Best Tips to Write a Great Product Review

Writing product reviews is a great way to experience new and interesting products that you may not have had the opportunity to use before, and then offer a service to readers that entails helping them make a decision on whether the product is good and worth spending money on.

If you want to produce good quality and helpful product reviews, you need to write them honestly and in the right way. But how do you do that?

Here are a few helpful tips.

 

1. Be knowledgeable about the product.

 

In order to provide a good review, you need to know the product inside out and backwards. Understand what the product purports to do, its features, its pros and cons, and what you liked and did not like about it. This means you need to use it!

You cannot simply look at the marketing material and come up with your opinions from there. Use the product for a good length of time before you write your review.

Also, do any necessary research to ensure you do not make mistakes on aspects of the product.

 

2. Think about your readers when you are writing.

 

Know your readership and be clear on who your audience is.

Who are you addressing? What are his or her needs? What would he or she want to get from this product? How might this product be useful to him or her?

Remember that the reader is who you are trying to help. Do not concentrate too much on yourself, the vendor, or anyone else more than the reader. Your readers are looking up to you for honest help on where to spend their money. Give them the help they want.

 

3. Make sure your grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct.

 

Always ensure that you are providing your readers with quality writing. Write well. No one wants to read a poorly written review.

A poorly written review discredits you in the eyes of readers. If you can hardly spell or construct a sentence, why should your readers put any stock in what you say?

So be sure to use proper spelling, grammar and punctuation. It will help to build the credibility of your text and message.

 

4. Personalize your review.

 

Again, this means you have to actually use the product. Let your readers know how the product worked within the context of your life and your family.

How did it fit into your usual routine? Did it make things easier or more difficult? Were the pros and cons of the product related to the product itself or to how it fit into your lifestyle?

You cannot provide these details unless you have used the product.

 

5. Do not be overly negative.

 

No one likes to read reviews that consist entirely of the writer bashing the product vendor or manufacturer. Too much bashing can discredit your opinions.

Be as balanced as possible in your review. Provide both the good and bad aspects of the product. If there was something that you did not like about the product or that did not work for you, consider providing alternative ideas that you think can make the product better.

Showing that you have thought about the issue or challenge at hand and what could solve it proves that you are not just saying negative things just for the sake of saying them. This helps to validate your review and gives it more credibility.

 

6. Do not be unnecessarily positive, either.

 

A good review does not mean that it has to be a positive one. A good review means that it is helpful. It means that it gives the reader accurate information that helps them better decide whether to spend their money on the product in question.

Do not give glowing, positive review just for the sake of being positive simply because the vendor was nice to you or because you do not want to make anyone angry. Just be honest in your review, or don't write the review at all. That is what marks a great review.

 

7. Invite conversation about the product and your review of it.

 

Finally, include a call to action at the end of your review that encourages your readers to contact you if they have any questions, concerns, or simply want to share their opinions about the product or your review of it.

Opening yourself up for feedback and conversations with other consumers shows that you have nothing to hide and that you have been honest with everyone.

When people contact you, respond in a kind and professional manner. Demonstrate that you are sincere and profession, and more people will love to read your reviews.

Conclusion

The takeaway for writing quality product reviews: Be honest, balanced, and knowledgeable in your reviews and you will succeed.

If you want to make a career out of writing product reviews, do not shy away from pitching your reviews service to different vendors. Many times vendors will not approach you out of the blue and ask you to review their product. You have to go to them and inform them of your services.

Before appraching top tier venders, build up a portfolio of reviews that you have done for different products that you already use. Showcase your reviews portfolio to interessted venders and potential clients. Educate all of them the benefits of good reviews online.

Determine what your review can do for each particular vendor and approach them with an appropriate pitch. The worst that can happen is they say no to your pitch.

All in all, you'll benefit from writing great reviews as you'll be offering a useful service helping customers make informed buying decisions with your reviews.


Lena Paul is an MBA graduate and holds a leadership position with Sigma Research.