Comments on: Writing Product Reviews

By: Writing Product Reviews for Readers Not Yourself | Network Blogging Tips

Writing Product Reviews for Readers Not Yourself | Network Blogging Tips — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:31:52 +0000

[...] heard about them (which would surprise me) it’s basically that you need to disclose free swag you get when you post about it on your blog or in other social media settings. Am I worried about [...]

By: Richard Henricks

Richard Henricks — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 03:39:20 +0000

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

By: We Get Letters: Deb Finally Reads Her Email | Freelance Writing Jobs

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:41:08 +0000

[...] Here’s a post from March 2008 that may help: Writing Product Reviews [...]

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:06:28 +0000

This was a great entry. I will definitely check out your blog for reviews. Thanks for sharing.

Nic

By: LisaB.

LisaB. — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:54:13 +0000

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!

By: jen

jen — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:11:29 +0000

@ 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!

By: Jessica (aka Rose)

Jessica (aka Rose) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:16:54 +0000

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!

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:51:12 +0000

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!

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:46:00 +0000

@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.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:35:08 +0000

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.

By: Hazel

Hazel — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:16:22 +0000

Great article — thanks! I hadn’t really thought of product reviews, but it sounds like fun!

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:13:21 +0000

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.

By: Mary Ward

Mary Ward — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:56:17 +0000

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!!

By: Robin

Robin — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:55:25 +0000

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.