Today’s Blogging 101 is on REVIEWS & GIVEAWAYS.
LET’S GO WAY BACK. When I first created Mom Spark, I was baffled at the giveaways I saw on other mom sites. They were giving away expensive electronics, clothing, and other high ticket items. How were they doing this and how could I get in on that? I didn’t have a clue. In my own naivety and inexperience, I reached out to a fellow blogger who was giving away a Flip Camera and asked her for her contact’s info. Obviously, I didn’t receive a response and I soon felt like an idiot for asking. I quickly realized that I needed to start from the bottom and work my way up. You know, like my fellow bloggers did. Who did I think I was anyway? It’s takes time to build up relationships with companies, and I had just begun. I wasn’t even receiving pitches or inquires from brands at that point, and even if I had, I wouldn’t have known what to do with them.
HOW I STARTED DOING IT. I began giving away items that I purchased myself. I would purchase things that I would put into my own household and thought my readers may like. I remember my first giveaway VERY clearly. I didn’t have much of a budget, so I searched high and low in Target’s clearance isle. I found some awesome photo frames and purchased them. I had my first prize and I very excited! At this point, I wasn’t reviewing the products, just simply giving them away. Finally getting my feet wet. Not expecting or wanting anything in return, but the pleasure of providing something cool to my readers. It also gave me a ton of practice.
THE NEXT LEVEL=REVIEWS. After a couple months, I wanted to take it to the next level and add reviews to the mix. How cool would it be to express my opinion AND provide a giveaway? I started reaching out to a few moms who had interesting products and I slowly started receiving items in the mail to review. I had it all planned out and organized, by assigning a day for each review and giveaway to be posted. All I had to do was write them. I mean, how hard could it be, really? Just sit down and write my thoughts, right? Wow, was I disillusioned. It was so much harder than I realized.
I’ll never forget my very first review, because it took me all day to write. It was on Ann Tillage’s book, Don’t Rock That Baby!, which didn’t take me long to read and form my opinion, but took forever to express in a post. I realized at that point that writing a decent review took skill, and most of all, time. More time that I had scheduled in my planner.
FEAR. I started to panic. I had already committed to do five other reviews and I honestly didn’t know if I had the chops to do it. I felt a bit overwhelmed and questioned why I was even putting myself through the stress and self-doubt of being a notable reviewer. Then I remembered why. I was doing it for my readers. I had a voice that my subscribers, as few as they were at the time, trusted. I was also providing a way for moms to experience the products for themselves. I was immediately reminded of the winner of my first giveaway who told me that her winnings were blessings, as small as they were, because times were tough economically. I never even considered that perspective going in. Suddenly, something as innocent of wanting to share an opinion and offering a giveaway to my audience became much more important to me.
STAYING TRUE. I have either been extremely lucky, or I am easy to please, because I have had nothing but positive experiences with the products I have reviewed. I have honestly only had one bad experience with a review, which was a skin care product. It was a tough decision, but I chose not to publish the negative review. Why? Well, because I should have never taken on the review in the first place. I have extremely sensitive skin, and most products break me out. This particular skin care product was no different, and I hated to judge the product on my abnormal skin. I let the business know about the problem and offered to return the product. After that, we split ways. This was obviously a special circumstance, and I believe you must stay true when writing reviews. If you do have something negative to say about a product, please do so with class and respect. Saying “I was disappointed that this product didn’t offer A, B, and C” is much more professional that saying, “This product blows.”
GIVEAWAY RULES, PICKING A WINNER & SHIPPING. Giveaway rules totally depend on who you are doing the giveaway for. When I was purchasing the giveaway items myself, I could pretty much set whatever rules I wished. Of course, this changed a little when I started working directly with brands. Some businesses will require a visit to their website, and some will totally leave it up to you. Regardless, it is pretty standard to include the following rules, after your review and description of prize:
- at least one comment to enter (you can offer other methods as well)
- deadline that includes date & time (I usually run my giveaways for one-two weeks)
- disclosure (more on this below)
Selecting a winner is typically done by using a random number generator, like random.org. Before using a random number generator, it is good to review the entries (comments) to make sure they were completed properly. Weed out any “illegal” entries to get a more accurate final number of entries. Don’t beat yourself up if you overlooked a bad entry, especially when you receive hundreds or thousands of comments.
It took me a few months to realize that the brand/PR firm could ship out the prize directly to the winner, and not to me. This way, the item is only shipped once, which means less chance of damage, and I am not standing in line at the post office with a cranky toddler. Saves time overall.
BURNOUT. I’ll be honest, there have been times that I have taken on way too much. I don’t recommend it. I remember once, last year, I had 10 outstanding reviews/giveaways, which may not sound like much for a legit review blog, but was a crazy amount for me. I was completely overwhelmed and suffered from serious burnout. I learned my lesson quick, though, and started saying “no”. The last thing I wanted to do was rush through work that I wasn’t proud of. Yes, I wanted the practice and experience, but publishing valuable content was more important and would be better received by my readers.
MEETING MORE BRANDS. So, how did I move from giving away Target clearance items to HP Laptops? Time and experience. As Mom Spark grew, the more offers I started receiving via email, and the less time I had to spend reaching out to others. When you build up a loyal following that respects you, brands will notice. Another HUGE way I started meeting brands was by attending blogging conferences. Don’t underestimate a conference expo hall! You never know the long lasting relationships you’ll create with brands by just simply speaking face to face. It’s extremely important and often goes beyond those reviews and giveaways.
DISCLOSURES. When I first started, disclosures were not a typical element of a review, but as we all know, it is now. Disclose everything. Disclose any compensation, whether it be in cash or product. Disclose when you haven’t received anything in return. Even when it all seems very obvious to you, disclose it. I am still getting used to this and I’m far from perfect on disclosing every little detail, but I’m getting better. I suggest creating an overall blog disclosure and one for each individual post. There is a great general disclosure template for blogs that can be found at www.disclosurepolicy.org. For an individual post, just simply state at the end of your post (or the beginning if you wish) that you were compensated via cash, product, etc.
WRITING IS A SKILL, EVEN WITH REVIEWS. As I stated earlier, I was completely ignorant to how difficult it was to write a decent review. Like any skill, it takes practice, practice, practice. The more reviews you write, the better you’ll get. Remember to use your actual experience in you review, and not just the fact sheet, which is a common mistake among new bloggers. For my reviews, I try to include both elements and specially state “from fact sheet” or “from brand’s website” when including the brand’s pre-written content. Don’t let those facts engulf my post, though. A good review sounds natural, as if you are talking to your mom or girlfriend. The length of a review should not be too lengthy, unless it’s completely necessary. Remember those most people have short attention spans. (which means that they may not read this post!)
PROMOTING YOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY. So how do you get the word out about your review and giveaway?
- Your feed. Your subscribers will see your post via your feed, and many will come visit and enter your giveaway.
- Your social networks. It’s okay to promote your review and giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, and the like, but don’t overdo it. Your followers will start to tune it out if it becomes too often.
- Giveaway listing sites. There are sites dedicated solely to promote your giveaway, so use them. I have included some resources below.
COMPENSATION, OR LACK THEREOF. This will probably turn into a future Blogging 101 post, because there is so much to say about it. Typically, the compensation for a review is the product itself, assuming you get to keep it. This form of compensation is a way to avoid a biased review that cash can create, and for the most part is fair. BUT, what about the work that goes into the giveaway and promotion of the product? In my opinion, any promotional work warrants cash compensation, although it is very difficult finding businesses who understand and/or agree. Many times, compensation also depends on the quality of your blog, page view stats, and number of social network followers. There is no magic formula for figuring out what you are worth, though. It’s honestly trial and error, and should not be expected when first starting.
TAXES. You may need to claim large ticket items that you receive for reviews on your taxes. If you receive cash as compensation, make sure you include it as taxable income, because it is. (even if you don’t receive a 1099) Please seek the advice of a tax professional before filing your taxes. It will come back to bite you if you don’t.
SELLING OUT. There is a stigma about review bloggers in the mom blogging community that I have yet to understand, but it does exist. Some see blogging as something that should not include brands, sponsors, and giveaways and would even dare say that we are “selling out” if we engage in it. I disagree. I would only be selling out if I didn’t consume food, use cleaning products, shop for clothing, use a computer, or, in other words, DID NOT BUY OR USE ANYTHING AT ALL. Obviously, this isn’t the case. It is a natural part of life for me, and countless other mothers (and humans for that matter), both online and offline.
There is, however, another side of the coin that I can’t ignore. There are reviewers who just simply want the products. Of course, you must have some interest in the product you want to review, but to take on a review solely for your own pleasure can be dangerous. Remember, your audience trusts you to be ethical and trustworthy, so always keep that perspective.
HARD WORK PAYS OFF. I know that sounds completely cliché, but nonetheless, it’s true. Just a year ago, I had just entered the review and giveaway world, and now I’m not only getting better at it and receiving more opportunities, but I am giving others the chance to get their feet wet, too. Hard work also includes making a TON of mistakes. Trial and error are my two best friends, and you’ll hear me saying that A LOT in my Blogging 101 series. From my experience, it seems to be the best way to learn.
RESOURCES. I have put together a list of great resources for reviews and giveaways that have worked for me in the past:
- Disclosure Policy – disclosure templates for blogs – www.disclosurepolicy.org
- Mom Spark Media – review opportunities, online blogging courses & more – www.momsparkmedia.com
- Mom Spark Giveaway Listing Sites - great list of giveaway listing sites - www.momspark.net/contest-giveaway-listing-websites-blog-linkys
- Random.org – random number generator for selecting winners – www.random.org
LET’S HEAR FROM YOU. Okay, now it’s time to hear from you. Is there something I missed that you would like to share? Did you learn something new? What questions do you have? I’m here to help!
Have an idea for a future Blogging 101? Email me at momspark@gmail.com!
About Mom Spark
I don’t do many reviews on my blog, but when I do, even if I paid for the item myself, I’ve found http://www.cmp.ly very useful for disclosure on a per post level.
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Mom Spark Reply:
March 22nd, 2010 at 6:59 pm
@PJ Mullen, Great resource, thank you! I’m going to check it out a little more.
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This is great information. I just started doing reviews on my personal blog. I am hoping to expand it quickly. The WM Network (wwwthewmnetwork.com) is looking to add a review site to the list soon too. This is very helpful!
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Wow! What a great post! Thank you so much for all that great information and guidance!
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Mom Spark Reply:
March 22nd, 2010 at 9:07 pm
@Mikki, It’s my pleasure!
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What a wealth of information here. I just started my blog almost three months ago and I asked someone on Twitter today if bloggers spend their own money for their giveaways and I was advised to read this post. I’m sure glad I did! Thank you for your help.
Carol
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Mom Spark Reply:
March 22nd, 2010 at 9:08 pm
@Carol, I’m so glad you found me! Welcome!
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Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I’m on my second giveaway. I see its very time consuming. Those that have review & giveaway sites, must have some great organization skills. I’m new to blogging & learning as I go. Its a great experience. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
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Thank you so much for posting this! I’m just getting into blogging and was trying to figure out how so many blogs were doing such great giveaways. I’m looking forward to more Blogging 101 posts.
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This is great! Thanks so very much for sharing this valuable info. I oo reached out to a fellow mom blogger and inquired about how she was getting some of the gadgets she was reviewing, like you…nada.
I understand. So thanks for your resource.
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Very good article.
Question: What’s the best way to count the giveaway entries? of if you come up with #933, how can you get to that # without having to count every single comment after the 200 limit on blogger? (Did that make sense?)
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Mom Spark Reply:
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:05 pm
@JamericanSpice, Great question. It really depends on your blog template. Sometimes you can set (I believe for Blogger & WordPress) your comments to appear 50 (or whatever number you set) at a time on each page. If so, you can count that way.
There is also a comment numbering plug-in called “Greg’s Threaded Comment Numbering” at http://clicky.me/NfU that may be helping for those who use WordPress, but even then, it’s doesn’t always appear in your template. I have this particular plug-in installed on Mom Spark, yet I can’t see the numbers in my template. I can, however, copy & paste all of my comments into a document program and the numbers will then appear. This is how I have finding my winners recently.
I wish there was an easier way to count comments! Anyone else have any suggestions?
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Great post girl!
I am really trying to figure out where I am to wade in these waters. Been getting review requests… for small product ($5-10 in product)… and am struggling. I don’t want to pass up opportunities, yet am having a hard time using time for a trade of $5 in product. Honestly, I am at a loss. I am embarrassed and unsure what to ask for when requests come my way.
I know my time is valuable, and do have a voice… One company pays me a fair compensation, and I want to make sure I have room for that. If I fill up on the others – I am afraid of the burn-out and I don’t want to give away time that is so always hard to come by. And I don’t want to miss opportunities.
*scraching head*
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Mom Spark Reply:
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:12 pm
@jennyonthespot, Depends on your goals. Do you want to review & giveaway larger priced items? Are you working towards compensation for the giveaways, too?
You can prioritize what you do take on, and make it known to the businesses. For example, when I have too much on my plate and I’m presented with an interesting offer, I tell them upfront that I’m interested, yet I cannot post the review for another month. Most businesses are completely cool with that. If not, it’s okay. Most times they will come back and approach you later.
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This is not only very helpful, but the light at the end of the tunnel for new bloggers like me!
It is mind bogling to see others giving aways fridges when I manage to offer my readers a single item that pales in size, price and excitement. My poor readers, is all I can think
The struggle of getting those readers and the follow love is also a good source of envy, but I guess as you say, time pays, patience does too.
Thanks for sharing!
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Amy Reply:
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:33 am
@mena, It takes time to build up to giving away fridges.
If you enjoy reviewing items, just keep at it and that time will come.
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Super helpful! Thank you so much for sharing your insight and wisdom. In a world where few share ‘shop secrets’ your post is encouraging! I’m interested in reviewing products, and am hoping to get there soon.
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Amy Reply:
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:36 am
@Kristi, Every blogger has their own secrets I suppose, and there are some things I keep close to my chest, but not this. I think the review world is big enough for all of us.
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Thank you for starting way at the beginning and reminding me that everyone has to start somewhere! When I created my site I knew that reviews would be an integral part of my content, but I had no idea that companies actually provided freebies to bloggers for that purpose. I just figured maybe I’d make a little bit more money from ad revenue than I would at a review site like epinions. I have only done one sponsored review/giveaway to date, but I really enjoyed it. I hope more opportunities will present themselves, but in the mean time I will keep up with the unsponsored reviews and try to build my traffic.
Have you ever contacted a company to ask for a review/giveaway, or do you always wait for them to come to you? Some bloggers recommend that you take the initiative, but I have been too chicken to do so. I feel like I could do a great job for some of these companies if they would give me a chance…problem is I’m not on their radar yet, and I feel like they would laugh at my stats if I approached them. I know I could do amazing things with a GOOD giveaway though.
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Amy Reply:
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:39 am
@Jennifer, Yes, I have contacted a company directly before and most times they are very supportive of my ideas.
I’ll be discussing PR, pitches, etc. in a future Blogging 101. For now, don’t be afraid to shoot an email to a company that you’re passionate about or interested in-it’s not a big deal if they say “no”, and if anything, it plants a seed. Don’t, however, seem extremely desperate or ever beg for anything.
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Great information. I was really scared at first to tell companies what I was WILLING to do, but found if I didn’t I was often resentful because all this takes so much time. What I do now is if I come across something that interests me, I will send an email back outlining how I can promote their product since I don’t really do reviews. I found that I suck at reviews but am pretty creative in writing about experiences with a product. No one reads my blog for product details so it is actually a better fit for me in the long run. So far several companies have passed, but quite a few have been interested and like that I am giving them another option.
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Amy Reply:
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:41 am
@Texasholly, Yes, that is smart. I do that a lot, too, and often send a media kit back as well. I’ll be covering more PRish stuff in the future and how to respond to a pitch. I think it’s great that you take your time seriously and know it’s value!
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The only thing missing for me is on reviews. As someone who reads and writes product reviews, I think it’s important to let newer bloggers know the importance of product photos. You don’t have to be the world’s greatest photographer, no one expects that, but showing your readers how you used the product and what it really looks like is just as important as honest writing. It’s also a nice visual break between blocks of text to keep the reader interested.
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Amy Reply:
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:43 am
@Cat, This subject seriously needs a part II on “how to write a review” because there is so much more to be said about it. Yes, nice, clear photos are very important in a review, and sometimes video is extremely effective in showing how a product works.
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What a wonderful post! Thanks so much for this, it was just what I was looking for
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Great information! I’ve been blogging for just over a year now but am beginning to start thinking about reviews/giveaways and just general growth of my blog. I will definitely be back reading more of Blogging 101.
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WOW – you gave up a lot of information! This is a MUST read for New Bloggers!! You even gave me some great reminders and things I never tought about doing:) SO Helpful, thank you!
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Amy Reply:
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:44 am
@Andrea Fellman, It’s my pleasure to help you and others! This info is just a tool. It still takes time and hard work to put it into action.
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I’ve done a few reviews on my site, and it’s not easy work. I have to find a way to work it in to my content without feeling like I’m selling out at the same time.
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Thanks this was a great post!
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I am very new to blogging (within the last month) and did not even know of opportunities to review products like that! I have considered including my thoughts on different products I currently use and find useful, but to be able to get some company to give me a product to try and review?!?! That would be great!!! I love things like that!
I am a long way from getting there, but if I ever do, you can bet I will remember your advice!!!
Thank you.
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Amy Reply:
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:45 am
@Michele, The more you can write about things you previously own, the more practice you’ll get and more reviews under your belt. More and more companies will start to approach you if you are providing quality reviews on your blog.
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Very well written. Blogging with reviews and giveaways is way harder than I thought it would be!
I have learned to make connections through other bloggers’ sites. If I enter a contest and they mention what review/sponsor site made their giveaway possible I click on it or google it and try to join.
I also look at their buttons. Many blogs have an area of their blog where they dedicate buttons from their “network” or affiliations. Again, if I see something interesting, I click it and try to join and I ALWAYS try to let the company/group know how I found them. (just in case they have a referral bonus type thing in place)
I haven’t graduated to pricey electronics but I have given away some great products over the last year and I am very glad to have had the opportunity to try some fabulous products too.
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Amy,
Thanks so much for this post! There are a lot of review/giveaway blogs that I am sure would be angry with your post, because they don’t like to “give” their opprotunities/secrets to “us”. So kudos to you, because I think that they of all people should understand because just like us they were once just starting out and that all we need is a little advice/direction!
There are giveaway sites that are supposed to help with giving bloggers review/giveaway opprotunities, but I feel that they only give them to the “experienced” review/giveaway blogs.
I have been blogging less than a year and have been contacted by some great companies for a few giveaways, {one of which was from a giveaway that I had one, I emailed the company to thank them for the product and hosting the giveaway & I sent my blog url and they emailed me back and asked if I would like to do a review and giveaway} I have also bought a few products myself and am a bit proud to say that I have contacted a few companies too!
I know how hard it is, and when I enter and win giveaways I ALWAYS make sure that the blogger knows how much that I appreciate what they are doing. When the company sends me{with my winnings} a receipt etc. I always contact them and say thank you also, because I think that they appreciate that we appreciate what they are doing!
Thank you for all of the information, it is very helpful and useful;}
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I’m just starting out but I have a question. How did you get contributors together? Do you pay them for their work. How does that work? Thanks for any info. It’s much appreciated. You’re great!
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Mom Spark Reply:
March 23rd, 2010 at 6:32 pm
@FreeBeeMom, For my contributors, I put a call out for contributors and selected a few from the pool. As far as paying contributors, that probably depends on the blog, and how much work the contributor is putting in. Many do it for the experience and extra exposure for their own site.
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Thanks for the great info! I’ve bookmarked this post for future reference.
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I love this new series! I can’t wait to read more. In fact, I think i need to reread this post again because I am sure I missed something the first time I read through it!
Thanks for all the tips and tricks Amy. Way to pay it forward to the bloging community!
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My best piece of advice is not to discount the small companies or the small products! I’ve worked with some very cool companies that are small but awesome. Some of the smaller companies are more flexible when working with you and in a couple of cases we had such a good experience, they’ve asked to do another giveaway on my blog.
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Mom Spark Reply:
April 14th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
@Condo Blues, Yes, very good point. I have had some of my best experiences with smaller businesses.
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Thanks so much for this awesome article!! It has been so helpful to me as a brand new blogger! My site has been up for 2 weeks today!
I’m enjoying it a lot so far but want to get the word out about my blog so thanks for these resources!!
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Thanks so much for this awesome article!! It has been so helpful to me as a brand new blogger! My site has been up for 2 weeks today!
I’m enjoying it a lot so far but want to get the word out about my blog so thanks for these resources!!
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Mom Spark Reply:
April 14th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
@Janel C, You are so welcome! Thank you for commenting.
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Just a note of caution here. Recent rumblings show that now that the FTC has discovered bloggers, so, too, is the IRS taking note.
In particular? The fact that every prize you win in a blogging contest has to be reported on your tax return and taxes paid on it.
(See: http://www.wwwebtax.com/income/prizes_and_awards.htm for quick reference)
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf -
pg 92, Chap 12
“Lotteries and raffles. Winnings from lotteries and raffles are gambling winnings. In addition to cash winnings, you must include in your income the fair market value of bonds, cars, houses, and other noncash prizes.”
pg 95, Chap 12
“Prizes and awards. ing this transportation. If you win a prize in a lucky number drawing, television or radio quiz program, beauty contest, or other event, you must include it in your income. For example, if you win a $50 prize in a photography contest, you must report this income on Form 1040, line 21. If you refuse to accept a prize, do not include its value in your income.
Prizes and awards in goods or services must be included in your income at their fair market value.”
I’m not even going to get into the whole other aspect of contests & giveaways here that is at issue – but if you’re helping people to understand the contest thing? Mentioning somewhere that all taxes are the responsibility of the winner is a good thing.
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Mom Spark Reply:
April 14th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
@Lucretia Pruitt, Thank you, Lucretia, this is something that I will be discussing in a future Bloggging 101. I plan on talking to my accountant this week about giveaway winnings, products given to me for reviews, and sponsored events. I keep hearing from other bloggers that unless we receive a 1099 from businesses, we don’t need to claim these prizes and trips, but that just doesn’t sit well with me.
Thank you for the links.
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Lucretia Pruitt Reply:
April 17th, 2010 at 2:43 am
@Mom Spark, There are a lot of bloggers who mistakenly believe that. The law only requires a business to send you a 1099 if the value or cash is more than $600 in the course of a year. But the IRS says you have to claim *every* income – even if it’s only the $2 you made selling something on eBay.
Do they enforce it? Not terribly much.
But they’re taking a look at the whole blogging thing – because we’re talking about it. We talk about the computers, refrigerators, and even small prizes. They’ve got evidence that there was a contest and that someone won it. We’re kind of making it easy for them and hard for them to ignore.
Hope your accountant gives you the right advice – because I heard someone tell me that her accountant said “if it’s under $100 you don’t have to claim it.” The IRS disagrees – and their the ones who can audit you. :\
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Mom Spark Reply:
April 17th, 2010 at 10:26 am
@Lucretia Pruitt, I think some clear guidelines need to be set on what (and what not) to claim and bloggers need to be made aware. Like, one reliable website they can visit that includes layman terms and clear rules. The “advice” that is floating around the blog community right now, even from accountants, is inconsistent and confusing. Maybe because this is new territory.
My husband and I have been business owners for 11 years, so we’re used to claiming income sans a 1099, but new bloggers who are accepting freebies/sponsorships/trips/cash don’t even realize that are business owners now, too.
I also think bloggers don’t want the buzz kill of having to pay tax on sponsorships. I wonder which is more beneficial in the long run – paying tax on a conference sponsorship, or writing off the expense by paying out of pocket for one? Certainly makes me think twice about accepting one.
I presented everything I received last year to my accountant and I cannot wait to hear his thoughts. I will certainly be sharing them with my community.
Lucretia Pruitt Reply:
April 17th, 2010 at 2:43 am
@Mom Spark, p.s.? Loving this series of yours!! Great info!
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Mom Spark Reply:
April 17th, 2010 at 10:27 am
@Lucretia Pruitt, Ahh, thank you. I’m enjoying it and have so many ideas for more. I appreciate you commenting and leaving valuable information. The comments are just as helpful as the post!
I have been wanting to look into doing reviews. Thanks for all the good advice!
As far as giveaways are concerned I LOVE Random.org! Makes life so much easier.
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Don’t know how I missed this post, but it’s another great one Amy! Thanks.
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Mom Spark Reply:
April 19th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
@craftymomof3, Thank you so much!
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Great Post Amy – I really enjoyed that!!!
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Really good sharing this.
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Outstanding post. My main blog will be three years old in June. I’ve done a few reviews and giveaways, but nothing major. I’m not a ‘mom’ (just a step-mom to three adult children and mom to three Border Collies), so my reviews are different than ‘mom reviews’. Also, my blog is a personal and photography blog – it is not a ‘review blog’. I still, however, truly love having the opportunity to offer my readers a product I believe in.
I, too, am very interested in the TRUE tax laws now of what we have to claim and what we do not. I think if our winners need to claim their winnings on taxes, we owe it to them to make sure they know that. However, WE all need to have an understanding of the exact laws, before we know how to advise.
This Blogging 101 series is an outstanding idea and wonderful contribution to the blogging community. Even though I’ve been blogging for three years, I’ve still learned a LOT from your posts so far!
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Mom Spark Reply:
May 5th, 2010 at 10:31 am
@Misty Dawn, Thank you so much! Yes, I agree about providing tax info for our winners is a great idea. I am thinking about adding a reminder to each one of my giveaway posts in the future. It’s something that I’m sure most winners, or bloggers, don’t think about.
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Hi, I stumbled upon this site just looking for something as a guide in starting to do reviews. I got my first review and giveaway through csn | stores. They had me do another review because they liked my first review.
The thing is, is they always contacted me. I’ve never contacted a company myself. Is there things I should say when I contact them? Like should I mention that I’ve been a guest writer on a certain site, was a preferred reviewer for csn | stores, or do they not want to hear that stuff? Do I go on about how much I like their product(s) online, or do they see that as kissing up too much?
Maybe I’m over thinking this. I just don’t want to go about corresponding in the wrong way.
Thank you!
Alissa
alissa apel´s last [type] ..CSN Stores – Giveaway!
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Mom Spark Reply:
August 15th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
@alissa apel, Just be yourself. You can say something like, “I am very interested in reviewing your product because…” and offer them more information on your blog if they need it.
Good luck!
Mom Spark´s last [type] ..Seattle’s Best Toddy Cold Brew System Review Giveaway
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Great post! Look forward to reading more Blogging 101 posts! I’ve been blogging on a personal blog for 3 years, but new at the blog with reviews, contests, etc. I will definitely add you to my blogroll! You have great info to share thank you!
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