How to Become a Professional Review Writer

As a professional reviewer, you can probably imagine one of the questions I get asked most often -- "how can I become a professional reviewer, too?"

Having been asked this very question twice already in one day, I thought it was time I tried to take a break from the reviews I have stacked up, and products waiting to be written about, and touch on this question just a little.


The answer is not a simple one, and I'd even go so far as to say there isn't necessarily an answer. 

I know, it's not the answer anybody wants to hear, and I apologize from the very depths of my pink heart, but the truth is that reviewing has so much to it. So much.

It simply wouldn't be possible to touch on every aspect and not leave cobwebs hanging around un-answered in the corners of your questioning mind.

The best answer I have, honestly, is to do what I did...

Simply start reviewing! 

This is one of those areas --  much like any type of writing where one intends to become a pro at--  where the old saying "just start writing" is applicable. 

That's just what I did.

I started by writing up informative reviews -- informative meaning your work must offer some kind of insight about the product that would truly, truly be helpful and useful to a potential buyer. A lot of times novice reviewers forget that their job isn't to sell the product, but rather to dig so deep into said product and manufacturer that you leave no stone un-turned. 

You must dig so deep that by the time you're through, you know everything from the ingredients in your product to important points about the manufacturer. How did they become a company? What made them start the business and create the product they did?

What about the product will stand out as worth it aspects and not worth it aspects to an owner of the product.

If I recall correctly, my first review was on a drugstore shampoo I'd used with really positive results for years. 

I simply started with what  I already had. I went and looked in my skincare box to see if any of the skincare products I use were worthy of a review, good or bad. I scoured my bathroom to look for any creams, soaps, and random hair-removal products that I had a particularly useful thing to share with the world about.

I even looked in my closet. 

But I didn't stop there.

As any professional reviewer does, I began to think like a reviewer, breathe like a reviewer, eat like a reviewer, act like a reviewer, and well, sometimes smell like a reviewer. You know what they say, there's a downside to every career, and sometimes, smelling is one of them.

I'm only kidding about that, but you really do have to learn how to get in the mind-set of the person it is you intend to be known as. Just like with anything in life, you have to get into  character if you want to do your best job at something. 

A dentist has to think about teeth, tongues, and gums before she/he ever holds that drill (ouch!) in her/his hands. 

A writer has to get in the mind-set of being one who writes before she/he can put words on paper. Well, read-worthy words, anyways. 

You get the point. 

Every product you see or use suddenly becomes a product you can learn something more about, something that isn't printed on the label for you. Something you have to find yourself. 

And that's when you have something to put to paper (or website.) 

If a product did something spectacular for you, then part of your job is already cut out for you. Start with that spectacular thing your brand new phone or wrinkle cream did for you. 

That is what readers/potential customers who your review is for in the first place are looking to find out when they Google it.

But it doesn't stop there, either.

There's so much that can be reviewed. Even things you wouldn't automatically think of reviewing can be reviewed.

What about your local restaurants? Most folks have a favorite, one they frequent so often that the waitress/waiters already know what you'll be ordering when you step in their front door.

What about that moving company you used last year that made life so much easier? 

I'll bet you guys didn't ever consider those areas as in-need-of-reviews, but they are. 

Consider the places you've purchased from online and loved their customer service, or fast shipping, or perhaps you had a free sample tossed in (a lot of companies do this as a thank you). Review them! Go to Yelp, or Google+, or heck, go to the actual website you purchased from, and leave feedback.

Many websites and online shops have a place where you can post a brief feedback piece or review and simply hit the submit button, just like if you were leaving a comment on a Facebook post. 

One good example of a website that's caught itself several well-written reviews (where folks stated all the useful details of their experience with the company, including what the company offered that you may not know just upon reading their homepage) is www.ontarioexteriorsolutions.ca. 

On their homepage, you are given the option (right in the right-hand corner) to click on the "HomeStars" button (a site where people can post feedback for a company, much like the website Yelp) so potential customers can easily read through the reviews that folks have left regarding their windows and doors, (and more) services.

If you're one of the people who have wondered how you can dive into the world of reviewing, but perhaps you've not found anywhere to share your insight, I highly recommend you take to sites like Yelp, HomeStars, and even take the time to post your review/feedback directly to a company webpage. Some sites will even have a "testimonials" page, like Ontario Exterior Solutions does, which features their customers' reviews directly on their website! That's something to be proud of.

By posting feedback/reviews on the actual company website, you allow potential customers to read your opinion/experiences right off the bat instead of having to go hunt down reviews for the product or service they're looking into, and I can assure you, folks will appreciate it. 

And so will the companies and businesses you're taking the time to leave feedback on. 


I would even say that this is the best place a person who wants to become a professional reviewer can start. Companies always appreciate feedback (well, 90% of them do.) And chances are, you may make some fabulous connections by simply leaving a paragraph expressing your appreciation over the awesome customer service you were lucky enough to have received. 

I use Ontario Exterior Solutions' website and reviews as an example of a company that makes it easy for you to share your opinion/reviews/feedback and also has a handful of well-written, quality feedback that you can learn from. 

Look at the points the reviewers made in their reviews for this company: 

One reviewer quickly states several extremely useful factors when they say that they were given a written quote. 

They go on to say that once they hired Paul, his team arrived on time and worked diligently

They also point out important aspects of the team's attitude while working the job using words like "polite, courteous, great team effort, neat, and tidy."



Just those short snippets of the first review posted for Ontario Exterior Solutions speaks volumes about the company. The reviewer put so many useful details into the review that one leaves the page feeling pretty comfortable about the team they may be hiring. They have an image of happy, positive attitudes working hard on the job they'll hire them for.

Of course, had their experience gone the total opposite of "polite, courteous, diligently working," etc. that review, while it wouldn't be likely to help the company gain more customers, will still prove to be useful to those out there who are looking to know something about the service/product they're contemplating purchasing, and that's where you become the helpful product reviewer. 

Whether you've had a nightmare experience at a local restaurant that served you a Coke with a bloated fly floating around within it, or you received excellent service from, say, Ontario Exterior Solutions, you have something you can provide to the people who are your audience -- your readers, everyday people who're considering using a product or service that you've already used and can help them along with their decision (or comfortability even) to purchase. 

That's what's in it for us reviewers. 

That is why we slave over research and ingredients and possible benefits of a product. 

So we can help our fellow shoppers make informed buying decisions before they even have to buy.

Truthfully, you do learn a lot from reviewing companies and websites who you shop with, so don't underestimate the impact of taking that step in becoming a reviewer. Over time, your reviews build and build, and you become someone who folks trust. Your opinion matters and will be the first one people seek when need guidance on a purchase.