Update: This is a general gaming than can be done in ReviewMe to provide an inflated price for a blog that is clearly not worth it and not just for getting hits. I usually get a few hits a day from ReviewMe and I'm way below the list so just imagine the guys on top.
If none of you have gone by ReviewMe and seen what's happening there I think it is time you did. Ever since ReviewMe decided to let bloggers set their own review price some of the blogs in the system have taken advantage of that freedom and simply pushed themselves up to the top of the default listing.
The default listing shows the most priciest blog that a review goes for first and anybody can simply change their pricing to be the top most blog under any category and get free hits to their website. Of course it is without question that the price set per review is not worth what even the entire blog might be worth.
With the rank of ReviewMe in the top 5,200 websites, per Alexa, it is quite easy for the blogs in the popular categories to be the first in the listings and get a lot of hits to their blogs.
Not only does this make the marketplace seem faulty to advertisers, but I would hate for some novice user to come by ReviewMe and buy a review of their product or website from a blog that is nowhere near being worth the price.
There is the option to shuffle the listings by rank, price and name in either ascending or descending order, but most will not think of doing so.
This will not only lead to frustration among potential advertisers but also sheds another bad light on ReviewMe from the previous fake blog claiming that just happened. The problem isn't wide spread yet but it is easily open for anybody to jump in. I thought it was best to bring this to light before they get more bad press and hopefully not from an advertiser that pays $750 for a review from a blog that has a ranking of 2 in their system.
I changed mine just to see what would happen and sure enough I'm right above Alex King and ShoeMoney! { the highest price you can set is $750 }. I've since changed my price back to the original of $60.00 for a review.
Other examples
Go ahead give it a try and see how far up you get.
Technorati Tags: reviewme, gaming, blogging, web 2.0
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Very interesting. Although I wouldn’t do this, it is tempting and I can see this being a problem for ReviewMe’s reputation. ReviewMe should address this issue quickly, before the gaming gets out of control and widespread.
That got to be real funny. I guess ReviewMe are not in the loop with this err once again? It would just ‘collapse’ the system and cause loss in confidence for people who seriously wants to buy a review.
Interesting concept, but I don’t think the traffic will be anything massively significant, and even then it will be a non targeted traffic. If an advertiser is looking for a $750 quality site, but sees a $50 blog instead, then you’ve got nothing more than a hit from one disappointed visitor.
@tony
Yeah the traffic might not be that significant, but it might be in popular categories.
Also it does give the advertiser a loss of confidence in the marketplace.
“loss of confidence”? I don’t see how that, by any stretch, could be a good thing.