Besides finding new and interesting products as I travel around the US–I am also introduced to innovative websites. One that I use often is Buzzillions.com (www.buzzillions.com). This site is sort like TripAdvisor for products. With the help of a company called PowerReviews, Buzzillions surveys consumers that actually own the product in question. Then using an algorithm, they are able to rank products in that category. I find this very helpful. Very often hosts, anchors or viewers ask me what product they should purchase–which LCD TV or which point and shoot digital camera–I can’t test every product, but I can turn to Buzzillions. I find real feedback from real consumers is very refreshing. From ear buds to backpacks, Buzzillions has the information I need. I should also point out that they don’t sell any products–the site is editorial clean.
During my TV segments I often do a Buzzillions Face-Off, where I have the anchor/host guess which product consumers really preferred. I pit an equally priced top 1% product against a bottom 10%. Since the anchor hasn’t used the product, they are making a decision based on just the packaging and the reputation of the products brand–just as most consumers are forced to do when they shop on-line or in store. More times than not, the anchor/host picks the wrong product. It shows viewers that before they make a purchase–do the homework. That’s why when I travel I go to check out TripAdvisor and when I purchase a product I visit buzzillions.com