I have written several product reviews for different brands before. One of the things you want to achieve when writing a product review is that you want it to be as informative as well as compelling enough to stimulate user interest.
In this era of digital commerce (e-commerce), being able to write a product review correctly is an invaluable skill that can bring success to your online business reviews. Whether you are reviewing the latest gadget, a bestselling book, or an essential household item, you should aim to informatively compel your audience about the product or service in question.
In this post, you will see 8 strategic steps on how to correctly write a compelling product review.
Specific Objectives To Target When Writing a Product Review
To write a good product review correctly, the following objectives should be met.
- Aim to add value to your audience through the information you provide.
- Stay as neutral as possible while subtly recommending your product to the readers.
- Engage the power of visuals to create compelling illustrations.
- Do your fact-checking within the content.
- Employ the use of statistical data if possible.
- Use simple-to-understand descriptions when writing your review.
8 Practical Tips to Write a Product Review Correctly
Now that we have seen the core objectives that must be met in writing a product review, we will see some practical tips for writing a compelling product review that sells.
1. Research the Product
Before diving into your product review, invest time in comprehensive research about the product. Study the manufacturer’s descriptions, specifications, and user’s manual if available.
A thorough knowledge of the product’s intended use and its target audience will help you build a well-informed and insightful review your audience would love.
While doing your product research, you will find other products similar to the product you are reviewing. This information will help you to subtly introduce comparisons and how your own product stands out from the crowd.
2. Test the Product
This is something I have frequently done for most of the products I have reviewed. For example, when I was reviewing this GPS car tracker, the device was shipped to me after which I tested it personally to see how it really works.
Firsthand experience makes your product review more compelling. If possible, utilize the product extensively and over an extended period. Take diligent notes during this testing phase to capture the nuances of its performance, durability, and any peculiarities. The more thorough your testing, the more robust and credible your review will be.
3. Use Descriptive Language
Instead of using vague statements like “The bag is good”, use “The bag is fanciful and spacious enough to accommodate all you will basically need”. Descriptive language helps to create a detailed picture of the product for your readers.
You want them to see the product in their mind’s eye, to feel, and experience the product through your words. By creating such an immersive experience for your readers, they are more likely to purchase the product at the end of the review.
4. Consider the Audience
You must be seen trying to tailor your review to your intended audience. Not everyone wants a product at any given time. So, you should specifically state or infer who might be interested in the product from the start.
Once you know who your target audience is, it is important to think about their specific needs, preferences, and interests, while also speaking in a way and manner they will understand.
For example, if your target audience for a particular product includes parents seeking family-friendly products, you want to avoid too much technical jargon because not all parents would be technically informed to understand them.
Whatever the target audience is, be it tech-savvy consumers, professionals, gamers, etc, your review should address their important concerns while focusing on the aspects of the products that matter to them the most.
5. Have a Structure
While you want to share your personal experience about a product in an alluring way, you should address specific sections. You should organize your thoughts and create an informative review in the following sections:
a. Product features
The “product features” section should describe the product’s physical attributes and capabilities. Describe the design, the aesthetics, the dimensions, and any unique functionality that sets the product apart.
The aim of this is to give your readers a clear understanding of what the product looks like and what it can do. Illustrate and highlight how the features contribute to the overall user experience.
b. Performance and functionality
Under this section, share your experiences with the different aspects of a product’s performance, such as speed, accuracy, or efficiency. Being able to clearly convey fact-checked information about a product’s performance and functionality can make users feel like they know well about the product before purchasing it.
Offer real-world scenarios to back up your observations, and specify in which areas the product met, exceeded, or fell short of your expectations.
c. Pros and cons
As much as you want to sell the pros of a product to your user, you also want to state some of its weaknesses to provide a balanced review. Share the features that impressed you and also state areas that have room for improvement.
When sharing your product’s pros and cons, remember specificity is key. Instead of simply listing the pros and cons, elaborate on why certain aspects are advantageous or problematic in a way that makes the user grasp the significance of each point.
d. User experience
User experience is one of the most important aspects of any product review. This is why it is important to first try out the product you want to review.
Discuss things like ease of setup, ease of operation or maintenance, user satisfaction from using the product, and any pleasant surprises or standout experiences that could influence a potential buyer’s decision.
Share any challenges you encountered and how you resolved them. The “User Experience” section should basically provide practical insights into a product’s usability and comfort.
e. Durability and longevity
Durability is a very critical factor that most consumers focus a lot on, so your observations in this area will be essential for a well-rounded review. Nobody wants to buy a product that gets bad only after two days of regular use.
This section discusses the product’s build quality and its ability to withstand regular use. If applicable, mention any issues, or wear and tear you have noticed over time, and what time it started to develop.
You want to answer questions like, “How reliable is the product”, “What is the average lifespan”, “What is the minimum amount of force that can cause damage to the product”, etc.
f. Value for money
No product has it all. Users go for the product that has the basic features they need and is within their budget. Thus, a good review will not be complete if it does not address the value for money spent in buying the product.
Is the product worth the price? Evaluate whether the product offers good value for its price, and compare it to similar products in terms of features, performance, and cost.
This is also where you will discuss whether the financial investment in the product aligns with the benefits and advantages it offers. Ultimately, readers should have a clear sense of whether the product offers a reasonable return on investment, or not.
6. Include visuals
Visuals are a powerful tool to write a compelling product review. Adding images and videos about your product can showcase it in action alongside your written content.
Visuals should be clear, well-lit, and focused on highlighting the key features you are trying to describe. In cases where size matters, you should make your visuals should be printed to scale as much as possible.
Visual aids not only enhance the reader’s understanding but also make your review more engaging, compelling, and memorable.
7. Encourage engagement
At the end of your review, encourage readers to participate actively by leaving comments or asking questions about any aspect of the product. Create a sense of community by responding promptly and thoughtfully to their inquiries.
This engagement builds trust with your audience and provides an opportunity for further discussion and sharing valuable insights, enriching the overall review experience.
You may also want to encourage the user to view the product checkout page or include a discount coupon to motivate them to do so.
8. Address potential concerns
I already mentioned addressing the consumer’s concern under the “consider your audience” section but it is worth reiterating here. You should not shy away from addressing any known issues or limitations a product may have.
Be open about those issues and concerns, and explain how they affect the overall user experience. This demonstrates transparency and offers valuable guidance to potential buyers helping them to make informed decisions.
This may be different if you are a paid reviewer but as much as you want to bring out the positives, keep it as balanced as possible by providing the cons too. That way, potential buyers see that you are not only interested in getting their buck but also giving them value.
Final words
I hope these points and discussion help you to write better product reviews and more correctly next time. Remember, the main goals are about providing value to your audience, painting a picture of the product, and describing why the next person should go ahead to purchase the product you are offering.
