Haven´t you been somewhere and didn´t know how to rate/grade your experience. They had great food, but the service wasn´t spot on. Or the place was under your expectations, but you see people around you who are amazed at it.
Or you feel guilty of not leaving a review with more than one or two words… Sometimes you are so inspired and happy with a place, and you have enough time to write a full review, but sometimes you don´t…
Is the one or two words with a star rating, „review“ or not? How my taste and view of the world applies to other people? What are the common denominators that make a real-world honest and acceptable review for everyone?
Here´s my reVIEW on it…
I love to travel; it´s obvious ? but what I love more than that is to travel with other people and share my experiances.
I find it infinitely useful when I read someones „how to“ recommendation, instead of finding this on my own and possibly losing a few hours. Hours that are always limited when you travel, and you want to see as much as possible in the time given.
Ok, it is not possible that my every review is instructional and tutorial like, but…
It should contain keywords that are descriptive of the location´s nature and purpose.
You know, if it´s a modern art museum than „it is worth a visit“ is a good start, everything more is a bonus.
Or if it is a beautiful flower garden you might say „must see the place“…
Or „ I have never been to such a beautiful place in my lifetime, so many flowers of a different shape and color, with a magical scent, will make your imagination fly sky high. “
And for me it depends… If a place made THAT impression on me, I have to write it, if I don´t have time right away, I´ll leave it for later, but I´ll do it no matter what…
But 90% of places are not quite like that and you still need to leave something to other travelers, you need to leave your stamp on it, how you lived it, what have you seen and how it felt, how that tasted, what was the smell like.
Was it hard to find, is there a quicker way, or when is the right time, so you don’t have to skip views because of 1000 other visitors.
Keeping the reviews functional, efficient and purposeful is all that matters. It is the core of its existence.
But to get to this function and efficiency, one might choose more words, better ones. Make them warm and appealing instead of quick and cold. Tickle someone’s imagination, make them feel it, smell it, imagine it.
Give them a feeling of irresistible need to be there to experience these feelings themselves…
Make the purpose of your reviews to help others truly, and you´ll be amazed at how big impact your opinion might have.
Use your words wisely ?