Amazon got it right when it launched its customer review strategy in the 90s. I could tell the world of online shoppers (which was much smaller at that time) why I loved my new Hoover vacuum and why it’s so great to clean. Or I could warn fellow shoppers about how the battery on my hand vac is only good for about a year and how my favorite cleaning device suddenly became my nemesis. It seems to be human nature that we all want to know what other people think before trying a new product/service. I’m famous for asking the server at a new restaurant, “What’s the most popular item on the menu?” I assume if other people are ordering the pickled ham and cheese sammy, then it must be good. However, that doesn’t always mean that I order it. I just want to know. It usually says something about the house specialty or the community.
Sites like digg.com, del.icio.us, tailrank.com, and a lesser-known site — winelog.net (one of my more recent favorites) are all based on the concept of sharing information and engaging in content based on someone else’s opinion. If no one else is diggin’ it, then why should I read that story about Minnesota’s new state fruit? The fact is, I probably wouldn’t see the story since it would be buried amongst the duds.
Here’s why we love these sites: