I Kinda Loathe Product Reviews
Filed Under: Blogging Rocks!, Link Love, Thriving
Pay Per Post. Blog to Profit. Sponsored Reviews. Review Me. Product reviews are the new black.
Many of my favorite bloggers have recently opened up their own product review blogs. Izzy’s even keeping a blogroll for them all.
Savvy companies are now recognizing the viral power of bloggers and tripping over themselves to mail out free samples of everything from tampons to toilet cleaner. But anyone with a little public relations knowledge knows that influencing people involves trust and commonality. When the mommy blogs I read suddenly start posting about life insurance, moving companies, and eco-friendly home products, something just doesn’t feel right. Readers can tell when a post is a review or paid post vs a post where the blogger just talks about something they use and love. Bloggers recognize this, hence the explosion of “review blogs.”
Now I like to get free stuff as much as anyone, and I like to make money as much as anyone, but I have to wonder how long this trend will last. If a blog is set up solely for the purpose of reviewing products or writing paid posts, how likely are we (the blogosphere) to visit said review blog on a regular basis? I know that these blogs will not be making their way to my blogroll. On the other hand, review bloggers are creating searchable content that would be useful for someone looking for a review of a particular product. But will the review mean the same thing if a person comes across it via a search - when they aren’t a regular reader of the blogger and don’t feel that sense of trust?
It’ll be interesting to see how this trend plays out. In the meantime, I don’t enjoy accepting a box of free cereal and then feeling pressured to write a clever, if thinly-disguised, post about it. So I’m implementing a “no review” policy on PHAT Mommy. I’ve done a couple reviews in the past and I have a few more coming up that I’ve already committed to. After that, I’m jumping off the bandwagon. I might still recommend a product if it’s awesome enough to make me want to pass it on to you. If I mention Heinz it’s because my son splattered it on the wall. If I mention Dora pull ups, it’s because my daughter is potty training.
I look forward to reading your thoughts on review blogs. Do you read review blogs? How do you feel about writing reviews on your blog?
25 Comment(s)
1 Trackback(s)
- From BrainBasedBusiness | Jul 7, 2007
PHAT = Parenting, Homeschooling And Technology. That about sums up my life at the moment. 
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lori | Jul 4, 2007 | Reply
If I want to see consumer reviews of products/services, I’d rather find them on epinions or Amazon or a similar site where I can read and compare multiple reviews of the same item. I don’t mind seeing the occasional product/service review on my favorite blogs, but I have no interest in dedicated review blogs.
Judy Andrews | Jul 4, 2007 | Reply
I saw your article on sk*rt and decided to see what your thoughts were since I do PPP reviews. I like your site by the way and wish you all the best with your young family.
I actually have no opinion about your post and it didn’t upset me because I figure to each their own and actually it’s a simple way to earn money that I enjoy. Hope you and your family had a great 4th…Jude
Elizabeth | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
I sure appreciate being listed as one of your favorite bloggers! Here’s why I started a product review blog-a long, long time ago, before anyone was paying me or sending me anything, I wrote a post titled “I love Swiffer, yes I do”. I wrote it because I wanted to tell my Mom readers how much I loved Swiffer products. I got an email from a P.R. firm in a nearby city asking if they could send me a new Swiffer Sweeper, and I could keep it, they would just like me to use it, and then write my opinions of it on my blog.
Well, that P.R. firm sent me some more products, and then I joined Izzy’s blogroll and the Parent Bloggers Network. I wanted to keep Table for Five a parenting blog, so I created MomReviews. I don’t just review things that are sent to me, so I really don’t think of it as “just” a review blog. I will continue to work very hard at it, and I will hope that I develop regular readers and that they enjoy reading what I have to say!
Melissa Markham | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
I do reviews of books and movies I have enjoyed. And I will put in an amazon link, but these reviews are fairly few and far between and nestled among a bunch of other stuff. I figure if people like my blog in general and feel they like the way I look at things, they may also enjoy reading books and watching movies I like (or knowing about ones I don’t like).
Angela, Mother Crone | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
As we have discussed before, I love reviewing material and sharing about it. Being such a curriculum fiend, I have a broad base for comparison which may be helpful to others.
Yet, I value product reviews from people who have used the product and NOT gotten paid for it. There is a different sort of honesty about someone gushing if I know there was no compensation. Similarly, negative reviews might be less than critical in the name of good manners after a gift.
I’m with you …I’d be interested to see where it goes…
Csara | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
I have no problem with the occasional review thrown in here or there, whether it’s sponsored or not. However, I personally have no interest in review-only blogs. I rather read about multiple opinions on Amazon when I am looking for a particular item.
COD | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
Would this be a good time to mention that I’m leading the roundtable on paid blogging at BlogPhiladelphia next week?
I was accepting products for review back before it was cool
However, it has probably averaged 1 review every 6 weeks or so. I sort of enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to make Swiffer fit into a site that was likely talking about Motley Crue in the previous post. However, I’ve always disclosed that it was a “paid” placement, even when I was in the process of trashing the product, which I do frequently.
Shannon - PHAT Mommy | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
Great comments everyone! I also have no problem with the occasional review about something that “fits” with a blog’s persona (do blogs have personas?). I don’t have a *problem* with review blogs. I’m just personally not interested in them. Unlike COD, I *don’t* enjoy the challenge.
Charity | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
I don’t mind reading reviews in blogs that I normally read, but I don’t think I would ever read a review blog.
Kris | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
I’m with you on this. I thought long and hard about starting a review blog, and have ended up deciding to cut way down on reviews instead. Just not where I want to go with my writing right now. I have a bunch of reviews that I have to do yet, but I am now going to be VERY discerning. I’ll never say never because I seem physically incapable of saying no to a movie or book I’m intrigued by. But I definitely will not be starting a review blog.
Izzy | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
I’m feeling a bit defensive here since you linked to me specifically for this topic and thus feeling unfairly lumped together with the whole Pay Per Post glut of “reviewers” when I, in fact, do not and will not write for Pay Per Post. Ever. Just wanted to clarify that.
Waaaay before the blogosphere exploded with review blogs, I started Props and Pans. It was simply a place to talk about products and companies that had pissed me off and the occasional product that I fell in love with. Why did I do this? Because I didn’t want that kind of stuff on my regular blog. Because not everyone gives a shit if I love or hate Gerber’s plastic baby food containers.
That said, I’d like to clarify that at Props and Pans, we may get free stuff to review now and then but the majority of our reviews are for things we have personally bought, used and loved or hated and even if something was free, we don’t hold back on our honest opinions regardless of whether they are negative or positive. I’d like to believe that sets us apart from many of the review blogs out there. We’re beholden to no one.
As for the blogroll, I think that for those actually looking for review blogs, it’s an easy way to find all of us, which was the impetus for starting it. I can’t attest to the quality of EVERY blog on there but there are some really good ones on there that are highly regarded, like Heateatreview.com which reviews only frozen foods and another site that only reviews Mexican films. Where else would you find such targeted information except on a review blog that specializes in such things?
And for anyone who perceives the reviews on Amazon.com as unbiased or more “real” and thus more reliable, I hate to be a naysayer but a lot of those are planted by the companies whose make or sell the product.
Charity | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
This is OT, but I wanted to let you know that I tagged you.
Karen | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
I feel the same way you do, in fact, I resigned from Parentbloggers the other day but I have to fulfill my commitments which means 3-4 more reviews. It wasn’t even fun really. Yeah I got a few cool books but I don’t like working for free. I likes me some money. Plus, I felt kinda whorish. LOL!
Shannon - PHAT Mommy | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
Izzy - I’m sorry you’re feeling defensive. It is not my intent to bash anyone who does reviews or has a review blog or provides a blogroll for review blogs (which I happen to think is a neat idea). I’m just fleshing out my own thoughts on the topic and wondering if this new phenom will be everything marketers and bloggers hope it will. And I totally agree with you on the Amazon thing. I personally know someone who is paid to write positive reviews for Amazon.
Karen - exactly. It makes me feel a bit slutty too.
mothergoosemouse | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
I guess that makes Kristen and me the madams of the whorehouse.
Our goal is to turn the spam in bloggers’ inboxes into a win-win situation. Anyone can pass on any campaign, and anyone who participates in a campaign volunteers to do so. We merely ask if bloggers are interested in a particular product/service.
I can understand that review blogs may not appeal to all bloggers, but many of our bloggers write extremely entertaining reviews. And if their readers choose not to click over, that’s their perogative. I’m all in favor of reading what you want to and avoiding what you don’t.
Cap | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
This is a topic that shows up on many different type of blogs. I’ll agree with you that I probably won’t be subscribing to a product review blog, if all they do is review certain products, unless I REALLY REALLY like that particular type of product, or their writing is really really entertaining.
But as other mentions, its probably not a big deal as long as people disclose how products are received and if certain reviews are sponsored/paid for etc.
I see no harm on having product review on your site, if you find it may be helpful and relates to your topic. Paid review though, is definitely a blogger’s personal preference.
I’ve taken the same stance as you on pay review — I’ve gotten plenty of request on misc. financial products, but paid review is just something I’m not interested in.
If someone wants to send me a book to review, I’m all for it.. but of course, I’ll write whatever I feel about the book/product. The funny thing on free stuff, or at least personal finance books — most publishers don’t out-right ask for a review. They simply ask if you’re interested in reading the book, sampling it, etc.
Obviously, with the intention and hope that you’ll write a favorable review of the book, but I never felt like I owe it to anyone to write a favorable review (or even a review at all) — just because they’re sending me stuff.
Review sites have been around forever, blogs are just another median for it to float on. Like everything else, it’ll grow to a certain level and go from there.
As long as you take a proactive approach on managing the contents on your blog, disclosing your intentions (like you’re doing now), then it’s all peachy, IMO.
Chris Bartow | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
Shoemoney debated Rand Fishkin over this exact topic a few weeks ago on Net Income. They are on both sides of the fence on this topic and it was a great heated civil debate.
http://www.shoemoney.com/2007/06/05/debating-blogging-disclosure-with-rand-fishkin-on-net-income/
Dana | Jul 6, 2007 | Reply
I never begrudge anyone a way to earn a little money from something they enjoy, and so long as they are completely clear how they came upon the product, it has never bothered me, whether paid, in exchange for a free product or something they just picked up.
Especially if it is relevant.
If PPP or whatever begins to take over the blog, however, I’m likely to unsubscribe.
petite mommy | Jul 6, 2007 | Reply
Erika, Plain Jane Mom | Jul 6, 2007 | Reply
As someone linked to in this post, I’ve been trying to come up with a response. Honestly, I’ve got nothing.
I guess if you don’t like reviews then be happy people are taking them out of their regular blogs? That way you don’t have to be bothered by them.
Alasandra | Jul 7, 2007 | Reply
I enjoy reading the opinions of my favourite bloggers.
I get lots of useful info from Mother Crone’s Homeschool about curriculum.
That being said knowing a blogger is being paid to write a review, I take a more cynical look at what they say. If you are blogging about a product because you like it and want to share I appreciate it. I wouldn’t read just a review blog though.
SuburbanOblivion | Jul 7, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for the link, much appreciated
I understand your position, and I don’t begrudge you your opinion. We started Suburban Reviews because Jen, Heather and I wanted to do a collaborative project that might actually be halfway useful. We love trying new products, and it’s been exciting to have people report back saying “I went out and bought this after reading your review, and I loved it too!” We have gotten asked to do a couple of product reviews by different companies, and we do them, but they are treated as honestly as things we buy and try on our own. We do not under any circumstances take financial compensation for our reviews, and PPP or it’s likes will never step their foul feet on our blogs, period.
That said, the purpose of any blog is to gain readers, and I think we have managed to strike a pretty good balance between reviewing for the purpose of entertaining *and* getting information out there. It’s fun for us, and if others get something out of it, great
If not, they are free to move on.
Good topic btw!
Two Knives | Jul 11, 2007 | Reply
Great post and discussion. I kinda really really loathe product reviews (no surprise to anyone who has read my blog). I actually had a conversation with a marketer who had just started tapping into the “Mommy blogger” potential. He was asking what it would take to get me to review a product (in this case, a new CD from a local musician). I kept telling him that I didn’t think I was the right person to ask. Now I can let him know about Izzy’s list.
Mama Luxe | Jul 12, 2007 | Reply
Long ago I started a blog and received an offer out of the blue for a text ad on my sidebar. I decided to take it since the company was legit and on topic.
Then when I became a mom, I started researching everything endlessly and sharing all that info with anyone who asked on bulletin boards, etc.
My friend suggested we start a review blog and so Mamanista was born.
My original intent was to save people the trouble of buying the wrong playard for them or some such…but then people started sending products for review. My partner and I went back and forth on PPP and Advertorials briefly and then decided we did not like them. It just did not feel right for us. I don’t give a positive review to something I do not like.
At the time, I did not realize how many great review blogs were already out there and probably would not have jumped in if I had known how glutted the market was. I searched and looked, but it wasn’t until I really started networking that I realized there were thousands…and dozens of really good ones.
As to why someone might read these–there is an element of trust. Personally, I skip the PPP…but the ones that are genuine, I find more reliable than Amazon–as Izzy mentioned, Amazon reviews are suspect IMO. If the review is positive, I wonder if it is a plant. If it is negative, I wonder if the person is just brain dead and couldn’t figure it out.
I agree that at some point it will all become noise, just like the Amazon reviews…but a few top ones will be left standing. I think there are a couple of niches. I really like the new Suburban Oblivion one for its “everyday product” reviews…not a lot of affiliate money in that, but I wish those ladies the best in getting tons of ads. A lot of the best ones really gravitate towards the more expensive and unique items…and now I understand why! Those are the companies that send products for review (Graco or Fisher Price just doesn’t seem to do that the way an independent company might) and if you use an affiliate model, that’s where the money is.
Anyway, great topic and one I spend a bit of time thinking about.
I enjoyed reading all the comments so far!
JayMonster | Jul 18, 2007 | Reply
I am of two minds on the subject. I like actual reviews, that come from people I have come to trust their opinion or find that their opinions are close to mine (at least most of the time). I find this a great thing to have rather than looking blindly at reviews from people I don’t know at Amazon or epinons or whatever. I don’t even care for sites such as PC Magazine (for computer stuff of course), because it has become apparent at how much they like a product corrolates with the number of ads in the magazine. So yes I like having this resource. I of course from time to time review things on my blog as well. All products or places that I have used or visited or whatever with the same hope of providing insight.
On the other side of the coin, I hate Pay Per Post. It may be the biggest farce on the Internet. I have watched more than one blogger sell out their own opinions to hawk something in a post, presumably because that happens to be what is offering the most for a post at that momment. There is nothing real about it, and have as a general rule stopped linking to anybody that offers PPP “reviews” or posts. (And at one time, had a number of people mad at me over it).