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Product Reviews: "I Expected a Little More From a Varsity Letterman...."

By Product Reviews

Services for Real Estate Pros with ActiveRain

February 04, 2013 06:04 AM

One of my favorite movie quotes of all time, a quote I find myself saying at least once a week, is from the Breakfast Club. After trying to get help with propping the door open from Andrew (the star athlete character played by Emilio Estevez), Vernon says "I expected a little more from a varsity letterman....."

That's kind of how I feel about our Product Reviews section on ActiveRain. In the first few weeks after product reviews appeared on ActiveRain, we hit our goals for how many reviews members would leave. But three months in, things are getting a little stagnant. Yep, I said it, stagnant.

That word itself just sounds.........like nothing is going on.

There are currently 150 products represented and about 470 reviews. I have to say, with a community as vocal as ActiveRain, I expected there to be quite a few more reviews than what we currently have. A small reason is because you get points for giving a review. 50 points for leaving your opinion about a product you've used in your business.

But a larger reason I expected the reviews to pour in is because ActiveRain members love helping each other. That's the aim of product reviews. We want people to be able to use ActiveRain Product Reviews to get a really good sense for a product before they consider plunking down their hard earned money to add a new product to their tool bag.

This week we'd like you to focus your collective knowledge on 'Print Marketing services'

You all have business cards, right? I'm pretty sure many of you are marketing your business via direct mail using printed material. Are any of you using any of these Print marketing services? There are currently five print marketing services represented in Product reviews. You can see them below. If you use any of them, leave a review for your peers. If you use someone other than one of the five below, add the company that you currently use for print services.

Add a Review for:

Add a Review for:

Add a Review for:

Don't See The Printing Company You Use?

Currently these are the only five print companies that have been added to product reviews. Do you use another printing company that gives you excellent service at a great price? Maybe you've used a company in the past that you want to make sure your peers steer clear of these hacks?

You can always add a product if it isn't currently available for review.

~Bob

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Debbie Gartner

The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY

The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

You know I may just do one of these...not for the points, but to help out some local businesses that have done a good job. Maybe they'll get some more business from this.

Feb 04, 2013 04:51 PM

Debbie Gartner

The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY

The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Ok...I need some help. I can't figure out how to add some companies. There are 2 I'd like to add, but I don't see any options for that. I must be missing something. Sorry for being so clueless.

Feb 04, 2013 04:58 PM

Scott Fogleman

New Home Team - Richmond, VA

Bob- i also am surprised by the lack of reviews but admit I have only created one or two product reviews.

Feb 04, 2013 05:51 PM

Michael Setunsky

Woodbridge, VA

Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Just reviewed the printing company I use. I also noticed there was a statement that this review has not been rated. All the reviews had this statement. How and when does that happen?

Feb 04, 2013 09:39 PM

Ridhi Raheja

Movement Mortgage (Illinois) - Naperville, IL

FHA, 203k, VA, Jumbo, PreApproval, Jumbo Home Loan

I agree, product review is one way of educating people about a certain product. It is very helpful in saving our money from the not-so-good products.

Feb 04, 2013 09:54 PM

Debra Hight

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors - Houston, TX

Debra Hight

Great nudge. I just went to the reviews and submitted one for Quantum Mail. While I was there I read the reviews that have been submitted. I'd like to see a sub category for Apps. Is anyone using an App they really like? One of my favorites is Gas Buddy that finds the cheapest gasoline nearby.

Feb 04, 2013 10:24 PM

Susan Severson

Essence Home Team - Jacksonville, FL

We bring you HOME, our Essential Foundation

As to printer reviews: I try to always buy local whenever possible, so I have several printers I rely on in my local area. Several, because I get bids before each job - even my personal favorite local printer can't give me the best deal 100% of the time!

Feb 04, 2013 10:30 PM

Terkel Sørensen

Real Estate Places - Temecula, CA

Realtor, 951.805.0773 , Bank owned and Short Sales

I too did some reviews, but found that a cell phone in the tablet section, does not increase accuracy. I may go back to this and I may not. The reviews just isn't hitting it- kinda like Google Wave...

Feb 04, 2013 10:45 PM

Charita Cadenhead

eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL

Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

I have only used Vistaprint in the past, but not for any custom work. They worked for what I used them for and I have not complaints.

As a returning agent to Keller Williams, I am now just getting family with Market Leader Pro. I'm having a tough time getting things set up, but I hope that will change.

Feb 04, 2013 10:49 PM

Richie Alan Naggar

people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA

agent & author

Lighting a fire under a rainmaker will get a result....Using your examples, I found VISTAPRINT to be the end-all when it comes to ordering business cards...Ease of use, no pressure and cost remain on the front lines. These people get it done. Now I know there are a few other groups out there that can perform, all I am stating is VISTAPRINT is one of them...thank you

Feb 04, 2013 11:15 PM

Hella Mitschke Rothwell

(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI

Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Ok, I will start looking at product reviews just to see who and what is there. My business is running lean and mean. And no printing at this point. Thanks for the head thumping to get me going.

Feb 05, 2013 01:35 AM

Bob Stewart

ActiveRain - Seattle, WA

ActiveRain Ambassador

Debbie,

I sent you the link to create a new product. You can also find that link in this post.

Michael,

Once a review has been submitted, other members, when reading that review have the chance to rate the review. So I suppose it would happen when someone else reads your review and finds it helpful.

Terkel,

If you see anything whacky, please send me an email. I'll go in and see if we can't get that cell phone one cleaned up.

For everyone else, if you left a review here......go leave it on the product :-)

Feb 05, 2013 02:33 AM

Debbie Gartner

The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY

The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Bob - thx so much for the email. I'm going to put it here so others can learn as it was not obvious to me. I guess the key is searching and then "not finding." I was looking in the category and did not find it. (so may be later add a button as the last selection???

In any event, I submitted one and will try to do some others in a week or two. Swamped now.

------

Message: http://activerain.com/product-reviews/products/new

That is the link you go to to add a new product. In order to find that link, you would search for the product in the product reviews section search. Then an orange button will pop up asking you to add the product if you can't find it.

:-)

Bob

Feb 05, 2013 02:51 AM

M. Lynn Delatte

Developers Realty - Broadview Heights, OH

Just left one for Vistaprint. They do seem to be popular on this thread!

Feb 05, 2013 04:28 AM

Marte Cliff

Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID

Your real estate writer

I just did Vistaprint too. Looks like more than a few of us enjoy low prices!

Feb 05, 2013 06:23 AM

Bob Miller

Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL

The Ocala Dream Team

Sorry Active Rain staff. But when we initially looked at it there was nothing there. Will try again.

Feb 05, 2013 07:27 AM

Dorte Engel

RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD

ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Bob,

Merrill is another good company for business cards. They always have high quality for your basics. For more creative solutions, other companies may be better, but they have a lot of standard stock.

Feb 05, 2013 10:19 AM

Hella Mitschke Rothwell

(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI

Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Just wrote 2 reviews, one for iPhones and the other for DocuSign and, voila, I had an extra 100 points. Come on, people, this is great. I do want to add a product (APP) and will check that out next based on the information provided herewithon how to ADD an app.

Feb 05, 2013 10:22 AM

Larson Educational Services

Larson Educational - Fort Myers, FL

Larson Educational Services

Amazon has a great product reviews section. Active rain is doing a good job but they could improve on this.

Feb 06, 2013 05:11 AM

Jon Quist

REALTY EXECUTIVES ARIZONA TERRITORY - Tucson, AZ

Tucson's BUYERS ONLY Realtor since 1996

Thanks to this post, I now know where and how to find various product reviews. I am looking for a new smart phone, and I see where the Samsung Galaxy III rates higher than iPhone or Blackberry. Very good to know.

Feb 06, 2013 03:06 PM