Tips on Providing Reviews
By PChip | Category: Business Management, Writing Tips |I sat down this morning to write my business tip for the 30-Day Challenge. My subject was on writing reviews and how they may help you in your business. As I typed, my thoughts changed from my initial approach to, offering various do’s and don’ts one might consider when writing them. I wound up having several tips to share instead of just one.
> When you as a business owner, review a product or a service you are giving your thumbs up or thumbs down on it. Your reputation is now attached to the reputation of the product/service your are reviewing. Keep this in mind when choosing what to review.
> Presenting reviews at your website and/or in your newsletters, is a great way to share your knowledge with the visitors who stop into your little corner of the world. It shows your expertise and helps others find great resources for their own uses as well.
> If the product or service you are reviewing offers an affiliate program - join that program before writing your review and then link your readers to the site through your affiliate link. It never hurts to have that bit of extra income coming your way!
> Don’t limit your reviews to only scrapbook related products. However, make sure your reviews have something to do with the subject of your medium. If your newsletter doesn’t have anything at all to do with cars, then you probably don’t want to do a review on the XYZ tire company.
> Don’t limit your reviews to products only. If you find a great website that would be helpful to your audience, be sure to tell them your opinion of it. Found a service that might be helpful to your customers? Then let them in on the scoop.
> Be honest in your reviews. To keep honest with your viewers point out the good, bad, and the indifferent when writing reviews. To give a glowing review when you really have some issues about the product, is just plain dishonest. Once you’ve earned your viewers trust, don’t blow it over such a little thing.
> If you are doing a paid review, let your viewers know up front that’s the case and/or NEVER agree to give a totally positive review of something before you’ve actually tested it for yourself.
> If your website lends itself to pages or columns, consider adding a list of products/services you use. Let them know what services and products you recommend. Tell them about books you have found helpful. For example, in the far right corner of this page is a column of products and services I highly recommend. I also have a Recommended Resources page for my visitors to see. If your customers are looking to you for guidance, suggestions, recommendation, and your opinion on something - don’t disappoint them.
A Few Ideas for Reviews at your Site:
– Software products for designing digi-art
– Websites related to anything in the scrapbooking industry
– Resources for digi-scrap tutorials and training products
– Books, magazines and e-pubs you’ve read
– Web-services your readers might be interested in
Today’s Mini-Tasker is…. yep, you guessed it! Write a review of something for your readers, or give us a mini-review in the comments section of this posting.
>>> Since I offered more than one tip today, it only makes sense for me to offer two mini-taskers as well. So here’s another: If you write a review and you want to grab some extra web-traffic and exposure to your site, be sure to join the DSD-Pro September blog carnival. Our carnival edition this go around is about this very subject - - products and services you recommend, and have reviewed! ;)
Yeah - I know… it’s a shameful plug to get some more carnival participants. I just couldn’t help myself. My marketing advisor would be terribly disappointed in me if I didn’t take advantage of the moment. ROFLOL
>>> One more plug, and then I’m finished. We are always looking for folks willing to participate in our weekend business reviews. Since this is a new area of our website, we have plenty of subjects open for guest writers, and you know we are always willing to share some link love with the folks who write with us. Let me know if you have a website, product, or service you would like us to review here at DSD-Professionals.
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Tip for Day 4: Would a rose by any other name smell so sweet? Choosing a name for your business can be a tricky task. Once chosen and marketed, you will have invested time and money in the brand you have created, so try to pick something that you can live with long term. Try to keep it short and snappy and also related to the business you are in.
“Bill’n'Marie International Trading” is a style I’ve seen often in the local business listings and it just doesn’t ring true. Why would anyone chose to visit their website? They could be selling anything. Would a true international company be named after Bill and Marie?
Think about your market too - who are your customers? - what would they understand?
We picked “Aardvark Scrapbooking” for several reasons - one is that starting with “Aa”, it will always appear at the top of any list of companies, and people often start their searches at the top. An aardvark is also a cuddly, little, unique animal ideal for a logo which we hope appeals to our core demographic audience - memorable, too. And of course “Scrapbooking” lets people know what market we are involved in.
It’s almost certainly not the best, but we feel it reflects the character of our business. We are comfortable with it and that counts for a lot when committing to a brand.
Tip: When developing your website, keep in mind that not everyone has high speed internet. Make sure you put in an alternative for people to skip animation or long intros and get to the “meat” of your product, purpose, or service.
I think this is a great idea. In fact Monday nite I sat down and tried to designate certain activites for each day of the week so my blog would have more of a focus. Well I choose Wednesday as my product and tool review day so heres a link for you
http://rachelclarkdesigns.blogspot.com/2007/09/product-review-virtual-photographer.html
Thanks so much for doing this challenge. It has been a great learning experience!
WTG with setting up a weekly date to review toys and tools for your viewers. I’m sure your blog visitors will appreciate it.
I know I learned something new when I checked out your review. Thanx Rachel!