If in no other way, I want anyone who reads this blog to make more money this year by WASTING LESS of it on products they don’t need.
I was lying in bed the other night and I came up with the perfect way to combat this problem of opportunity hopping that so many of us face.
But I need your help…
Here’s what I want to do.
I want to create a review community at AndrewHansen.name
I want to create a place where people can come to get REAL reviews on IM products without a sales pitch AND from people who are near to their own skill level.
You know what I mean right?
I, Andrew might buy a product and find it to be boring and a waste of time, but Joe Newbie might read the same piece of info and say “damn that was helpful!”
And what’s more, I hate going to places like the Review area at the Warrior Forum and having to scroll through pages of comments trying to work out who’s actually bought the product, whether it’s really good, and whether there’s even one decent review.
So here’s what I propose.
I want to start a community where for as many products as possible, or as requested, we have real human reviews.
In fact, each product will have more than one review. It will have three reviews – one from an Advanced Marketer, one from an Intermediate Marketer and one from a Newer Marketer.
These reviews won’t be by me (sometimes the Advanced Marketer review will… excuse my arrogance) but by YOU.
I will start a list of reviewers – it’s free to become one.
Each time a product is requested I will email this list and ask who’s bought it or wants to buy it and review it.
Then I’ll post the reviews here on the site for our whole community to check out… whether the recommendation is good OR bad!
What’s in it for you the reviewer?
1. If it happens that the product is good (I will also judge your review so you can’t just submit good reviews for the sake of it) and worth buying, you the writer can include your own affiliate link so readers of andrewhansen.name can click through to it and purchase through you. Potentially big dollars IF the product is good.
2. If it’s not good – I’ll pay you! If your review gets chosen as one of the 2 or 3 we provide, I’ll send you some cash via paypal 
It won’t be a gigantic sum, maybe $30 or so, depending on the quality of the review.
3. Good or bad, you can include a link to some website of yours in the review ie “this review provided by xyz at abc.com”
4. And most importantly you get to help a whole community of readers to SAVE MONEY on products that suck.
Be clear, these are not the kind of reviews you find on the web when you search some current product. I want REAL reviews – if it sucks, we’re gonna say it sucks. If it’s great, it’ll be recommended by the corresponding experience level.
This way we’ll have a GENUINE review area that anyone can come to at any time to make sure of their purchase, or avoid it completely, free of charge.
Together we will make opportunity hopping a thing of the past and combined, focus our energy for massive profits in 2009.
If you’re keen on the idea, let me know your thoughts here and I’ll try to get this underway as soon as possible.
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Sounds like a great idea, Andrew!
I’ve definitely bought more than my share of info/IM products, so I know what it’s like to get one that offers no value. I’d be interested in reviewing some products for the good!
Outstanding Idea! Going to forums or doing a Google search for a product review usually gets a bunch of blatant sales pitches and you never know what’s for real and what isn’t. I have lots of products that I learned a bit from but are mostly rehashed fluff. I also have lots of products that I probably should have asked for a refund on. The few that are really worth their weight in gold don’t come very often but it sure would have saved me a lot of money as well as time to have an honest review community’s input first. I’m 100000% behind what you’re proposing and will gladly share anything I can.
Thanks Andrew.
Steve
This idea of yours is brilliant Andrew and I guess, with it, there will be finally a place that saves one from spending for fluff…
Andrew, I like the idea of having reviews by an Advanced Marketer, one from an Intermediate Marketer and one from a Newer Marketer.
Will there be more than 3 reviews for a product?
Lewis
Brilliant idea Andrew. been waiting for someone to step up and have a “no-holds-barred” review site as opposed to the typical pitch-fests that are all over squidoo and hubpages and generally everywhere else you look. I’ve only come across a couple guys that actually say products are definitely NOT worth buying and I know they could probably convert about 10k to 20k with their lists by recommending it – but they don’t if it’s not worth it. Will sure be refreshing to see.
cheers
Tav.
Count me in…nice work, Andrew!
Kyle
I like this idea, but I would change one thing about it. I don’t think you should limit the reviewers to 1 advanced, 1 medium, and 1 beginner… For example, you’re an advanced Marketer and I’m an advanced marketer… But my opinion or review can be completely different than your point of view on the same exact product. I might be advanced at SEO or PPC while you or someone else might be advanced at blogging and email marketing. Therefore, our reviews might be completely different since we both have different backgrounds and experience.
In my opinion, the more reviews for each product the better. Just because ONE advanced marketer says that he thinks the product is good doesn’t mean that I’ll think the same. Everybody is different, everyone learns differently, and everyone has different backgrounds and experiences. That’s why the reviews shouldn’t be just limited to 3 people.
I do not like all these sites out there that promise “free traffic” to your web page. most of them are pure garbage sites that you sign up for, give them tons of info, and all that really happens is that people repeat everything you just did. some so called free traffic sites just send quick impressions to your site doing absolutely nothing useful for you what so ever!
Dave.
Count me in- I have bought a lot of products in the past they were less than up to standard. I believe to many people want a “silver bullet” ebook- to solve all the problems and do all the work for them…..
I think (especially in IM) -everyone ha the “its good because I make $ out of it when you purchase”…mode
I am happy to provide one of my IM products (at no cost) to get started
I have suggested exactly this idea in a small forum that I belong to. What I had in mind was no affiliate links to avoid sales pitches. But this does represent a great opportunity to make some extra cash, especially for those just starting out.
Everybody says you should have testimonials on your sales page. I always scroll straight past them. How did they get to review the unreleased product anyway?
I would much rather hear from people who have laid out their own cash, about what they thought of a product. I have never bought anything that lived up to the hype, but a few things have been of value.
It would be nice to give a heads up on some of those and a warning about some of the rehashed rubbish. Great idea.
Cheers
Rich
Like the sound of this, but as a total newbie to computers let alone IM, this money to be made from linking is a bit foreign to me at this stage.
Great idea though Andrew
I recall David Vallieries started a reviews site, not so well thought thru as yours but it colapsed/disappeared two years ago.
He might discuss it with you?
Oops, sorry, emailed first…
Yes, brilliant idea. I’ve actually got a bit of a reputation as being a scout….. sign of misspent time spent browsing and buying stuff I shouldn’t!
I think there are a lot of good products, but sometimes the salespage misleads, and sells it to the wrong market – newbie stuff for people who already know a fair bit etc.
There are also some sellers who had better remain nameless for now, who seem to be well-backed and supported by all the usual crowd, who I now won’t touch with a bargepole. All hype and no substance.
Hey, I’m no success story (yet!) but, you know, I would not want to make millions that way….
Hiya Andrew,
Great idea, especially the way you talk about setting it up without all the guru promoting each other’s products.
I’ve seen other review sites where most stff is cut and paste, and old testimonials from other products.
I’m a newbie, but I’m not stupid. I’ve been burned enough times now to be a little bit smarter.
Again, great idea, get rolling on it!
Yep count me in too – this was due to be a project of mine to do the reviews myself and say what levels of people would benefit from them, but I couldn’t find a way round spending thousands of dollars a month on all the latest products – you cracked that problem!
I have about a million (pretty close) products I’ve bought in the past year or so, so I’ll volunteer to be a reviewer at intermediate level.
Steve
Hey Dan,
You’re right mate – I agree.
The only thing I want to avoid is TOO many reviews all of differing opinion so that readers are equally as confused as when they got here.
I suppose if a product is definitively crap and not worth buying, opinions won’t vary so greatly but if they do it’ll be a “each person has to try it out themselves situation” – and hey, refunds are always available.
What you think?
Andrew
Count me in Andrew. I’ve been suckered in for more than my share. Probably the same ones Lyn mentioned above.
Yes good idea
Robin
I don’t think there will be much disagreement. As I said, often it’s a matter of the product being pitched wrongly.
I do ask for refunds sometimes, but always explain why. Most are very nice about it and actually ask for more feedback. And the ones who are not – well, that says something too!!
Sounds like a great idea!
Great idea – but I agree with Rich. The only way it can be completely unbiased is to ban affiliate links. If you get a lot of readers then it’s only natural that people are going to be tempted. (What a cynic! Sorry!)
Sue
How about this one:
http://www.theguruassassin.com
Its making big claims…………
I absolutely LOVE this idea and would love to help anyway I can. I’ve tired of finding “reviews” for products that are thinly disguised sales pitches when I’m looking for real information on something. Additionally, I’ve found whenever I’ve provided an honest review of something (good, bad or ulgy), that’s when I’ve succeeded the most; people are hungry for honesty, not just glowing praise!
Count me in!
Great idea! I am definitely interested in participating, so count me in!
I’m all for it!! Let’s do this
Sounds like a great idea. I warned my list about bogus reviews a couple of years ago. it is very hard to find honest reviews…
Sign me up!
Alex
Andrew this is a great idea – we are all so tired of the thinly disguised sales pitches of affiliates ‘reviewing’ a product.
One suggestion to keep in mind as we review products, is to keep the review in context of what the product attempts to do.
For example, it won’t be helpful to say a product sucks because we’re hot for SEO and the product deals with PPC.
But if it’s vague, mis-leading, innacurate, out-dated, cumbersome, experience specific, or fantastic – let’s say so, and help each other cut through the hype to the real deal.
Thanks Andrew!
John
OK Andrew, excellent idea, count me in. Alvise.
John,
Yes great idea.
I’ll set a review format that all reviewers need to follow.
The review will have to be in parts like:
Quality of the information
Newness of the information
Was it worth the price relative to similar products you’ve purchased?
Things like that yeah? That way whether it’s ppc or SEO information, the core of the review will address whether it’s really worth buying or not.
andrew
Hi Andrew,
Generally, if a product is pure crap (most of them are) then I agree that opinions will not vary as much….. But I don’t know if its the same vice versa. I’ve bought a product before that had a couple positive reviews on it (from “experienced marketers), and the product was crap for me because this is information I already knew due to my experience online.
For example, let’s say there’s an “advanced” marketer that’s involved with product creation and email marketing. He buys a product called “Google Ventriliquist” about SEO. This is all relatively new information for him, so his review on Google Ventriliquist is going to be positive because he’s learning things he didn’t know before. I go ahead and buy it, just to find out that the product is basic stuff like inserting meta tags, building links through articles, using alt tags, etc… This product is pure crap to me while another advanced marketer sees it as good quality because its not rehashed to him.
Perceptions can be really different on products that have good information, but is just rehashed. May be rehashed for you, but not me, or vice versa. So, if you have say 3-4 different experienced marketers (from different backgrounds) reviewing the product, it will give people a more complete analysis about the product. Let’s say that 1 “advanced” or “intermediate” marketer posts a positive review on a product, so all your visitors go out and buy it just to discover that it wasn’t that good in their eyes. You will have a shit storm and alot of disgruntled visitors. Especially if commissions on the sales of the product reviewed is involved.
Exactly!
That will be great.
John
Good idea – will you allow reviews of free ebooks and software too? There is a lot of really good free stuff out there unfortunately the ‘free’ part removes the perceived quality or value.
A
I think this is a brilliant idea. It is sooo easy to get sucked in by a really good sales letter, that the focus goes right out the window.
Anything that can stop that is worth its weight in gold anyway. Plus genuine reviews from different experience levels will become I am sure a very useful resource.
This is a great idea. I agree with you about the Warrior Forum, AND it’s currently the best place to get a few “real” reviews. It’s saved me a lot of time and money. Due to Analysis Paralysis, I’m still a beginner when it comes to action.
Thanks,
Z
Dan, I think you are being too kind. The gurus just climb on board and SELL. That’s it. I’ve been on a lot of lists, and my gosh, you learn a lot. You see all the duplicate emails from all these guys who know the seller personally etc etc. Then you get the ones that stand out as different. Ok, that’s in their affiliate role, but it tends to indicate their own products are decent too.
Andrew – another section please – was the product fairly sold/described/targeted. This is where a lot of the dissatisfaction creeps in. And the level it’s thought suitable for too. Newbie etc should mean newbie in that particular area, SEO or whatever, not newbie to internet marketing in general terms.
Excellent idea and about time too! It would be great to read some real reviews by some real people about what they think about a particular product instead of wading through all the fake IM reviews that dominate the search pages every time a new product is released. Bring it on!
I like the idea. It would be a hassle, but if you had a way to have people submit “proof of purchase” that could help keep things more honest.
Also, I know from dealing with newbies on a regular basis that they want to know what OTHER expenses after the initial purchase will be required – even basic things like web-hostging, buying domains, etc. That could be a section in a template.
Another section in a template could be “previous experience needed” – i.e. PPC, Knowledge of how to build websites, etc.
I’ve seen a few people try this before and it’s never worked well, but I think it can, so I’m optimistic that if you get enough feedback first that it could work.
If there were a way to not only rate the review, but apply a weighted value of a reviewer rating someone ELSES review based on things like their expertise in the area and their “standing” as a reviewer (difficult I know, but FreeIQ does something like this, although it’s actually a fairly complicated algorithm that they use).
This is a great idea and I’m on board. I have a list of about 200 clients that could pitch in for newbie reviews as well.
Yep think is a great idea, I think most reviews to sell, not truly honest, I have bought software and systems that are not what they say, or are too complicated, although they promise a two year old can manage it,
Good honest reviews
“Can You Handle the Truth”
Yes I’d rather know the truth!!!
Cheers
Hi Andrew.
That’s a cool idea
Feel free to put me on the notification list. I buy or test most new stuff out anyways before I possibly recommend it to my own lists anyways
Great idea Andrew.
Perhaps a STANDARD Bullet Point framework for EVERYONE to use so we can find relevant info fast, as well as write reviews really fast, would be helpful.
eg. Product Name, Author, Topic, Details covered, Price, Plusses, Gaps, Challenges, Personal Experiences (if any at this point), Recommendations, Rating for Newby, Intermediate, Advanced (eg. A = Worthwhile, B = You decide, C= Not really or Green, Orange, Red colors would be nice!)
Hey Andrew,
I think this is a GREAT idea, and I have many products sitting on. Some are OK, some are downright dumb, and a few are brilliant.
Heather
I think this is a BRILLIANT idea! It is so hard to get good or objective reviews. That being said, the one nice thing about WF reviews is multiple posts. I agree with Dan’s idea above – at least 3 reviews for each level just to get a full, well rounded review.
Also, what about including results achieved from using a product? That would be a great litmus test where applicable!
Fantastic idea! Count me in. I’ve been disappointed (even ripped off) so many times, I’d like to make sure it doesn’t happen to someone else.
Will this me limited to just IM products, or could we add other online tools (templates, software, editors, and such) to the mix?
Great idea!
Hi Andrew
This has been needed for a very long time…I can honestly say that I have purchased a couple of products that were well worth the money, but only a couple…the rest have been fluff and say the same thing in hundreds of different ways without delivering any information.
Count me in…let me know what I can do…will wait to hear from you…
Thanks and talk soon
Lea
I f a review community like your idea had been available for the past year it would have saved me a lot of money. So yes, I’m keen on the idea.
Great Idea!! I am in.
Currently suffering from information overload!!
I too like this, especially since I’ve basically cut myself off from buying any more IM stuff unless I KNOW its going to be worthwhile. I’ve been around long enough that I’ve pretty much seen all the major Internet Marketing tactics go through the “latest and greatest to oldie moldie” mill.
Unfortunately more than once when I went to actually do what guru A suggested I found out the reason he had written the tell all eBook was because the market had moved on and once again I was the last sucker he could squeeze a nickel out of on that tactic.
I also agree you need a fairly rigid format that these reviews must follow. “I thought it was good/great/crap” is not good enough, I need the specific “because….”
Also, to ensure this is something that the reviewer has actually bought (and they aren’t just a great writer) you might want to consider that each review include a screenshot of the downloaded program, or an explanation of the steps of one of the “super, duper secret tips” that the product exposes. Whatever it is, it should be some sort of proof of purchase that also offers value as part of the review. That should do a lot to alleviate everyone’s fears that this could become an affiliate shortcut to sales.
Hope that helps and let me know if there’s anything in particular someone wants a review of. Sigh….I probably have it.
I’d like volunteer as one of your newbie testers. I love the idea of getting at the truth.
We really ought to think of a testing method as far removed from a personal opinion as possible. We could get the top scored items and have three levels of user compete for niche..
This is a very good idea which will benefit all involved. Please count me in.
This is a great idea and will work well provided the enthusiasm with which we start is maintained, the quality of reviews is beyond questioning and the genuine concern and care for others can be clearly seen overriding the eagerness to make money through affiliate links.
Hello, Andrew …
Would you consider donating affiliate compensation to charity?
Any “vested interest” in a review is, by definition, bound to taint the end result.
Heifer.org might be a good choice … donations go to buying a calf or a goat for a hungry family … it was started by an American cowboy way back when … now it’s all over the world … they do trees and bees, too … the way it works, the first two female offspring go to the next hungry family, so it perpetuates itself …
Just my 2¢ …
Elizabeth
Elizabeth,
Interesting!
That might be a cool idea but I don’t mind paying for the bad review because I would like to reward the contributors from helping others.
The good thing is that if a review comes through that I can tell is too contrary to the other reviews or is obviously an attempt at easy money, then it won’t get through – that moderation will ensure the most honest reviews I think.
Hmm, I’l keep thinking.
Yes this is a very good idea Andrew and it can work well with the right people involved.
I have been part of a long term (4 years) group where we do this with products, services, websites and ideas and no one pulls punches. Very valuable and enlightening feedback if done properly.
We use a private communications service to run it so it is not open for public scrutiny – this allows us to be very blunt too.
Good luck with it.
Bill
OK. So there will be moderation of the reviews. I think on the other attempts at doing this the moderation was pretty lax, so as long as there are expert moderators I think it can work well.
Tens of thousands, that’s how much something like this could have saved me in wasted IM product purchases. Excellent idea
Count me in. I am so tired of reading “rave” reviews and or bash reviews; and then having to question the obvious motives behind either.
Get ‘em Andrew.
brilliant idea. I’m sick and tired of reading reviews that aren’t worth squit.
100% behind you on this one.
This is a great idea. I have just requested refunds on several crappy info products I tried. I do have some good ones as well. Where do I submit my review?
This is exciting! I think word will spread fast. I would really like to be a reviewer. There are some products that I would really like to blow the whistle on.
Also, some products are good but terribly overpriced. If one guy sells the same info for 100 times the price that another guy sells it for, is that a ripoff? I think so. I know that I have bought fabulous products for low prices and high-priced versions of the same info.
This is such a great idea! I *really* want to be a reviewer!
This is a great idea, since most review sites are so fixed or biased due to self interest, that a review site reviewing review sites is badly needed! But with your idea may be this is not required any more.
Great idea. I buy lots of IM products and I don’t even have time to study all of them, even the good ones.
I definitely want to participate.
This sound good, I can’t wait to see this take off the ground. I too am tired of all the hype that there is out there. Great work Andrew
Wouldn’t a whole new site be better than just a review area here at andrewhansen.name?
Hey Mitro,
Not for what I’ve got in mind no. Reasons being:
1. We don’t want a forum or a static site or else it will end up like other review sites mentioned earlier.
2. I figure it’s best to use this site rather than start a new blog and have to grow the domain, authority, subscribers and presence from scratch.
3. We can use the leverage of our existing community here to get this idea out as wide as we can.
4. Plus it’s the easiest way to do it so we can get this up and cranking as quickly as possible.
It’s actually already up now so check it out and let me know what you think!
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
This would be great info to receive. I always seem to run accross the loser products. I do run accross some really good ones too. If you need more reviewers let me know
Hi Andrew,
i just want to tell you that there are only 2 Handfull of
people in that internetcircus i really trust and by the way, you’re one of them. I like the idea of that kind of review and i think that it will help to prevent some people doing the wrong decissions.i’ll stay with you and all honest markerters.
Jayenn – The part time Cabdriver -
Hi Andrew,
Brilliant idea as usual. Of course, the devil is in the details.
1. I like the idea of a fixed form for all to use.
2.I suggest a 5 point rating system with a total score highlighted for fast scanning. BTW, theold standby 10 point system has been known in scientific circles since the 70s to be worthless; humans cannot RELIABLY discriminate beyond 7 well explained choices.
3.The triage of beginner, intermediate, and advanced is good but limited. Beginner at WHAT? Blogs? SEO? etc. Each of us (with perhaps an absolute beginner) will be all over the map, depending on the subject matter of the topic reviewed (and God help us if the topic spans multiple subjects wherein our expertise varies widely.
4. The true measure of value is “Did you make money from it?” So we might need 2 part reviews: a. initial reaction to the information (for Example, “this is pure recycled 2003 thinking readily available in free ebooks, and obsolete in any case.”
b. The opposite end of the spectrum ” This looks hot. I plan on jumping on it immeditely.” demands a follow-up report on did it MAKE MONEY.
c. Obviously the latter report, especially if the result is positive, requires more work and should be better compensated than the former. And it is of maximal use to the users. This is what we are looking for: gems to implement ASAP, far more so than duds to avoid (althought that has a place).
The Devil awaits our selection of details.
Bet wishes,
Oran
Andrew,
Awesome idea and I’m totally behind you on this!
I was only thinking about something like this the other day
and just decided to read some of your blog posts that I had
missed over the last few weeks or months ( my own stupidity ).
Just joined FP last week and am looking forward to this new community.
We’ve been “Hyped” and mislead too long by the so-called “Leaders and gurus in
this industry and it’s time we get the CORRECT and UNBIASED info. out to those who need and want it. Thanks dude!
John