When we take on a opportunity to write a review, we see the specification of what the person or company who is paying for the review wants. Some wants to create a buzz and get more people to their sites. Some just wants the links in your post to boost their rankings. Most tries to have it both ways. Some publicity and the links. So it is our duty as a reviewer to give the guy his money’s worth. Like it or not, that’s the way it is if you have decided to write reviews for money.
Of course you really don’t have to sell your soul if you don’t want to. Sometimes there are gambling sites or adult dating sites that pays quite well, but if you are one that holds on to your principles and can control the green eye monster called greed, you do actually have a choice to reject that offer. However, if you can’t and must earn that dough no matter what, then I think it is your duty to deliver and make sure the guys paying you gets their money’s worth and at the same time your readers don’t get misled.
Research before Writing
If you don’t know about the product or the site that you are going to review, how the hell are you going to review it? Of course you can bluff your way through and concoct up some fairy tale, cleverly blending in the anchor text the Advertisers want, but will that do justice to yourself and the guy who is paying you? That, in my personal opinion is being very unprofessional.
The story Telling Method
Of course if you are a very good story teller and is able to give a good insight about the product or whatever in a story form, then by all means, tell your story. Lots of people does that. If they are reviewing a Travel site, they will tell a story of how they are going to go somewhere and how they got their tickets and booking through that site, when in fact they have not even been there before. The advertisers have no reason to reject the post. The links are there. The word counts are right. The review have served the purpose. It was good story telling and readers have actually clicked on the links. So what more could they ask for?
Personally, I seldom take this route unless I really couldn’t make out what the advertiser wants.
The Factual Review
Doing a factual review is my preference. Though it takes more time and research, I somehow feel it is more justified. To the people reading it and to the people who are paying for it. Giving facts means that the reader has a choice to believe what is written or have the benefit of doubt. For example if the review is on a certain slimming center, I will only present the facts to the readers about the facilities available, the price of treatment, the location and so on. Making up a story and telling your readers that you actually went to the center and lost 10 lbs. could be misleading in cases like this or similar to this.
Factual reviews more often than not gives the advertiser more than they asked for. It will mean deep linking to certain pages to stress a point. It would also mean inserting some images which is not in the requirement field. This extra effort would please the Advertisers, to say the least. Readers reading the review too will get a better picture and make their own judgement. That is the whole purpose of writing reviews. Giving the readers a clear perspective for them to judge for themselves and the advertisers the advantage of curious people checking out their sites.
But hor, sometimes I do end up with non-existing frens cos I need to start a sentence and create a storyline. However, I normally use the vague descriptions so up to my readers whether to believe or not lah. I think once we are expert with the usage of the right words, hampalang reviews also can gau tim lah hor? So far, I have not rejected any kind of reviews, even those forbidden my faith (like IVF). LOL.