How to Setup a Review and Comparison Site Using WordPress
In this how-to guide I assume that you already have a domain name on which you installed WordPress. You now just need to find the best way to configure your WordPress based website and turn it into a product comparison and review website.
To turn your WordPress website into a review site, you’ll have to use 3rd party plugins. There are a few different choices, but after much investigation and exploration, I have found the best solution to be: WPReviewEngine. The other commercial plugins and solutions just don’t compare.
So, I’ll show you here how to use WP Review Engine to smoothly setup a great WordPress review site.
Here goes…
Order and Download
To download the plugin, go to this page.
As you can see on the website, there are two options.
- Lifetime License ($99.95)
- Unlimited License ($169.95)
I really recommend that you get the Unlimited License because with it, you can setup unlimited number of review and comparison sites. With the other license, you can only setup a single site.
The great thing about ordering WPReviewEngine is that you don’t have to worry about the software not working for you after you’ve purchased it. The makers provide a solid, no-questions-asked, refund policy.
So, go ahead. Order and download the software.
Installation
Installing this review site plugin is almost as easy as installing regular WordPress plugins. However, you must read the accompanied instructions.
After you have ordered the software, you’ll be able to login as a client and access client resources. In the client resources area, you’ll find WPReviewEngine Documentation, which is an HTML document that contains installation instructions as well as other operating instructions.
Following the instructions is really simple, but if you want the programmer to install the software for you, he’ll do that for free! In the order page, simply check the box which says “Free Addon: Installation”.
How it Works
The way this review plugin works is simple, yet, very powerful.
This plugin changes the way WordPress works. WordPress is a blogging platform, but this plugin completely turns it into a product review platform!
Creating a Product Review Page
With this plugin, each WordPress post becomes a product-specific review page. Therefore, posts will have new options and settings. Below is a screenshot of the new boxes that are added to the post editing page of WordPress.
Some of the Options that WP Review Engine Adds to WordPress Posts
These options allow you to easily embed an image of the product or service that you’re reviewing, add your affiliate links, add the categories by which you want to evaluate the product, and more.
The review plugin will use this information to generate a page that looks like this:
Product Page Screenshot (Click to Enlarge)
Of course, your actual results may vary depending on the theme that you’ll use. Which brings me to the next section of this guide: themes.
WordPress Review Site Themes
Two free themes come bundled with WP Review Engine. These themes are very customizable. However, if you have your own theme that you would like to use, this plugin let’s you do that as well — out of the box.
Product Review Tables in WordPress
The great thing about this review plugin is that it could automatically grab all the product reviews that you’ve created and create a nice looking comparison table that’s very attractive to visitors. Here’s how the product comparison table looks like:
Comparison Table Screenshot (Click to Enlarge)
Using this review plugin, a product comparison table like the one shown above can be embedded to the top of your homepage or any category page. It is also highly configurable. You can choose the items or the categories that you’d like to show, and you can adjust its appearance.
Other Helpful Features
WP Review Engine has other features to help you automate and outsource your review site creation process. Consider this scenario:
You can hire someone to write reviews, collect product images, rate the products, and put all of that information in an Excel sheet. Using this plugin, you can then simply take that Excel sheet and import all of the data to your WordPress based review site. The plugin will format the content in the Excel sheet and make it look like a proper review site.
Examples of WordPress Based Review Sites
Here are a few sample websites that were setup using this WordPress review site plugin:
Using this plugin, you can create review sites like these and even better.
Get Started Today
I hope to have covered all the essentials in this guide. It’s time for you to get started.
Download WordPress Review Site Plugin Here
