A recent post on the Mommy Bloggers website about blogging for dollars, suggested that by recommending products a blogger can be considered a sell-out, therefore what kinds of reviews can a reader possibly trust or distrust.
Since we all know that no product is perfect, how can you make sure that comes across in your review? Especially when you are getting paid by the manufacturer to review that product? No product review is unbiased, period. Why? Because each one of us looks at our product from our own perspective. Not to be redundant, but a Mommy Blogger is a Mom! So when a mom reviews a product, she'll be coming at it from her own viewpoint as a mother.
But is the product suited for new Moms? Moms with teenagers? Working Moms? Each "consumer profile" has different needs and wants. A new mother wants products that can be used with one hand or has specific features to help with newborns or toddlers. A mother with teenagers may want products that help them reconnect or understand their teen. A working Mom is looking for convenience and products that help balance work and home life better.
Each product manufacturer knows who the target demographic is for their product and who the target demographic is not. Here are some recommendations to make sure your product review is considered well thought out and unbiased by doing a bit of homework on what the product manufacturer is trying to do.
1) Understand who the target buyer is and who it is not
If the product manufacturer can't tell you who their primary consumer profile is, then you've got problems right then and there. They may also tell you that they are specifically looking for information to help them get traction for a new or secondary target audience. That will help you understand which "hat" you need to put on as you are reviewing the product.
2) State upfront from what perspective the product was reviewed
By starting off a review with, "this is for Mom's on the go". Then anyone who is reading that understands the particular perspective that you have written it for. It sets the right tone and also subconsciously helps the reader identify with that need set as that person is reading through various review points.
3) Mention features that would not suit a non-target consumer
By sprinkling in or closing with a recommendation that this product is not for, i.e. "if you are afraid of computers then this feature may be a little daunting", or "if your children are in nursery school, then this product is not for you", this helps both you and the manufacturer! Your product review appears unbiased and someone for whom the product is not suited does not purchase it. Thereby preventing an unhappy buyer!
With the pervasiveness of social media, no one wants an unhappy buyer. So the better you are at targeting the consumer for the manufacturer, the better the end result will be for both of you.
Written
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Kim Lloyd
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Kim Lloyd Blog
Last Edited
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Oct 26 2009, 09:06 AM