Review word limits: do we need more or less?

Contributor: PassionateLover2 PassionateLover2
Quote:
Originally posted by Sammi
I think 800 words works well - it helps keep reviews more concise and informational, and stops them from becoming too long and drawn out
I complete agree! I don't want to read a dissertation on a product! It has to be concise and informative. Each person should provide their personal experience on the product and highlight the product's details in support of their review.
06/18/2012
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
Quote:
Originally posted by nanamondoute
800 words is more than enough in my opinion. Most people can't spend that much time reading reviews if they are looking to buy stuff. They usually just take a look (my favorite reviews, on other websites, are actually two to three sentences about ... more
"Most people can't spend that much time reading reviews if they are looking to buy stuff."

I agree, which is why I understand EF putting a limit in the first place. But… I just randomly pulled up a new review done in the Extended-template and the word count (according to my word processor) was 1,728. And if memory serves, that's not the longest extended template review I've seen lately.

I think EF might need to do two things: raise the word limit for the standard template, and lower it for the extended template.
06/18/2012
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
I think if people stopped repeating info already on the product page and giving the chemical breakdown for things like water and air...

800 words would be plenty. Especially with the entire experience section also available.
06/18/2012
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
I think the minimum is fine where it is, but the maximum should be raised.
06/18/2012
Contributor: PeaceToTheMiddleEast PeaceToTheMiddleEast
So far I think there was only one review that I have done where I could have used more space. But I think it can use a little more space.
06/18/2012
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
I think if people stopped repeating info already on the product page and giving the chemical breakdown for things like water and air...

800 words would be plenty. Especially with the entire experience section also available.
" if people stopped… …giving the chemical breakdown for things like water and air..."

touché…

…though I still think links & formatting shouldn't be included in the word count.

And a word-counter would be really, really, really nice.
06/18/2012
Contributor: Taylor Taylor
I've only had one review ever where I have run out of space, but it wasn't by much and I was able to edit it down without sacrificing too much content. I'm pretty happy with where the limit is now.
06/18/2012
Contributor: Woman China Woman China
I agree with Carrie Ann.

I don't think it needs to be raised. Every time I pass the 800 or the 500 word count in the standard one, I look and see what I can take away. And usually, I want to take away the ingredients because seriously. They are indeed on the product page and in my opinion, really shouldn't be in the reviews. I add them because at the moment if they are not included then well I hate to say it, in the comment section you get spammed with "so what is in this product?"

Personally, I feel that the ingredients should not be listed; and an ingredient or two should be listed ONLY if it causes you some issues.

It seems at the moment that it has become the "unwritten standard" that ingredients must be listed.

I also think that the 300 word limit should be raised to maybe 500 words. There are many reviews that have been posted in the past week that don't really tell you anything about the product, just how they enjoyed the product. Both are important but yes, I like to know the size compared to what the product page states. Usually they are different.

I'd actually like to see that new reviewers use the Extended Template for their first two reviews, then have it optional for the Standard Template starting their third one.
06/18/2012
Contributor: - Kira - - Kira -
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
"Most people can't spend that much time reading reviews if they are looking to buy stuff."

I agree, which is why I understand EF putting a limit in the first place. But… I just randomly pulled up a new review done in the ... more
I would be really upset if the word count was lowered for extended. I enjoy reading detailed reviews and write them myself. I like to know ALL of the information about something before I buy it. The sections allow readers in a rush to go to what part of the review matters most to them. So if they don't need to know how to care for or store the toy...skip that part and just read about the performance. If I'm in a rush I skim to the parts that matter to me. Those parts better be detailed though!

I do agree that we don't need the breakdown on water, but I do like the breakdown on lesser known ingredients. Having that in reviews has made me more aware of ingredients that I now avoid in products. I don't think it should be required, but it's nice when people go the extra mile and add it.
06/18/2012
Contributor: pasdechat pasdechat
I think it should be raised. As it is, I sometimes feel like I have to choose between including all the product info/statistics and writing a review that's actually fun to read (i.e. more than just a list of stats).
06/18/2012
Contributor: deltalima deltalima
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
Lately I've been getting:

The review must contain no more than 800 words, your review has [insert big number here] words.

On the one hand, I understand that EF doesn't want reviewers writing a small novella, but sometimes I hit ... more
My draft usually goes above minimum so I have no problems there.
06/18/2012
Contributor: SexyStuff SexyStuff
When a review is really long, I tend to skim. On the other hand, I've noticed that short, concise reviews are less positively rated. I worry if the word limit goes up, then the standard amount of words needed to get an 'extremely useful' will go up, and reviews will be less fun to read and write.
06/18/2012
Contributor: aliceinthehole aliceinthehole
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
Lately I've been getting:

The review must contain no more than 800 words, your review has [insert big number here] words.

On the one hand, I understand that EF doesn't want reviewers writing a small novella, but sometimes I hit ... more
yes, 800 words is not enough. maybe 1200 is a good limit. i'm not sure why there's such a low limit in the first place. i always end up writing, writing, then having to scrounge around and go back and take out important segues that give my review my 'voice.' it's lame-o!
06/19/2012
Contributor: Breas Breas
Quote:
Originally posted by indiechick
If you are struggling within the standard template use the extended version. You get much more space to write and then the information is all clumped together
I can't stand the extended version.
06/19/2012
Contributor: LadyDarknezz LadyDarknezz
I personally want it to be raised since I tend to prefer longer and more detailed reviews. I tend to write/talk a lot also, so a bigger limit would be a definite plus for me!
06/19/2012
Contributor: pootpootpoot pootpootpoot
I go over a lot, especially in my image-heavy reviews (which is all of them!). I'd appreciate it a lot if it was raised!
06/19/2012
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
There has only been a few times when I go over the limit in the standard format, that is when I realize I probably should have used the Extended format instead. In those review the product had lots of features or functions so I think the Extended would have been better anyways.

I am another fan of including size/material/ingredie nts in reviews. Sure I know that the info is on the product page but I am not reading that page, I am reading a review. Why do I need to read two different pages to get the info I want?
06/19/2012
Contributor: mama2007 mama2007
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
Lately I've been getting:

The review must contain no more than 800 words, your review has [insert big number here] words.

On the one hand, I understand that EF doesn't want reviewers writing a small novella, but sometimes I hit ... more
i like it where it is. i do not want to have to write even longer ones, BUT i also prefer doing the extended not the standard
06/19/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by - Kira -
I would be really upset if the word count was lowered for extended. I enjoy reading detailed reviews and write them myself. I like to know ALL of the information about something before I buy it. The sections allow readers in a rush to go to what ... more
Right, I agree. Those of us with allergies or sensitivities or who don't want certain types of chemicals on or in our bodes DO appreciate the breakdown on what the ingredients mean. You don't need to describe what water is made from, but you may need to describe what Phenoxyethanol or Cyamopsis is, and why it is in the product.

Personally, I really appreciate when people go the extra mile and do their home work about products, rather than just say, "I like this toy 4 evah. It make me cum n cum 2."
06/19/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Breas
I can't stand the extended version.
When you do DRs, you don't have a choice. All DRs have to be done in the Extended Format, and then they are put on the regular review page as that format.

Also, I think newer reviewers do better with the Extended Format.
06/19/2012
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
Quote:
Originally posted by SexyStuff
When a review is really long, I tend to skim. On the other hand, I've noticed that short, concise reviews are less positively rated. I worry if the word limit goes up, then the standard amount of words needed to get an 'extremely ... more
I really want to "like" this post. Alas, no like button!
06/25/2012
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
Right, I agree. Those of us with allergies or sensitivities or who don't want certain types of chemicals on or in our bodes DO appreciate the breakdown on what the ingredients mean. You don't need to describe what water is made from, but you ... more
I think that there is a HUGE chasm between the chemical breakdown of every ingredient in a bubble bath (and reviews that spend more time on ingredients and measurements than describing the actual product) and "I like this toy 4 evah".

It's also my opinion that if a person wants to know what chemicals are and what they do, they can use google -- just like they would do if they were buying that lube or bubble bath at a brick and mortar store.

This is a review, not a freaking thesis.

Want to explain all the chemicals? Use the handy, dandy "add a resource" button we have and link to a helpful, scientific web page. Just please, spare me the 5 thousand word reviews that tell me nothing about how the product actually works and feels and what your opinion of it is.

I don't mean to come across as sharp or evil, though I probably am.

I've been around a long time and it chafes my ass that people are so holier than thou about the "requirements" of a freaking review when none of those "requirements" are in the actual requirements put forth by the company... at ALL.

Is it cool to explain when a product has an iffy ingredient or two? Or when something is new or not often heard of? Of course! But the extremes we're seeing lately are often just that... extreme.
06/25/2012
Contributor: Amber1319 Amber1319
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
Lately I've been getting:

The review must contain no more than 800 words, your review has [insert big number here] words.

On the one hand, I understand that EF doesn't want reviewers writing a small novella, but sometimes I hit ... more
I think the word.min should be lowered. There are some items like body wash where it gets hard to write the min. If anything I think they should raise the max limit to give ppl the opp to write more.
06/25/2012
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
Lately I've been getting:

The review must contain no more than 800 words, your review has [insert big number here] words.

On the one hand, I understand that EF doesn't want reviewers writing a small novella, but sometimes I hit ... more
I find that I am always over the word limit but I simply continue into the experience section and voila problem solved! Sometimes it helps me to "tighten" up my paragraphs and get extraneous information out of the review but sometimes it feels like I am taking the personality out as well. Still I like the system as it is because it challenges me.
06/25/2012
Contributor: Apirka Apirka
I do think the word count should be raised a bit. Sometimes I have a lot to say when it comes to lingerie reviews, and there just isn't room. A word counter while typing is an excellent idea!
06/26/2012
Contributor: Scrawberry78 Scrawberry78
I have not had a problem yet with writing too much in my reviews.
06/26/2012
Contributor: Falsepast Falsepast
I'm not sure. Sometimes I wish it was more, other times less.
07/02/2012
Contributor: remember.me remember.me
I think a word counter would be great. However, is it bad that I've not gotten this message yet? I wasn't even aware there was a limit!
07/07/2012
Contributor: Faeya Faeya
I'd have no problem with the limit as long as code didn't count towards it. As for a word counter, it'd be nice, but there's so many other ways to get counts, whether by using Open Office or an online counter, that I'm not all that worried about it.

As for the review-eating llama, sorry about that...he's my daughter's pet, and tends to get bored easily
07/25/2012
Contributor: vanilla&chocolate vanilla&chocolate
A word counter would make things much easier!
07/25/2012