Probably the number one question I find in communities and groups I belong to is “How do I start reviewing?” and “Where can I find products for review?”
Boy how we pay close attention to these topics when we start a blog.
I have a few sources I use that gain me excellent relationships with PR contacts for some great companies.
However, if you are brand new to blogging then you want ‘examples’.
Companies will be linked to your site from these resources and if you are asking for reviews, but have none to show as an example on your site, you may get disregarded.
Table of Contents
How to set your site up BEFORE asking for reviews
This is simple.
First, find products you use and enjoy and create your own reviews!
Always have at least one photo and 1-2 links to the product site as well as mentions of their social media links.
Make 2 points in your reviews-your personal experience using the product and a little ‘about the product’ itself recognition (some facts or information from the ‘About us’ section of their site).
You want brands knowing you give opinions, but that you also take the time to learn about the company as well.
Second- make sure you have a visible-labels up Top work best-spot where your reviews are kept.
When a brand visits your site, you want them to not have to go digging for review samples.
Keep them accessible!
Now for some top resources I use to find products
Tomoson
Tomoson strictly offers products sent to you by companies in exchange for reviews.
Great to get started!
You will very rarely find giveaway opportunities here and no paid/sponsored posts will come from this.
You just get the product.
They do have some excellent products though so use them!
For best results on this site: Watch the how to video!! Not only do you need to link (real easy) your social accounts from your profile page-you have to insert top and bottom copy codes into each post-the bottom html code is your FTC disclosure written for you.
Sverve is a fairly new site.
I have formed some great relationships with companies through here.
This one is more flexible for PR than Tomoson and you will find products to review, giveaways to offer your readers and paid/sponsored posts.
For best results on this site: As you hit Apply, always add some sort of comment in bottom box. Typically i will just say “I am happy to help. my readers will enjoy this”. You only have a short word count to use and I get many acceptance back from here. Also-this is a community as well to share your posts and Follow/Endorse other Sverve members. Stay active and it is so simple to and quick to navigate and add your posts. Find PR’s and gain post traffic all in one site!
Link Vehicle offers only paid/sponsored posts.
Set the price you want (Link Vehicle will double that price to companies so they profit as well).
You will be emailed as a company chooses you to write a post for them.
Accept or decline.
You have 14 days to write a post-links will be given to you.
This one is not a huge money maker as seldom are you contacted.
But not uncommon to make $30-$45 a month some months.
For best results on this site: Be fair to yourself when choosing a price. I have mine set a bit low-$20 because they hardly give you restrictions and your can easily and quickly whip these posts up. But don’t set your price so low that if you are busy you will tend to decline. Not always best to decline offers unless they truly are not a fit and it will give you an option to choose as to why you decline.
Profnet
This is a site that is a bit claustrophobic. but if you are savvy enough you get to set up your profile then you pitch yourself.
You will then be directly emailed by PR/brands asking you to work with them.
If it is confusing to you, their customer service is great and they respond quickly!
I get contacted quite often directly after sending a pitch!
For best results with this site: Do a few pitches at once. Maybe one is asking for ‘educational products to review’ and another is asking for “food/beverage products to review”. PR companies are categorized and your pitch is reviewed first. If you specify a niche then those companies can find you easier. Make sure you keep rotating pitches often.
BrandBacker
this site allows you to view campaigns-typically fashion and beauty brands.
You can apply for the ones you want.
Some are product reviews and some are paid/sponsored posts.
For best results on this site: Just make sure all your social accounts are connected. You have to come back and tell them once you get the product in the mail and again as soon as you publish.
Mom Central
I have had some great paying campaigns through them.
Once signed up-just wait.
They will contact you as they see fit.
For best results on this site: Numbers help! As you grow, make sure you contact them to tell them your current stats! If you are new, do not get discouraged. Once contacted for any campaign, even if a free event or survey-reply and connect. Once you prove yourself, you will get contacted more often
These are a few for starters.
Remember to keep record of who you join!
Monthly. go back and update your profiles with current stats.
Some sites may show your FB or twitter accounts connected, but stay stuck on your counts from when you last connected.
Tomoson is a good example for this-just go to all your accounts and either reconnect or manually type in your current stats.
One day, that company you never heard from is emailing you with a contact!
Check out! How to Leave a Podcast Review on Stitcher and Should You Trust a Blog Review? Learn To Spot Quality Blog Reviews.
I need to re-figure out how to use ProfNet – they have always brought me great product review opportunities! You have a great post with good tips.
I have since put up a post here on TOTS about how to use ProfNet
Thanks for sharing these list. Too bad, I can’t apply none of them because I live in Europe.
Try Bloggers Required — I get a lot of emails from them but most are directed at UK bloggers; sometimes just Europe.
This is a great list of sites to use. I’ve tried some of them, but not all. Thanks!
I have found that contacting companies directly works best. Adding a personal touch has brought me a lot of reviews. Plus I am approaching products that I really, truly want to try.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Mutual follow via MSM 🙂
Thanks for compiling this Erinn! I have enjoyed working with Tomoson and I have a few more things in the wings coming from them. I will be checking out a few of these others as soon as I can make sure I’ll be able to stay on top of them.
As always, you give great resources to be a successful blogger. Thanks for the information!
Thanks for this list; I’m improving my reviewing skills and growing, but it’s definitely a process. Your “For best results” is a great help.
I love reading tips beyond just recommendations. So much out there to learn and that is why I included “for best results”. Thank you for all your comments!
Yes, I started by doing my own reviews for products I purchased or loved. There is also a new site http://www.PINCHme.com that sends products for review.
I had just discovered this from another blogger. Need to go check them out… thank you!
Great resources list! I can’t wait to check these out over the weekend.
I love Sverve and have had a lot of luck with it. Tomoson is one that I just recently discovered, so I need to explore it more. Thanks for the educational video!
I love Sverve too. Find products and link your posts! Tomoson I use, but lately I am picky on the what I take in from them. They have a lot going on and I have been busy with my own Gift Guides, etc…
Thanks for this!!
This is an awesome list of sites that I’m totally going to visit. I’ve been thinking about adding more product reviews to my roster of posts (but obviously don’t want to get too spammy either). Good to know there are so many options available for bloggers. Pinning this now 🙂 Thanks!
Great tips for bloggers. After all, monetizing a blog is what every blogger wants at the end of the day. Thanks for sharing these amazing resources that will benefit many!
These are some great tips,Thanks for sharing the links of the sites….
Recently I joined with Sverve and seems it is a great way to find campaigns
Thank you, Ariel. Not at 5,000 Pinterest followers yet, but will pass on your info to other Blogger’s.
Thank you Erin! Glad to have found this article and site. 🙂 Ariel
Wow this is great, I always wondered how people find giveaways! I will certainly check a few of those sites out!
i tried the tomoson website, but could not due to not knowing how to set up google analytics. i am not sure if its cause i use a macbook or wordpress but something is not allowing me to add the code or maybe i am just not blog savvy
Tomoson has great support. Contact them-they can walk you through it!
Thank you so much for putting together this list. I just got hired today for my very first campaign at Sverve, and now I’m motivated to sign up for as many networks as possible. This list is a great list to get me started.
I already did what you suggested and have reviewed a few products that I own without without them being sponsored. Now to go back to those posts and make sure I did them the way you suggest!
That is awesome! Congrats! So happy this helped.
Quite a few I’d never heard of before – thanks so much for sharing Erinn! x
Everyone always asks, how do you get stuff to review? For now on, I am referring them to this post! Found you on Sverve btw!
I am following you on Sverve and have been interested in this. Thank you so much for sharing this. A lot of bloggers are very hush-hush with how they obtain items to review. Awesome of you to share your secrets!
It’s why I wrote this. No reason to not share the love 🙂
I’m a new blogger and a new follower of yours. I’m so excited to learn new things, everything I have read has been so insightful. I’m afraid I could get lost in your blog 🙂
I recently joined a group for Christian bloggers that has good stuff for review, too. Lots of the products are books, DVDs, etc. and only ask for a short review on the business site (not even on the blog). There are so many great resources for bloggers!! I often tweet them out so that other bloggers can get the info. Thanks for your list and tips.
This post contains a lot of useful information…thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this. It’s good to see new ones I’ve yet to try. You say you like MomCentral but everytime I go there I don’t see the log in or a profile page. I joined quite a while ago. What am I missing?
Thanks
This is a real helpful post for anyone that’s serious and wants to get things rolling. Great reference.
Thank you Lauren. Glad tou found it useful.