Earning Money For Epinions (and yourself)

magenta321 · #1 07-03-2001, 07:27 PM

I have been thinking lately of ways that we can make Epinions more successful. When Epinions makes money, we make money, so I think if everyone made an effort, it would be in our own best intrests.

In the freebies forum, I posted two links. One talks about free business cards to promote Epinions and your content partner site. You can stick the business cards all over the place, and give them away as free promotion. I did this last year, and got some new referals this way.

The other freebie was so you could get $5 off at half.com. If you use that code, and then sign up for yourself, then you will get your five dollars (that doesn't do anything for Epinions though, either way... it's just an extra savings

) Now, if you then log into Epinions, and do a search for whatever it was that you were hoping to buy, Epinions and your content partner site seem to get credit for the referal. So, this seems to work out in your best intrest as well as Epinions.

Lately I have also been making an effort that whenever I buy anything online, I try to buy through Epinions. Hey, if we all did this, it really might make an impact! I know we have a lot of Amazon addicts around here! I am sure there are other sites you can buy from that have a partnership with Epinions as well.

Does anyone else have ideas to promote Epinions, and/or earn money for them?

suzer · #2 07-03-2001, 08:41 PM

Margaret, I don't have any brilliant ideas to bring money to epinions, wish I did. But I do try to go to the manufacturer's page at epinions to make my online purchases. I suggest it to others and generally get no response. Can't people see the connection, and how helping epinions concurrently helps us? that's a rhetorical question of course.

What does concern me about that however, is that several times I have attempted to go thru a manufacturer's page to make a purchase so that epinions gets compensated for it, but sometimes and page has moved, or I get an error message. I have expressed this in my many emails to nirav and crew prior to the chats and it is never addressed.

If we can't get to the manufacturer's page and use our regular bookmarks or do a search it is not advantageous to epinions, so yeah, great, I spend more money, but I'm not helping the site.

Any thoughts Margaret or anyone??

http://www.epinions.com/user-suzer?tk=HD.1.2

**hadassahchana**[$] · #3 07-03-2001, 09:46 PM

Many people had a brilliant idea for promoting Epinions. It was called 'Advertising'.

However, we were told to use word-of-mouth.

I wonder why other companies don't try that- they'd save a fortune...

Cindy, feeling more sarcastic than usual

lernerj · #4 07-04-2001, 11:23 AM

i love the idea of trying to figure out ways we can help epinions, but i'm not sure that our own purchasing is the answer. i think the key is getting non-writers to visit and purchase through the site.

but i'm also selfish--even though i recognize that it would help epinions (and me, therefore) to buy through the site, i also find it hard to pass up spending my money through my points sites and earning free money that way.

jennifer

frazzledspice · #5 07-04-2001, 12:12 PM

Sometime last year, Epinions sent out business cards to advisors to help them promote Epinions.

They also made some TV commercials, airing them only in what they considered to be the major markets (Epinions to Middle America: "Drop Dead!")

Originally they had solicited videotaped commercials from a numbrer of active Epinions writers (I think about 100) and were going to pick the best. They wound up filming commercials professionally in California, but used people who were ostensibly Epinions writers but whom most people had never heard of. The commercials were pretty controversial, and some of them were in questionable taste. They were obviously made to attract someone who isn't in my demographic group (pregnant drinkers, computer using gun-owners....)

On the one hand, banner ads are much less expensive than they used to be. On the other hand, banner ads are expensive if you don't have any revenue, and content partners probably draw a lot of people to Epinions (particular the big search engines.)

One of Epinions' biggest advertisers is ebates.com I doubt I would purchase something off Epinions on a direct click thru when I could purchase by clicking on the ebates banner, getting to ebates through Epinions, and getting an ebate as well. If I clicked on the ebates banner I would still be helping Epinions, and the purchase, presumably, might still be able to be tracked.

suzer · #6 07-04-2001, 03:31 PM

Happy 4th everyone!

I use My Points and contribute to some other programs (siamese rescue etc) for some items, and on others, I make an effort to buy on epinions, to be supportive.

My little bit (I tell myself it's a little bit, so I don't feel guilty) of purchasing isn't going to make or break epinions obviously. I agree it's the non-members who will make the difference. And I certainly don't think saving money when possible is selfish. It is practical! I love to save money when I am frivolous.

I was not on the site when they distributed business cards, but I sure wish they would do it again. I think it is a great marketing idea. Oh well. . .

http://www.epinions.com/user-suzer?tk=HD.1.2

magenta321 · #7 07-04-2001, 05:18 PM

Suzer, only advisors who had their email set to recieve offers from Epinions were offered those cards a year ago. If you like the idea, get them made for yourself for free with the link I posted in the freebie forum.

I don't use ebates (sounds too much like cyberrebate to me, eek!) so it's not an issue for me. And yes, I agree that we need to get the nonmembers to buy from the site. However, I disagree with the notion that a few member's purchase are going to make a difference. I doubt that half of us in here (and EA is really a sampling of many of the more dedicated members, and is not really representitive of Epinions as a while) have ever bought something through Epinions. If we just keep in mind that it is a possibility, I think it helps the site. Some purchases you don't get credits from ebates, I am sure, that you could get through Epinions.

I am not saying to start buying things just to support them. I just wanted to point out that the possibility exists, and sometimes it is benefitial for everyone. Sometimes it's not benefitial for you. C'est la vie

Besides, I think that is only one way to help get the name out.

I used to have a signature line in my "junk" email account which led to my Epinions. Unfortunately, AOL was canceled, and my junk account became my primary account, so I took it out. I forgot the sig line was even there, until my professor asked me about the writing I did on the side. I asked her what she meant, and she said "you write over a hundred articles and don't know what I am talking about?"

Good thing none of my incriminating ones were on the top at the time

It seemed like last year, there were a number of people who had creative ideas for marketing the site, like putting bookmarks into library books, or putting homemade pamphlets in different places where the "public" would see them, and hopefully become involved. I was just hoping that people still had that same enthusiasm, and had more creative ideas for me.

I guess I am in the Epinions cycle. Sometimes I hate the site so much I want to spit. Othertimes, I feel like the epinions cheerleader

I guess I am in cheerleader mode right now.

nicholmere · #8 07-05-2001, 02:59 PM

Well I just did my little bit to help bring in non-members. I sent my first e-mail to a company telling them about a review I wrote.

Of course the company isn't going to use my review to decide if they should stay at their own hotel, but if they've never heard of Epinions before then maybe they'll be interested in the advertising possibilities - at the very least maybe the person who gets my e-mail will enjoy surfing the site and earn Epinions banner ads page views.

Just so that I don't appear too positive -gasp- I had to send the bug-team a report on typos within the >VIEW MORE info link; it would be nice if they fixed it before the company came and saw that the hotel's name was spelt incorrectly.

suzer · #9 07-05-2001, 05:07 PM

That's great. I didn't send links to my reviews to companies for quite a while, but once it was suggested to me (via a community center review) I do it almost all the time now (provided I can obtain a valid, up to date web address). 95% of the time they really appreciate it and will check out your review(s). Some ignore or have negative reactions, and in one case there was a language problem (I couldn't get through to Yoshinoya-Japanese take out restaurant).

It helps them establish what people like or dislike about their product or service; it helps you with Income Share, and on occasion someone from the company will start using epinions
and become as addicted as me. Heh, heh, revenge is sweet.

I called aol to complain and cancel yesterday (I do that fairly regularly as I keep getting disconnected and frustrated). They always talk me out of it. Anyway, the rep I spoke with sent a confirmation email of our discussion. I sent a thank you email back, sent my profile link and told her she might want to read reviews of people's feelings about aol, good or bad, or check out the whole site. She thanked me and might even join.

http://www.epinions.com/user-suzer

lernerj · #10 07-05-2001, 05:36 PM

boy, you all are starting to inspire me to think i should write to some companies, too! just what i need--another epinions-related time stealer!

jennifer

nicholmere · #11 07-05-2001, 07:24 PM

Wow! I already received a reply from the hotel.

It is filled with words such as "wonderful" and "delighted" and "forward your comments to ..." including:

Once again, thank you for taking the time to write as well as for posting your comments on the Internet.

I'm impressed

suzer · #12 07-05-2001, 09:41 PM

That is wonderful! Doesn't that make you feel good! My last letter was from Kissmyface cosmetics. The last email I got from their PR person said something along the lines of "Suzi, all of us here at kissmyface just love your reviews". I felt good about that one for quite a while!

At first I used to send my reviews to any general mail contact, but particularly now that I've been on the site a while and am an advisor, I feel a little more confidence (at least til next month when I could be hatless and owe them one) and I try to send them to PR or marketing people rather than to who knows whom.

But anyway, Katharine, that is great! I'm really happy for you. Validation is really nice.

http://www.epinions.com/user-suzer

magenta321 · #13 07-06-2001, 06:40 AM

That is another good way to promote Epinions. Who knows, next time those people are looking to buy a car or toaster or something, they might remember the site and surf on through.

Also, I am ever-hopeful that they will want to use my testimony on their website and will pay me for it

I am ever hopeful

A thank you, at the very least, is nice, and feels great.

I haven't had anyone sign up on me yet though from this practice. Oh well. At least I do know it has gotten some people onto the site who might not have seen it otherwise.

jo.com · #14 07-06-2001, 08:08 AM

A couple of thoughts:

Jennifer: when you post a review there is a link that say write to manufacturer or company. It is through Planet feedback and they basically do the writing for you. You just plug in some info. It only takes a few minutes.

Cindy: We had business cards way back. The problem is that they came with our addresses on them and who wants to give out card with addresses on it. My daughter took a bunch to work, though and gave them out but if they just had our epinions name I would post it places and leave them at the gym, etc.

lernerj · #15 07-06-2001, 10:01 AM

good suggestion, jo. but i've been wondering about planet feedback--do companies pay attention to those letters? seems like if they are mostly form letters, the company might just ignore them. anyone have experience on this?

jennifer

jo.com · #16 07-06-2001, 10:14 AM

That's a good ? But I did get a response from a restaurant I reviewed. It was great and they sent me a thank you letter or something to that effect and said they were glad I enjoyed it there.
But I haven't heard from anyone else!

magenta321 · #17 07-06-2001, 01:19 PM

From what I hear, a lot of companies don't look at Planet Feedback letters. Some companies call it a "paid to complain" site because people send false claims through them in order to get some kind of compensation. I know a lot of our reviews are compliments, so it is different, but I wonder if they saw the PF heading if they wouldn't ignore the email all together.

I think you are better off going to the website. Usually at the bottom of the page there is either a contact link or a feedback link, and you can send your review to that person.

suzer · #18 07-06-2001, 01:58 PM

Margaret, you may well have a point, but I did all the website contact and calling the companies, before I went to Planet feedback out of frustration. I got very good results in all cases except one. I got a testy voicemail message from a woman I had already talked with in management with the company. I got sick of her uncaring attitude and that is why I went to Planet Feedback.

Thanks for the reminder. I'll try them again and tell them I got nowhere with her and that is why I complained to them.

I can't imagine hassling with Planet Feedback or comparable companies unless you are at the end of your rope. But that's me.

Anyway, appreciate your input. Take care.

http://www.epinions.com/user-suzer
Check out my thoughts on products and services
Detailed reviews with a touch of wit

AmyLEnsor · #19 07-08-2001, 11:07 PM

Actually, I was never an Advisor, but I got two big boxes of those business cards over a year ago. I was letting my daughter play with them and she poured them out all over the floor. My husband saw them and said that he never hears about Epinions on his newsgroups anymore. He said that he used to hear about them a lot, but since the changeover to the new format he rarely hears Epinions mentioned.

fallyn96 · #20 07-09-2001, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lernerj
good suggestion, jo. but i've been wondering about planet feedback--do companies pay attention to those letters? seems like if they are mostly form letters, the company might just ignore them. anyone have experience on this?

some companies listen, some ignore. i've written a few letters there- both positive and negative- and only a handful have gone ignored.

it also depends on your complaint. my complaint about my son's birthday cake went ignored, but when i complained about unfair employee treatment (raises, promotions, rude comments made to me by the store manager, etc), i got a personal phone call and a raise. (both were for walmart).

they don't have to be form letters, and they don't start out that way. basically, planetfeedback asks about your mood, then lets you tell about your problem, then asks some general questions, then lets you write what you want done, and then asks some more general questions (like whether or not you'll tell people about this, whether you'll do business with them again, etc).

i think that planetfeedback gets under companies skin a little. makes it a little easier to complain and get things done. may not be a bad thing...