6 Ways To Tell If LMS User Reviews Are Biased Or Honest

6 Ways To Verify LMS User Reviews

You’ve done your homework and compiled a list of top learning management system (LMS) choices for your organization. Now it’s time to dig deeper into the vendor’s customer experience (CX) and User Experience (UX). But how can you be certain that LMS user reviews are unbiased and authentic?

Many people base their buying decisions on reviews and ratings online. You don’t want to waste money on a product that’s already disappointed countless customers in the past, so you learn from others’ mistakes and appreciate the “heads up.” However, not all reviews are genuine. Some may be sponsored by vendors to enhance their credibility while others are written by vengeful users who have a score to settle. They may even be hired by competitors to provide a negative rating with no merit. But have no fear, here are 6 foolproof ways to tell if LMS reviews are biased or honest.

How To Determine If LMS User Reviews Are Authentic

1. Exaggerated Claims Are A Major Red Flag

If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. LMS user reviews with exaggerated claims about the product are biased, at best. At worst, they may be full-fledged lies that try to sway your opinion one way or the other. The exception to the rule is stellar Learning Management Systems that do wow users and far surpass the competition, in which case most reviewers will probably echo the same sentiments about the platform. On the other hand, a glowing review among negative ones is a warning sign you should always heed. If the review mentions that the software is flawless and they wouldn’t change a thing, something might be amiss.

2. Credible Reviews Are Backed By User Info

Reviewers who aren’t afraid to share their honest input are happy to provide basic details such as their use case, industry, and experience with the LMS. Thus, credible reviews are usually supported by user information. In some cases, they may even have to sign into the reviewing platform via their LinkedIn account to verify their identity. Those with something to hide (AKA paid reviewers) aren’t likely to offer any background information, because they don’t want their biased review traced back to their sponsor or to tarnish their own reputation.

3. The Source Is Essential

There’s no shortage of review sites nowadays. Even social media has a plethora of groups dedicated to calling out products/brands and highlighting standout services. Thus, the source of your information is crucial. Ideally, the review platform should be in your niche or industry, instead of a generic site that covers every category from eateries to apps. You need a review site that’s specific and specializes in Learning Management Systems. There should also be provenance behind the name. For example, the platform has been around for years and receives thousands of visitors every month, they don’t charge you to see the reviews and even have guides or articles to help you make the right choice.

4. Look For Details Instead Of Generic Reviews

They say the devil is in the details. For LMS reviews, substitute the devil with credibility. Authentic reviews that are unbiased contain details that only users would know. They’ve tried the product and know what they liked and didn’t like, as well as what sets the software apart from the others and how it performed in the real world. At the very least, they signed up for a free trial in order to test drive the tool and give an honest review. Users might mention key features they felt were lacking or that the User Interface (UI) wasn’t up to their standard. These details tell you that the reviewer isn’t issuing blanket statements about the product based on other comments.

5. Inconsistent Claims

Most of the reviews lean in a certain direction. Maybe they all mention that the LMS is challenging to use unless you have a lot of experience, or that the support services weren’t what they expected. Then you encounter a review that contradicts all the other claims and asserts that the support and UI were seamless. This typically indicates that the reviewer is biased and is trying to counterargue the other reviews. They want to downplay the flaws of the product and mask the issues with rave reviews. This is why it’s important to look at every comment for a more holistic perspective. If there are 25 reviews and two contradict them all, don’t factor them into your decision-making as they’re probably from an unreliable source, especially when inconsistent claims are paired with exaggerations.

6. All Pros And No Cons

Nobody’s perfect, even Learning Management System vendors. Some directories have a section dedicated to pros and cons. Reviewers can share what they liked or disliked about the tool from a firsthand POV. All positives and no negatives usually indicate a biased review, albeit there may be some products that don’t have any downsides. Once again, you have to look at the complete picture and not just weigh each review individually. For instance, everyone mentions at least one con about the platform, but one user has only good things to say. Over-the-top things that don’t seem to mesh with the other comments attempt to cloud your judgment.

Conclusion

LMS user reviews that are reliable may be hard to find, given that many sites now let virtually anyone share their opinions even if they aren’t based in fact. The key is to find a trustworthy review platform that requires more user information to authenticate the claims. Don’t settle for ratings that aren’t accompanied by written reviews with plenty of insider details, as customers who truly want to offer their insights will take the time to provide feedback, not just fill in the stars.

Our free online directory features 100% honest reviews that are unbiased and backed by user info. You can even evaluate ratings for usefulness, usability, and customer experience to find a system that won’t disappoint…or diminish your Return On Investment (ROI). Start your search today to find the right system for your budget.

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