Writing Product Reviews
March 28, 2008 by Deb
Filed under Writing Tips
One of the things I love about blogging is how I get to test out new products and write my findings. It’s not necessarily about the swag, but more learning about how products are made and how they work, the behind the scenes stories of how they were created and the excitement of turning people on to something new. I’m often asked about reviewing products, mostly folks want to know what happens when I don’t like a product and what I do with the products I’m given to review. Here’s a rundown:
How to Get Products to Review
The first products I reviewed were things I had in my own home. Appliances, cookbooks, cosmetics, things I know every day people want to know more about. Soon, as traffic started to grow and publicists were realizing I was sending traffic from my blogs to their product’s website they began asking me to review more products. I’ve also approached publicists to let them know about my blogs and ask them to let me know if they have any news to share. Many times they want me to review their products. For book reviews, almost every publisher’s website has information for the media and publicity departments. Many times if you contact them they’re more than happy to put you on their lists.
How Honest Should One Be When Reviewing a Product?
Here’s the thing, you don’t want to tell someone something is great when it’s not. You also want to be able to work with the publicist again and be considered for future reviews. I think the key is to be honest and nice. I like to start my reviews off with all the things I like about the product. Even if I mostly don’t like the product, I always start off on a positive note. I don’t rant, insult or say a product is garbage. By all means, list a product’s faults, just be nice about it. Think about what you would want to read if it were your product.
What Do You Do With All that Swag?
I know a lot of people get into reviewing products to receive free stuff. That’s fun and all, but it’s not necessarily why I do it. A lot of the stuff I receive is given away through my blogs. Contests are great for traffic and community building. Some of the stuff is donated to charity or thrift store too. I recently received two crockpots – and I already have two crockpots. So after I review the new brand, it’s going to the local assisted living facility. Some products I give away to friends and family too.
Don’t Get Greedy
The problem with product reviews is many publicists don’t trust bloggers because they ask for swag and never review it or that some bloggers are a little greedy. They keep asking for swag but take their time with the reviews or give half hearted product descriptions rather than an honest review of the product. If you want to get into reviewing products, make sure you know there’s work involved. You have to research other reviews of the product, perhaps know a little about the manufacturer and also discuss why you do or don’t recommend the product, and why it will or won’t benefit others.
Product reviews are fun and interesting, with great perks. If you can get on a publicist’s list you might even get some decent products to keep or giveaway.
Should I mention again about how much I love my job?
For reference, here’s a recent product review from my blog She Knows Parties.
I just began receiving offers to do product reviews on my green blog. My first reviews were on all natural hand sanitizers that were sent to me for free. I was honest on my blog about it being a review I was asked to do, and I gave an honest review about what I liked and didn’t like about the products (and what my kids thought about the products).
I’ve also started to review things that I’ve bought myself like an all natural breakfast cereal that my kids love. Since my blog is practical advice for families going green, I think that reviewing the products I regularly, the products that are sent to me, and the books I read about the subject is of value to my audience.
I do think the most important thing is to be honest even when the products are free.
Oh, and Deb, I love my job, too.
Kind of related, but sort of off topic; I just wanted to clue you guys in to a new blog that’s reviewing other blogs. Might be useful to some of you who are looking for more exposure (and who isn’t?). I came across this a while back. It’s a blog that reviews blogs they like and also accepts submissions of blogs for review (I think you can contact through the blog). The nice part is that it’s linked to Digg right at the bottom, so after people read the review they can Digg it and you get onto Digg, too.
I think that’s basically how it works. If you want to check it out the link is http://www.doyoudiggit.com. Hope it gets you some traffic!!
Re: Book reviewing
Certain publishers are now limiting the number of book review copies they send out. I’ve been reviewing for 8 years and a few months ago, HarperCollins sent out a notice stating due to the huge growth in book review blogs, they were no longer sending copies out to sites that were not getting at least 5,000 readers per month. I know other publishers are starting to follow suit.
Great article — thanks! I hadn’t really thought of product reviews, but it sounds like fun!
I got my first on-line magazine gig by doing a review of an quad. I’m also getting published in the number one national print magazine in this subject for a story I wrote about a concept quad I had the privilege to test ride last month.
I’ve also gotten lots of free things by reviewing them on my blogs or at blogcritics, including games, movies, accessories for my quads etc.
@Hazel – there are great things needing reviews! I do books and CDs all the time. While I don’t get paid for them, I no long spend money on books or music, so for me that’s a huge perk. I’ve also had some kid’s movies/DVDs sent to me for review in the past though I got out of that now that my kids are older.
Years ago I did product reviews for a software magazine, but again my kids are now too old. When they were 3 through 6 though, I had the chance to test some free computer educational games. To this day, my son still talks about the Wizard of Oz game being one of the best young kids games he’d used.
Some of the survey companies out there (NFO is one off the top of my head–I think it is NFO anyway) will send you product samples of items not yet in stores that they want honest opinions on. I’ve sampled cleaning products, shampoos and skin creams for them–some good and some bad. Back in the fall, I tested Gain’s Joyful Expressions Ultra. I haven’t seen it in my stores yet, but the Mango Tango scent lasts ages. I still have clothes that I haven’t needed this winter that still smell of the detergent all these months later. I am truly impressed with that product.
I did music reviews for a long time when I first began writing. They allowed me to get free music in the mail on a regular basis, expose myself to new musical genres and eventually lead to paid music writing gigs. I don’t do a lot of them anymore but I can definitely see the value of doing reviews about things that interest you!
I’ve been meaning to get a review blog going for some time now. (Just waiting to have a tiny bit more free time. HA!) My friends always turn to me for advice on baby and kid products so I figured I might as well post my opinions on line! I have a bunch of things at home that I’m excited to talk about, both good and bad!
@ Ann G – That’s very cool – I used to write for a company where I was able to play and write reviews of children’s software and video games. I was not only able to play the games with my kids, I got paid to do it! It was the best!! And to this day, that job is one of the highlights of my portfolio (probably more because of the company than the role itself, but hey – I’ll take what I can get!)
Product reviewing can be fun…and paid reviewers have a pretty decent gig, in my opinion!
Deb – Found this older post through a google search! Thanks for opening a whole new arena for me – writing product reviews! I actually saw your video of your home office and saw the box of products; that sent me off in search of how to get paid for product reviews.
What do you think of sites that pay you for reviewing and have specific guidelines/requirements, like Consumer Search (a NY Times company – so it should be reputable)? Also if you review for one site can you do it on your own blog or other companies? Is it ethical?
In just one week of visiting your site, I’ve revitalized my project search thanks to your great info!
This was a great entry. I will definitely check out your blog for reviews. Thanks for sharing.
Nic
You guys are on it. That’s the most and best information I’ve seen to date on modern-day, freelance, product-review-writing to date, and I’ve been looking for a while. Keep up the good work. RH