Hi again Raaboo - I'm glad you took my critique in the same Spirit in which it was meant: as constructive. You are absolutely right about us getting blinded by our own glory and shine when we work on our own projects - it's very easy to lost touch with "reality" and plug along down the same path we started (even thought it may be the wrong one).
That is why I make a point of working on a project for a few days, step away for a while and then come back. I'll spend the days between to check out other sites in the same industry to get a feel for what I'm missing and what I need to improve on. While my fingers may be itching to get back to my current project, it's good to break away and clear my mind every now and then.
I took another look at your "new and improved" site :-) And you are DEFINITELY on the right track now... The deep, red color is much better suited for your line of "expertise" and the name of your site. The theme you have selected with the fading graphics is classy and should work well for your reviews... In all, it's much cleaner and professional this way.
I'd again encourage you to keep your mind open as to the direction you want to take... It's tempting to want to be everything-for-everybody, but then the competition it too fierce. Based on my experience, much, MUCH better to specialize and be the-ultimate-source-for-a-few.
Hotel reviews are plentiful - can't swing a dead cat without hitting on a site that offers them. What is going to make yours stand out? Why would people come to you to look for reviews rather than going to the larger sites? Why are your reviews better, and whom are you targeting? I don't think the answer is the scale itself (if it's 1-of-5, or 1-of-10), but rather the PERSONAL experiences people have had while staying there.
You may want to find a way to allow people to post their own pictures of their room and the hotel. After all, the hotel will always want to present itself in the best possible light and will always include fancy shots of the lobby and the Junior Suite on their website. Problem is, we don't sleep in the lobby, and most of us want the least expensive room and never see the inside of the Suite.
People would value seeing what it's really like in the room... If I take a picture of the broken tiles in the bathroom and the leaking toilet, THAT's something others would find valuable and that you wouldn't see on Expedia! Check our
http://www.realhotelphotos.com for an idea of what I'm talking about (no, I have nothing to do with this site :-)).
You have limited yourself somewhat by the choice of domain-name (in a good way, in my opinion). The Chocolate Pillow... Ask people what it makes them think of, and don't fight the response. I sincerely doubt anybody will come out and say it makes them think of hotel reviews for a Holiday Inn by the airport. My expectation, as mentioned, would be travel and getaway ideas for "sweet, romantic inns and hotels".
Anyway - hoping this encourages another burst of creativity, I remain,
Yours Truly
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