Reviewing Reviews

If you've ever submitted a review to Summize.com, chances are I've read your review. We spot check all submissions to make sure that they were submitted for the right item and to make sure that they are actually reviews -- you'd be surprised at some of the things submitted as reviews. Since I'm the newest kid on the block this task was passed down to me. I admit I was less than thrilled at the prospect of checking reviews but it has become one of my favorite tasks.

But wait you're probably asking "How can I add my review to Summize?" The first step is to write and publish a review about something you loved or hated on your blog or web site. If you don't have blog, there are many free or low-cost blogging tools -- from AOL Journals to TypePad.

Next search for the item you reviewed on Summize. You should see a link to "Add your review" or "Add your post". For example here is where you would add a review for Sia's Colour the Small One:

Finally you'll need to create a Summize account, if you don't already have one, and submit your review. From there we analyze the sentiments in your review to determine where it falls on the scale of wretched to great. Then it goes into the review queue to be spot checked.

Why has this become one of my favorite tasks? Because I get to read some really great reviews. For example, today I read a thorough review for Anne Tyler's Back When We Were Grownups at Book Lovers: Get Your English On!  The last Anne Tyler book I read left me unsatisfied, but I've added the book to my reading list due to Carole's summary and comment that she enjoyed meeting the characters. And last week I was on the fence about Wincing the Night Away by The Shins until I read this review from Jane at The Musically Inclined. Needless to say my own list of books to read, movies to watch and music to buy is growing by leaps and bounds.

So keep submitting reviews -- I look forward to reading them and discovering new books, movies and music.

Comments

[Carole Hayward]

I was excited to see our blog mentioned in your post--thanks for the kind words. We enjoy posting our reviews to Summize--you'll be hearing from Book Lovers-Get Your English On (http://book-lovers-get-your-english-on.blogspot.com/) quite often.

[Sarah Ivey Rock]

Thanks Carole - it was hard to pick just one review. I've really enjoyed reading your book reviews.