Overly promotional?

1. 86

   DzyMsLizzyposted 8 years ago

   Wouldn't a hubber who seems to write exclusively on product reviews, which they openly state they got for free or at a reduced price simply for the purpose of writing review, be considered as "overly promotional," as that is all the hub seems to be doing, is promoting a product under the guise of a review?
   
   Perhaps I am mistaken in my understanding of this rule, but I have seen several such hubs of late, and it got me to wondering.
   
   Thanks for any clarification.

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   1. 88

      bravewarriorposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not sure, Liz. I've written a couple of product reviews based on personal experience. Of course, that's not all I post, so I guess that's why they wouldn't be considered overly promotional.
      
      Here's a blog post I found concerning product reviews. However, it doesn't mention anything about Hubbers who only post product reviews. Hopefully, someone from admin will come in and set us straight.
      
      http://blog.hubpages.com/2012/11/13/pro … view-tips/

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2. 68

   Dressage Husbandposted 8 years ago

   Absolutely, report them as such.

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3. 88

   WryLiltposted 8 years ago

   I'm sitting here scratching my head about how this person gets free stuff to review just by saying they have a Hubpages account. Heck, I can't even do that on my website half the time!

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4. 60

   LindaSmith1posted 8 years ago

   Wrylit:  Search how to become a product tester. I checked into it a few years ago and didn't bother with it. Personally, I would  not trust anyone who writes a product review that they are being paid for.  You can try writing to major manufacturers and ask if they offer samples, free products that you can write reviews on.   
   
   The reviews we see on Amazon, in a lot of cases are written by those paid to do so.
   
   As far as the person who is writing reviews, and then discloses that they are being paid to do so, etc, are probably required to add this disclosure just like we are required to disclose we earn from ads, earn from Amazon etc.

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5. 82

   psycheskinnerposted 8 years ago

   I don't see the problem.  A product review is a product review.  They based it on a free sample and disclosed this as FTC regulation require.
   
   Product reviews are a permitted topic for hubs. They just have to be based on genuine direct experience with the product.

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6. 60

   LindaSmith1posted 8 years ago

   Exactly psycheskinner.   The issue is, that this hubber has a chance of making some sales that others are not making.  There is enough junk, copied content on here to keep people busy reporting rather than report someone who might earn a buck!

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7. 86

   Marisa Wrightposted 8 years ago

   Yes MsLizzy, you are misunderstanding the rule.
   The overly promotional rule just refers to promoting other sites or affiliate links. There is no rule against product reviews.

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   1. 86

      DzyMsLizzyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Okay, thanks Marisa.

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   2. 82

      Venkatachari Mposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      But, Marisa, I think product reviews should contain both benefits and drawbacks of that product. If one simply glorifies it's plus points only, it should be treated as overly promotional.

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      1. 86

         Marisa Wrightposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         I can imagine someone writing a genuine review of a product they really love, where very few drawbacks would be mentioned.

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         1. 82

            Venkatachari Mposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks for the reply.
            I hope it will be very few, at least one uncomfortable point. To make it a perfect review.

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8. 82

   KatyWhoWaitedposted 8 years ago

   I understand.  HOWEVER, my website IS my product.  My husband and I started off in 1997 on the web creating educational software and free online games for students of all ages. It frustrates me that I can't promote it here on hubpages. I don't think I could ask someone to do a "product review" of my website!   I can promote my business on my blog, but I don't get traffic there.The rule seems silly to me, misguided and a form of discrimination.  I realize that I can add two links if it's pertinent to the topic of my hub, but that just isn't enough. However,  I know, IT'S THE RULE.  That doesn't make it seem any less frustrating.

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9. 92

   Sherry Hewinsposted 8 years ago

   I am wondering if the reviews are all 100% positive. I would have less of a problem with somebody who does reviews of free products (different from getting paid to write reviews) if they have some critical reviews.
   
   I'm thinking that, just because I got a product for free would not mean I couldn't give an honest review of it.

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10. 73

    aminebombomposted 8 years ago

    if you write insightful and be able to let your readers know that, that products has pros and cons, so what's wrong, you stick with at least 200 original and insightful words, then it's okay.
    and one thing I want to make clear in Hubpages community, don't judge other people's work and say go report go report, you want to easily go report your brother or sister, if anybody is consern he or she should go to that person and send him and email letting him know, and for record, no hub can be published if it is overly promotional, I tried it once without any intention, maybe it was a bit promotional but never over promotional, and HP admins wouldn't let it be published, and they send me an email saying that it looks spammy, so put your trust in HP admins.

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11. 74

    Esperantaposted 8 years ago

    I own many items that have made me extremely happy with their performance, and which have no negative points whatsoever as far as I am concerned. Why should I lie and make criticisms that do not apply?

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    1. 82

       psycheskinnerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       I don't think that is the implication.  But a critical approach will at least suggest things like: why this is perfect for my purposes but would be less ideal for other types of customer, or how I use this product in a certain way to avoid any possible downsides and you can to.
       
       A review that does not touch on even the possibility of any non-bliss reaction is typically not helping match the reader to what will help them the most, whether it is this product or not.  And that is what a review is meant to do for the reader/consumer.

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    2. 88

       bravewarriorposted 8 years agoin reply to this

       I agree with you, Esperanta. I've written a couple of reviews because the products really impressed me and solved my problem. I saw no negatives, therefore didn't fabricate any. Reviews should be honest and if the product has no downsides for the reviewer why make something up?

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       1. 82

          psycheskinnerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

          As I said, because your specific problems are not universal and you are writing for a general audience of people trying to making a purchasing decision.  The perfect breakfast cereal for a super-athlete versus and office worker = not the same.

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12. 60

    LindaSmith1posted 8 years ago

    I do product reviews a lot.  Whether I love the product or not, I always search to see what users don't like which could be the color of actual product vs color seen in a photo.  I have included negatives along with my rebuttal to those negatives if I can do so.

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