12-22-2020, 01:48 PM
@xdude Thank you for another quality contribution to the SEO of the Forum, this is much appreciated.
I guess we have to always appreciate that not every member is capable of a quality review, and we don't want to discourage members from trying their hand at writing a review. There should of course always be a minimum standard, but throwing too many guidelines could discourage VPS Holders from writing reviews. I'd far rather that we get a minimum standard review and then our more seasoned and advanced users of the Forum straighten the review out by critiquing and asking questions during the review. If they feel the sponsor is not getting their due, then perhaps adding their own contribution along those lines. So in essence we get the reviews to be a team effort from a discussion point of view each to their ability for a proper all round discussion.
Regarding more frequent use of the Sponsor's name in the content of the review, I have a problem with this as I'm not sure all VPS Holders will remember to apply this suggestion. So I have a counter suggestion instead, similar to getting the sponsor name to be part of every review title. Why don't we change the VPS Plan title to the sponsor's name instead of numbering them. In that way it would give the sponsor massive exposure right from the VPS Plans and Holders Announcements through to using the Sponsor Plan Title during the Giveways and in any other discussion. We would then call VPS 9 for example the Virmach VPS Plan, and then for the locations Virmach Phoenix Plan (or just Virmach Phoenix VPS), Virmach Seattle VPS, etc. Instead of VPS 9 Phoenix. Also in the VPS Holder List Names we'll list them by sponsor title instead of number. We could do that alphabetically.
In the case of more than one plan we could call it HostDare Plan 1 and HostDare Plan 2. Or just HostDare VPS 1 and HostDare VPS 2.
Second benefit of this will then be we won't have to have holes in the numbers any longer when a sponsor withdraws a plan.
OK, with regard to who benefits most from the review. For me it's not only the sponsor. It's definitely been invaluable to me when after joining Post4VPS for the first time, I had to decide which VPS I should apply for. And which location to choose. I went straight to the reviews and studied each and every one I was interested in in detail. It's also invaluable in teaching VPS Holders how to write meaningful reviews. So the more they are critiqued by other VPS Holders in a quality way, the better.
What worried me at the time when I was reading through the reviews was that not all of the reviews were equal to one another nor giving proper credit to the VPS capabilities and specs. Some of the reviews were iffy, particularly when they haven't been critiqued (peer reviewed) by other VPS Holders. For example, there was an old VPS 9 Seattle review that didn't provide proper justification in that the user was obviously not using the VPS correctly. It's OK to slip through, provided that a learned member of our Forum picks up on it and puts it in its correct perspective. Fortunately that hasn't been happening often though. I think we probably also need to go into the reviews periodically and archive those that are no longer applicable such as in the case of VPS 9 after the upgrade to KVM.
OK, so if we change the name of the VPS Plan to the VPS Sponsor, then I'd also support the suggestions below that are very valuable. As long as it doesn't read like an advertorial and there are too many links, and the quality of the Review is lost in that the user is more focused on advertising the sponsor, than providing a quality review - there should be some balance. But yes, to me I would want to read what project the VPS Holder was using the VPS for. In fact, they should start with the objective that was given during the VPS Request, and then explain to us how it went from that point forward. If it isn't there, then one of the other VPS Holders or Members of the Forum should ask the Reviewer what the objective was and how it was met. We should all try to make it into a team review collaborative effort. And make sure all the info is there. Like what was the reliability of the VPS like, uptime, speed, quality of OS template, etc etc.
I notice you are critical of benchmarks and am worriedt this may be misinterpreted. I understand you mean the review should not only consist of a benchmark test but the whole experience, and I wish to emphasize that. Benchmarks are very impotant as that is probably the first info that most seasoned review readers are looking for. But the review also needs the whole package of experience. The objective of the project, how it went, speed, reliability, quality of support etc.
I guess we have to always appreciate that not every member is capable of a quality review, and we don't want to discourage members from trying their hand at writing a review. There should of course always be a minimum standard, but throwing too many guidelines could discourage VPS Holders from writing reviews. I'd far rather that we get a minimum standard review and then our more seasoned and advanced users of the Forum straighten the review out by critiquing and asking questions during the review. If they feel the sponsor is not getting their due, then perhaps adding their own contribution along those lines. So in essence we get the reviews to be a team effort from a discussion point of view each to their ability for a proper all round discussion.
Regarding more frequent use of the Sponsor's name in the content of the review, I have a problem with this as I'm not sure all VPS Holders will remember to apply this suggestion. So I have a counter suggestion instead, similar to getting the sponsor name to be part of every review title. Why don't we change the VPS Plan title to the sponsor's name instead of numbering them. In that way it would give the sponsor massive exposure right from the VPS Plans and Holders Announcements through to using the Sponsor Plan Title during the Giveways and in any other discussion. We would then call VPS 9 for example the Virmach VPS Plan, and then for the locations Virmach Phoenix Plan (or just Virmach Phoenix VPS), Virmach Seattle VPS, etc. Instead of VPS 9 Phoenix. Also in the VPS Holder List Names we'll list them by sponsor title instead of number. We could do that alphabetically.
In the case of more than one plan we could call it HostDare Plan 1 and HostDare Plan 2. Or just HostDare VPS 1 and HostDare VPS 2.
Second benefit of this will then be we won't have to have holes in the numbers any longer when a sponsor withdraws a plan.
OK, with regard to who benefits most from the review. For me it's not only the sponsor. It's definitely been invaluable to me when after joining Post4VPS for the first time, I had to decide which VPS I should apply for. And which location to choose. I went straight to the reviews and studied each and every one I was interested in in detail. It's also invaluable in teaching VPS Holders how to write meaningful reviews. So the more they are critiqued by other VPS Holders in a quality way, the better.
What worried me at the time when I was reading through the reviews was that not all of the reviews were equal to one another nor giving proper credit to the VPS capabilities and specs. Some of the reviews were iffy, particularly when they haven't been critiqued (peer reviewed) by other VPS Holders. For example, there was an old VPS 9 Seattle review that didn't provide proper justification in that the user was obviously not using the VPS correctly. It's OK to slip through, provided that a learned member of our Forum picks up on it and puts it in its correct perspective. Fortunately that hasn't been happening often though. I think we probably also need to go into the reviews periodically and archive those that are no longer applicable such as in the case of VPS 9 after the upgrade to KVM.
OK, so if we change the name of the VPS Plan to the VPS Sponsor, then I'd also support the suggestions below that are very valuable. As long as it doesn't read like an advertorial and there are too many links, and the quality of the Review is lost in that the user is more focused on advertising the sponsor, than providing a quality review - there should be some balance. But yes, to me I would want to read what project the VPS Holder was using the VPS for. In fact, they should start with the objective that was given during the VPS Request, and then explain to us how it went from that point forward. If it isn't there, then one of the other VPS Holders or Members of the Forum should ask the Reviewer what the objective was and how it was met. We should all try to make it into a team review collaborative effort. And make sure all the info is there. Like what was the reliability of the VPS like, uptime, speed, quality of OS template, etc etc.
I notice you are critical of benchmarks and am worriedt this may be misinterpreted. I understand you mean the review should not only consist of a benchmark test but the whole experience, and I wish to emphasize that. Benchmarks are very impotant as that is probably the first info that most seasoned review readers are looking for. But the review also needs the whole package of experience. The objective of the project, how it went, speed, reliability, quality of support etc.
(12-22-2020, 06:18 AM)xdude Wrote: 02. At the first paragraph of the post make sure you include Sponsor name in Bold letters along with Url to their site. This is very helpful for their brand name as well as add weight to their site SEO wise. If they have a staff member in forum then mention him or her too.
03. Talk about what are you doing in this server and how this vps work for whatever you task. Give your honest opinion about this. This is one of the most important parts of a review.
04. Benchmarks. Benchmarks are part of the review not the whole things. It's more for members than sponsors. Personally even I do benchmarks I don't post those if someone else has already posted it. It only matter if there is a difference.[Revised statement suggested: Benchmarks are important, however should not be the only information provided. The review must provide a total experience including the objective for which it was used, reliabiity, support that was needed, etc etc.]
05. It's great if you talk about what sponsor offers in their site and packages at end of the review. Provide a link to their package page.
06. Use word phrases like VPS Hosting, Web Hosting in your review when you can. Don't over do by using same word in too many places but there are plenty of related words to use.
Nothing hard to do here, but these would make your review appear in right places for right people.