How to Write a Good Product Review

You see them everywhere: on the back of books or magazines, listed on websites, on posters if they're films and sometimes whole sites on the Internet are geared to listing them for every possible product. So, what are they and, why are they so important?

They are reviews and they're important because they help consumers decide whether or not they want to purchase that particular product or service. They are also an excellent marketing tactic for the companies or authors who request them. The trouble is, anyone can write a review but not everyone can write a good review. Quality will be the key factor in encouraging the consumer, to buy or not to buy the product, so the review must grab them almost straightaway.

So, how do you write a good review? To help you, here are my Top 10 Tips to becoming a good and respected reviewer whatever the product.

Please note: these tips can apply to anything that you need to review. Some of the suggestions might even be obvious but you'll be surprised at how often they are omitted:

The most important tip is to enjoy what you do. You must be an avid reader and enjoy discovering new talent and products. If you don't, it will show in your review.

As you read or browse, make a mental note or write it down if you think you'll forget, of specific areas of the product that spark something in you. This, also, could be an act or situation in a novel that you can personally relate to. For example, I could relate to the title of one novel that I reviewed recently. I was interested to see if the title mirrored my own personal experiences. Whether it did or didn't, in the end, is immaterial but what I felt on a personal level was then added to the final review.