How to Write the Perfect Review Post

Write the perfect review post

Do you want to make sales of affiliate products and services?

The answer is probably yes – who wouldn't!

In this post, you'll learn how to write a review of an affiliate product or service.

The purpose of a review is, of course, to make sales. But, unlike a sales page that uses persuasive language and various other marketing tactics, a review is designed purely to give the user information along with the author's opinion.

Let’s look at the main advantages of review posts

A well-written review post can potentially attract a lot of free search engine traffic. The word ‘review’ is a popular Google search term. Not on its own but combined with other words.

For example:

‘iPhone SE review’
‘review of Garmin Fenix pro’

Review posts are relatively easy to write. They don’t require as much thought power as other types of posts.

People love reading reviews (as mentioned, the word ‘review’ is a popular Google search term) and will often read the entire post, which can help to increase the post’s Google rankings. In turn, this can bring even more traffic.

(if you want to know more about how your blog’s posts and pages rank and get traffic from Google, watch this short video course).

In general, a review post will get a much better conversion rate – i.e., more sales relative to the number of people who visit the page on your blog where the review is published – than affiliate banners/ads in the sidebar.

Decide what the review will be about

Review products that are highly relevant to your audience. For example, if I were planning on creating a review to publish on Build That Blog, I would look at the paid tools and services that bloggers need or would benefit from using.

Avoid the big brand products and products that a large percentage of the population uses or owns (mass market products). Instead, go for products with smaller target markets.

Choose only the best quality products that provide the best value for money, even if that means settling for a lower affiliate commission than might be on offer elsewhere.

If possible, review products that you use or have used in the past. It’s always easier to speak from personal experience.  

Make sure there’s an affiliate program available. Not all products and services have one. And, in case you don’t get accepted, it’s advisable to apply to join the affiliate program before writing the review post.  

(See this forum post about beginner friendly affiliate programs and how to get accepted).

Write the Title

Keep it simple. Include the word review or
reviewed or reviewing, and the name of the product.

Example:

Review of the Ancheer Folding Electric Mountain E-Bike

Or

Ancheer Electric Folding Mountain E-Bike Reviewed

Another example:

Detailed Review of the Swagtron Elite Plus Folding Electric Bike

Or

Reviewing the Swagtron Elite Plus Folding Electric Bike

When reviewing two similar products and comparing them, use the word ‘versus’ in the title.

Example:

Review of the Ancheer E-Bike Versus Swagtron Elite Plus

Or

Reviewing Ancheer E-Bike Versus Swagtron Elite. Which is Best?

And, what about a review post that compares multiple products? Include the name of one product.

Example:

Ancheer Folding E-Bike Versus Other Makes Reviewed

Or

Reviewing the Ancheer E-Bike Versus Other Electric Folding Bikes

Write the Introduction

Write an introductory paragraph that sets the scene for the rest of the post. Use the name of the product and again use the word ‘review’ or its variation. Here’s an example of an introduction for a post reviewing the Ancheer e-bike.

As a basic, low-budget e-bike, the Ancheer folding electric mountain bike is surprisingly powerful and robust. In this review, we’ll cover the pros and cons along with everything else you need to know before deciding if this is the right e-bike for you.

After the introduction, write another paragraph with a bit of information about the product; here’s an example of the second paragraph.

The upgraded version has more power with an improved motor and a better battery. It gives a smoother ride than expected, and the US version can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.

After the second paragraph, move into the Pros and Cons.  

For example:

What’s great about the Ancheer electric bike?

  • It’s powerful enough to get you up steep hills without losing speed.
  • Smooth gear changing.
  • Lightweight aluminum frame.
  • Easy to fold.
  • Fits easily into most vehicles.
  • Good range of about 25 miles before the battery needs recharging.
  • Hybrid tires for multi-surface cycling.
  • Comes with a headlight, mudguards, and horn.
  • Comfortable seat.
  • Attractive design.
  • Excellent value for money.

What’s not so great?

  • Only comes in one size and might feel too small if you’re over 6 ft.
  • Can be tricky to put together. It might be advisable to take it to a bike shop for assembly.
  • The motor casing is water-resistant and can easily withstand heavy rain, but it's not 100% waterproof and isn't suitable for submerging in water.

Talk About the Features

Next, talk about features and expand on some of the points given in the list of pros and cons. Don’t expand on all of them (unless the list is very short). Instead, choose the most important points.  

For example, when somebody is thinking about which e-bike to purchase, one of the first things they want to know about is the motor. Therefore when writing a review about the Ancheer e-bike, the motor is the first feature I would discuss in detail. 

Create a sub-heading for each feature, like this:

The Motor

(a few sentences about the motor including any benefits)

The Battery

(a few sentences about the battery including any benefits)

And so on…

Write a Conclusion

Example:

As a budget e-bike, the Ancheer folding mountain bike represents excellent value for money. It’ll take hills with ease and stand up to bumps and rough road surfaces. It’s unlikely to be suitable for very rough terrain or any serious off-road stuff, but it’s more than adequate for the average rider. 

List the Specifications if Applicable

Not all products have specifications, but if it applies, make sure to list them.  It's not necessary to explain or go into details. Just list them.

(your list of specs goes here)

Add Calls to Action (CTA)

Now go back and add some links so that the user can click through and purchase the product.

How many links to add?

It depends on the length of the review post. A good rule of thumb is to add one for every 300 words, roughly. Make sure there is always one within the first 100 words, and one at or near the end of the post.

Use anchor text, buttons, the full URL, or a combination.

What’s anchor text?

In the sentence below, the words improved version are being used as anchor text because they link to the product page (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08TBGR1VH)

The improved version has three different modes – electric mode, utility mode, and manual mode.

You can (and should!) also include direct calls to action.

For example, as a link:

Click Here to Get it on Amazon

Or, as a button:

Add Images

Finally, go back and add images. If possible, take your own photos. If not, only use images supplied by the affiliate program. Don’t take images from other websites or Google because these are usually subject to copyright.  

Extra Tips

A golden rule when creating comparison reviews

Always create a comparison review so that one of the products or services is the clear winner. Why? Because otherwise, you are not helping readers make a decision, and if they can’t make a decision, they won’t make a purchase.

How long should a review post be?

Readers want to get all the information, but they don’t want to spend too long doing it. Around 1000 - 1500 words are about right, although,  it will vary between different types of products or services and whether it’s a single product review or a comparison review.

Are there any plugins for creating review post templates?

Yes, but not many. 'WP Product Review Lite' is free, and 'WP Reviews' is priced at $67 for one site.

https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-product-review/

https://mythemeshop.com/plugins/wordpress-review/

At the time of writing this article, the free plugin has not been updated in two months, which is quite a long time. See this forum post about WordPress security and outdated plugins. If you decide to use it, keep an eye on it to make sure that it is getting updated from time to time.

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Theo McArthur

Theo McArthur has been blogging for more than 20 years and has extensive experience with WordPress, content marketing, and affiliate marketing. In 2016 she launched the video training course, 'Blogging for a Living', and has taught over 22,000 students how to set up their own successful blog

Get the Step-by-Step Video Training Course and Start Your New Blog Today :)

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