Info Vilesilencer Directory Owners Forum and Free Directory List » The New IVS Site » IVS Ranking System & The Top 100

[Dan]

Hi all,

We've just included a 5-star rating system on the site to complement the current directory review system, and give us a better way of rating the directories that we have available in the Info Vilesilencer database.

It resembles the below, where 1-star is poor, right up to 5-stars which is very good






This system is now available to use and can be accessed from the same place where you write a review on the details page of each directory.

Active Example: http://info.vilesilencer.com/directory/dofollow

On that page you will notice two ratings, as per the image below.



The 1st rating called member rating is created by tallying all the ratings and then averaging them. Since at this time the directory currently only has one rating it is the same as the individual rating. When a second rating is added this will change.

The 2nd rating is the individual rating added by the member themselves. So these can range from 1-star to 5-star and will co-incide with the members actual written review.

The rating system will work as follows

• From now on you will not be able to write a review without ALSO adding a rating to go with it.
• Each member will only be able to provide one rating and one review for each directory. You cannot rate/review the same directory twice.
• Each member can modify their rating/review if their experience with a particular directory changes over time.
• Members who have already made reviews prior to the rating system being included can go back and now add a rating for those reviews.
• All ratings and reviews are subject to moderation by the Info Vilesilencer team. Once approved, only then do they appear on the directory details page.
• Any modifications to reviews are also subject to moderation
• We will not tolerate any attempts to abuse, rig or game the system. This means directory owners setting up multiple user names to rate/review their directory, could find themselves and their directory banned from the system. If you want to write a review for your directory, please send 1 representative and have their review represent your entire organisation.

The system is still quite new so you could notice us tweaking this today (looking at including half-stars and changing the stars colour)

In time, we will probably create a top-rated page but that will all depend on how many ratings we are receiving. If it is a viable option we will create it.

The ratings idea was in the original scope of IVS basically from 2007 when the new site was built (actually years before that in the specifications) but was forced to be shelved, along with many other functionalities to get the core product of what we have out.

We are looking to roll out more simple modifications to the system like this one to enhance the user experience on IVS. We hope you enjoy it and welcome any feedback you would like to give on the system.

[mimika]

So now they have tool, and I know you have the best intentions in your heart, you’re empowering unfriendly entities with capability to slam competing directories with vengeance.

For example:
- Directory 'A' is a quality directory where editors are taking time to review submissions, reject crap and include only quality sites, process that may take 2, 3 month.
- Directory 'B' is accepting every submitted piece of crap and including unedited sites in Index overnight.

Who do you think will get 1 (poor) rating and who is going to get 5?

I don’t have to go for retaliation example too far and all I have to do is to look at “not recommended” next to AMRAY in our friend’s Directory Man list.

Any rating system including GPR and Alexa is extremely bias, thus totally useless because it doesn’t reflect site’s real value but rather meaningless numbers.

My 2 cents

mimika

[Dan]

I was kinda expecting this response.

But your example is flawed. Directory B won't exist in our list

I think you need to get over your bitterness towards what someone else has written in regards to AMRAY.

Rating systems, where a review is offered, offer extremely useful information regarding products and services. This isn't an arbitrary rating system. A review needs to be included as part of the process, and since we are strict about what constitutes a review (it has to be constructive in some way even if the overall review is negative) I feel it is going to be of massive benefit to the end user.

When a directory reviews/rates products in their own system, don't you feel it has value? After all AMRAY uses a rating system. Is that worthless?

My 2 cents

The rating system will be staying, and I will be encouraging people to use it as often as possible.

[Dan]

To encourage ratings/reviews I am going to open up the Spotlight Position on the site to free advertising again in exchange for quality reviews.

All current spotlight ads have run well past expiry (all ads expired in 2011) and are only kept now as placeholders. So current directory owners who are listed there should be aware of that.

The offer will be available to the first 5 members who write 6 new reviews/ratings (nb: old reviews or modifiying an existing review will not count).

For those 5 lucky members I will write a review on their directory and place it as an advertisment in rotation on the Spotlight until 1st January 2013. Yup nearly 7 months worth of highly visible free advertising, in exchange for just a little of your time to write constructive criticism on 6 directories of your choosing.

I will only take 5 because that will ensure the rotation is beneficial to all. Any more than that number will dilute it too much, any less and I'm giving away too much.

The spotlight is a highly visible position that appears above the fold on every single page on the IVS website. Being listed on it will offer the lucky directories visibility, brand awareness and targeted traffic

NB: Because offering the spotlight in exchange for reviews technically falls under "advertising" all links to sites in the spotlight will be rel=nofollow to comply with Google.

I will also offer a site-wide banner listing (185x60) on the details pages for those who want to write just 3 reviews. To further encourage you all, these slots will also be available to those members who gain the spotlight (meaning that they do not have to write a further 3 reviews to gain this slot, i'll throw it in).

I'm being pretty generous. I know. I've experienced some things recently in my life which make this a very easy thing to do. I want to help people and give them a leg up!

Don't think that because I am offering these things for very little in return that I am diminishing their value, it is up to you guys to realise the boon that is on offer and take advantage of it. The sooner you get in, the longer the free advertising you will obtain.

The final note here is that the only websites that I will consider for the spotlight are directories OR directory related. (directories, directory template/scripts, directory forums, directory blogs). This excludes other directory lists, directory of directories and directory submission services.

[Watchdog]

Mimika,

I am deliberately going to say very little in response to your comment. The only noteworthy thing that does require a mention is that your whole post qualifies as the most potent example of supreme paranoia that I've seen in my life and that's more than 40 years.

Dan's plan seems worthwhile and I hope there's enough positive-thinking people out there who are prepared to participate.

[mimika]

Originally Posted by Dan

When a directory reviews/rates products in their own system, don't you feel it has value? After all AMRAY uses a rating system. Is that worthless?

In opinion of our Editors, yes it's worthless because physically it gives them extra and unnecessary work to do.

If you go to any category you will see a bunch of sites that rated with 1 star by competing sites owners. Sometimes there is more than 100 sites hit by some dipstick and that takes our Editors time go to each and every site and manually change or remove negative rating.

To answer your question: "then why are you using it?", because we have system where site owner places "Rate Us @ AMRAY" code with backlink to us inside of his pages so people can rate his site directly without visiting AMRAY and if you Google for "rate us @ amray", you'll find astonishing results.

mimika

[mimika]

Originally Posted by Dan

To encourage ratings/reviews I am going to open up the Spotlight Position on the site to free advertising again in exchange for quality reviews.

All current spotlight ads have run well past expiry (all ads expired in 2011) and are only kept now as placeholders. So current directory owners who are listed there should be aware of that.

The offer will be available to the first 5 members who write 6 new reviews/ratings (nb: old reviews or modifiying an existing review will not count).

For those 5 lucky members I will write a review on their directory and place it as an advertisment in rotation on the Spotlight until 1st January 2013. Yup nearly 7 months worth of highly visible free advertising, in exchange for just a little of your time to write constructive criticism on 6 directories of your choosing.

It looks like you just build perfect mousetrap and... I have to admit it will work



mimika

[Dan]

Originally Posted by mimika

In opinion of our Editors, yes it's worthless because physically it gives them extra and unnecessary work to do.

If you go to any category you will see a bunch of sites that rated with 1 star by competing sites owners. Sometimes there is more than 100 sites hit by some dipstick and that takes our Editors time go to each and every site and manually change or remove negative rating.

To answer your question: "then why are you using it?", because we have system where site owner places "Rate Us @ AMRAY" code with backlink to us inside of his pages so people can rate his site directly without visiting AMRAY and if you Google for "rate us @ amray", you'll find astonishing results.

mimika

Well the difference is someone can't just tag you with a 1-star, they have to write a review.

And if the review is simply something like "i dont like this directory", i'm not going to approve it. This isn't youtube. All reviews are moderated. I reject about 80% of them.

The review will have to be intelligent, especially so if it is negative, and will have to offer some sort of feedback.

If 10 competitors of yours all make reviews and give u 1-star, they are going to have to spend a lot of time thinking of ways to improve your directory in order to get the reviews approved

[lakecountry]

I like the idea of a rating/peer review system myself. Of course this, like anything is subject to abuse and any rating/ranking is susceptible to gaming to some degree. It looks like Dan has thought this through and has come up with a good, workable system.

In a perfect world we would all respect Dan and each other enough we wouldn't need to worry about someone trying to intentionally harm us with malicious comments and reviews and we can hope that the quality of the folks coming here will make a difference and we can all be mature and take advantage of the tools Dan is trying to provide.

As far as comment and reviews go, I actually appreciate hearing what people really think. As long as someone isn't purposely trying to be mean, I can handle the less than flattering comments. I think real constructive, honest criticism helps. That may be the only way you every see something from a different angle or it may spark an idea or way of doing something you haven't thought of.

Now, I am not exactly a prolific writer but for a shot at some of Dan's prime real estate I may just become one even if I have to muddle through

[Dan]

Thank you sir.

Now we just need to get more peeps involved, as I believe reviews are the best way to elicit responses (positive or negative) and engage in better discussions about what is good or not good about particular directories.

As an added incentive to the free advertising being given away, I believe it could be a very good idea to create a Top Reviewers page. Those who write the most reviews would have their actual profile on display on a page on the site.

We could provide lots of information here. Sites owned, Twitter/Facebook/Linkedin pages and profiles, etc etc.

All that leads to more exposure for those participating on the site.