This has been one of my top searches for the last week so I thought I would discuss it here on my blog. Anyone can start their own product review blog. All you have to do is create a blog and write about products that you love or that you are passionate about. You could also write about products you don’t like if you want to. You can get a free blog from Blogger.com or WordPress.com. It doesn’t cost you anything to have a blog unless you want to be self hosted and then you have to pay hosting fees. But, just getting started it is fine to have your blog hosted with Blogger or WordPress.
After you get your blog set up to your liking all you have to do is write. I recommend to write as often as possible to keep readers coming back, but you have to do what is best for your schedule. Quality writing is more important then the quantity of writing in my opinion. To review products you simply tell people things about the product that you would want to know if you were thinking of purchasing the product. Tell them both the positive and negative things about the item and don’t be shy. If the product doesn’t do what it is supposed to do, then by all means say so! Honesty is very important in product reviewing.
After you have started to gain some readership you can then start requesting reviews from PR firms and companies. Don’t be shy! Just email companies you would like to work with and tell them about yourself and your blog. Be honest. A lot of companies will work with reviewers who have only been blogging for a short time. Open communication is the key to working with PR and companies. While working with a PR contact or a company contact you are trying to build a relationship. That takes time and commitment. Be prepared to email back and forth several times and maybe even for a phone conversation when working with sponsors.
Also, for your blog to gain readers it is necessary to comment at other blogs. That in itself can take hours of your day if you let it. There are just that many great blogs out there! It is important to remember that blogging is a diverse community made of many different people and personalities. A big part of the blogging community is on Twitter. In case you don’t already know, Twitter is a huge social networking site that allows people to connect while writing in 140 characters. Twitter is important to me as a review blogger because it is another way that I can connect with my readers, companies, PR and the other bloggers in the community. Twitter is also a great place to make friends. I met my best online friend through Twitter! (Hi Angie!)
It is also important to be who you really are. Be authentic. Don’t try to copy another blogger! It is wrong and not flattering at all.
Pictures and videos are an important part of a successful review blog. It is great to take your own photos of items you are reviewing to show that you really tried the product and how it worked for your family. I try to take a lot of photos if they will benefit my readers in their understanding of the product and my review. Vlogging (video blogging) has also become very popular for review bloggers although I haven’t started doing it just yet. I am a bit shy! If you do decide to vlog it is important to be real. Being perfect is not required. Readers want authenticity not perfection. After all who really is perfect anyway? Not me!
To sum this all up…
- Anyone can start a product review blog.
- Product review blogging takes a lot of dedication and work.
- Honesty and authenticity are very important.
- Building real relationships with PR is a must.
- Comment on other people’s blogs A LOT.
- Have patience while building your blog.
- Come up with your own ideas. Don’t steal from others!
- Pictures are a must. Videos are great too =)
If you are looking to get into product review blogging because you want all the cool stuff for free please remember that authoring a product review blog takes time and work. Lots of work! I spend several hours each day testing products out, writing, and managing my blog. For me blogging is not a hobby, it is my business. I love what I do and wouldn’t change it for the world! I have met so many incredible people through blogging and I just love the people in this community (and you will too).
I hope I covered all of your questions about starting a product review blog. If you have any more questions please leave them in the comments and I will respond. Please note that I am not an expert, just someone who has learned some lessons over the past 15 months.
All the best!
♥Andrea♥
Hi Andrea,
Soon I plan to start a blog as a business. One of the things I want to offer are product reviews.
I would like to know once I contact companies to do product reviews, how much do you charge companies to review their products? or approximately how much? I’m not sure does it depend on the item?
Thanks,
Trina
Hi Trina,
Thank you for your question. I don’t charge to write a review as I consider the product I receive my compensation. I would not recommend asking for money to write a review because many people (myself included) would consider that to be unethical. People want to read honest reviews that are not based on being paid by a company. I would also say that most reputable companies don’t typically pay for reviews. Good luck with your blog!
Great post Andrea! I’m new and I started reviewing things my kids owned, now I’m getting samples without even requesting them. I agree that it is a lot of work!
Larissa´s last [type] ..Infant Stimulation and Sensory Development Toys by Genius Babies
Dear Andrea,
I first read your article ‘How to start your own product review blog” months ago and its a great read. I’m a newbie, so I’m trying to still figure out how things work. Thanks for sharing!
Kelly- product reviewer´s last [type] ..Kashi GO LEAN Crunch- Review
Hello! I am just starting to research this and hoping to start a blog soon. I have a baby boy due this month and will be having a lot of time at home and lots of products to review that I have never used to before. I am also hoping to get companies to sponsor products for me so that I can review them for free.. do you have any suggestions for that? Any good place to start (certain companies that have a good rep for wanting to get products out even to smaller, beginner blogs)? Thanks for any info you can provide. My personal email is sample1987@hotmail.com if anyone can send me any suggestions. I get a ton of emails though so please specify in the subject something about blog suggestions or something. Would appreciate any help!!!! Thanks!!!
I love your post! I started a review blog a couple of years ago and did/do everything wrong. I love it! I get contacted by small companies to review cool new things and I’ve even made a whopping $9. I’m having a ball!
I really like this post. I’ve just started to blog about products, but I’m not sure if I’ll get any followers. I’ll just keep at it.
Angel´s last [type] ..Method Laundry Detergent
Just keep doing your best. Review things that you already love and enjoy. If you have any questions please email me anytime!
Hey came across your site maybe we can do a link exchange my site is nook review. Let me know. Thanks, Noah
I’ve been blogging for a while, but just started thinking about doing product reviews. Thanks for the great tips!
Renae´s last [type] ..Netflix Review
If you ever have any questions I am always available through email. Good luck!
Good post.
I think one of the most important things like you said is commenting on other peoples blogs. This creates backlinks and helps my blogs get more traffic.
Blogging takes time to get it off the ground but the hard work is worth it.
Hi,
Nice job! Completely agree that reviews must be honest. We have been reviewing the top holiday toys and the negative reviews get more traffic than the positive! Just shows people want to read the truth.
Hey There! I loved your article above. I have been working on getting my blog more popular and everything, and I really feel like I am ready for a sponsored PR. I am a little nervous about contacting a company because I am just not sure what I shoudl say. I was really wondering if there are any good product review companies that are better for begginers? If you could help me I would really appreciate it, I’m still doing research and everything, so any type of direct communication would really help! Thanks in advance and If you could email me back at aaron_amanda(at)live(dot)com I would really appreciate it! Thanks for the time and thanks for the great article ^.
-Amanda T
Thanks so much for the advice. I just started my blog. Well actually I started it a while ago and then it just sat there because I did not know what to say. I don’t really know what I am doing but I learn best as I go. I actually started on twitter and had so much fun with reading blogs and entering giveaways that I thought starting my own blog would be my next step. Thanks for the tips…I agree with them for sure!
P.S. Come visit my new blog and let me know what you think! I would love any critiques or advice! http://www.justicecwscutestuff.blogspot.com
Thank you! I have been wanting to do this!!
Great post and I bet a huge help for beginners. Well done.
.-= Nicole Feliciano´s last blog ..Edamame for the Kids =-.
Andrea…
This post is right on. As someone who’s literally just started a blog – like this week! – this post read like a Cliff’s Note on how to get started.
Thank you for the great insight. Looking forward to learning, growing and developing into a voice for companies that see value in what I do.
Keep up the good work. Have a great weekend,
Dana
‘The MN TV Mom’
http://www.mntvmom.com
Twitter – @mntvmom
.-= Dana´s last blog ..Under Where? Gap Kids Underwear! =-.
Love it hun! And I love your new layout. It looks gorgeous!
I realllly want to start vlogging. Except most of the time I have my hair thrown up in a ponytail and two little ones around me. Maybe I should just jump in and do it?
Great info for anyone wanting to learn the “secrets”!
xoxo
.-= Chelle´s last blog ..Dove Men + Care {A Winey Mommy Review} =-.