From time to time, companies send me items to review (for this site, but also for other websites where I write). Everyone has their own review style, but there are a few points you should always keep in mind.

• Don’t accept payments for your reviews – at least from the company that made the product. I personally think that it is ok to be paid for a review from a third-party, but it is definitely ethically gray to accept money from the review company.
• Be honest. If the product stinks, it stinks. Remember, people are relying on your review to know whether or not to purchase the product. If you give a bad product a good review just to please the company, you’re essentially robbing people of their money.
• List good and bad points. No product is perfect, and likewise, no product is completely worthless. Give a well-rounded review, even if you’d rate the item 0/10 or 10/10.
• Have a scoring system. It doesn’t have to be out of 10 (or a number at all). It can be a letter grade, or it can even be a final statement that says “buy it/leave it” or “thumbs up/thumbs down.” You just need something at the end that people can skim and get your opinion VERY quickly.
• Show some personality! That’s why people are reading YOUR review – they want to know what you think.

Reviewing products on your blog or through a company is a great way to earn more money as a freelancer, in a sense. Free products are definitely a perk!

A version of this post, written by me, was first published on b5media’s Bizzia website. It is reposted here with permission.