How to Read Consumer Reviews Online
by Lily J. Tythan, Demand MediaIt is always smart to read consumer reports online before making any major purchase. With just a few clicks on your computer, you can have a plethora of reviews and a wealth of information on any product right at your fingertips within seconds. Whether you are an advanced Internet user or can barely read your email, reading consumer reviews online is an extremely simple process that can be done quickly and easily with just a few steps.
Step 1
Use your favorite Internet search engine to find sites containing reviews for the desired product. Google is a popular choice, but Yahoo, MSN and other search engines may also be used. To search for consumer reviews on your desired product, simply enter the product name and the word "reviews" and click the button to search.
Step 2
Evaluate the sites that appear as a result of your search. Typically you will see several major online stores show up within the search engine listings. These can be very good sources of reviews if the store allows buyers to post reviews or comments alongside the product descriptions. (Amazon.com is a great example of such a site.) However, if there are no online stores like this appearing after your search, there are other options. Forums or messages boards are another great place to find honest, unbiased reviews, as people who write on these rarely have anything to personally gain from posting a review.
Step 3
Read all the pertinent reviews, both positive and negative. Each review is valuable because it may bring up a point about the product that was not mentioned in other reviews. As you read the reviews, consider the date the review was written to ensure you are getting the most recent information about the subject.
Tips
- If you cannot find the reviews you desire, consider making a post on a forum or even on a question-and-answer site like Yahoo Answers. You can then ask your specific questions and have other consumers give you their reviews directly.
Warnings
- Beware of sites that seem full of hype or are clearly trying to "sell" the product. These may be affiliate sites that are only hoping to make a commission from you clicking their links and buying the product. While you may find useful information from affiliate sites, they are obviously far from unbiased.
