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How to be a Better Review Blogger

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I’m a review blogger, but I hate reading other review blogs.  It makes me frustrated.

Perhaps the swag and big dreams is the lure. The idea of getting free stuff (which is really anything but free) and trying to build up traffic has gotten in the way of providing the service that all review blogs should be providing to readers.  It is our readers that we should be building our blogs around.

How to be a better review blogger

Please consider these tips that will help you stand out and keep me from pulling my hair out when I read your blog.

Include photos you’ve personally taken. Avoid using only stock images.

This is my number one complaint. You can take a picture of almost anything and provide great value to a reader as long as the picture is large enough so it can really be seen.

As a reader I want to see how clothes fit. I want to know what that fabric really looks like close up and how it drapes on the body. And I want to see it on a real body, not some airbrushed model.  I want your pictures, and not just those taken by professionals for websites to make a product look perfect. I want to see it in use. I want to feel what it would be like to own it. Don’t just tell me, show me!

Why should you care?

It gives a review credibility. It shows that you really did use it. It gives a better understanding of the product that you just can’t get with words alone. It draws me as a reader in and makes me care about what you are saying. Isn’t that the whole point?

Be thorough and honest in your review.

Please don’t use one or two lines of generic text about what you think of the product and call it a review. If you can’t take the time to create at least a full paragraph sharing your thoughts, you aren’t providing a service to your readers.

If you don’t like something about the product don’t be afraid to say.  Just try to keep your criticism constructive and professional.

Why should you care?

Again, it goes back to credibility and giving something to your readers, not to mention earns respect. If you can’t be specific, I don’t know if I can believe a word you are saying. And as a sponsor, I’m not going to be thrilled with the effort. Perhaps I won’t come back to you next time I’d like a review for another brand I represent or another product in my line.

Keep the amount of entries for giveaways within reason.

I enjoy giving my readers additional chances  and it is a win for all parties involved.  However, it should be within reason. Five entries for every single extra entry adds up fast.  Creating even ten different comments for each extra entry is very annoying, even to the entrant willing to take the time to do it.

Also reconsider giving many entries for voting in some contest that you are desperate to win. It not only cheapens whatever contest you are up for, it makes for an extremely lopsided giveaway. If an entrant passes on that entry they’ve greatly limited their chances to win, and it almost seems like you are “buying” votes.

Why should you care?

You don’t want to annoy your readers and turn lots of people off to the contest. And while you might get more entries and inflate your numbers, at a certain point you will turn people away. Sponsors may not appreciate you using their giveaway in such a way.

Create an easy to read and inviting blog.

This means avoiding extremely busy backgrounds, crazy colors and hard to read fonts.  Keep your sidebars as uncluttered and least distracting as possible. And definitely stay away from music on your blog.

Why should you care?

While some readers may appreciate it, you still need to appeal to the majority and frankly, the majority won’t. I don’t care how good your taste in music, it can be startling and annoying to find the mute button. Many readers will immediately close your page. And if it is hard on the eyes or takes forever to load, most visitors won’t come back.

I don’t consider myself a perfect blogger by any stretch. I do work hard to put out quality posts and I like to think it gets noticed. Sometimes it can be frustrating to see other bloggers who seem to have great success yet constantly publish bare minimum posts. Maybe I could too if I just didn’t care about my quality over quantity philosophy. Aw, shucks.

My advice:

There will always be sponsors who care about numbers alone, but many people  notice when you take the time to write a thoughtful review. When you put your readers before what benefits you, your blog will blossom. Some day that hard work will start to pay off. You’ll notice that sponsors will keep coming back to you, because they know you do quality work. You’ll build relationships with reps who are thrilled with the service you’ve provided. Other potential partnerships will open up because no matter what post a visitor clicks on, it will reflect what you can do for brands.

And most of all, your loyal readers (and that random person searching for a review on Google) will thank you.

About Emilie

Emilie is a Minnesota mom of three boys ages 13, 12 and 8. She loves to share recipes and crafts along with stories about parenting and travel. Favorite activities include watching football, reading, cuddling with kids and spending time in the kitchen. Not a fan of laundry, nagging, or drama. Join her here and on her dessert blog, ohmysugarhigh.com where she shares her love of baking!

Comments

  1. Jenn says

    Thanks for the good advice. And you are right about free products being anything but free. Oh the time that goes into a single review from start to finish!

    Reply

  2. Shelly says

    Emilie, I agree with you 110% on everything you stated since I am also a review blogger. I wanted to add a few things! I see a few other bloggers making 10+ review and giveaway posts a day and I personally feel that is way too many. Readers can not keep up with 10+ giveaway posts a day and I certainly can not see how those reviewers are adequately reviewing and using products if they are posting 10+ a day! geesh. I also gripe about review blog’s loading time. Way too many bloggers are junking up their blogs with too much fancy dancy stuff and readers are getting 4+ minute page loads which is a HUGE turn off. I know I personally will not sit and wait for 4 minute page loads and I certainly wouldn’t wait for 4 minutes between entering each entry into a giveaway aka comments. I also do not like seeing review bloggers bashing other review bloggers by name or by blog name on their blogs…I feel that is unprofessional to say the least.

    Reply

    • Emilie says

      Great points! I laugh because I could have easily kept going (and going) with this post but realized when I hit over 1k words I was going to have to trim it down! 🙂

      Reply

  3. Shelly says

    I forgot to add a big one! I also think it’s unprofessional for review bloggers to email a giveaway sponsor from another review bloggers blog and tell them the following “My blog is bigger, better and gets more traffic, would you consider sponsoring a giveaway on my blog because I will do a better job than XYZ’s blog”. That totally irks me!

    Reply

  4. Shelly says

    You bet they do! I had 3 sponsors email me copies of another blogger’s emails to them as they also thought it was unprofessional. I then emailed this blogger and confronted her and told her she is not welcomed at our blog again and to knock it off as it’s unprofessional and our sponsors reported it to us, etc. She still comes to our blog…but I haven’t gotten any more emails from sponsors about her emailing them. I was told that she still does it but does it to other bloggers now. She happens to be the same one who posts 10+ giveaways a day LOL

    Reply

    • Melanie says

      Wow…the nerve people have…and what do they get out of this in the end.?.?? I never tell a company. Who gave me their contact unless I get specific instruction, after all we all are like family and have/should respect each other….just my 2cents….great post…..

      Reply

  6. Maria says

    This is a great post! What you said last is so true. I’ve been passed up for blogs with bigger #s, who may not have great content or reviews. I think that’s the sponsor’s loss!

    Reply

  8. Chacoy says

    Thanks for the info, it will help a lot of us who wonder what we could be doing wrong or better.
    It’s great to know what not only sponosors but other bloggers and readers think;}
    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  13. Rachel R. says

    Thanks for this post. I’m trying to be better at posting my own photos – if it’s objects I can do it alone, if it’s stuff I’m wearing then I have to enlist my husband’s help and we both work full-time opposite schedules. I also worry about people seeing my clutter laying around in the background 🙂

    I agree with many of your points and see some room for improvement on my own blog. If you don’t mind, I’m going to link to your post in a scheduled post I have for tomorrow.

    Reply

  14. Annie @ Mama Dweeb says

    Awesome advice Emilie! I agree about the photos. If I use stock photos I explain why in my post. For example, I was given a shopping cart cover to review. But I am not going to use it for another 3 months when baby girl will be big enough to sit up and the company wanted a post NOW. So their problem.

    I have not been to your blog in FOREVER. I love how clean your layout is now! Going to go browse around! Take care!

    Reply

  16. Marina says

    Great advice! You should have this post as a sticky so every visitor gets to read it! Thanks so much for putting this into a post.

    Reply

  18. blueviolet @ A Nut in a Nutshell says

    This is fantastic, Emilie. My absolute number one thing is yours too. I just don’t give weight to a review that doesn’t have personal pics. Now on occasion, the product is such that you can’t and I understand that, but for the most part…they need to be included!

    Reply

  19. LeeAnn says

    Great post Emilie! You are one of my favorite review bloggers, and one that inspired me to get started in product reviews. I totally agree with everything you said!

    I can’t tell you how many times I have been turned down by a company because I still have a GPR of 0. I have no idea why that is the case, but that’s a different gripe for a different day. Anyway, it frustrates me to no end to see reviews of the very product I was denied for that are horribly written. I once saw one for a $300 Britax car seat that had no personal pictures! But some companies just want their SEO links, and don’t really care about the review itself. I was recently contacted by a company to be one of 5 bloggers to review a brand new product because they liked a previous review I did for them. Finally! Someone actually noticed and appreciated my hard work.

    Keep on doing what you’re doing, because you’re awesome at it!

    Reply

    • Emilie says

      Aw, LeeAnn. You are so sweet and totally made my day with your comment.

      And yes, I completely understand your frustration. I can’t figure Google PR out either. My other blog OMSH has been around for over 6 months and has amazing traffic (Often times higher than this blog) But it too is a PR 0. It has higher ranking sites linking to it. I remember when BLM was out within 2 months of blogging I went from a 0 immediately to a 2 and then a 3 shortly thereafter.

      I would say keep your chin up. I’ve gotten to work with amazing brands like KitchenAid because of the way I think. I know I’m Wilton Mom Ambassador because of this as well and my relationship with them thrills me to no end. It will be the same for you, I’m sure! It just sometimes takes a little longer to see the fruits of our labor. 🙂

      Reply

  20. Melissa R says

    This is such a great post. I am still new to reviews and giveaways and am definitely taking these into account! I always try to use photos along with sponsor photos ; ) I asked for feedback on my blog from my readers and took my music off!! I am still in the process of cleaning it up… making pages and reader friendly!! It’s a shame that some bloggers feel the need to be so competitive in such a negative manner!! We should all try to support one another we have the same goals!! I am a new follwer & subscriber : ) Thanks again for the info.

    Reply

  21. Goober Monkey says

    Great post. I totally agree times a MILLION about reviews/giveaways that only use stock photos. Not only does it turn me off from entering (how do I know if you’ve actually used the item?), but it just equals laziness in my book.

    Reply

  22. Brandy says

    I’m not a review blogger but find it absolutely required when reading them that they have photos of actual usage. Good quality at that. I won’t read unless they’re present.

    Reply

  23. ohkeeka says

    I’m going to pile on with the positive feedback here–awesome post! As a new blogger (not strictly for reviews, though), I do find myself getting frustrated when I see people who do such a poor job reviewing getting so many products to write about. I actually do read product reviews to learn about things I might want to buy and I have no interest in reading one that consists of stock photos and info copied from the company’s website, with some general, “I liked this” sentiment tacked on at the end.

    And yes, a blog that is READABLE and USABLE is so important too! If my browser crashes when I go to your blog because it’s so loaded with junk, you can bet I will never be back!

    Reply

  24. Colleen Shibley says

    Good post. I do use my own photos but a also use their stock photos as well. However one thing I do have different then a lot of people is color on my blog. I do have stripes in my background and it is the ONE thing that I refuse to change no matter how many times I read that white is the way to go and that lots of color is too much. However I’m also basing my decisions on the compliments that I get on my design.

    One thing I do hate is an impersonal review. Like LeeAnn said above I HATE seeing a review for something where a photo was slapped up and some information pulled from a website, and to top it off it is a high traffic blog so they got the review that I was passed up for. Even though I hate to see it I ignore it and go on about my day doing what I think is best.

    I do have a hard time though when I don’t care for something or I don’t really want to recommend it. How do you do it in a way that doesn’t piss of the company that gave you the product yet still give your honest opinion? That is what is really tough for me. I’m an all smiles and everything is rosey type of person LOL.

    Reply

    • Emilie says

      If I can’t say ANYTHING nice about a product (this has happened to me twice) I let the sponsor know my thoughts upfront and they asked me to simply not post a review. Since they were the ones asking for a review in the first place I didn’t feel bad for not writing about it. For everything else it just depends why you don’t like it. I would start by saying what you do like about it and then suggest ways you think it could be improved. This can be great feedback for the sponsor and they may appreciate it. Sometimes something might not be for ME but that doesn’t mean I don’t think it would be good for someone else. For example, maybe a piece of clothing was unflattering for my body type but would look great on someone else. In that case I would say something like “while the look wasn’t flattering for me because of abc, it would look better on someone who is xyz” Whatever the case may be. I once tried a natural/organic peanut butter (the refrigerated kind) that actually made me gag. Nobody in my family liked it. But obviously some people like that kind of PB . I might have said that my traditional peanut butter loving self couldn’t get used to the difference in flavor and texture but if you already know you enjoy that type, this might be perfect for you. Then go on to explain the benefits of that kind of peanut butter. Nobody is going to like everything. Just try your best to be both honest for the reader and constructive to the sponsor. HTH!

      Reply

  25. Grace says

    This of course is a great post. I’m fairly new at blogging and I always used Stock Photos thinking they were more professional than my crazy personal photos. I am glad that you explained that because now I see it differently. The other issue I have is that I do not have a lot of self confidence so I hate pics of myself. I’m working on that though and starting to incorporate my own photos in my review.Thanks for the great advice.

    Reply

  26. Cat @ 3 Kids and Us says

    Lots of really great tips that I definitely agree with. My personal reviewer pet peeve is the ones that are “reviewing” products they haven’t even used … like baby products when they have no baby.

    I really love reading reviews with personal photos but even more when it’s shown in a video.

    Reply

    • Emilie says

      I like video but it really depends upon what it is. Some things are so beneficial to see it in action such as appliances. But some videos can get a bit long and lose my interest. I think if you do a video it is always great to include information and photos in your post so that if a reader elects not to watch the video they can still learn about the product.

      (I’m strictly talking reviews only here. I love fun videos that allow me to get to know the blogger)

      As far as reviews they actually can perform, I do agree with you and find it frustrating as well but I do think there are exceptions.

      IMO it depends on why they are writing post and if the products needs to really be tested. Perhaps a company wants to get information out about a new baby product but you don’t want to endorse something you haven’t seen or you are considering it compensation for your time to blog it. The product is sent to you but you have no baby and no way to do a proper review. In that case I think the blogger should just refrain from calling it a review, regardless if they got the product or not. (of course they need to disclose) They might include a couple of observations of the product they received and I think it is fine as long as they don’t label the post a review and the sponsor is aware. But some baby products like a blanket wouldn’t necessarily require someone to have a baby. You should be taking it out of the package to feel/washing it/taking pics, etc however. I think with everything it is a judgment call.

      Reply

      • Shop with Me Mama says

        I agree with it all. Great post Emilie. I always enjoy coming to your blog when I can. As for the baby items, I do not have a baby right now, but like Emilie said, the company offered it to me for a post and I will do it. I HOPEFULLY will be pregnant again soon, and will use those items. I see it as payment for my hard work and post. I do take personal pictures of my kids using them, if they can, but it is not really a review persay. I try and use personal pictures in everything I do. Sometimes with pictures of me wearing clothes, it is harder to do. I can either take a picture of myself wearing it in the mirror, like I have, or have my little kids take the pictures. My husband works too much and is never home when I do my reviews. I will try harder though on this as I realize the importance of seeing the clothes on someone real! Great post and thank you for the great advice!!

        Reply

  27. Andrea (Lil-Kid-Things) says

    Excellent advice! I agree completely, especially on the number of entries. I have done 1 entry and multiple entries. While it is nice to have more comments, I always feel a little strange about putting the extra entries in there.

    Reply

  29. Crystal W says

    Awesome tips you should make this a sticky (is that the right term?) I do love entering the giveaways but I actually read the reviews and am amazed at how many aren’t very thorough or at how many are such “raving” reviews. I think I’ve read maybe 3 or 4 reviews in which the blogger didn’t like the product (out of hundreds and hundred! seems so farfetched). And I don’t think a negative review would “turn me off” a product if it was a matter of personal opinion, like the reviewer didn’t like the scent or something of a product. BUT it would make me trust the reviewer much much more and I would be more likely to buy the product…and I would visit the blog more than most because I could rely on an honest review. I realize some bloggers are waist deep in reviews to cover but sometimes quality of reviews is better than quantity (as far as respectability goes). I honestly don’t know how you all keep up with them at all! And I agree about keeping the entries low …seems the ones that have like 5 entries for each thing you do (like tweeting or following them) are only trying to “pad” their entries for the companies..therefore I think they’re only catering to the companies not their readers because even thought it’s awesome we get to enter it does take TIME to do so! I respect the blogges who don’t pad their entries so much more (and I have time to actually look around their blogs and read non-giveaway things!)
    Great points..I’ll quit my preaching! Thanks for bringing this up!

    Reply

  30. Terra Heck says

    Very well-written and right on the money! I’m positive there’s always room for improvement in what I do as far as reviews and giveaways, but there are a few blogs that seem to get everything under the sun and, in turn, they churn out shoddy reviews. I have extra entries on all of my giveaways, but most only get one extra for that particular entry. I don’t like entering giveaways where I get +5 extra entries for things like being an email subscriber. It takes up too much time to enter them. And in reality, it makes it seem that it’s just padding the numbers for the sponsors.

    Reply

  32. DanielleCorrelle says

    This is excellent. Thank you! 🙂 I’m just getting started, so this was very helpful. I do try to take my own photos. I also post a bit about the company before I post my review and now I’m wondering if I shouldn’t do that? I don’t want it to seem as though I’m just pulling everything from their websites.

    Reply

  34. Tiffany says

    I couldn’t agree more. I get frustrated to see a copied and pasted press release on a “review” You are a great example of how review blogging should be, and I definitely appreciate good pictures and an honest, detailed review. Thanks for the great tips!

    Reply

  36. Tara says

    Thank you for this post! I’m just starting out as well, and while I don’t plan to exclusively do reviews, I hope to do some. These tips are really helpful!

    Reply

  37. Meagan @ Sunshine and Sippy Cups says

    Thank you so much for this post! I am a brand new blogger, only a couple weeks now. I have followed quite a few blogs for a while, and have noticed what a difference in quality there is in the review out there.

    I totally agree with you about using your own photos… Also, take a bit of time to edit the photos and make them look nice. I don’t expect every blog to have professional level photography, but there are a ton of free editing programs you can use to at least crop and filter. This might be what scares people, and leads them to use the stock photos… They don’t know how to get a good enough photo. But to me, if you want to review products, part of your job is to learn how to showcase them well! And learning to take great pics takes a little bit of work, but anyone can learn how.

    I’d much rather read a review with “good enough”, but real, pics, than read a review with stock photos! 🙂

    Reply

  38. Ceira says

    This blog was very interesting, there is so much more than the eye first see to blogging. I am new to this and find it all very entertaining! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  39. Sydney says

    What a great article. I stumbled here and this post teaser caught my eye on the homepage. I’m going to be sticking around now. (I wasn’t originally since I don’t have kids).

    Reply

  40. Tazim says

    I used to have a not-great camera and hated the pictures that came from it. My apartment is also very dark (and I live in a city where there is practically zero sunshine!) so my pictures weren’t great – but I recently got a new camera (well, in November) and went back and edited my old pictures with new/better ones. I actually get a lot of traffic from my reviews because I feel like they are really thorough. I am not a review blogger, but do reviews for quality products that I know work with my blog. I blog about art, home décor and design, and also kitchen products – so only do reviews for these types of things. I’ve been really lucky and have gotten some great products to review and good response from PR people – which makes me feel like I am doing the review well!

    Like you, I hate when people don’t write much about the product. I can get simple sentences about the product from the website or on amazon, but a personal, thoughtful review is harder to find! I always try to think about what information I would like to have when I am reading a review and I include that. I just got a photo box to take really great professional photos of the stuff I review. I use it for my own products I sell, too – but I see it as an investment in my blog.

    Reply

  42. Lynda C says

    I think that you offer sage advice to other bloggers out there and to those wanting to blog. I don’t blog, but I am a reader and I have actually deleted blogs because they were difficult to manipulate through and their content was not useful. I really enjoying your blog and love your contests.
    [email protected]

    Reply

  43. Tonya H says

    I just came across this and I am glad you have this on here. As a new blogger I like to be informed of ways to make it better

    Reply

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