

What is My Timeline Page?

In My Timeline, along with own activity you can also see the updates of all the members who are in your trusted circle (Member I Trust).

The following trusted feeds (Member I Tust) will be shown in My Timeline page:
§ Status update
§ Posted Mobile Message
§ Posted Diary (only by normal member)
§ Trusting someone
§ Photo Uploading
§ Sending Gifts
§ Response to any review (only by corporate)
§ Posted Blog (only by corporate)
§ Posted Review
§ Uploaded / Updated profile photo
§ Comment on Review/Diary/SMS/Photo/Blog/Response



What is this Filter option on My Timeline page?

There are two options given in Filter i.e. My Timeline and Trusted Circle Feeds. By default both will be selected. It will work as given below

• If you have selected both My Timeline and Trusted Circle Feeds then your Timeline page will contain updates of the trusted circle (Members I Trust) as well as your own activities.
• If you have selected only My Timeline then you will be able to see only activities performed by you.
• If you have selected only Trusted Circle Feed then you will be able to see the updates of all the members who are there in your trusted circle (Members I Trust).



What happened to My Dashboard?

My Dashboard has been merged with My Timeline. The features which were there in My Dashboard have been moved either to My Timeline or My Profile page as given below.

1] Status(What are you doing right now?) - Shifted to the top of My Timeline page
2] My Received Comments- There is a new tab "Comments Received" on My Timeline page
3] My Gifts - You can check gifts on My Timeline page now
4] Trusted CircleFeeds - Feeds are merged with timeline. Still you can check only your timeline or trusted circle feeds by selecting Filter option on My Timeline page
5] Bookmarks - Shifted to Profile page
6] Profile viewed count- It is there at the right top of timeline page i.e. Timeline viewed count
7] Send a gift to yourself - Shifted to Profile page under your details
8] View my Drafts - Shifted to Profile page below Send a gift to yourself
9] Dashboard Announcement - Shifted to Top of My Timeline page



Improved Header and Footer

Ø New Login Panel has been introduced which is accessible by clicking on the MouthShut User ID in the header.
Ø All the links like Help, Invite Friends, Search Members and Logoutwhich were previously present in header have now been moved into login panel. You can also go to your Timeline Page, Profile Page and even can change the Profile Photo from login panel.
Ø Header now contains only product search. Search member functionality is only available once you have is logged in on hot profile page.
Ø You can switch from MouthShut India to MouthShut US and vice versa directly by selecting the country in the footer.
Ø Mouthshut local cities will be displayed in the footer.


Attractive Read Review page

Ø Read Review Page has been made more attractive and user friendly than before.
Ø You can view all details of a review in a single block in a right panel and through single click member can share reviews on Twitter and Facebook.


Easy Sharing

Ø You can now easily share reviews and diaries using Facebook and Twitter.
Ø You can also see the number of times your reviews and diaries have been shared.

We all have often gone through life changing experiences. Something we have seen or experienced has altered the way we look at life.

I know of someone who was planning something big in life and suddenly a drop in his family fortunes made him compromise on all that he cherished and live according to his present situation. And when things couldn’t have been bleaker, it was turnaround time for him again. Ah! Such is life.

Have you experienced the quaint hand of fate yourself? Or seen someone go through roller-coaster called life? How about sharing it in the form of a Diary?

A Diary about Life and its travails. Come on, I’m waiting guys.

luv
caretaker

The last few days have a spammer's delight on MouthShut.com. Mischief mongers have been on a roll with their nefarious practices on your favourite web site. A lot of you have shown concern by writing to me and Faisal.

Through this post, let me assure you that MouthShut.com is taking all means to put an end to the indecent spams. We have been successful on most counts, however the spammers keep returning. MouthShut.com is a site for everyone, it is a clean family site, where pornography and lewd communities have no place. In this regards, we have taken the help of the police to get to the root of the problem.

This problem shall get resolved very soon. It is a tough task buttogether - the MouthShut.com admin team, you and the police - we shall get rid of it.

luv
@caretaker

Tonight make sure you’re in front of your television. Weekend dhamaal can take a backseat for a while . Just plonk yourself in front of your television and see an interesting show on the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur.

What: Do you wanna start your own Internet Business?

When: Tonight, 8:30 pm (Saturday, May 30, 2010)

Channel: CNBC Awaaz

Who: Your very own, Faisal Farooqui

So watch Faisal Farooqui, CEO, MouthShut.com share tips on being an Internet Entrepreneur on CNBC Awaaz at 8:30 pm.

Be sure you do not miss it.

luv
@caretaker