I’ve been doing product reviews since I started my main blog at The Not Quite Crunchy parent.com First I just reviewed products I wanted to share with readers (the few that I had). Then as my audience started to grow:
I began receiving offers to review products I might use
I began to get offers to review products I wouldn’t dream of using
That lead to my being invited to work with Ogilvy PR on their Blogger Outreach Code of Ethics . as a marketer and a Mommy blogger, I’m a bit of a unique position as I can readily identify with both the goals of the firms trying to get exposure for their products and bloggers who range from uncertain as to why they are receiving all this good stuff to those cynical about it.
This has, of course led me to my own philosophy on what I choose to review and how I conduct them. They are as follows:
- I won’t review any product that I have nothing good to say about – that’s not necessarily journalistic ethics…that’s just me. If I review a product, I at least like something about it.
- I won’t write about any product sight unseen. I don’t think it is fair to my readers to plug something I haven’t tried. I have not been paid for any of the reviews I do except, of course, I have been given free product. If I am paid for some reason, I will note that in my post - just preparing for contingencies.
- And here’s the big one…I write as both a marketer and a consumer
That means that when I write a review I consider not only how I personally like how the product functions or meets my needs but also delve a little deeper. Since I am in marketing I consider how the product is priced…which means I look at the competition. I review the ingredients and check them against the claims made by the manufacturer. and I look at the functions of the product and how it fits consumer needs. Sometimes this means that I make a suggestion (as I did here and here) that the manufacturer add something to the package.
Sometimes I get really involved and give all kinds of marketing advice.
Mostly, I try to give a fair and objective review, not a plug.
(Product Reviews appear on both the Not Quite Crunchy Parent and Not Quite Crunchy Reviews due to an increasingly Byzantine set of rules designed to satisfy both advertisers and P.R. folks.)
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1 comments:
Hi MC,
I would like to submit our products for a review. Here at HAPPYFAMILY we are passionate about the need to feed our children food without chemicals, additives, preservatives and GMOs. HAPPYFAMILY works with Dr. Sears on product development so we can offer parents healthy, truly delicious and convenient foods for babies and toddlers/kids.
HAPPYFAMILY makes:
HAPPYBABY fresh frozen fruits, vegetables, grains and meats in interesting combinations like black bean/quinoa/banana.
HAPPYBELLIES, the only organic cereal for babies with probiotic protection and DHA.
HAPPYBABYPUFFS, the only organic self-feed baby snacks and the only baby snacks fortified with calcium, and vitamins B and D.
HAPPYBITES, finger food for toddlers and kids with hidden veggies and nutritious dipping sauces.
Our meals are allergy-friendly and contain no GMOs. Our packaging is recyclable and BPA-free.
Every time a parent buys a HAPPYFAMILY meal they also feed malnourished children in Malawi and Sierra Leone through Project Peanut Butter, our non-profit partner. www.projectpeanutbutter.org
I would be glad to send you free trial coupons so you can share the meals of your choice with the babies and toddlers in your life (even the kindergartner will like Puffs and Bites). I think your readers would find this news interesting and I hope you'll share it with them.
We would also be glad to go a giveaway or online coupon.
I look forward to hearing from you.
All the best,
Helen
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