If you’re looking for a way to make money from home, you’re in the right place. We’re going to discuss how to make money from writing reviews online. In case you’re wondering, a review is “an article that provides an in-depth look at a product or service, the advantages and disadvantages of these products or services, and whether or not the reviewer actually uses the product or service himself/herself.”
You’ll notice we didn’t say “an article that provides an unbiased review” or “an objective review.” There’s a reason why. When you’re writing a review, you’re supposed to be representing one viewpoint only – yours. Allowing for a diversity of opinions within the review would make it more difficult for people to listen to your argument and, therefore, less inclined to believe you when you argue your case. You might just end up convincing nobody that your side of the argument is the right one. This wouldn’t do anyone any favors.
Now, let’s get to the good stuff – how can you make money from writing reviews?
The Basics
Before we get started, let’s establish some ground rules. You’re going to write reviews for money, right? That’s great! The only question is – how much money are you willing to make? If you’re looking to make a full-time living off review writing, you might want to reconsider that attitude. While it’s possible, it’ll be a tough row to hoe.
There are a few different ways you can make money with a pen and a notebook. You can get paid to read emails and take notes. You can get paid to pitch products or services to businesses. Or, you can get paid to write articles for publications such as this one.
Become A Product Reviewer
If you want to get paid to write reviews, the best approach is to become a reviewer of products. You’ll find freelance reviewing work from home opportunities almost everywhere. Just make sure you’re applying to legitimate companies and don’t get scammed. You’ll also need to make sure you’re legally able to work in the country where the company is headquartered. If you’re not yet 18, you’ll need to get permission from your parents or guardians to work. In some instances, the company may ask you to complete a work visa application. You’ll also need to make sure you’re not breaching any consumer laws in the country where you are reviewing products. For instance, in the UK, you must not use unfair competition to gain an advantage over other competition. Basically, what this means is that you can’t conduct a fraudulent business and then use that business to take advantage of consumers. You must not misrepresent your abilities and the services you offer. In most cases, this would mean that you are not allowed to tell people you are a professional writer when you’re not. It is against the law to lie about your abilities in the workplace. Your word is your bond – especially when you’re doing business with people you don’t know or have never met. In the UK, you can’t make false or misleading declarations regarding your goods or services. The list of declarations is quite long, so it would be beneficial for you to consult an expert in business law if you’re not sure whether or not you’re breaking any legal guidelines. In any case, being a product reviewer makes for a great side gig, especially if you want to get paid to write about products you love. Especially if you love technology, you can make a lot of money critiquing products such as tablets, computers, and smartphones.
The Pros And Cons Of Reviewing Products
There are a few significant pros and cons to reviewing products. Let’s examine both sides.
- Pro: You get to write about products you love
- Con: You get to write about products you love
- Pro: You’re helping consumers choose the right product
- Con: You’re helping consumers choose the right product
- Pro: You get to grow your own personal brand
- Con: You get to grow your own personal brand
As you can see, the pros outweigh the cons. But, again, it depends on how much you want to make. Writing for free is usually the best route to take. At the very least, you’ll gain experience and gain the ability to eventually charge more money for your reviews. One of the great things about writing for free is that you get to practice without financial commitment.
Freelance Writing
If you’re looking for an alternative way to make money, you could become a freelance writer. There are plenty of online opportunities where you can find highly-paid freelance writing jobs. All you need to do is apply and then start writing to land your first assignment. After that, it’s all about building up a solid portfolio and securing more freelance writing work. Many freelance writers choose to rent a desk at a local public library so they can keep all their work at hand while they work. It’s a great way to save money for gas and parking fees. When choosing your topic for a piece, make sure you pick something that’s going to be in demand. Also, make sure you are aware of the copyright laws pertaining to your chosen topic. As a freelance writer, you have to be careful not to plagiarize. Plagiarism is extremely serious business. It can also lead to legal action. In case you’re wondering, plagiarism is “the use of copyrighted materials without the permission of the copyright holder.” For example, if you are writing about a famous person and you use their name in your article without properly citing the source, you could potentially be accused of plagiarism. This would then become a huge problem for you as a freelance writer. As you can see, being a freelancer has many advantages. You get to choose your own hours. You get to choose your own topic. You get to build a personal brand. And, as a freelancer, you get to charge what you want for your work. It’s a win-win scenario for everyone involved. Except, maybe, for the employer who is now faced with a plagiarism issue.
Earning Money With A Blog
Blogs are a fantastic way to make money online. While it can be difficult to get started, once you do, you get to build a following and then monetize that audience. Now, you don’t have to have a huge audience to make a decent amount of money from blogging. It really depends on your target audience and how devoted they are to your blog. If you’re able to gain credibility as a blogger, you can then leverage that into gaining more freelance writing work and, eventually, full-time employment. Just remember: blogging is not a get-rich-scheme. It’s a way of life that can lead to significant financial gain. However, keep in mind that it takes a lot of work to establish yourself as an authoritative voice in your chosen field. If you’re looking for a way to make a quick buck, go with one of the above options instead.
How To Make Money From Writing Reviews
Hopefully, this article provided you with enough information to get you started making money from writing reviews. Just remember: writing reviews for money is a tough row to hoe. If you’re serious about making money online, pursuing freelance writing as a side gig is a more viable option. And, for those of you who want to make extra cash, try revising existing articles for cash. Just make sure you’re applying to legitimate companies and don’t get scammed. Make sure you’re using a VPN to protect your personal info while online. And, last but not least, make sure you’re not breaching any legal guidelines in the country where you are writing. Also, be sure to read our guide on how to write a review if you’re unsure of how to conduct yourself as a professional writer.