I’m sure you’ve done this before. You’ve gone home after a day of shopping and you’ve found something you really wanted and you’re determined to find the best one.
Google to the rescue!
First things first! You won’t just let your impulses get the better of you, you can’t just buy whatever you want without doing a little bit of research. So you type in “Top 10 …..” and begin browsing the highest ranked search results in Google. But buyer beware – these aren’t as authentic as you think they are.
The Top 3 things to check before trusting your Top 10 search results.
1. Did they even buy the products?
It sounds so simple, but it seems like a lot of people look over this fact when reading review sites. It’s likely that the article you’re relying on for reviews hasn’t even seen or touched the physical product. Yet… here they are- giving you a review on something they’ve never touched, felt, or smelled.
How to check?…
Before you trust a review, take a close look at their pictures. If they actually reviewed the product, then they would have their own original photos of the product. If they don’t, then it’s unlikely these writers have even seen or tried the product… and that’s basically as bad as buying the product without doing any research- it’s pretty much the same thing actually.
2. Lists of lists and lots of ratings
Are you bombarded with great lists of products that have ambiguous ratings? I’m sure you’ve run into websites, where they provide you with a useful, but also useless, list of product names, links, and an ambiguous rating out of 10. For example:
- Product 1 – 9/10
- Product 2 – 8/10
- Product 3 – 8/10 – Best Value!
Beware the ambiguous rating. Unless they explain how that rating is marked in detailed, the rating is subjective and provides very little benefit to you as the reader. Don’t be fooled so quickly.
3. Are they really giving you a review or just a summary?
When you’re reading a review, look for actionable descriptions, not descriptions of the features of the product. For example, if a vacuum has an extension for hard to reach places, you want a review that doesn’t just summarizes the feature, but rather summarizes the use of that feature. For example, it could read something like this:
“The extension of model xxxx provides an easy to use an extender for those hard to reach places. It extends nearly 3 feet, and has a narrow nosel”
Instead of,
“The extension of model xxxx was flimsy during it’s use. While attempting to use the extender, the hose wouldn’t retract and became more of a nuisance then it is as a useful feature”
See the difference? This is key. Although the first sentence provides some value, it’s really just a summary in the disguise of a review.
That’s all the time I have for today, good luck!