As you know, I review a ton of products here on my site. And you may be wondering how it all works…how to get started…the ins and outs of review blogging. Well I just so happen to be talking about this very subject over at Kailani’s pad (An Island Review).
Apart from writing this blog, I am the green columnist over at Peekaboo Picks and one of four editors for the Family Review Network. Needless to say, I interact with people in the marketing and public relations fields most days of the week. And while I write a ton of reviews, I also read a ton of reviews. So why am I telling you this? I want to talk a little bit about a topic that has become very important to me…ethics and review blogging.
When I first started blogging, I wrote to express myself and to keep my family updated on my son’s development. I won’t bore you with the details of how I started reviewing products (you can read that here), but it’s been about a year and a half and at least half of my blog is dedicated to product reviews.
There are hundreds of blogs that offer product reviews. What is going to set you apart? What will shine through to companies looking to promote their product with you? Honesty…integrity…authenticity. When a company contacts you for a review, it is because they’ve seen or read something on your blog that they believe meshes well with them. They’ve likely never met you face-to-face, so they are entrusting you with their product soley based on what they’ve seen on your blog. If you remember this is a person who has spent much time and effort developing a product that they truly believe in, I think it may change your perspective on review blogging. The other side of review blogging involves your readers. If you have established a group of people who value what you have to say, they will likely trust your opinions on products. Your readers get to know you and they know if you’re being authentic and transparent. If you lose your credibility with your readers, then what is left? A blog that no one wants to read. And why blog if no one is going to read what you have to say? (unless you just like to vent and need an outlet for expressing yourself).
Here is some advice on being a product reviewer that companies want to work with, based on what I’ve come across in the blogosphere (when I went back and re-read this, it felt like I was writing to a friend about relationships!):
Do what you say you’re going to do! If you say you’re going to review a product, then review it. Period! I have never failed to review a product that was sent to me (and now I’m likely going to get an email from someone saying the exact opposite!). There have been times, however, where I’ve taken longer to review a product than I had expected. That leads me to my next point…
Communicate! Life happens. Companies are really just groups of people…just like you and I…they understand illness and power outages and anything else that may prevent you from writing a review in a timely manner. If you communicate with them, they’ll likely give you some grace.
Honesty is the best policy! It’s not trite…it’s true. If you don’t like a product, communicate with the company and give them both positive and constructive feedback. The point of reviewing a product is to find out what does and does not work. I have made it a policy that I don’t write negative reviews unless I feel it is a safety issue that parents need to know about. You don’t have to adopt that policy but I guarantee that if you consistently write negative reviews, companies won’t be knocking on your virtual door to promote their products.
Be real! When I am looking to purchase a product, I go online and and start researching, as do many of you. I start at the company’s site and move on to honest opinions from real people. If you tell me that the swing you reviewed plays 8 songs and requires 12 batteries, I’ll say thanks and move on, probably never to return. If you tell me what a wonderful learning tool that puzzle was, but you reviewed it with your 3 month old, I’ll likely be confused and again, never return. What I really want to know is if that swing really helped your colicky baby sleep and whether your toddler was able to complete that puzzle.
Do your research! If you spend some time on the company’s site, reading up on the product, you’ll be able to make a decision as to whether or not the product is a good fit for you, your family, your blog, and your readers. Writing the review is just the icing on the cake!
Don’t take what’s not yours! It goes without saying that your review should be your own opinions and words. End of story!
If at any time while you read my blog, you feel I am not following my own advice, I give you permission to call me on it!
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Interesting! Thanks for sharing your tips – I learned a lot. I like to review products too, and want to do the best job that I can.
Thank you for this! I am just getting started and this was very helpful.
Thanks for sharing the link to your interview. I really enjoy reading helpful information from someone whose reviews I like to read.
I’m a bad, bad reviewer. I honestly am not very organized which creates a back-log with everything I do. I’ve forgotten to do a few reviews I’ll admit it. Now I’ll go hide before I get stoned by the angry flock of reviewers.
Very nice tips. Thanks for sharing!
this is a great post Caryn! Very well written