It’s no secret that we defer to the opinions of online experts and fellow shoppers for just about every decision we make, from the clothes we buy to the restaurants we eat at. However, this time-honored practice may not always be the best approach. Although the numbers vary by industry, some experts believe that more than 60% of all online reviews are fake.
That’s why it is more important than ever to go to expert review sites, rather than reading testimonies from customers who may or may not be real. But how do you know which of these expert review sites to trust? Here are the telltale signs of a trustworthy site.
Clear, Concise Language
If you’re wondering whether you should trust online reviews written by self-purported experts, read the reviews closely. It might seem obvious, but clear, concise, and fluent language will be the top indicator of whether or not the review is trustworthy. If the language is grammatically poor and inconsistent, it is more likely to have been written in a rush by a review farm or auto-generated by bots. If the review language is engaging and gives you a clear picture of the experience of using a product or service, it is more likely to be legit.
A Clear Ownership Structure
If you want to know whether to trust the reviews on a website or business, look at the company they keep. You should be able to determine who owns a review site, what their industry affiliations are, and how they make their money. For example, if you were looking for honest reviews of the top online casinos, you could consult a site such as Casino Smash. Here, you would quickly see that the site is owned by RAiG, an independent body that aims to raise standards in the casino industry and promote responsible gambling. This tells us that we can probably trust the reviews on the site.
A Closed-Loop Approach
Although this is not always the easiest thing to find out, it’s worth looking into. Most trustworthy review sites will employ a so-called “closed-loop approach”, wherein every single review on the site will be vetted and verified prior to publication. This is the approach taken by user-generated review sites such as OpenTable and AirBnB for all reviews. You can usually find out whether a review site employs a closed-loop approach by heading over to their FAQ page.
The Full Picture
Finally, let’s not forget about the content of the reviews themselves. Any trustworthy review will always give you the full picture. They will never focus exclusively on the positive aspects of a product or service, even if they genuinely think that it is excellent. A trustworthy review will consider all angles and how a product or service might appeal to certain types of customers. They will never wax lyrical about how amazing the product is, ignoring all of the potential downsides. If a review gives you the full picture, you can probably trust it.
By looking for these telltale signs, you can determine whether a review site is worth your time. This way, you can make more empowered and informed purchase decisions.