Product Reviews I loved, Part 1.

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links.

I been blogging since 2012 and I have reviewing amazing products, whether good or bad. I wanted to honor products, which have stood the test of time. Products, I have continued to use and buy since I entered the blogging world.

Squatty Potty: This was my first successful pitch. I been seeing the commercials and wanted one. The squatty potty is still standing and has changed my bathroom behaviors.

Ozeri 4X3 Digital Pocket 3D Pedometer Review (Moderna Housewares)

This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links and Images.

I received Ozeri 4x3motion Digital Pocket 3D Pedometer with Tri-Axis Technology, in Black, in exchange for honest review from Moderna Housewares.


I received the Ozeri 4X 3 digital pocket pedometer in exchange for honest review. The pedometer does keep total track of all your steps, plus steps for the week and day. What I did not like was a few times, the pedometer "blanked" out, but when it came back, all the steps was not erased. I also love the lanyard, which comes with the pedometer. I got my niece to help with tying the loop, and I wear the pedometer around my neck when I am walking.Other than that, I had no issues with the product .

I also put it in my pocket or attach it to my purse to track my steps.

Work from Home for low income families book review (Tomoson)

I read Work from Home for Low income families, in exchange for honest review from Tomoson.The book was written by Lia Burres.  The book was sponsored by A little bit of everything Book reviews. I received a Smashwords code for the book.

The first thing the book teaches is to set goals. What do you want to accomplish by working from home? I started the blog to vent about the kids, but it later progressed into product reviews, book reviews, sponsored posts, and giveaways. Maybe you have young kids at home and can't work. Maybe you have a health issue. Maybe you dislike a traditional 9 to 5 job.

There are many reasons for wanting to work from home and many companies to choose from. You may want to have a niche or be generic. You can become an affiliate or a freelance writer. You may want to do reviews or focus just on giveaways. You may want to sell your products on a website.

Chapter 1 focuses on product reviews. You need to create a blog, whether free or paid. I use blogger, but I am working adding Perfect Chaos on WordPress as well. I also have Go Daddy but need to pay for a domain.

You also need to build your social media presence (Facebook, Pinterest, Vine, StumbleUpon, Twitter, Instagram, Klout, Google Plus, Facebook Fan Page, for example). I am on all of these. I would recommend signing up for Twitter, Pinterest, Klout, Google Plus, and develop a fan page to start with. I did not realize the power of social media until I was denied for campaigns because I did not have enough followers or a high enough Klout or Sverve score, especially when it was for a book or something, which doesn't cost much. Another way to build up your presence is to help other bloggers promote their campaigns. For example, you may promote a giveaway or retweet a tweet. You also can do a follow for follow. They will follow you on social media, in exchange for you following them. Keep in mind, there are limits on how many people you can follow a day on certain site. I been in Twitter Jail before. I went on a mass following spree within a few hours. Do not do this. Follow a few at a time.

Next, you need to sign up for some product review sites. I love Tomoson, US Family Guide, Business to Blogger, Bloggerdise, BzzAgent, Smiley 360, Moms Meet, Mom Central, Influenster, etc. Each site hosts different product reviews.  Each product review is hosted by a different company, which has different requirements. Read the requirements carefully to see if you and your blog are a fit. If you met most of the qualifications, I say apply anyway. Some sites let you give a reason on why you want to participate in the campaign. Tomoson lets you give four reasons a company should select you if you are denied.

You also have to consider that some campaigns will be paid and some will be unpaid. Tomoson lets you review a product in exchange for an honest review, but you can get paid on Brandbacker, Blog Dash, and Sverve. I do both paid and unpaid reviews.

The book also gives embedded links for social media, in addition to product review sites. Most of the sites listed  in the book, I am on. I did sign up for a few new ones as well.

Chapter 2 discusses book reviews. I started doing book reviews in October 2012. I love Bethany House, Library Thing, Tyndale House, Blogging for Books, Book Sneeze, Kregel Book Tours, in addition to a bunch of others. You may need a blog to review books. Some sites just want a review to Goodreads, Amazon, Shelfari, and Librarything. These are the main sites I post reviews to. You also may have authors or companies directly contacting you to review a book.

Now, before I go any further, you will need to decide what genres of books you will like to read and what genres, you do not want to read. If you like Science Fiction and Romance, review them. If you like erotica, review them. Do not review a book you don't feel comfortable with. I don't review erotica. I don't review anything with vampires and zombies.

You will need a reader to read the books, whether online or offline. I have Kindle for PC, Adobe Digital Editions, A kindle, Sony Reader for PC, Google Drive, and Kindle for Android. I read books on all the devices. You can always request a physical book on some sites as well. Not every book will be available in the format you will like. You will need to post each review by the deadline.

Finally the book discusses other aspects of working from home, such as drop shipping, affiliate companies, traffic exchanges, link exchanges, and building an online store. The book also discusses building a website and banners. The book ends in my favorite topic: finding free stuff online. The book provides a list of links to get free things. I am on more than half of those sites.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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. 

Woolzies Giveaway

Perfect Chaos is helping promote the Woolzies Dryer balls promotion and giveaway. Information is provided below

I think it is safe to say almost everyone wears clothes. Most people in the world rely upon the modern convenience of using a washer and dryer to keep their clothes clean, in good condition and smelling lovely. Without giving it much, if any, thought, most people add fabric softener to the laundry to be washed, and many toss a dryer sheet in the dryer as they add their clean clothes.

Did you know dryer sheets are actually bad for your family and the environment? Many dryer sheets are packed with known carcinogenics such as benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, chloroform and linalool. Not only are dryer sheets made with toxic chemicals that are bad news for you, but they are also bad for your clothes and your dryer. The waxy component of the dryer sheet can build up on your lint screen and make your dryer less effective over time.

A few ladies in the Sublime Media Connection had the pleasure of trying a great all natural product called Woolzies Dryer Balls, which are a great alternative to dryer sheets. They are guaranteed to last for 1000 loads of laundry, they are made with Wool, they soften fabrics reducing the need for fabric softener, and they reduce static. Sounds pretty great right? This makes them even better... they reduce the time it takes to dry your clothes in a dryer by about 25%!!!

You won't want to miss the reviews from the ladies of the Sublime Media Connection! Click on the links to the reviewing blogs to find out what the lovely ladies thought of this unique product.

Sweet Silly Sara

Saving For My Family

My Unentitled Life

Giveaways for Moms

Woman of Many Roles

Connect with Woolzies to learn more:
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This giveaway is in no way affiliated with facebook, I hereby release facebook from any possible liabilities. The sponsor is responsible for the delivery of this prize.





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