So after reading these posts by Fred:
"I’ve seen a lot of constructive ideas so far.
Here are a few challenges you might help me with.
1. Reviews
Main problems:
1.1. Low Quality.
A well written, informative review is a rarity. Most of the publications are poor and some even leave a feel of a review written without actual product testing, or even blatant plagiarism.
I would agree with Alan & Michele who suggested going back to basics when we were sending a toy to selected contributors. There were no points back then too. I think, some modifications of the description review program would do this. I am also considering letting in reviews only for the products that the contributor actually purchased or received from the company.
1.2. Excessive number of reviews.
We have products being reviewed hundreds of times. It is excessive and a total waste of your time and visitor’s. Even if many of these reviews are quality ones, this is spam. This situation was obviously created because of the points. This needs to be fixed.
1.3. Review templates.
Reviews, good ones, are as big as stories. Many of them run over 1,000 words. Unfortunately, the efforts the contributor made to create the piece does not pay off because customer does not like being presented with such massive chunk of information. I think a new simplified template, that can be written faster and display better on mobile platforms, is the way to go.
1.4 Editing.
Editing reviews is necessary but cumbersome. Even though we have a system in place, it requires management, support, and programming. I am considering bringing this function in-house and having an editor on staff. Again, the way it was done when we first started the program.
"
and
"I am considering (no decision has been made yet) to restore points to the honest contributors. Would you say this is a fair deal or not?
You will be asked to submit a reconsideration request. It is optional. If you chose not to participate, your points will remain as they are now.
We review the submission manually and decide whether your points will be restored or completely erased.
All your points (or converted Gift Cards) will be cancelled and removed if company finds that you accumulated 500 points or more by intentionally abusing the system. Abuse will include but not be limited to the following actions:
- publishing a large number of reviews in a short period of time; unless clear proof of the product ownership by the author is established;
- publishing plagiarized reviews, nonsensical reviews (reviews on the products like Gift Cards, Eden Bags, batteries, and other promotional item), vandalized reviews, reviews without substance: this will be deemed point farming;
- reaching regularly daily limits on secondary activities like "liking", "commenting", "rating", etc...; this will be deemed point farming;
- starting and participating in nonsensical forum discussions like "Let's count up to 5,000", etc...; making posts reported as spam; this will be deemed point farming;
- opening multiple accounts;
- if your account has been suspended, terminated, or otherwise noted for the same or similar activities; "
I have come up with some easy changes that address these issues:
Change #1: Delete the "EdenGames" section of the forums and do not relocate or start new threads that fit that section.
Change #2: Lock the option (administrative decision) to add reviews for products that have an excess number of reviews or do not need reviews.
Change #3: Do not give points for the "sharing" section of Eden Points program. You can still have promotional offers and stuff, just no point payout for doing any of those things.
Change #4: Have all reviews edited/vetted before point payout. If the editing is still done by members, have an option for editor members to alert an administrator for a review they feel does not meet the standards of a quality review and have the administrator make the final decision. This will eliminate any issues of people feeling they are personally editing other community members reviews too harshly. Easier would be just to have a paid staffer of yours handle review editing.
"I’ve seen a lot of constructive ideas so far.
Here are a few challenges you might help me with.
1. Reviews
Main problems:
1.1. Low Quality.
A well written, informative review is a rarity. Most of the publications are poor and some even leave a feel of a review written without actual product testing, or even blatant plagiarism.
I would agree with Alan & Michele who suggested going back to basics when we were sending a toy to selected contributors. There were no points back then too. I think, some modifications of the description review program would do this. I am also considering letting in reviews only for the products that the contributor actually purchased or received from the company.
1.2. Excessive number of reviews.
We have products being reviewed hundreds of times. It is excessive and a total waste of your time and visitor’s. Even if many of these reviews are quality ones, this is spam. This situation was obviously created because of the points. This needs to be fixed.
1.3. Review templates.
Reviews, good ones, are as big as stories. Many of them run over 1,000 words. Unfortunately, the efforts the contributor made to create the piece does not pay off because customer does not like being presented with such massive chunk of information. I think a new simplified template, that can be written faster and display better on mobile platforms, is the way to go.
1.4 Editing.
Editing reviews is necessary but cumbersome. Even though we have a system in place, it requires management, support, and programming. I am considering bringing this function in-house and having an editor on staff. Again, the way it was done when we first started the program.
"
and
"I am considering (no decision has been made yet) to restore points to the honest contributors. Would you say this is a fair deal or not?
You will be asked to submit a reconsideration request. It is optional. If you chose not to participate, your points will remain as they are now.
We review the submission manually and decide whether your points will be restored or completely erased.
All your points (or converted Gift Cards) will be cancelled and removed if company finds that you accumulated 500 points or more by intentionally abusing the system. Abuse will include but not be limited to the following actions:
- publishing a large number of reviews in a short period of time; unless clear proof of the product ownership by the author is established;
- publishing plagiarized reviews, nonsensical reviews (reviews on the products like Gift Cards, Eden Bags, batteries, and other promotional item), vandalized reviews, reviews without substance: this will be deemed point farming;
- reaching regularly daily limits on secondary activities like "liking", "commenting", "rating", etc...; this will be deemed point farming;
- starting and participating in nonsensical forum discussions like "Let's count up to 5,000", etc...; making posts reported as spam; this will be deemed point farming;
- opening multiple accounts;
- if your account has been suspended, terminated, or otherwise noted for the same or similar activities; "
I have come up with some easy changes that address these issues:
Change #1: Delete the "EdenGames" section of the forums and do not relocate or start new threads that fit that section.
Change #2: Lock the option (administrative decision) to add reviews for products that have an excess number of reviews or do not need reviews.
Change #3: Do not give points for the "sharing" section of Eden Points program. You can still have promotional offers and stuff, just no point payout for doing any of those things.
Change #4: Have all reviews edited/vetted before point payout. If the editing is still done by members, have an option for editor members to alert an administrator for a review they feel does not meet the standards of a quality review and have the administrator make the final decision. This will eliminate any issues of people feeling they are personally editing other community members reviews too harshly. Easier would be just to have a paid staffer of yours handle review editing.
