Reputation System Playbook
Practical 8-week implementation guide for building a functioning reputation system from scratch, designed for early-stage marketplaces with limited resources.
Practical 8-week implementation guide for building a functioning reputation system from scratch, designed for early-stage marketplaces with limited resources.
When to Use Reputation System Playbook
When launching a new marketplace or platform that requires trust between users. Starting point for founders who understand reputation conceptually but need concrete Monday-morning action steps.
How to Apply
Week 1-2: Define Transaction and Rating Trigger
Establish what counts as a completed transaction and when to ask for ratings
Questions to Ask
- What counts as completed for reputation purposes?
- When do you ask for ratings (immediately vs. 7 days later)?
Outputs
- Transaction definition document
- Rating trigger timing decision
Week 3-4: Design Rating Capture Mechanism
Build the actual rating collection interface with minimal friction
Questions to Ask
- 5-star scale or thumbs up/down?
- Optional written comments?
Outputs
- Functioning rating collection prototype
- Expected 20-30% response rate early on
Week 5-6: Build Public Display System
Make ratings visible on profiles, listings, and search results
Questions to Ask
- Minimum threshold before displaying? (Recommend 5+ ratings)
- Algorithm: simple average vs. weighted?
Outputs
- Public-facing reputation display on profiles and listings
Week 7-8: Launch Beta and Iterate
Test with active users and measure behavioral impact
Questions to Ask
- Does visible reputation increase transactions?
- Is submission rate >20%?
Outputs
- 30%+ rating submission rate
- 15%+ increase in transactions for high-rated users