Everyone's a Critic [1014.1999]

Wondering why so many webloggers are flocking to epinions? Simple: it offers people a chance to share their experiences and opinions with an audience, through writing while making money and competing for rank.. And, of course, it's all on the web. What more could a 'blogger want? So, here are some thoughts about doing it well.

First of all, have an opinion. If you don't really swith either way on a product, don't rate it. You're not going to help anyone make a decision by being wishy washy. Pick sides.

Second, acknowledge that there are other opinions. Nothing is all bad or all good. Even if you're going to bash the product, say something nice. If you're going to praise it, look for the cracks. You don't have to go on about it, but drop a hint or two. It'll give your writing character.

Third, include yourself. Your reviews should be about the product, sure, but don't discount your own experience. Don't be afraid to use the occasional I. You're providing a service to people with your review, but you're also trying to get them to remember you.

Fourth, remember how people read on the web. Put your most important ideas at the top. Break it into readable chunks.

Finally, write well. Put your sentences in paragraphs. Eliminate needless words. Read The Elements of Style and use it.

I don't know if that's helpful for anyone else, but I wanted to come up with a couple guiding principles before I jumped in and wrote my first review.