SocialSmack is a consumer review website that makes it easy for providers to give real time feedback on products and services. The site uses a props and drops rating system. Positive experiences are counted through props and negative experiences through drops. Users can also engage in discussions or ask questions by posting them on SocialSmack. Users can search for an existing brand, add a brand or look for brands rated by their friends. SocialSmack users can also build friends lists and followers lists as they gain renown through the community. The site also provides users with status for being active on the site. This can lead to rewards and “street cred” on SocialSmack.

SocialSmack was founded in 2010 out of Austin, Texas. The team currently consists of fewer than five individuals, including CTO Chris Mitchell, Data Architect Dave Kurak and Software Architect Michael Brinkman. It was created to provide a real time consumer reporting tool for the average consumer on the internet. Today, the SocialSmack community thrives with individuals voicing their opinions, asking questions and interacting through the site.

SocialSmack provides users with real time consumer reporting tools that allow them to share their opinions about brands or look for the opinions of other users. The site takes an entertaining approach by encouraging user interactions through questions and discussions and giving frequent users ways to earn status on the site. SocialSmack provides real time reviews for brands in a way that is engaging.

The SocialSmack website welcomes visitors with an urban appeal, which is complimented by the colorful site logo. Five grey navigational tabs help users find their friends list, leaderboard, brands and more. The homepage includes an activity stream that gives up to the second updates so users can see what was recently added to the site.

Users are required to log in to SocialSmack to access most of the features available on the site. To create an account, the user can either click the blue “Connect with Facebook” button in the upper, right hand corner of the homepage or the white “Sign Up” link to the left of it. The link takes the user to the registration form which requires a first and last name, password, email address, username, zip code, gender and date of birth. The user must also enter a Captcha code at the bottom of the form to verify that they are human. Three check boxes give the user the option of receiving the SocialSmack newsletter and to allow brands to view the user’s profile and/or contact the user through SocialSmack.

Anyone can join SocialSmack for free. The site does not charge a fee for signing up or any kind of subscription price for maintaining an account. Users are not required to make any purchases, although they are given the option of allowing companies to contact them or view their information on SocialSmack. There is no premium paid membership offered. SocialSmack is still in a beta status so this could change should new content and features be added later on.

Consumers could appreciate SocialSmack. The site provides real time reviews posted by actual users in the SocialSmack community. Users can also earn reputation on the site by being active and posting reviews. The site also helps users receive direct answers to brand related questions through the ask feature.

• Ask specific questions about the brands you are or plan to use
• Create a friends list on SocialSmack and follow other users
• View brands your friends commented on
• Rate brands with a prop or drop
• Read the SocialSmack up to the second activity feed

SocialSmack video