Question about internet reviews type website

**david90** · 12-01-2007 01:35 AM

I want to create a site that let people browse and write reviews for a certain service (I prefer not to say

). My question is how do you get people to write reviews in the first place when there aren't any reviews? I tried to start a forum before and had a similar problem. People don't join or post if they don't see lot of people/posts. How did site like eopinions.com get started? DO they hire people to write reviews initially?

Thanks for reading.

**Jamieharrop** · 12-01-2007 03:57 AM

I've looked in to setting up a review site in the past, David. There were two ways I was intending get the first 100 reviews:

1. Approach a large group of the target market who I already had connections with, and ask them to help with their reviews. (A friend has a mailing list of a couple thousand people, all in my target market).

2. Write the reviews myself.

That's about all you can do, or at least those are the only options I saw for my idea.

**david90** · 12-01-2007 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by Jamieharrop

I've looked in to setting up a review site in the past, David. There were two ways I was intending get the first 100 reviews:

1. Approach a large group of the target market who I already had connections with, and ask them to help with their reviews. (A friend has a mailing list of a couple thousand people, all in my target market).

2. Write the reviews myself.

That's about all you can do, or at least those are the only options I saw for my idea.

how is it working out for u?

**Jamieharrop** · 12-01-2007 01:40 PM

Procrastination is an art form. I haven't got off my rear to start the site yet, David.

However, I did do some basic market research by sending a very short questionnaire to the people on my friends mailing list. I had an excellent conversion rate so it would make sense that the conversion rate would also be good if I finally got around to launching the site and asking for their reviews.

**david90** · 12-02-2007 11:06 AM

How did youtube get videos initially? Do they pay people to post video initially to get started? Back to my original question, maybe I can give people a gift certificate for a review.

**ncik** · 12-02-2007 01:55 PM

If you can provide a basic incentives system, maybe award points per review that can be converted into money at some level. Then you'll need a small marketing campaign to get the initial people in and get the ball rolling, perhaps using Google or Yahoo search marketing.