How to Write a Product Review Disclaimer for a Blog
- 1). State what items are you willing to review, what items you refuse to review, and whether or not the company can send the item directly to you without notification or if you would like to be notified first.
- 2). Let companies know your readership.Companies like to make sure the products they provide for review match the blog’s audience. In other words, they want to target the right audience in hopes of gaining sales, clients and customers. That’s why it’s important that you place a stat counter on your blog. A stat counter will not only tell you who is reading your blog, but where your readers are coming from and how they found you.
- 3). State your return policy.While it is true that major companies often require their reviewers to return the merchandise they review--to keep the reviews unbiased--you are not required to return any product you review, nor are you required to pay for any service you experience. In fact, doing so could be very costly and not worth the time and effort put into reviewing said products or services. That’s why it’s important that you have a return policy in place.Something as simple as “No product will be returned, under any circumstance” can suffice, but you may want to be more detailed.
- 4). Develop a timeline.Depending on whom you review for, your timeline for getting the review published may vary. Some companies want products reviewed on specified days. Other companies want products to be reviewed during a certain timeframe so that they coincide with the product’s launch date. And other companies simply do not care. Your best bet is to include a timeline of two to four weeks from time of delivery.
- 5). Include your mailing information.Companies are not going to trust blogs that do not include real contact information. Therefore, if you want to review products you must include your name, mailing address (even if it is a P.O. box) and your email address. A headshot is also a nice touch as it makes you appear real and not as though you are hiding behind your blog.
- 6). State your overall policy.This is where you tell the company that you will be posting unbiased reviews. You should also tell companies that while you appreciate the product, you will not give out a good review in exchange for the product. This is where you tell the company that whether you choose to give an unfavorable review, a favorable review or no review at all, you will not pay for any product given to you for review. You can also remind companies that review products are given to reviewers free of charge as part of their marketing campaigns. State that you have the right to not post reviews or review products that you did not specifically request or that don’t meet your standards.