Product review blogging can be an immensely profitable online business model and enables you to build up a loyal community of readers who trust your opinion and are interested in purchasing the products you review.
If you want to get started with product review blogging, this guide will help you begin product review blogging correctly to build up your audience, keep them interested, and make money.
What Is a Review Blog?
A review blog is essentially an online journal that reviews products, services, or events.
For example, if you’re interested in reviewing fitness trackers and smartwatches, your site will be dedicated to just that.
This niche is excellent for people who love technology and want to share their opinions with others.
You can also choose to write about food, fashion, home goods, travel destinations, etc.
It all depends on what you’re most passionate about.
In this niche, you’ll oftentimes find websites monetizing their audience using the Amazon affiliate program.
What Is a Product Review Blogger?
A product review blogger is someone who writes reviews on products.
These can be reviews of new products or reviews of products already on the market.
The purpose of these reviews is to help readers make an informed decision about whether or not they want to purchase a particular product.
In some cases, companies may even ask you if you would like to test out their new products and write about your experience with them.
This will usually come with compensation for your time and effort in reviewing their product.
This is usually simply referred to as “affiliate marketing“.
These reviews are often coupled with video and images of said product, giving their audience an up-close-and-personal look at what they can expect when it arrives.
Product review bloggers typically specialize in one category or brand, so you’ll need to focus your interests if you want to succeed in a crowded market.
What You Need for a Product Review Blog
There are different types of blogs, each with a list of essentials that you’ll need to get your business started successfully.
Let’s discuss and outline some of the essential tools and how they can help you build and maintain your review website.
1. Decide On and Pick a Niche
It would be best if you had an audience that shares your passion.
That means picking a niche that you’re interested in and know well.
If you decide to write product reviews, it makes sense to pick a specific category or type of product to review.
For example, if you love shoes, then writing product reviews on shoes will be easier than trying to cover everything from apparel to electronics.
It also gives you a better chance at standing out from other bloggers who might be covering similar products.
When you’ve decided on your topic, start building up your knowledge base by reading blogs related to your chosen subject or industry and any books or magazines related to them.
2. Start a Blog
Starting a site will help you learn more about web design, build up your writing portfolio, and develop contacts in your industry or community.
Learning how to start a blog is an entire post in itself, but the steps below will give you a general idea of what is involved.
Choose a Domain Name
Your domain should be easy to remember and type into a browser.
It should also include keywords related to what you do so that people searching for information on those topics will find you easily online.
Use your name or something catchy that describes what you do.
Once you’ve registered your domain name with a company like GoDaddy, the best part is that you can point it at any hosting service.
Choose a Blogging Platform
Choosing the right blogging platform can be an essential step in your blogging career, as it can help you optimize and brand your content.
There are many free blogging sites, but we suggest you put down the money to invest in your blog and get off on the right footing from the start.
WordPress
WordPress is an open-source platform with everything you need to create a professional website.
WordPress makes it easy to get started and customize your site with everything from basic templates to CSS edits if you’re new to blogging.
Square Space
Square Space is one of the best platforms for new bloggers.
It’s easy to use, has great templates, and can easily create pages.
It’s also mobile-friendly, so your readers can view your content on their phones and tablets.
Blogger
Blogger is Google’s blogging platform.
It has everything you need to create an awesome-looking site, plus many great features like built-in advertising, video hosting, custom templates, and more.
Choose a Web Host
Choosing a web host is crucial to starting your product review website.
If you plan to run an authoritative site, you want visitors to trust your reviews and buy the products you recommend.
An excellent hosting company will provide more than just space on their servers; they should also offer support with setup and maintenance and data backups in case something happens to your site.
In addition, most hosts offer great features like automatic software updates.
The most trusted brands in web hosting include HostGator, Bluehost, GoDaddy, and iPage.
However, if you’re starting a WordPress blog, we suggest you look into the best WordPress hosting, as it will save you time and headache in the long run.
Set Up a Web Host Account
Once you select a web host, you’ll need to open and set up a web host account.
The process is usually straightforward, with your chosen provider requesting that you provide your contact information, billing information, the domain name, desired to host package, and verification details.
Design the Blog
Once you’ve picked out your template, create an appealing design, while ensuring that you don’t fall into the category of “bad website design“.
Take time to arrange your features, such as the about page, testimonials, and CTA buttons, into a compelling layout that will encourage visitors to stay on your site.
Secure the Blog
Online safety is critical when you’re running a product review site.
As part of your security strategy, make sure that you host your website on a secure server and use HTTPS encryption.
Consider investing in security software to help protect your passwords from hackers and other threats.
If you run into trouble with malware or viruses, contact an IT professional for assistance.
3. Create Content
Once you’ve secured your domain name and found hosting space, it’s time to create an online presence that helps readers quickly find what they are looking for.
It may be in the form of an About page section on your website.
It may also be a welcome email to new subscribers with details about who you are and why they should follow your site.
4. Choose a Review Format
Reviews are inherently subjective, but a few formats often organize and break down your evaluation.
First is expert reviews, where you get to give your informed opinion on whether or not you liked or disliked something.
The second is comparative reviews, where you compare two similar products against each other,
The third is user reviews.
As the name suggests, user reviews consist of testimonials from users who have tried out whatever product it is you’re reviewing.
The format you choose will depend mainly on what kind of experience you want to provide your readers with and how much time and effort you want to write up your review.
Read More: How To Write Product Reviews [The Right Way]
Where to Get Products to Review and Make Money Blogging
If you want to be successful in the blogging world, you need to find products to review that people want to hear about.
1. Affiliate Networks
An affiliate network is a service that allows you to earn commissions when someone clicks on an affiliate link and makes a purchase using your referral code.
Some of these networks will have different ways for you to promote products, such as banner ads or text links.
The best thing about affiliate networks is that they provide targeted traffic from people already interested in specific products.
Learn More: The best affiliate programs for bloggers
2. Blogger Networks
Blogger networks and influencer marketplaces give creators access to products they can review.
These platforms connect bloggers with brands looking for exposure.
After signing up, you’ll be able to search for brands, products, or campaigns that fit your needs.
You’ll be matched with products in your field of expertise and receive free products for your honest opinion.
Many companies will even cover shipping costs.
While these relationships often take a while to develop, they are worth it if they remain fair.
3. Product Review Sites
Dedicated product review sites are a great place to start if you’re looking for products to review.
They do their testing and research, so you can trust that they know what they’re talking about.
In addition to being a good resource for finding products to review, these sites can also be great places to build your audience.
You can reach out directly to site owners with ideas for reviews or even pitch them straight-up sponsored posts.
4. Ad Agencies
Ad agencies specialize in creating advertisements for other companies.
They often get free products from these companies, which they can give away as free samples helping them gain exposure and reach new customers.
Because they already have an established relationship with advertisers, ad agencies are one of your best bets for getting a steady stream of new products to review.
You can reach out to them directly or through an online submission form.
If you have a specific product in mind, include that information in your request.
5. Event Invitations
Product launch events are a great way to get brilliant content on products to review.
As an event invitee, you’ll be able to check out new products first-hand and ask questions of product experts.
Pitch Companies to Test and Review Products
Get in touch with companies you want to work with and ask if they’d be interested in sending you products to test and review.
Be persistent and professional, keeping in mind that a “no” isn’t always an end.
It might just mean they aren’t interested at present.
Things They’ll Check
There are three important things that companies look at when deciding whether or not to accept your request.
1. Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a free web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic.
Some e-commerce sites also use it to track visitor activity better to target their customers with advertisements or product recommendations.
Companies will leverage this data before making any decision about your business.
They want to know if you have enough traffic and if your site converts well for them.
2. Social Media Followers
Your social media following on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, Youtube, etc., is an essential metric for companies because they want to know if you have an audience interested in your content.
If you have a large enough audience on these social media sites, it will be easier for them to reach out to your followers and get them interested in their product.
Related: Monetize your streaming traffic with the Twitch affiliate program
3. Email Subscribers
A robust and engaged email list is an excellent metric for determining your content’s quality.
It’s also a great way to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry.
Companies will be more inclined to work with you if they know you have an established audience who trusts you.
And, of course, having a large subscriber base will make it easier for companies to reach their target market with advertising or sponsored posts.
Frequently Asked Questions
We answer frequently asked questions on product review blogging.
What is an Amazon product review blog?How do I get a blogger to review my product?What is an Amazon product review blog?
An Amazon product review blog focuses on reviewing products sold on Amazon.
Where do you get product reviews?
You can get product reviews on customer and product review sites like Amazon and Trustpilot.
How do I get bloggers to review my products?
To find bloggers interested in reviewing your products, look for blogs that have published similar articles or reviews.
For example, if you sell shoes, you might reach out to a fashion blogger or other shoe-related blogs.
Reach out to them via email or social media.
Wrapping Up
Starting a product review blog and building an audience takes time and effort.
However, it can be very rewarding if you have something unique to say and have patience.
The key is to provide honest and helpful reviews.
It’s also important to know your niche and understand your target audience.
Utilize these useful tips to help you get started with your product review blog.
Good luck!
