Cookie Magazine Crowdsources Its Seal of Approval

You’re probably familiar with the “seal of approval” of such magazines as Consumer Reports. The basic concept of magazine publishers getting together to look at products and give them a thumbs up or down has been around for a while.

Well, a new magazine called Cookie is doing things a bit differently. They have launched Word of Mom a new community feature that lets readers vote on products and awards a seal of approval based on what the readers like.

[T]ell us what you’re obsessed with, whether it’s a miracle eye cream, a kid-friendly hotel, or a new double stroller that allows you to push and sip coffee at the same time. Each week we’ll list the top 10 products, so check back and see what other moms love. Come September, the finalists will be announced and readers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorites. The winning products will receive the Cookie Word of Mom Readers’ Choice Award, courtesy of moms everywhere.

I like the idea of crowdsourcing the products to which you award a seal of approval. If I know the community has rated a product highly, that means more to me than the word of an editor who may have only tested it in his office. For that matter, awards picked by an editor may not have even been tested, but merely given as a reward for continued advertising.

This is a good step in the evolution of community based ratings.

Share

Tags