Hello everyone: Was just having a discussion over chai with the content team - the same guys who work on MouthPad. They shared some interesting insights on the pattern of MouthPad requests, the ruminations of which I decided to make into a Diary Post.

While most of the MouthPad requests are straight forward and pertain to products - books, cell phones, movies, web sites, travel, hotels, restaurants, etc there are some which leave the content team scratching their heads. For instance, certain members want to write about festivals (Onam being a recent example), some about traditions (child marriage, Sati etc), some want to express themselves about human nature - greed, lust, friendship etc. So the requests sent in usually read like this: General Advice on Child Marriage, General Advice on Sati, Tips on Winning Your Girl Friend, General Advice on Onam.

Members, I would encourage you to use the Diary Post for such topics. I'll tell you why.

An advice is usually linked to a product category. So for instance, while General Advice on Indian Classical Music would find its roots in the Music category and Tips on buying a cell phone can be traced to the cell phone category, General Advice on Onam or Tips on Winning Your Girl Friend do not have any parent category to fall back upon. Yes, earlier we did try to squeeze in such requests but now the Diary Post is there to take care of such topics. I would encourage all of you to get into the Diary Post if you feel strongly about issues which do not fit into the product-review pattern instead of thinking "Will they accept, won't they accept?" Some members are determined to put jottings meant for the Diary Post into the review section. A few days earlier, a member wanted to write about God. So what did she do? She wrote about God under the channel God TV. Our compliance team deleted the "review" and posted it in the Diary Section and also sent the member an M2M informing her about the same. The member was livid and posted a review on MouthShut, a negative one of course. Not satisfied with this, she called up our office and demanded to speak to someone senior. She was transferred to my boss who heard her out. He tried explaining to her the dynamics about why and how her review was deleted and why a Diary Post was necessary for her "review". She was very, very, angry and refused to listen to anything he said. Finally, he asked a her a simple question.

"Are you trying to rate God? She was obviously taken aback. "What? What do you mean? How can anyone rate God?" My boss replied quickly. "But you have. You have given God 3 stars". And then she understood that she had written about God and given God TV a 3-star rating. It also meant that not only was her rating about God irrelevant, her rating on God TV was unfair. She kept the phone down, smiling, I presume.

I'm sure this post is going to attract bouquets and brickbats as usual. And yes, do not forget to write to me at jasmine@mouthshut.com or support@mouthshut.com." target="_blank"> support@mouthshut.com. Have a great weekend. I'm going to watch Bachchan's The Last Lear tonight. What about you?

Regards,
Jasmine Ahuja
Head - Member Support
MouthShut.com

Hi everyone:

Tomorrow is Ganesh Chaturthi and it marks the beginning of the festive season in India. To celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, MouthShut.com has come up with a unique Discount Scheme for some very special Gift Items. We have looked at each and every Gift very carefully and the discounts have been thought of after much deliberation. This special scheme begins now and ends on September 4, 2008, 10:30 am. At 10:31 am, the original prices will be reverted.

So what are you waiting for? The Ganesh Chaturthi Discount is all set to begin.

Regards,

Jasmine Ahuja
Head - Member Support
MouthShut.com

On popular demand, we are now extending the last date to earn 200 points per Mobile message to September 15, 2008. So now you have 15 more days to earn a great amount of points. By sending your message to 56767 you will keep earning 200 points per SMS which you can use to exchange gifts for your friends on MouthShut.com.

Comments received on your messages will also be delivered to your mobile phone. In fact, if you post questions then chances are that a lot of members on MouthShut.com will come up with answers.

Send your SMS to 56767. It's fun, it's addictive and it will get you a lot of points.

Regards,
Jasmine Ahuja
Head - Member Support
MouthShut.com

Hi everyone:

These days, points are to be found aplenty on MouthShut.com. For almost every activity that one does there are generous dollops of points - reviews, comments,diaries, trust, registration etc. Read the following link to get the actual point-break up - https://mouthshut.com/help/mspoints.php.

And as an incentive we have also started a special scheme on MouthShut where every SMS Review gets you 200 points. This scheme is valid till August 31 only. For this I will reiterate what Vikram stated earlier in his post - please register your mobile number with us, otherwise point allocation would not be possible.

It is thanks to you dear members that MouthShut.com has got to this stage. It has been a long journey and you have been an integral part of it. Points and gifts are one of the ways we wish to make the ongoing journey fun and colourful.

Before I end, just one word. We have noticed a few members spamming in the comments section. Till now we were a bit lax about it. However, on the complaints of a few members, moving forward, we would be deleting such comments. And this means, points accumulated via spam messages would also be deleted.

So get going and start earning points.

Regards,

Jasmine Ahuja

Head - Member Support

MouthShut.com

Hi everyone: To make your SMS Review feature a memorable experience, we have added a new feature. The comments which you receive on the web page of your SMS Review will also be available to you on your mobile phone. So, the minute you receive a comment, your Mobile Phone will go "Beep, Beep!"

While each SMS Review costs Rs 3/-, comments received on your Mobile Phone are absolutely free.

Let me know what you think of it.

Regards,

Jasmine Ahuja
Head - Member Support
MouthShut.com

Hi everyone:

Please go to your Account Page and check your points. Members who have written reviews and sent SMS reviews on August 9 and 10 have been awarded 200 and 100 points respectively.

A major chunk of survey participants too have been awarded 500 points for their participation. Other survey participants will be given points soon.

Keep the reviews, diaries and SMS reviews flowing.

Regards,
Jasmine Ahuja
Head - Member Support
MouthShut.com

Hi everyone: The week's about to end and I have some real dhamaal news for you. Time to earn some points folks. So get ready for some action.

You write one review and you earn 200 points.
You send one SMS review to 56767 and you earn 100 points.

Points mela starts 12:01 am Saturday and ends 11:59 pm Sunday.

So get, set, and go guys. Points will be added in your account Monday morning.

Regards,
Jasmine Ahuja
Head - Member Support
MouthShut.com

Hello everyone:

MouthShut.com has gone live with another new category - Kids.

Yes, we have a complete category devoted to products for children. The sub-categories included here are: Books, Coaching Classes, Games, Movies, Nursery/Playschools, Schools, Toysand TV Shows.

This new category can be accessed here: https://mouthshut.com/product/categories.php?cid=20

It's time to get the child within us out.

Regards,

Jasmine Ahuja

Head - Member Support

MouthShut.com

It's time to honour some more members on MouthShut.com They have been doing some great work, have been extremely active and are without an iota of doubt, five of the most popular members around. Yes, five of them.

swan
monoo
derebail2008
aaryesdee
JaveedAhmedM

In recognition of the outstanding work done by them, MouthShut.com has decided to award these members with 1000 bonus points.

Standing ovation please!
The Red Carpet please!
Champagne please!
The bouquets please!

Dear Friends:

It took some time but it's finally done. The Education category on MouthShut.com is finally revamped and ready to use. Please do post your reviews on your College, Universities and Institutes.

Regards,

Jasmine