Ciao UK Blog

Use Windows Live ID to log onto ciao.co.uk

We have some great news today to help make life easier for Ciao users! Starting today, users only need their Windows Live ID to plunge into Ciao’s comprehensive community while at the same time enjoying all the benefits of the Windows Live service.

When registering on Ciao UK (ciao.co.uk/login.php) users can set their existing Windows Live ID as their preferred login option. Once this has been done, a log-in to one site will automatically trigger a log-in to the other site as well.

The new feature gives Windows Live ID users quick and easy access to the Ciao community of more than 7 million product reviews, which they can read and rate or add to by writing their own reviews. Existing Ciao users will also benefit from the Windows Live offering. They can use Windows Live Messenger as their central communication tool, set up a free account on Hotmail or edit and manage pictures with Windows Photo Suite. Windows Live can also be used with a mobile phone.

Now users can use both services with just one ID, saving time and hassle of managing two separate passwords and user names. Using Ciao has never been easier!

Ciao’s VIP Retail Workshop

This week is set to be an exciting one here at Ciao as our fourth annual VIP Retail Workshop gets underway on the 1st October in Munich. The event will explore the hottest shopping trends and upcoming  technologies set to take the e-commerce world by storm in 2010. Topics for discussion will range from social networks and usability to online innovation and how to monetise web 2.0 and communities. A number of top speakers and industry experts from across the globe will be attending to share their views and all of us at Ciao are very much looking forward to hearing what our guests have to say.

Some of the key talks include:

• Welcome Speech lead by Stephan Musikant, MD, Ciao and  Harald Schiffauer, Sales Director E-commerce Europe at Ciao
• ‘Usability in Social Networks’ lead by Frank Puscher, journalist, consultant and trainer
• ‘Bing: present and future’ lead by Jordi Ribas, General Manager, Search Technology Centre Europe, Microsoft
• ‘Media Usage - earning money in social networks’ lead by Prof. Dr. Marc Drüner, professor, consultant & executive Associate at trommsdorff

The purpose of the VIP Retail Workshop is to help us make sure we have our fingers on the pulse and are discussing the latest trends and features in e-commerce so we can give you, our community, the best possible experience online at all times. And as more and more people are shopping online and searching for savings, the importance of getting the best possible deal through reading product reviews and finding a good deal has never been more important.

If you’re new to Ciao and want to get involved with our international community, but are not yet a member you can sign up here. It’s really easy to get going and once you’ve joined you can begin penning your thoughts about products and services for others to read by posting reviews. And because our community is at the heart of everything we do we even reward you for your efforts. As a thank you from us, every time you post a review on Ciao, you earn money which is paid directly into your Ciao account. The more reviews you write, the more money you make, it couldn’t be simpler!

As always, we’re all ears when it comes to improving the quality of your experience on Ciao, so if you have any suggestions or thoughts we’d love to hear them. Add your comments to this post and let us know what you think!

Third week and almost last chance to win!

If you haven’t reviewed any product or service yet there are just 1 weeks left until both the competition to win great prizes and the “End of Summer” bonus ends. What are you waiting for? Write, participate and win!

Here this week’s lucky winners:

• Xbox 360: Laceyr26                             
• Amazon Voucher: Bouncebackability     
• Amazon Voucher: Bastones                            
• Amazon Voucher: MI9to5                                
• Amazon Voucher: Sarahhhx                            
• Amazon Voucher: Claribella                             
• Experience Voucher: kylehall99                           
• Xbox 360: Thehonesttruth               
• Spa Voucher: katherineh123                  
• Spa Voucher: Ayesha                       

 We look forward to receiving more reviews, welcoming new members and give away more prizes. Every new member gets £1 for the first review. Check out the competition page and start winning now!

How to keep your garden fit and healthy this winter with Ciao

Although summer is now behind us and the nights are drawing in, that doesn’t mean you should turn your back on giving your garden the care and attention it needs to make it though the chilly months ahead. In fact, now is the perfect time to prepare your flower beds, young plants and vegetable patches and to make sure they’re looking their best for when the sunny weather returns.

If you’re not sure where to start, or you’re just looking for some tips and tricks to help keep your garden healthy this winter, why not check out the range of gardening books and DVDs reviewed on ciao.co.uk?

It doesn’t matter whether you’re an experienced gardener or just feeling a little green fingered, there are also plenty of gardening tools to browse through on Ciao. From lawn mowers and spades to wheelbarrows and shears there is a range of equipment to suit all gardens and people. And because all of the products reviewed on Ciao are provided by the Ciao community, you can be sure that you’re getting great advice at the best value available on the items you fancy.

What’s more, because it’s now the end of the traditional gardening season, now is the perfect time to pick up a bargain as retailers look to clear last season’s stock.

So, what are you waiting for? Start taking the steps today to keep on top of your planting and digging over the next few months. Whilst your there, why not check out Ciao’s gardening community pages too and add your thoughts to help give others a helping hand to keep their gardens looking wonderful this winter.

Don’t forget, this month we are running an exclusive promotion with double incentives rewarded on all reviews. Each week Ciao UK is also randomly selecting 10 members who have written a review to win one of a range of great prizes, including digital cameras, Amazon vouchers up to £100, spa treatments and more. In addition, we are giving all new joiners a £1 bonus for their first review, so there has never been a better time to get involved! And seeing as this is the last week, make sure you get in there quick to avoid missing out!

Ciao UK at AdTech 2009! 22nd - 23rd September

We've got one big piece of news this year: for the first time, Ciao UK will be presenting its latest developments in the field of online advertising at a joint booth with Microsoft Advertising.

We would like to cordially invite you to join us at the Microsoft booth No. 293 where we will give you our latest updates, news and much more.

Since October 2008, when Ciao was taken over by Microsoft Corporation, we have been advancing with Microsoft’s European business as the Shopping Commerce Division. The initial steps in the integration process have been completed successfully: as a new broad European shopping platform of the new Microsoft search engine Bing.com and MSN portals, Ciao now also supports consumers who launch their searches on the Microsoft platforms in making personal purchase decisions for their products.
 
Merchants and advertisers will receive an overview on how they can keep benefiting from the accustomed high quality service which Ciao has stood for as a shopping and advertising platform for over ten years, reaching additional target groups who are searching for information and looking to make purchases.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Celebrate Oktoberfest with Ciao

It’s only a few days until the world’s largest and most famous beer festival, Oktoberfest, kicks off. Traditionally Oktoberfest showcases the best beer that Germany’s brewers have to offer and visitors need to be tough to keep up with local drinkers as beers are served in huge 1 litre glasses.

This year the event is taking place from September 19th to October 4th and you can check out the latest news and views on the festival on the Ciao site here. If you’re planning to attend you can also look here for reviews of some of the best hotels in Munich. And for the days when you need a break from the beer why not try exploring the city itself? There’s plenty to keep you occupied, but you might want to brush up on your German before you go!

For those of you who aren’t making the trip to Munich, you can still celebrate at home. For a start, you could have a look for some traditional Bavarian clothing to bring the event to life. Earlier this year, we also carried out a survey to find out the UK Ciao community’s most popular beers and to help you get started with your own party, we’ve included the top ten below.

The top ten beers according to Ciao are:
1. Kronenbourg 1664 Lager
2. Guinness Draught Stout
3. Stella Artois Premium Lager
4. Hoegaarden White
5. Grolsch Premium Lager
6. Carling Black Label Lager
7. Heineken Export Lager
8. John Smith’s Extra Smooth Bitter
9. Foster’s Lager
10. Budweiser Lager

There aren’t any Bavarian beers on the list – but perhaps you think there should be! It couldn’t be simpler to join in and share your favourites. Just click the links below to include your thoughts or add a brand new beer by signing up to post a review here.

MyVoucherCodes now on ciao.co.uk!

Ciao UK can today announce a partnership with www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, UK’s leading discount voucher codes site. Across the entire spectrum of our portal, codes will be provided ensuring users are made aware of online discounts and offers on MVC before making purchases.

Mark Pearson, Managing Director of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk had the following to say about the partnership, “Our partnership with Ciao is a fantastic step in the right direction of helping Brits find the right products for them online, at the best possible prices.” By combining our two strengths, we hope to give people the ability to save even more money on informed purchases, especially in these tough economic times.”

Customers on Ciao will be able to find thousands of UK retailer’s promotional discounts via MyVoucherCodes in the form of voucher codes, redeemable at online checkout. These discounts will now be mirrored on Ciao here.

Tom Hyde, Teamleader E-Commerce Ciao UK said: “Ciao and its web-savvy community will undoubtedly benefit from the savings they’ll be making on products using the discount vouchers through our comparison service. Anything and everything can be reviewed and rated by our community, and the automated discount feed MyVoucherCodes will enhance the shopping experience on ciao.co.uk.”

Why not sign up to become part of the Ciao community and write a review about MyVoucherCodes.co.uk? Remember this month we are running an exclusive promotion with double incentives rewarded on all reviews.

Patrick Swayze tribute

Ciao would like to commemorate the live of the heart throb actor whose performance captivated the heart of people around the world. Who can forget the sexy dance instructor from Dirty Dancing or the murdered man trying to communicate with his fiancée through a spirit played by Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost?

If you are looking to reminiscence Swayze’s best films, you can find many of his movies here. But for those who would like to find out more about his career and life, you can check his biography and read some very interesting review from our community, including details such as Patrick lucky audition for Dirty dancing and how he had the casting team in tears, convincing them he was the man for the role.

Write your tributes here or head to Ciao and write or read other’s memories of him

Special “End of Summer” Bonus announces second week’s winners

Still surprising our community! The happy winners of the first week were delighted to find out that luck was on their side.  Who shares real experiences, it’s a winner already!

If you haven’t reviewed any product or service yet there are just 2 weeks left until both the competition to win great prizes and the “End of Summer” bonus ends. What are you waiting for? Write, participate and win!

Here this week’s lucky winners:

• Digital Camera: Blissman70
• Amazon Voucher: Tac20
• Amazon Voucher: Elfbwillow
• Amazon Voucher: Hillhead
• Amazon Voucher: Eilidhcatriona
• Nintendo Wii: Welling
• Amazon Voucher: Ilusvm
• Experience voucher: Meggysmum
• Spa Voucher: Bollinger28
• Spa voucher: Mummy2harry 

We look forward to receiving more reviews, welcoming new members and give away more prizes. Every new member gets £1 for the first review. Check out the competition page and start winning now!

How to find a vehicle that’s right for you with Ciao

The 63rd IAA International Motor Show kicks off in Frankfurt next week and to mark the event here at Ciao we want to give all of you motoring enthusiasts a head start to find the vehicle that’s right for you.

Whether you’re looking to buy a brand new car, a second hand motor bike, or to even hire a van, at ciao.co.uk we have a great range of tips and advice from our users to help you on your way. And once you’ve found the motor that meets your needs (and hopefully saved some money too), why not also spend a little time checking out the various ways you can personalise it? 

For example, whether you’re on a long or a short journey, having the right sound system on board is vital. With the variety of car stereos and speakers reviewed on our site you can be sure you’ll find the perfect equipment to get you to singing along to your favourite songs in style.

For all drivers, the importance of security on and off the road is second to none, but with Ciao you can make sure that saving on price does not compromise your safety. There are various products you can buy to help protect you and your passengers - from alarms and immobilisers to jump leads and foot pumps. And if you’re a parent, making sure your children are secure and comfortable at all times is crucial. To help you out we have a number of booster seats and carry cots reviewed to suit boys and girls of all ages for all vehicles.

We’d love to know what you think - whilst you’re browsing our pages and checking out the products reviewed by our members, why not sign up to become part of the Ciao community and leave your comments too? Don’t forget, for this month we are running an exclusive promotion with double incentives rewarded on all reviews. Each week Ciao UK is also randomly selecting 10 members who have written a review to win one of a range of great prizes, including a Microsoft Xbox, digital cameras, Amazon vouchers up to £100, spa treatments and more. In addition, we are giving all new joiners a £1 bonus for their first review, so there has never been a better time to get involved!