Stacie's Product Reviewing Tips (based on experience)

I started doing product reviews earlier this year. Not quite sure how I got started, but as I got more into blogging, I started noticing buttons on other people's blogs. Before I would Click on the button and I would sign up for a new affiliate or book review site. Now, I can click on a button and get a new product review site. I love Tomoson, Influenster, and Smiley 360. I love BlogDash and Bloggerdise. Those are my primary product review sites.  I Then, the facebook groups, I started getting into.
These are my tips for product (and book) reviews:

1. Take a picture of the product as soon as you take it out of the box. Do a quick video. Do the unveiling of the box and product (if it's influenster). Usually, I open the box, take the products out of the box, and then toss the box. No offense against the box, but I don't want a room full of boxes and packing materials. Note the name of the company on the box. Sometimes, I have seen where the company would send the product without any marketing material. Only way I can identify the company was to look at the box. My iPad cases, which came recently did not have any material. I had no idea what it was. My package, which came yesterday, also had no marketing materials, but I knew what it was and where it came from. Taking a picture also shows evidence of everything, in the box, before consumption (such as food or sample creams, etc). Definitely, if it is food, my kids will eat it. 
2. For books--paper or hardback--what I started doing is writing the name of the publishing company and the host company, along with the review due by date on the inside. I will forget. I also write it in my planner because I will forget. I had an incident recently where I assumed a book was a librarything member giveaway, but it was a bethany house book. trying to finish it now, so I can submit my review within the next week or so. 
3. If you get a heavy box, like the one I got yesterday, take it to the room you are going to install it or display it in, and then unpack the box. no point in unpacking a heavy box in one room, and installing it another. 
4. Sometimes a video takes multiple takes. Factor in youtube downtime, kids interrupting you, computer shutting down accidently. 
5. When writing a post, make sure to get all the mandatory information in first. For example, when I started on Tomoson, my first review did not include the verification codes. I had to go back and insert those in and submit my review again. I can add my review in next, along with videos and pictures. Another example, I was in book review mode on Amazon. Trying to get the reviews from the blog into amazon, good reads, librarything, and shelfari. I was copying the review portion without copying the disclaimer portion. I had to go back and edit about 5 reviews to put in the disclaimer. 
6. lighting. I don't have the best lighting coming from the webcam or the phone. I am looking into reviewing or buying a digital camera/camcorder. Sound: check your microphones before starting the review. Do a test video first to make sure the lighting and sound is ok. 
7. Make sure to put the disclaimer into all your reviews. If you got it for free, say it. If it's a sponsored post, say it. Don't plagiarize. Cite your sources. If you are copying from the media kit per instructions, say it. If you got any compensation, whether money, clothing, tickets, books, say it. Acknowledge it. acknowledge the company. Do not displease the FTC. Not to mention, Google, Facebook, Wordpress, the company, and others. Be honest in your dealings. I am a business management major. One of the most important classes I have taken is ethics. Be ethical and honest. 

Arbonne Review

I reviewed Arbonne, in response to an ad on Bloggerdise. I received a sample of moisturizer, nourishing daily shampoo, nourishing daily conditioner, and invigorating body cleanser. All of these products, except the moisturizer are found in the FC5 Shower Set. The products had a different, but refreshing scent. The product, I loved the most was the moisturizer. It was very creamy and you did not need to use a lot for full coverage. The moisturizer is $40.00. I loved the scents of the products. I also liked how my head felt after the shampoo and conditioner. and once again, I loved the moisturizer.

About Arbonne:

• Company focuses on skin care, beauty, and health products. 
• The company was developed in Switzerland in 1975 by Petter Merck. 
• The company is located in Canada. 
• The products are botanically based. 
• You can sign up as an Arbonne Consultant to sell and earn commission on  products, similar to avon or mary kay. 
• The company has an loyalty program, where preferred customers can earn discounts and receive free products. 
• You can earn rewards based on amount spent. 
• You can also sign up for automatic delivery of products

ArtTextry Review

I reviewed ArtTextry, in response to a post on Bloggerdise. I chose the Now poster. My wonderful kids decided to open up my mail for me. Lesson learned: when getting mail, any mail, put it up right away, especially if it comes in a big box or a canvas roll.




I saw an ad on Bloggerdise to review an art website. I love art. I love art on my walls. I don't like blank, plain white walls, such as the ones in my house. The Now Poster is 19.99. You also can save 30% with a coupon. The coupon is available on the website and posted on the blog. Coupon lasts until August 19, 2013

What the poster says:
Now
and it dawned on me that there is nothing but life
the life of the living--the life of the now
and the soon will now come to pass
memories of yesterday, dreams of tomorrow
today as life "is"now

but the nows come and then
they pass. As life shifts from time to time. 
from now to now
A ways in the now

About ArtTextry: (copied/paraphrased from the website)

1. "ArtTextry is the marriage between art and text (thought), the relation and reflection of one with the other."
2. ArtTextry provides quality, full color posters with UV coating and direct- to- plate systems presses. 
3. The artwork is created by artists in Miami
4. The art inspires you to "think, to be, and to do"
5. The artwork starts at 14.99. 

Social Media:
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Biblecover.us Product review

I reviewed BibleCover.us, in exchange for honest review. I saw an ad for the company on Bloggerdise and sent the company an email.  The company sent me a headband and earrings set. The website also sells bible covers, hairbows, and hanging earrings holders, in addition to t-shirts, hats, and visors. Next, the website offers sewing and scrapbooking classes.


About the company:

I learned at the age of 6 that I wanted to do all the things I saw my grandmother create and do with her hands and mind. Her love for sewing and crafts was so beautiful until it inspired me to want the same kind of talent. I knew that kind of crafting was for me. At the age of 8th my Christmas present that year was a new sewing machine.The following summer I began Singer sewing classes the day of graduation I had the opportunity to model inside the Park Plaza Mall in Little Rock Arkansas. Now, that was so exciting and fun. I give our Lord and savior Jesus Christ all the Honor, Glory and Praise. Without him I would not have the ability or Knowledge to keep things running. I love to create with fabric, making cards and crocheting. I am also a Vendor at the Little Rock Arkansas Farmers Market, so if you are every visiting or in the River Market part of town, please stop by and see me. I set up on the first and Second Saturday of each month during the market season directly behind the farmer’s area. I would love to meet and talk to you. For a long time I have been a vendor and traveled to different Craft shows in the surrounding states. This year I hope to branch out and visit more states. One of my favorite things about crafting is some days I go in my studio and read or watch TV and think on my next project that’s the beauty of crafting you can take your time and create when the time is right.

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I chose to review the purple butterflies headband and earrings. I chose this set because I love purple and I love earrings. The set was very beautiful and crafted well. The headbands and earrings come in multiple colors, such as  red; red and pink; black, yellow, cream, and orange. Each color has an accompanying picture. Each set is 15.00 via Paypal. I am ordering the pink and fuschia when I get paid.