Consumers want to make informed purchase decisions, and product review bloggers help them do just that.
If you’re interested in becoming a product review blogger and making money online, this post will walk you through the steps involved, from choosing a niche to monetizing your blog.
Keep reading!
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What Is a Product Review Blog?
A product review blog is a website that provides reviews of products and services. Consumers often use a product review blog when trying to decide which products to buy.
By reading product reviews, they can learn about the pros and cons of different products and make more informed purchasing decisions.
But customers aren’t the only ones checking these blogs. Product owners also do. The businesses behind these products also check these blogs for feedback on their products and services.
Who is a Product Review Blogger?
A product review blogger is someone who writes reviews of products and services online. They often test and evaluate products before writing about them and share their honest and unbiased opinions with their readers.
Product reviews also involve research. A product review blogger compares different options, reads user reviews, and stays informed about industry trends. Then, after selecting the products to review, they start crafting the content.
Recommended reading: Difference between a blogger, a vlogger, and an influencer
What Products Do They Review?
They review products like blogging tools, platforms, electronics, appliances, fashion items, beauty products, books, movies, video games, and more. Their primary goal is to share their opinions and insights about these products with their audience.
For example, I wrote an article on the best WordPress SEO plugins where I reviewed more than 10 plugins. In that article, I share some key features of each plugin and what makes each plugin different from competitors.
How Does a Product Review Blogger Make Money?
Product review bloggers can make money through various ways, like affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and selling their own products.
Let’s look at each of them in detail.
1. Affiliate Marketing - Search for Products to Review
Affiliate marketing is a way to make money by promoting other people’s products or services. You sign up for an affiliate program and then get a unique link to share with your audience. When someone clicks on your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission.
For instance, in my post titled “What is a Responsive WordPress Theme,” I added affiliate links to some of the themes I recommend.
I earn a commission if someone clicks on that link and purchases the theme. Affiliate marketing is the primary way a product review blogger uses to make money.
Recommended reading: Blog vs Article: What’s the Difference?
2. Sponsored Posts - Work with Companies
Sponsored posts are articles written by a blogger in collaboration with a company or advertiser. These posts are “sponsored” because the advertiser pays the product review blogger to feature their product, service, or message within the content.
Sometimes, companies can even ask you to write an entire post about their product, thus making you even more money.
But in other cases, you might be the one to contact these companies to promote their products. They may ask you a few things before deciding to work with you.
Things Companies Will Ask For
1. Google Analytics
Companies want to see how much traffic your blog gets and who your audience is. This information helps them to determine if your blog is a good fit for their product.
You’ll need to get your traffic data on Google Analytics.
2. Social Media Followers
Companies may also want to see the number of social media followers you have. This information helps them determine how much reach you have and how likely potential customers will see your review.
But honestly, most companies don’t care about this since you are a blogger. You focus on blogging, not social media.
3. Email Subscribers
Some companies also want to know your email list size. This is especially necessary if you want to promote their product to your list as well.
3. Sell Your Own Products and Services
Product review bloggers can also make money by selling their own products or services, such as e-books, online courses, or consulting services.
For example, a blogger specializing in reviewing tech products might sell an e-book about choosing the best laptop or smartphone.
What monetization strategy is best for a product review blogger will depend on a number of factors, such as the size and engagement of their audience, the niche they focus on, and their own personal preferences.
How to Become a Product Review Blogger?
Step #1: Select a Niche
Choosing a niche is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a product review blogger. Your niche is the specific area of products or services you’ll focus on reviewing.
It’s important to choose a niche that you’re passionate about and that you have some knowledge of.
1. Consider Your Personal Interests and Expertise
What kind of products do you really like? What topics do you know a lot about? If possible, choose something you’re interested in and know a lot about, so you can write helpful and interesting reviews.
2. Research Market Demand
What products are people searching for online? What are the latest trends? You can use tools like Google Trends and Amazon Best Sellers to research market demand.
3. Consider the Competition
How many other product review blogs are there in your chosen niche? If the competition is too high, it may be difficult to stand out.
4. Choose a Profitable but Narrow Niche
The niche you choose should be broad enough to be profitable, but narrow enough to be focused. For example, instead of reviewing all electronics, you could focus on reviewing smartphones or laptops.
Among the most lucrative and sought-after niches for product reviews are:
- Electronics
- Home and Garden
- Beauty and Fashion
- Health and Fitness
- Food and Beverage
- Parenting
- Travel
- Business and Finance
- Gaming
- Sports
Ultimately, the best niche for you will depend on your personal interests, expertise, and market research. Whether you should select a niche based on your personal interests or market demand is a matter of personal preference.
Some people find success by choosing a niche that they’re passionate about, even if it’s not as popular. Others find success by choosing a niche that is in high demand, even if they’re not as interested in it.
My recommendation is to choose a niche that is a balance of your personal interests and market demand. This will help you create a blog that you enjoy writing for and that will help you succeed.
Step #2: Find a Blog Name
Your blog name is important because it’s the first thing people will see when they find your blog. It should be memorable, relevant to your niche, and easy to type and pronounce.
If you find it difficult to find a blog name, check out my article on the best product review blog names to find good ideas.
1. Use Keywords from Your Niche
Including keywords from your niche in your blog name will enhance its discoverability, as it will match what people search for online, making it easier for your blog to appear in search results. This will help people find your blog easily.
2. Be Creative and Unique
It’s important to create a blog name that stands out from the crowd. Being creative and unique allows your blog to leave a lasting impression and distinguishes it from similar sites in your niche.
3. Keep it Short and Simple
A simple and short blog name is more memorable and user-friendly. Avoid long and complex names that are challenging to remember and type, as simplicity aids in brand recognition.
Below is a list of existing product review blog names and what they specialize in.
- TechCrunch (about technology)
- Engadget (about gadgets)
- The Wirecutter (about product reviews)
- Lifehacker (about productivity and life tips)
- Grow With Results (about AI, project management, and business)
Once you’ve chosen a few blog names that you like, check to see if they’re available as domain names. You can use a domain name registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap to search for domain names and register them.
Step #3: Choose a Blogging Platform
Once you have a blog name, you need to choose a blogging platform. Different blogging platforms are available, such as WordPress, Blogger, and Squarespace.
Each blogging platform has its own advantages and disadvantages. WordPress is the most popular blogging platform and the one I ultimately recommend to you. It offers a wide range of themes, plugins, features, and customization options.
Blogger is a free and easy-to-use blogging platform, but it doesn’t offer as many features as WordPress. Squarespace is a paid blogging platform that offers a variety of stylish templates and easy-to-use features.
But ultimately, I recommend going with WordPress (WordPress.org).
Step #4: Host Your Product Review Blog
Once you’ve chosen a blogging platform, you must host your product review blog. Hosting means making your blog accessible on the internet.
You can use Bluehost for hosting your WordPress website. 3 key points make it one of the best web hosting companies.
1. Affordable
Bluehost offers various pricing plans. Choose a plan that fits your budget and your needs.
2. Storage space
Your hosting provider must also offer a variety of storage space plans. Choose a plan that has enough storage space for your blog files.
3. Uptime
Uptime is the percentage of time during which your blog is available to visitors. Bluehost is a web hosting provider with a good uptime record.
Here is how to host your product review blog with Bluehost:
1. Go to Bluehost, hover over your mouse on WordPress, and click WordPress hosting.
2. Scroll down and choose your plan.
3. On the next page, enter your blog name under “Create a new domain” and click Next.
4. Enter your account information.
5. Verify your pack info and select the Package Extras you need. I recommend keeping at least “Domain Privacy + Protection” checked.
It protects your contact information from marketers, spammers, and unwanted solicitation.
6. Finally, enter your payment information and click Submit.
Bluehost will guide you from here and help you set up your account. But one place needs your attention.
Bluehost will ask you how you’d like to build your WordPress site. Select WordPress. It offers limitless customization, and don’t worry, it’s beginner-friendly.
Step #5: Install a WordPress Theme and Customize Your Blog
Once you’ve hosted your product review blog, you need to customize it. This includes choosing a WordPress theme and creating pages.
A WordPress theme is a tool that helps you customize your product review blog. You can add titles, texts, colors, pictures, and more. Basically, it’s your main tool.
Avada, Mercury, and Betheme are the themes I recommend to product review bloggers. They are all beginner-friendly and highly rated by customers.
Finally, check out this post to learn how to install a WordPress theme.
Step #6: Install WordPress Plugins
A WordPress plugin is a tool that adds an extra feature to your product review blog. Think about it like the apps we install on our phones for specific purposes.
Here are the 9 important plugins to install on your blog:
1. Pretty Links:
This plugin is essential for product review bloggers. It will help you add affiliate links to your blog posts and track performance.
This will allow visitors to share your blog posts on their social media accounts. A great way of getting more readers and followers.
3. RankMath:
With RankMath, you will optimize your blog posts so that they appear high on search result pages.
4. Wordfence:
Wordfence is a crucial security plugin that will protect your site from malware and prevent hacker attacks.
5. Smush
Since you will use many images, Smush will help you optimize their size for faster loading.
6. WP Rocket:
WP Rocket will also load your review blog pages faster and improve user experience.
7. Optinmonster:
You need Optinmonster if you want to capture leads and build an email list. You can then send emails to this list to promote more products.
8. WPForms:
To create contact forms, feedback forms, surveys, and polls.
9. UpdraftPlus:
UpdraftPlus will help you back up your blog regularly so that if anything goes wrong, you can easily restore it.
Check out this tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Step #7: Create High-Quality Content
Creating high-quality content is one of the most important parts of becoming a successful product review blogger. Your product reviews should be honest, unbiased, and informative.
When writing product reviews, be sure to include the following:
- A brief introduction to the product
- A list of the product’s features and specifications
- A detailed description of the product’s pros and cons
- Your overall rating of the product
- A call to action, encouraging readers to buy the product or to learn more about it
Product Review Formats
There are many different product review formats you can use. Here are a few examples:
1. Traditional Product Reviews
Traditional product reviews are written in a paragraph format. They typically include a brief introduction, a detailed description of the product’s features, pros and cons, and an overall product rating.
For example, this post I wrote on the best WooCommerce themes uses a traditional or common format. There is the product name, its image, and a product description.
2. Comparison Product Reviews
Comparison product reviews compare two or more similar products. This can be helpful for readers who are trying to decide which product to buy.
For example, this post on Grow With Results compared Writesonic and Jasper.
3. Video Product Reviews
Video product reviews are becoming increasingly popular. They allow you to show viewers the product in action and share your thoughts and opinions on it in a more engaging way.
4. User Reviews
User Reviews is where you use testimonials from consumers who have used the product you are reviewing.
No matter which product review format you choose, make sure that your reviews are well-written and informative.
Step #8: Monetize Your Product Review Blog
Monetization is the main reason you want to become a product review blogger. If it weren’t, you would have created an informational blog.
So, refer to the section “How Does a Product Review Blogger Make Money?” to learn how to monetize a product review blog.
But to sum it up for you, it’s affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and display ads.
Step #9: Drive Traffic to Your Blog and Build an Audience
To drive traffic to your blog and build an audience, you need to:
1. Create High-Quality Content that is Relevant to Your Target Audience
This is the most important factor in attracting and retaining readers. Your content should be informative, engaging, and well-written.
2. Promote Your Blog on Social Media
Share your blog posts on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Use relevant hashtags and join relevant groups to reach a wider audience.
3. Guest Blog on Other Websites
Guest blogging is a great way to expose your blog to a new audience. Find websites in your niche that accept guest posts and pitch them your ideas.
4. Run Contests and Giveaways
Contests and giveaways are a great way to attract new visitors to your blog and generate excitement around your brand.
5. Use Paid Advertising
Paid advertising can be a great way to reach a wider audience and drive traffic to your blog. However, it’s important to target your ads carefully and to set a budget that you’re comfortable with.
6. Learn SEO
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is about using tips and techniques to optimize your blog and help it appear high on Google.
Building an audience for your blog takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. A loyal audience will provide you with feedback, support, and encouragement. They’ll also help you to promote your blog and reach new readers.
Where to Get Products to Review
Ok. You know you start a product review blog, monetize, and generate traffic. But where exactly can you find the products to review?
1. Affiliate Networks
As mentioned earlier, you must join affiliate networks to monetize your review blog. They connect businesses with bloggers and other online influencers.
When you join an affiliate network, you’ll have access to a wide range of products and services that you can review on your blog. If a reader clicks on an affiliate link in one of your blog posts and makes a purchase, you’ll earn a commission on the sale.
Some popular affiliate networks include:
2. Product Official Sites
Many companies have their own affiliate programs. You can find these programs by visiting the company’s website and looking for a link to an “affiliates” or “partners” page.
You will typically find this link on the website footer.
If you’re interested in reviewing a specific product, you can reach out to the company directly and see if they have an affiliate program. They are happy to send products to bloggers for review, especially if they have a large and engaged audience.
3. Other Product Review Blogs
Another way to get products is to check your competitors. Other blogs have certainly reviewed some products you haven’t.
In fact, the other review blogs are the best sources of content inspiration.
4. Events and Conventions
Many companies attend industry events and conventions to promote their products. You can register to attend these events and meet with company representatives to see if they’re interested in sending you products to review.
5. PR Agencies
PR agencies represent businesses and help them promote their products and services. Many PR agencies have product review programs where they send products to bloggers for review.
If you’re interested in working with a PR agency, you can search for “PR agencies” online or ask other bloggers for recommendations.
5 Examples of Product Review Bloggers
The following list comprises five product review bloggers, each offering unique perspectives.
1. The Wirecutter
The Wirecutter is a New York Times-owned product review website that covers a wide range of products, from tech gadgets to home appliances.
2. CNET
CNET is a popular technology website that also publishes product reviews.
3. TechRadar
TechRadar is another popular technology website that publishes product reviews.
4. Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide is a website that publishes product reviews on a variety of topics, including technology, gaming, and home entertainment.
5. Grow With Results
Grow With Results is a blog that reviews products in AI, project management, and other business-related niches. bloggers, each offering unique perspectives.
You can Become a Successful Product Review Blogger
Becoming a product review blogger is possible and open to everyone. But only those who put in the effort can be successful.
In this post, I shared how these bloggers make money and how to start a product review blog. These tips will definitely help you before and during your journey.
Now it’s your turn.
Where are you on your journey? Are you looking for a good niche or a blog name? Or maybe you are ready to customize your blog.
Let me know in the comment section below!
FAQ
To become a product review blogger, choose a niche, find a blog name, choose a blogging platform, host and customize your blog, monetize it, and drive traffic.
WordPress is the best blogging platform for product review bloggers. It’s a powerful and flexible platform with many features and customization options. It’s also easy to use and maintain.
Yes, product review blogs make money. They make money through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and selling your own products or services.
A good product review is honest, unbiased, and informative. It should cover all of the important aspects of the product, and it should compare the product to other similar products.
