| Product: |
keen.co.uk |
| Date: |
22/10/01 (80 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: useful, live advice on a range of topics, good layout, interesting experts
Disadvantages: none
Keen.co.uk is a relatively new website, around since about the start of the year, and one that has received a lot of positive feedback from other Dooyoo members. I’ve had a good rummage around, and would like to give my own opinion on the site.
What’s it about?
Keen offer ‘live, immediate advice for your everyday life’. They have a range of topic areas, each with their own group of Keen experts specialising in that particular subject. Visitors to the site can click on a particular expert’s listing, and be connected in confidence for a live phone conversation.
How does it work?
Keen’s homepage has a number of different categories (autos, DIY, health, psychics, pets, social), which you can click on to search the particular topic area of interest to you. A list of experts for that subject will come up. The idea is that, as a member of Keen, you can click on the expert of your choice and be connected for a live phone conversation. Keen ensure that all your details are kept confidential, so no need to worry about anyone getting hold of your phone number. If you use the same phone line for calls and net, Keen will prompt you to disconnect before you make your call.
The experts
Keen members who feel that they have expert advice to give for a particular topic area are called ‘Keen speakers’ and have their own listings for members to click on and arrange a call through. The listings often include a photo and some lines about the particular speaker’s experience and the services they offer through the site. There are a number of celebrity experts available, including TV chef Ken Hom and ‘Britain’s Top Psychic’ Matthew Stevens.
Becoming a Member
Either click on ‘join up’ at the top right hand side of Keen’s homepage, or find the expert of your choice first and click on their listing where it says ‘call nowR
17;. If you haven’t already signed up, you’ll be prompted to input a few details before you can make your first call.
When you join the site for the first time, Keen will give you £5 to make your first call with. If you’re interested in making additional calls, you will need to open an account with Keen. The advantage in this is that you are able to manage the cost of each call, though you will need a credit or debit card handy for your account.
Making a Call
If you’re a new member, you can use your free £5 to pay for your first call. Just find the expert of your choice, then click where it says ‘call now’. Your phone will ring and you will be connected straight away. After the free credit has elapsed, an automatic voice will ask you to put more money into your account. If you don’t want to do this, hang up.
Keen Mail
Keen also offer experts’ advice through their web mail service. Experts can send you a mail through the site with a price attached to it. If you want to open the mail and receive the information requested, just click on the mail and the price will be automatically deducted from your Keen account. It’s a good idea to mail an expert and negotiate the price, before requesting information via the mail service.
Customer support
There’s a ‘help’ section with a support form to fill in and send to Keen’s customer support department. You can also call a local rate helpline, if you’d rather speak to a human being. Requests for information are dealt with promptly – usually within 24 hours.
Referring Friends
Keen give £5 to members who refer friends to the site, who then make two or more calls. The same applies for members who use banners and web buttons to attract new people to the site.
Overall Appearance & Layout
The site’s appearance is impressive. A nice array of
colours, quality pictures, good type print. The layout is clear and well labelled, so it’s relatively easy for the newcomer to navigate themselves around the site, and find what they want.
Final comments
Keen.co.uk is a great way to get expert advice on a wide number of things. Better still, their free £5 offer allows you to try out the expert of your choice without paying a penny!
All in all, a very interesting and user-friendly site.
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