My Ciao’ing!

OK. So I’ve read a couple of these and decided to add my own. Please remember these kinda reviews are for fun. I’m really sorry, but I don’t know where the below template for questions originated otherwise I would have added your name as the credits…

1] Full Name

Gemma Wild

2] Ciao Username

gemmawild. I know, it’s the same, I just wasn’t feeling very creative on the day I signed up to Ciao! I have soo many names I want to be now…

3] Date you joined the Ciao Community

3rd July 2003 I’ve come along way since then.

4] Why did you join Ciao?

I actually can’t remember. I think I was doing a search for a particular product and I clicked on link that took me to Ciao! Had a read around and liked the idea.

5] Are you a member of any other review sites?

No. I don’t think there are any other sites quite like Ciao! I’ve heard about Doo Yoo but after having a look, I think I’m gonna stick with Ciao!

6] Reviews written to date

26. Still re-writing my first ones as they are crap!

7] How many opinions/reviews do you write in an average week?

Can be 1 or can be 5. For me, it’s rather difficult to write 1 worthwhile opinion. Unless you’re gifted! But sometimes I get a ‘flow’ and I can write a few at the same time.

8] How long does it take you on average to write an opinion?

If I try a new product and I have it with me, all the information about it is fresh on my mind and bursting to be written about. These reviews take about an hour to perfect.
But some can take a week to sort out, depending on if I’m busy or not.

9] How would you describe your writing style for opinions?

I would say that all my opinions are fairly written. I try to add some humour because I love having a laugh, but I try to balance it out with seriousness too.

10] Which is your favourite of all your opinions?

I would say my Member Advice on Break-Ups. It’s got me a lot of reads and a few Exceptional ratings. But most important of all, it came from the heart. It’s about my personal experience and I would hope that it has had some sort of use to the people who have read it.

11] Comments written to date

1650. WOW! That’s a lot of words… It’s a significant amount more than the comments I have received, 480.

12] Do you write a comment with every rating?

I used the think you had to leave a comment with every review. So I did, every single time. I usually have at least one thing to say after reading other peoples reviews. But lately, I have been just rating alone.

13] What merits an E rating in your opinion?

If a review sounds like the person has actually really experienced the product/event they are reviewing and being completely honest and unbiased about it, then it gets an E.

14] Have you ever willingly or unwillingly been a Ciao abuser?

Not so sure what this question really means. I haven’t intentialy had a go at anyone, but if it has happened then I apologise. No one has abused me, but I have had ‘revenge ratings’. You know, people who you have rated anything but a ‘Very Helpful’ so they decide that every review you write, deserves anything but a ‘Very Helpful’.

15] How many hours a week do you spend on Ciao?

Too many really! I access it from work so that’s eight hours there… oh and by Thursday, 22nd January, I will be internet enabled at home too…

16] What is the main time of day you are active on this site?

The first half of it. From 10am until 6pm.

17] What is your policy of adding people to your COT?

I wouldn’t call it a ‘policy’. I add reviewers who have made me laugh to my COT. Or reviews that have kept me interested throughout reading it. Or people who I find rating all their reviews ‘VH’.

18] How do you react when people add you to their COT?

I celebrate! It feels great to know people have really enjoyed the work put into the reviews you have written.

19] Best piece of advice could you give a newbie

Have a little look around the site to see how things work and maybe read a few reviews to get a feel of how it’s done. But it would really depend on if the newbie had previous experience of writing reviews. Reading other reviews and rating them, also gets you noticed. How will anyone know you exist if you don’t spread your presence over the community?

20] Best piece of advice you could give an oldie (1 piece)

Just because your dot is Gold, doesn’t mean you will automatically receive a ‘VH’ rating for a thrown together review.

21] What do you like best about Ciao?

The people. Everyone seems to be really nice and will help you out should you need any kind of advice.

22] What do you like least about Ciao?

The fact the alerts system seems to have vanished. Before it’s re-vamp, you could choose to receive an email alert when someone left a comment or rating on one or all of your reviews. But it doesn’t happen anymore.

23] Can you remember the first opinion on Ciao that you ever read?

Erm… no! I have the worst memory in the entire world!