Writing Product Reviews

Many article websites, including Associated Content, Reviewstream and Ideamarketers, include product reviews. But how to write a product review? What are some of the guidelines that you need to follow to write an effective product review.

Almost any product can be reviewed, from foods to books to satellite TVs. Almost any new product can be reviewed. You can also review classical products. Again, how do you write such a review.

There are many articles on writing book reviews and the guidelines for such a review. But, again, how do you review a product, and any product?

Reviews have to be well-written, they have to express your opinion, they have to be pertinent, and they have to be effective.

What is the purpose of a product review? Usually a product review is to rate the quality of a product, how does it compare with other products--or is it an original product?--and whether or not people should buy the product? What are the virtues of the product? What are the flaws of the product?

There are many types of reviewers. You have the review of the so-called general public and members of the general public, and you also have what are called professional reviews by the so-called experts. Sometimes they have similar opinions and sometimes they have differing opinions.

Usually you don't consider people "products," nevertheless the popular show American Idols serves as an example. You have the so-called experts--Randy, Paula, and Simon--reviewing the various candidates for the Americal Idol. Many times they differ. You can pretty much tell how they differ in their opinions. Sometimes they agree. However, they also allow the audience, the general American public to vote. Sometimes they agree with the so-called experts. Sometimes they put forward someone who the experts are amazed at those the general American public selects as their American idol. Sometimes they agree on the same American Idol. Sometimes they disagree.

Certainly, again, human beings are not products. But this American Idol is metaphor for reviewing products.

What are the products that we can review?

What is a review? A review is simply an evaluation of a product.

There are many methods that you can use. You can for example contrast and compare with other products.

For example, if there is a new food on the market. Contrast and compare with other foods of the same variety.

Also, what are you personally looking for in foods?

For example, if you believe in healthy foods. Then this is going to contribute to your evaluation of foods.

Suppose you have to review fast foods, but you believe personally in healthy foods. Then your belief in healthy foods is going to "color" your review. Maybe this is the tastiest food you've ever eaten. Great taste. The best taste. Nevertheless, if you personally believe in healthy foods, you're going to find out the ingredients of that great tasting food. Once you find out the ingredients, even though you tell the readers--if you're writing for a magazine, for example, or an ezine--that even though this is the best-tasting fast food on the market, nevertheless the ingredients make it so you can not recommend this food, unless in small quantities, mixed with healthier items. You would also recommend that the manufacturer of the food item try to get the same great taste using healthier ingredients. You might even recommend those healthier ingredients as substitutes.

For example, there's a new soda on the market that now advertises all natural ingredients rather than the previous artificial ingredients. This is certainly commendable, and any reviewer reviewing this new soda would certainly have to compare the taste with the previous version. Is it indeed better flavor along with healthier. If so. Bravo for this new soda. The reviewer might then recommend this new soda to all the other soda. However, the review nevertheless must find out what they mean by "natural." Are the ingredients truly "natural" or is this just a market ploy like with some of these products. What does the manufacturer mean by "natural"?

Esther Schindler, a professional product reviewer, in her article How to Write a Product Review, states the most important thing for a product reviewer is the reviewer attitude. To quote, "The most important component in a writer's toolbox is her attitude. At all times, you need to keep in mind that you're writing for the reader. Not for yourself. Not for the vendor. Not for the editor..... It's your job to give that reader the most useful advice you can, based on your expertise in the subject area, a thorough understanding of the reader's needs, and how well this product serves those needs."

Schindler goes on to say that a common mistake of novice reviewers is to think that the reader is the same as "me." This is an important point. "This process isn't about your needs. It's about your readers' needs."