Who can write product reviews?
Any registered Ciao member can write product reviews. The only prerequisite
for writing reviews is real knowledge and experience of the product in question:
please do not write reviews on the basis of things that you have read elsewhere or
heard second-hand; users turn to reviews to hear the opinion of somebody who has
already used the product so please draw on your own experiences and not hearsay.
If you are not yet a Ciao member, you can
register here.
How do I write a standard product review?
Once you have found the product which you would like to review, either by clicking
through the categories and sub-categories, or using the search function, you can
click on the "Write a review" link next to the picture of the product which will take
you directly to the review-writing page. If you are
not already logged in, you will then be presented with a log-in form, which you must
fill out before you can continue. Otherwise, you will land directly on the
review-writing page. Follow the instructions on screen and remember to give
the product a star rating before submitting the review.
How do I write a "quick review"?
Instead of clicking on the "Write a review" link you can also use the star system next
to the picture the product to rate the product. This will open another box where you can
enter your "quick review". Just follow the instructions on the screen. You can update your
"quick review" any time later to a standard review if you wish.
Are there any requirements that my review must
fulfil?
Your standard review must be at least 120 words long and should aim to give readers
an idea of what the product in question is like to use on a day-to-day basis.
Your review should therefore cover a range of different aspects and features
that you consider to be important, and try to provide a balanced product
evaluation. Try to write in a factual, clear and well-structured way and
use accurate grammar, spelling, capitalization and punctuation. For legal
reasons, you may NOT mention the names of any other persons involved in the
events you describe. "Quick reviews" must be at least 20 words long but can not have more than 150 words.
Can I change a "quick review" into a standard review?
Yes. To do so, click on "Edit review" at the product page or in your list of reviews at the
"My Ciao" page. Before saving it as a standard review you have to meet the minimum requirement
of 120 words and fill out all the other fields.
Can I save an unfinished review and return
to it later?
Yes. To do so, click on the "Save draft" button at the end of the review form.
When you next log in, you will find a list of your draft reviews, together
with the reviews that you have already published on the website, under the
"Reviews" tab. To continue working on a review, simply click on the
“Edit draft” button next to it.
Can I write a review of a product or service
that isn't listed on Ciao?
No, you can only write reviews of products that are listed in the Ciao
product categories. However, should you wish to review a product which
is not in the list, you can always propose that it be added to the
catalogue. In each category, underneath the product selection, you
will find a "Product not found?" link. You can even include a picture
of the recommended product along with your proposal. This should be
sent as a JPEG file, 200 x 200 pixels large. The file size should not
exceed 10KB. We will process your request as soon as possible, though
we cannot guarantee that we will introduce the product that you propose
into the product catalogue.
Can I write more than one review about the
same product?
No, it is only possible to write one review per product/service. If you
attempt to write a second review of the same product, you will automatically
be invited to edit your existing review rather than write a new one. You
can then correct or update your review. If you click the "Send" button,
your old review will automatically be replaced.
Can I use HTML to format my review?
No, but you can use HTML formatting in your personal area. However,
you can add headings, numbering and other formatting to your review.
More information can be found in the chapter on Top of Page
