By: jakob fenger
As a review blogger I work hard at writing my reviews. I could slap something on the page and be done with it all but I want people to really care about them. When you all read them I want to think “Wow she really did some work and I like what I am reading.” So I put together 4 things that I feel are important when writing an engaging blog.
Relate to the Reader
This is important whether you write reviews or any other type of article. You must relate to your reader in many ways when writing a review. It all begins with the product you are reviewing, it must be something your readers would want to hear about. Let’s be honest dads don’t want to hear about the latest breast pump just as most moms don’t care about the newest transmission tools. Take the time to learn about your readers then relate to them on the things they care about however, make sure you express your views and not what you think they want to hear.
Be Emotive
Emotive is simply designed to arouse emotion of or characterized by emotion. What does that mean when writing a review? Well I want to express emotion about the item so that the reader will be emotional about it. If I am writing about a heart wrenching book then I want the reader to feel the same emotions and I write in a way that expresses those, without of course giving too much about the book away. We don’t want to ruin the read for anyone.
Honesty and Fairness
This is a big one! If a product did not work then be honest but also be fair to the company. Did it not work because you used it in a manner the company doesn’t suggest? For food items if they have several players just talk about the flavors your enjoyed and mention the ones you don’t but do trash a product because you don’t like one flavor. Readers will notice and you want people to care about your reviews not trash them because you weren’t honest or fair.
Be True to Yourself
This is the most important thing to me. I can write and relate to the readers, make sure it is honest and fair and even get you to feel an emotion. However if I do all of this solely for our sake and never allow my voice to be heard then what is the point of it all. Reviews are the writer’s opinion and they are where you can let your creativity shine through. So stay true to who you are and all the rest will come easily.
Final thought on reviews
Reviews are fun to write and while there is some work involved the biggest thing to remember is that you have complete control over what and how you write. Not every review is going to be award-winning but when you write one that really inspires your readers you will know it through their comments. Those are the moments when all of your hard work pays off.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
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I think these are all the best tips I’ve read regarding reviews. I’m not a review blogger, so I’m only speaking from the perspective of a reader, but there are a few things that I think I look for in a reviewer or a review that hooks me into taking their word seriously and keeping them as a trusted source. I think relatability is a really big factor. If the reviewer can’t relate the product to me, then I don’t have that connection that will make me feel like I would feel the same way as the reviewer on the particular item that’s being reviewed.Honesty and fairness is another big one for me. If it sounds like overzealous flattery, it will be written that way. That usually leaves me feeling confused and a bit skeptical about whether the item is really as it’s described or if there’s some bias involved. I think I’m more likely to trust a review that’s written with complete honesty, and any criticisms are written with some tact. An all out bashing is usually only warranted when it’s obvious to everyone that the company/item was definitely defunct or the process was messed up, and in those cases I would always side with the reviewer. But those are usually rare. When they do come up, a trusted reviewer would get my sympathy more than if I saw those kinds of criticisms all the time.
I am so glad to read this! As a reader, I appreciate honesty and fairness–and it goes along with knowing your reader. And just because something did not work for you, it might work for me if I know the situation. For example, Hubz and I no longer have kids at home, so something that didn’t work well for a high-traffic family might be just the thing for us. We do have grandkids, so we are also on the lookout for kids’ items and things for young families that are often very different from what we need. I also like to keep up with what’s hot and new and appreciate the *honest* opinion of someone who has seen it in action.
Thank you for what you do!
These are some great points. I love reading blogs to find new items and ways to do things. One of the things I don’t like is blogs that “Love” everything they have ever tried. I really like when a reviewer is honest. If they can’t be honest then they really shouldn’t be a reviewer. I love your blog because I think you go out of your way to be honest. I also think you do a great job of trying to connect to us. That’s why we love things like “30 Days of me” and other posts about you and your family, your weight loss journey. You write about everyday life things that your readers are also experiencing. You meet and exceed all the above criteria of engaging your readers.
Thank you so much.
This is great information about writing reviews, I really enjoy reading your reviews. I can tell that you take the time to write real reviews that are helpful. Reviews are such a great way to find out about products you have never heard of and never tried.
Thank you for sharing the tips of the trade. It’s great to receive this kind of advice, but know that you are receiving it from a blogger who lives their advice is even more meaningful. Your statement about honesty and fairness being the big one is right on! A good reminder about not trashing the product if you don’t like on aspect of it.