We are proud to deliver our weekly look at all things social commerce, and occasionally, we also enjoy sharing stories and news about the people behind PowerReviews. Read on for a special first installment of our “day-in-the-life-at-PowerReviews” series. In this edition, we recognize the valuable contributions of our most recent “Big Rock” awardee, Blake Brysha.

Big Rocks are a big deal at PowerReviews. The term “Big Rock” means “Big Idea” (e.g. breakthrough product), “Big Mover” (ROI mover), “Big Article” (Wall Street Journal coverage)… and in this instance, “Big Contributor” (someone who makes a huge impact on the company’s success in the last quarter).

I am very proud to announce the Big Rock Award winner this quarter is Blake Brysha, Marketing Manager at PowerReviews.  Some of his accomplishments this quarter include:

• Creating a rich community website for PowerReviews customers to connect and exchange ideas
• Developing the new PowerReviews.com website and collateral materials
• Managing all direct marketing campaigns for PowerReviews
• Developing a new set of partner marketing and customer materials

More importantly, Blake represents the kind of DNA we seek out and value at PowerReviews.  He’s creative, driven, unflappable, customer-focused and totally “can do”.  And people really like working with him – he’s someone you would pick for your customer team and for your softball team.

A big congratulations and thanks to Blake!

We are very pleased to be recognized by Internet Retailer as the Solution Leader in the Customer Reviews and Forums category – click here for the full article (screen shot from their email announcement below).

We founded PowerReviews four years ago based on a revolutionary idea that not only are reviews useful to consumers at the end of the shopping process (validating their purchase decision), reviews done a certain way – using structured (tag-based) content – can fuel a personalization and social commerce revolution.  For example, using our 3rd Generation Tag-based review technology, Brands like Jelly Belly and retailers like REI are able to present meaningful at-a-glance review summaries to help shoppers in the middle of the shopping process quickly compare products.

Review Snapshot® – REI HalfDome Tent

In addition, using our 3G tag-based review engine, PowerReviews empowers customers of retailers like Dicks Sporting Goods and Kiddicare at the start of the shopping process with the ability to narrow product selection based on Social attributes like Uses and Pros.  For instance, finding baby strollers recommended for Newborns when you Travel a lot.

Social Navigation – Kiddicare Strollers

We believe that tag-based reviews, and social media in general, have empowered consumers to make significantly more confident purchased decision with social advice at every step in the buying process.  Buying online is still riskier than buying in a store.  But with social recommendations early in the process and social feedback late in the process, consumers are making far fewer purchase mistakes when taking that risk.

I’d like to thank our customers who are driving this revolution so that their customers (and them as a result) fully reap these sizeable benefits!

Full full listing of Internet Retailer Top 500 Awards click here.