Are you a tech enthusiast, beauty guru, or foodie passionate about sharing your thoughts with the world? If so, becoming a product reviewer might be the perfect career path. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know how to become a product reviewer, from building your brand to landing your first paid gig. So, grab your favourite pen and get ready to take some notes because, by the end of this article, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a product-reviewing pro!
The first question aspiring reviewers usually ask is, “Where do I find companies willing to send me free products to test?” There are a few main avenues to pursue:
Many brands, like BzzAgent and Influenster, operate free review programs. They send selected members free or discounted merchandise in exchange for honest online reviews. Competition can be stiff for coveted spots in these programs, but they provide awesome perks if you get in.
Be bold about emailing brands whose products interest you and asking if they have reviewer opportunities. Small startups are often eager for testers and promoters. With persistence and charm, you can land cool freebies this way.
Sites like ReviewKick, Snagshout, and Tomoson feature bounties where companies offer products for review. Browse current options, claim an item you want to try, test it thoroughly, and complete the requested review tasks.
Testing products sounds easy. Pop open the box, play around with the item, and jot down your thoughts–simple! But quality reviewing requires cultivating several key skills:
Noticing subtle design elements, performance tweaks, ease-of-use features, etc., is crucial for reviews that help consumers make informed decisions. You need an eye for particulars to spot what sets a product apart.
Finding fresh angles and an engaging voice keeps reviews entertaining. You could write a funny first-person narrative about battling your messy kids to test a robot vacuum. Or stage an action movie parody with an action cam. Imagination unleashes your inner entertainer.
Credibility is everything in reviewing. Brands and readers want your genuine, unbiased opinions, not glorified advertisements. If a product doesn’t perform as expected, say so constructively.
Reviewers need to meet deadlines and keep promises. That means thoroughly testing items in agreed timeframes and completing review activities like social posts. Build a reputation for punctuality.
Reviewers must communicate impressions clearly and persuasively when writing blog posts, videos, or social captions. Brush up on grammar, style conventions, and compelling content strategies.
While not mandatory, experience using the types of products you want to test allows you to evaluate quality and user-friendliness better. An amateur photographer needs to gain the expertise to assess the latest DSLR, for example, accurately.
Boost your reviewer game by utilizing these handy tools and resources:
Crafting compelling reviews may seem intimidating at first. But follow these tips, and you’ll be churning out reader-grabbing and SEO-optimized content in no time:
Hook readers instantly by starting with an intriguing question, bold statement, or funny anecdote.
Give an overview of the item’s features, price, and manufacturer to orient the audience.
Break up walls of text by organizing details into sections with informative headers.
Back claims about product performance with specific examples from testing.
Visuals demonstrating the product in action boost engagement.
End by recommending or not, along with the next steps for purchasing.
Cite statistics, expert analysis, surveys, etc., to provide further credibility.
Contrast pros and cons to provide helpful decision-making context.
Speculate what consumers would ask and answer directly in the content.
Typos and errors undermine professionalism and trustworthiness.
If you’re passionate about testing merchandise, willing to learn and meet brand requirements, you can succeed. Experience with certain product types may offer a leg up. But beginners can still provide value.
FTC rules require disclosing relationships, compensation, and gifted products. Never make false or misleading claims. Always give honest assessments.
Ready to join the product reviewing ranks after reading this beginner’s guide? Remember that becoming an authoritative tester takes time. Start slowly by claiming free samples to review on your channels.
As you master the fundamentals, explore paid gigs writing for blogs or YouTube. With dedication, creativity, and a passion for discovering the next life-changing products, you can establish a rewarding reviewer career and income.
Now grab that new gadget box and start unboxing! I can’t wait to read your first review.
Up until working with Casey, we had only had poor to mediocre experiences outsourcing work to agencies. Casey & the team at CJ&CO are the exception to the rule.
Communication was beyond great, his understanding of our vision was phenomenal, and instead of needing babysitting like the other agencies we worked with, he was not only completely dependable but also gave us sound suggestions on how to get better results, at the risk of us not needing him for the initial job we requested (absolute gem).
This has truly been the first time we worked with someone outside of our business that quickly grasped our vision, and that I could completely forget about and would still deliver above expectations.
I honestly can't wait to work in many more projects together!
Disclaimer
*The information this blog provides is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as financial or professional advice. The information may not reflect current developments and may be changed or updated without notice. Any opinions expressed on this blog are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author’s employer or any other organization. You should not act or rely on any information contained in this blog without first seeking the advice of a professional. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this blog. The author and affiliated parties assume no liability for any errors or omissions.