City Editor Program Announcement

The year is almost over and everyone here at Judy's Book is busy planning for an exciting 2007! The past year was an eventful one for us, especially with the evolution of our company to focus on helping shoppers find the best online and local deals. We know that this transition was a difficult one for many of you and we sincerely appreciate those of you that stuck it out with us.

As we look back on the year, we're pleased with the progress we've made toward becoming the best deals community on the Web, but we still have much to do. In particular, we will be working hard in 2007 to ensure that all of our rewards programs support our goal of delivering the best bargain shopping experience on the Web. In support of that goal, we'll be making some changes to the City Editor program starting in 2007 that we want to let you know about:

• In 2007 and beyond we will be rolling out new promotions for our City Editors that more directly support our focus on shopping and deals. Check your inbox in the next 24 hours as we have a surprise New Year's gift coming your way!
• We will also continue to accept new applications for the City Editor program.
• As of February 1, 2007 we will no longer be providing rewards for writing reviews. (We will continue to support review writing as we always have).
• After this change takes effect, all City Editors will maintain their status, TrustScore and badging on site.
• January's reward requirement will be the same as December's: 15 reviews of businesses, services, products or websites (50 words or more) for a $15 Target gift card.

Thank you again for your support and feedback in 2006. We hope you will continue to be a part of our community and consider Judy's Book your resource for finding and sharing the best shopping values, both locally and online. We look forward to working with you in 2007 and beyond!

Comments

[katy2474]

Everyone is a little confused about the changes as far as rewards for CE's next year. We are all up for changes and have no problem with that but could we get a little better explaination of what we will be doing next year? Folks are getting up in arms out there because they don't understand the email. They're thinking we are all going to be doing something for nothing. Just trying to help settle the troups.

[Heather]

I guess I don't understand the change entirely. This site was started to give reviews of places, isn't that the main goal? Apparently, the pay is better to commercialize, but I personally doubt I'll stick around to post deals that every other person has already seen, doesn't care for, or has posted. :(

[Michael C.]

"As of February 1, 2007 we will no longer be providing rewards for writing reviews. (We will continue to support review writing as we always have)."

In one sentence you say you are going to quit doing rewards for reviews and then the next sentence state that you are going to support review writing as you always have.
Um... excuse me... but if you are going to STOP paying out rewards for reviews, then you are NOT supporting "review writing as we always have"...

[Bev P.]

Well, I'm just as confused as the next person now! Not sure if that means we are or are not going to continue to be rewarded. Hope there's a little more info to follow!

[Mary]

I'm also confused and a little sad that the total focus now seems to be on the "deals". There are a lot of deal sites out there, many that give you cashback, and they are less confusing to navigate than Judy's Book. I loved the reviews. I can find a deal on a toy anywhere, but if I was looking for a review of a doctor or restaurant, I knew I could come here. If you don't reward for writing the reviews, I doubt that many people will write them.

[Amy G]

I agree with several other people. I am sad to see that JB is slowly dropping the reviews portion of the website. That is what has made the site unique. The deals site is very difficult to navigate as opposed to some of the other deal sites like Fatwallet.com or slickdeals.net. I don't see myself continuing to use JB if it is only for the deals because it is just too much trouble to try to find things on the site. As someone else said, there are a lot of other sites out there who also give cash back - like Fatwallet.com or mypoints.com (well, they actually give giftcards, but you still get something back).

I guess JB is doing what they have to do to earn money, but I will miss the old JB.

[Nancy]

I am confused as well. I find the Deals section very difficult to navigate, esp. in comparison to the deals sites that I visit regularly (SlickDeals, etc.). Many of the deals are outdated, or are not really "deals" in a substantial savings sense at all. Not to mention the nastiness that comes about over "enhancing" others' deals and such -- it is just not something that I see myself using as there are easier deals sites to visit.

I guess we will have to wait and see how it all pans out, but truthfully, I do not see where JB is heading with the deals section of the site, and am very surprised that the whole site is going to be based on solely the deals .. I do not find the deals section to be that strong of a feature,but I am assuming it is a money maker for JB though.