Review Blogs are the latest trend in marketing your small business and if used correctly can really help either launch or draw attention to your new business. Even existing businesses can draw exposure and potential sales from these amazing traffic generating machines.
But beware-not all shopping blogs are alike!
Most of these Blogs are what is lovingly called “Mommy Blogs”. Often started by Mom’s and geared towards the mom demographic these blogs can sometimes be hard to “justify” in your marketing or ad campaigns. By checking out the blogs and doing your research you will learn what blogs may be worth your efforts and which ones may be a virtual waste of time.
How do I know how to choose a Review Blog that will help me?
1) Demographics – Read the blog you are considering, know what their focus is and who they market to. If you are selling baby bottle covers, then a fashion blog will probably not work. But if you are selling fashion jewelry then you are in baby!
2) Comments – While browsing the blog be sure to check out the comments. If the blog only generates a few comments on a giveaway post, that is not a good signal.
3) About Us – Always read the about us page on a blog. You may find they have other blogs and will learn a lot about the style and interests of the blog editor. These are important to know when submitting your products.
4) Product Submissions – You only have one chance to make a great impression! Carefully read their submission/editorial guidelines to ensure that you are contacting them in the way THEY prefer. Some want samples mailed to them, others just want email with images, while others will do a write-up from just from your initial correspondence.
5) Samples - This is a delicate area. Many blogs will request samples of your product, this can be an expensive mistake or smart investing! Before sending a sample to any blog, be sure to check out our reviews here at howisthebiz.com, view their Alexa ranking carefully and do a quick web search on the blog name to see if there has been any complaints about the blog.
Again, always use caution when conducting any marketing or advertising whether on a blog or in a magazine. It can get very expensive to get your brand built, or it can be done on a shoe string budget-the choice is yours!
article by Jill Caren/Modern9 Photo Design
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