Member Centre Shambles

Right, I'm gone. I'll be interested in seeing how the day shift tackles this one. TTFN.

Ciao's Favourite Member wrote:

I think the community aspect is something that is fairly important to Ciao because it's one of their main selling points (and they make an attempt at pretending it's important with "newsletters" etc).

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I certainly think that that is a far more efficient and cost-effective way of getting people (back) to the site again rather than these POW, Topic of the month, lists and video reviews, all of which are going down like a lead ballon.

I dont think it is that important..not really...then again I am not sure what is...as they are not exactly leading edge with products etc..unlike lots of technical sites etc..

I dont think the numbers of members voting with their feet is sufficient to make a dent in their hits. In actual fact their POW would attract lots of review writing....(all nonsense in my opinion as I doubt the products in question are actually searched for very often..unless my shopping research is wildly off the average...................!)

Averilla wrote:

Up to a point no Drew, but they do play a major part in attracting those customers :-)

Do they? How?

Ciao is all about hit's. They get the SEO right, and google brings them that. Does it really matter how many E ratings the review that shows up in google actually has? I really don't think so.

helencbradshaw wrote:

Ciao's Favourite Member wrote:

I think the community aspect is something that is fairly important to Ciao because it's one of their main selling points (and they make an attempt at pretending it's important with "newsletters" etc).

............................................................

I certainly think that that is a far more efficient and cost-effective way of getting people (back) to the site again rather than these POW, Topic of the month, lists and video reviews, all of which are going down like a lead ballon.

I dont think it is that important..not really...then again I am not sure what is...as they are not exactly leading edge with products etc..unlike lots of technical sites etc..

I dont think the numbers of members voting with their feet is sufficient to make a dent in their hits. In actual fact their POW would attract lots of review writing....(all nonsense in my opinion as I doubt the products in question are actually searched for very often..unless my shopping research is wildly off the average...................!)

Maybe members complaint wouldn't dent their hits, but it might just bring to their attention hopw bad the technical faults are now getting, in fact complaints from newer members might have an even bigger impact..but maybe not. We simply have no way of knowing until it is tried !

As for the POW..a complete waste of space, as are a lot of the other new incentives, but like I said...exactly WHY are they suddenly bringing in all these incentives.

I'm all argued out for tonight but will be interesting to see how this all pans out. Night guys, it's been interesting

drewboy wrote:

Averilla wrote:

Up to a point no Drew, but they do play a major part in attracting those customers :-)

Do they? How?

Ciao is all about hit's. They get the SEO right, and google brings them that. Does it really matter how many E ratings the review that shows up in google actually has? I really don't think so.

yep agree....hits....three line one day wonder reviews can also attract hits..!!!!

Can see both sides of the argument but I think the path to contentment rests with acceptance of the knowledge that Ciao is driven by hits not members. How many complaints raised have actually led to any change?

Compare to Dooyoo, where Jared comes onto this board regularly (and answers questions, asks for feedback etc) and generally shows an interest.

I'm still struggling to find a compelling reason why anyone would retain membership at Ciao?

Guess the answer is surveys, for me this months earnings of £47 (not the norm but a one off month) £42 came from surveys, £2 from premium fund and the rest from rates and that was mainly because every product sugestion got a two £ payment plus first review bonus.

By all menas complain but like others have said you need to appreciate their business model at the same time and just looking at the new review list there is no shortage of members given the number of white dots about.

atticusuk wrote:

Guess the answer is surveys, for me this months earnings ... £42 came from surveys.

No kidding? I don't think I've earnt that much in surveys in the whole time I've been a member (1.5 yrs)

Afraid not, it was from some monthly IT survey that you have to complete well each month actually and about four months worth of payments hit this month. Will go towards having the gas replaced in my cars air conditioning unit.

I got £50 for one survey when I was a member and that was IT-based too.

Jammy buggers! I reckon that when I did the surveys, 10% paid out, 30% I didn't fit the target group, 30% failed technically and 30% tried to kick me out long after they'd established me as a target member... nothing over £2 though.

I don't do 'em anymore.

Of course, just to take the *Bad word*... despite opting out of Ciao Surveys and mentioning this, I come home to find an email invite for...

Well, no point in going on, eh?

You know... bugger the rest of the Ciao Community (tonnes of them turned up today, didn't they?), I might still yet write my letter to some punter high in the Ciao food chain.

Ciao's Favourite Member wrote:

I don't do 'em anymore.

The irony is that if people want to earn money from surveys, there are tonnes of other, more reliable sites out there with which to do it. Never understood the whole Ciao survey thing??

Me neither. Ummm... wotsitsface... Global Test Market is far better!

I like 'test and vote' and valued opinions. I've pretty much given up with the others but I did get about £6 worth of Ciao ones this month.

Uhuh....There did seem to be a lot floating around Ciao this month.

Ciao's Favourite Member wrote:

Me neither. Ummm... wotsitsface... Global Test Market is far better!

Which, as far as I know, is a part of ciao (or the otherway round).

In anycase, MUCH better survey site. I get about £30 every three or four months out of that one.

Are they both part of Greenfield?

I never knew that.

GTM's surveys always worked, were interesting and I never got any further than 15% or so before being kicked out for not meeting the target criteria... unlike Ciao.

I cannot post a review today....the show preview buttons etc are all greyed out...but everyone else seems to be managing it..is it me???

It's a Ciao bug, Helen.

There is a way around it, and I think it's been posted on FOIB before, but I can't seem to find it right now.

Or... you're looking at the wrong buttons?

There's a set right below the text box for your review, but if you post a "proper" review over 120 words, these buttons will never come into play.

You need to fill in all the other gubbins and there should be buttons at the bottom of the screen for premium reviews.

I have managed it now...I pasted in my review, then pressed TAB et voila...all the other buttons activated themselves...!

I cannot remember doing that before..!

Bloody photos would't upload and ratings are all over the place still, I see!

helencbradshaw wrote:

I have managed it now...I pasted in my review, then pressed TAB et voila...all the other buttons activated themselves...!

I find I always have to do that after pasting a review from word into te Ciao template.