Original reviews of software are written by users who have had their own experiences with the software. They include both the good and the bad, and can be a useful source of information for other software shoppers. It is important to know where a reviewer is coming from and what they are trying to accomplish with the software they are reviewing. Reviewers who write bad reviews can have various reasons, from genuine happiness and fair experiences to untrue motives.
To ensure the integrity and accuracy of an examination, it is important to conduct the following tests.
Identity Check – Each review is screened for key indicators, such as the name, job title and email address, to verify that it was written by a real person. The review will not be published when the reviewer’s identity is not able to be verified. Conflict of Interest Verify if the reviewer is in any way associated with the business being reviewed or is directly competing the reviews will not be published.
All reviews are subject to the same quality control and verification processes regardless of the product or rating being examined. This is to ensure that all reviews are handled with respect and without bias.
Vendors are expected to respond to any reviews even if they have negative ratings, as this is a great way to demonstrate that they are paying attention and interested in the opinions of their customers. However, they should not attempt to influence reviews by the inclusion of a non-disparagement clause into the customer’s contracts, as this is a violation of federal law.