Anna, I believe everyone who writes the 5 gets a gift card.  Here's some language from the rules that makes me think that:

Submit 5 reviews to Viewpoints.com beginning April 9, 2009 (12:01 AM Central time) and receive a $25 gift card to restaurant.com. The Promotion is valid until the first 10,000 reviews are received or until April 30, 2009 (11:59 PM Central time), whichever comes first. The maximum payout per user is one gift card valued at $25.

I just became a member and didn't know about the incentive.  I only found the site because of another incentive program I'm a member of and I have to write a 900 character review for my rewards too.  I've just "published" my first review and it wasn't too hard to hit 900 characters if it's a product you really like or dislike.  I'm not a writer and I was able to get over 1000 characters.  You just have to find the right product.

I am a yapper and wrote my five plus working on a few more...all over 1000...try and shut me up lol.

One I thought I would never make it and I looked up to see there was a counter...very nice and helpful, thanks for that!

I'm with AnnaBanana--I didn't think it was a sweepstakes this time.  I thought it was a $25 gift card for each person that fulfilled the 5 review/900 character qualifications in the specified departments.  And as for 900 characters--believe me it can and is done by more people than you think.

I found out the max. number of characters you can have in a review (My 10 Favorite Horse Movies) because I exceeded the 150,000 character limit by A LOT!   

Oops, sorry I didn't realize that I was following AnnaBanana on page 1 and that the last post was on page 2--sorry.

VivaSuzi, thanks for highlighting some of the rules because the part  "The maximum payout per user is one gift card valued at $25." does make it sound like there will be more than one card issued.  I printed out the rules so that I could read them in their entirety but haven't yet.

I already posted 3 reviews from April 12th forward in those departments without even knowing I could be in the running.

Question: Will someone be tracking us to know when we meet the qualifications or will we have to send a message when we think or know we have met the qualifications?

well veiwpoints cant just give stuff away... you have to work for it..

Just to add one more thing - It is for the first 10,000 entries. Jo

I thought 900 characters would be a lot, until I started writing.  It wasn't too bad, and I'm not usually the chatty type :)    I just reviewed a bunch of baby slings and stuff, and the 5 items went by pretty quickly.

I'll be able to take my husband out for his birthday!  YAY!

Question: Will someone be tracking us to know when we meet the qualifications or will we have to send a message when we think or know we have met the qualifications?

We're tracking eligible reviews. You do not need to send a message.

It can take up to 30 days to receive your Restaurant.com certificate by email. It takes this time because we have to verify all reviews meet requirements. Also, the program runs through April 30 so we won't begin the distribution of gift cards until the it concludes.

Hello AKKLEWER,
Thanks for your comment you really got to me and I read the fine print. 
Perhaps you misread or misunderstood the 900.
It is referring to 900 characters NOT 900 WORDS.
They make it easy for us to view the number of characters (individual letters) as we type.
My very first review was short because like you I do not like to read a boring repetitive long review. NO it is not a scam offer or difficult to type 900 characters.

Great comment ! You mentioned "the right category"
LOL-it takes me longer to choose the catagory for my reviews because there are SO MANY CHOICES.
Heck I cannot remember which qualifies for the gift card and which does not.

IMPORTANT: We sent out a reminder email about this promotion today. If you received a reminder, it DOES NOT mean you have not yet qualified. We just wanted to remind anyone who may not have participated or had not yet written 5 reviews. The promotion expires April 30. Our system is tracking qualifying reviews so there is no need to notify anyone once you write your five reviews. Let me know if you have ?'s! 

I love this promotion, and hope it's still going on. Actually, the promotion really got me back to using the site in the first place, and realizing how much I love talking! Haha, or writing, I suppose. Either way, this is a great promotion:)

i would like to win the $25 giftcard so i guess i have to start writing reviews on the products that qualify for this promotion

Sometimes a little incentive can motivate you :)  Glad you came back!

missaprilargue said…

well veiwpoints cant just give stuff away... you have to work for it..

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missaprilarque,

You hardly have to "work for it", it is very easy.  They are giving stuff away and all you have to do is write five 900 character reviews in the appropriate categories.  It's not very often you can get something for free that is so easy to obtain.

Welcome back Caitlin!  Always good to have an excuse to share huh?  

was this over April 30th? I came to the site via Viewpoints >> To get your $25 restaurant.com gift card, you must submit 5 qualified reviews to viewpoints.com by June 10, 2009.

Hi there!  I haven't seen a new announcement yet but it is possible they are doing the same promotion again this month.  The original promotion was over April 30, but if you got another email saying June 10 then it is possible they are doing the same promotion again.

kellgemini said…

was this over April 30th? I came to the site via Viewpoints >> To get your $25 restaurant.com gift card, you must submit 5 qualified reviews to viewpoints.com by June 10, 2009.

All reviews must be a minimum of 900 characters to qualify - don't worry, there's a character counter so you know exactly how close you are!

Reviews must be submitted in any of the following 8 categories: Baby, Beauty, Computers, Electronics, Health, Home & Garden, Home Exerciser Equipment and Toys - we're guessing you have more than enough products to work with there!

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From what I can tell, the June 10 timeline is a special offer to those who participate with Bzz Agent.  Feel free to e-mail Meredith at meredith@viewpoints.com for further claification if this doesn't help.

I just joined this site and wrote my first review. I thought 900 sounded like alot, but it was really easy once I got started. I am gonna write all 5 and more probably. I can really make it to 900 on the products I hate!

Hi Bonnie :)  It's true that it can be easier to write a lot of words when it comes to a product you had issues with.  Feel free to share as many reviews as you can and welcome to the site!!!

OH Boy, I could do the 900, I'm like you. I'm a talker, does anyone have duct tape, they make them in colors. Which I did not know. My mom goes to a duct tape festivial (?) every year. Says it is amazing to see what people do with the stuff. I told her they are good for holding shoes together also (My hubby's work boots...lol). True, but then again sad. But the stuff works.

Haha duct tape is the "master fixer" isn't it?  Anytime something is broken and you don't care to replace it, pull out the tape!  I use packaging tape (the clear stuff) to hang up my indoor christmas lights every year b/c I didn't want to make holes in my nicely painted walls :)