Most people love to read reviews about books and films; it’s a sign of intelligence to have an open mind and be curious about everything. What makes reviews special is that they aren’t simply about whether or not you liked the text, but they dive deep into what you as a reader should know about it. This is why they’re so valuable – the reviewer takes the time to explain the story, analyze the writing, and offer advice about what to watch out for. In today’s world, where instant information is available at the tip of your fingers, it’s more important than ever to go into detail about the things you’re passionate about. This is also why writers are slowly but surely moving towards becoming in-demand freelance reviewers. Although it can be great fun to read reviews and gain valuable insights, it’s important to understand that they can be rather demanding. Sometimes it takes a lot of dedication to write a good review, and the compensation can be rather meagre.
The Great British Library
The British Library is one of the largest libraries in the world. It houses over 12 million books and spans across 69 miles of corridors, adding up to about 30,000 tons of books, manuscripts, and other media. This is a place that you could easily spend a whole day just wandering around, soaking up some literature and enjoying the atmosphere. It would be a shame to only visit London and not make the most of such a spectacular culture mash-up. Walking into the reading room is like falling into a time warp. The wooden floors, original fixtures, and leather-bound fiction give the place an air of bygone days when the likes of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Jekyll first walked these halls. The great thing about the British Library is that, apart from being a place of peace and introspection, it’s also a place where you can get paid to write reviews!
What is particularly appealing about the British Library is that the compensation is rather high. According to the library’s website, “The Reviewer will normally be paid on a per-entry basis, with between £16 and £20 per review.” This could potentially earn you £40 per week, or about £2,000 per month, which is a significant sum for an independent writer. As an added bonus, you get to keep all your work, which the library legally owns, so if you ever decide to go freelance, they’ll likely consider you a valuable asset.
Online Marketplaces
Online marketplaces have completely changed the way we buy and sell just about everything. Whether you’re looking to buy a car, house, or simply want to stock up on dog food, online marketplaces have made it much easier to find exactly what you want, when you want it. However, although online marketplaces make it easy for consumers, they’re rather difficult for businesses and brands. This is because they don’t always provide enough transparency into the bargain, especially when it comes to online scams. As a result, reputable companies and brands often have to resort to using shady tactics to combat fraud.
It’s a lose-lose situation for both parties. If a company wants to protect their reputation, they have to be very careful about who they offer their products to. This is where writing reviews comes in. If a company or brand wants to attract the best reviews possible, they’ll need to compensate you, but on the other hand, if they want to hide something they’re not proud of, then reviews are going to be their worst nightmare. This is why a lot of the time reviewers are reluctant to reveal what they were paid for.
Online Classified Advertising
Although online marketplaces have made it easier for consumers to find what they want, they’ve also made it much more accessible for marketers and businesses to reach out to potential customers. One of the most prominent examples of online classified advertising is Craiglist. Similar to an online marketplace, Craiglist connects consumers with businesses that are looking to purchase or rent items. The idea is the same: find a suitable match and a satisfying transaction can take place.
This form of online marketing is rather different to traditional forms of advertising, as you’re not only advertising a product or service but you’re also advertising for someone to provide that product or service for you. This can be a little more complicated, but it also has the potential to be rather lucrative. For example, if you’re looking for a photographer and decide to post a short ad on Craiglist, you’ll not only get a response but you’ll also get to choose from a range of photographers at your fingertips. This might not sound like a perfect match to everyone, but for those that are looking for a new way to fund their creative endeavors, it’s a goldmine.
Although it’s great to get paid to write reviews, it’s not always easy to determine how much you’ll be paid for a given piece. This is why you should consider the following:
- The type of product you’re reviewing – Is it a physical item that can be sold on a physical market?
- The date when the review is published – This can influence how much you’ll be paid
- How many pages the review contains – More pages generally mean higher compensation
- The review’s length – Shorter reviews tend to be more popular and hence more lucrative
- Whether or not you signed any kind of contract – If you did, then this is something you need to look out for. Writers without contracts can often get shafted by employers
- The rating the product – This can have an impact on your payout
- Whether or not you include any kind of payment disclosure – This is something you need to think about
- The number of times the product has been reviewed – Just because a product has been reviewed doesn’t mean it’s bad. In fact, it can be rather appealing to reviewers since it means there’s already some interest in the product even though you haven’t mentioned anything about it yet
- How many positive reviews the product has – Positive reviews can dramatically raise your review’s chances of being chosen. As a general rule of thumb, get as many positives as you can (but don’t go overboard). Some reviewers might be more concerned about whether or not you liked the book than whether or not the book was any good.
- Whether or not you mention any flaws the product – If you do choose to mention flaws, then be as specific as possible. This will make a massive difference to the product’s chances of being chosen
- The summary you provide – The summary is rather like the review’s introduction, but without all the fluff. Think of it as the meat of the review. A good summary should convince the reader that you’ve given the product sufficient consideration
- Whether or not you review similar products – If you do, then this is a good thing. This will make your reviews more relevant to other readers, which will hopefully result in increased sales and commissions
- The rating you give the product – Overall, the higher the rating the better – It’s quite simple really. The larger the better. A perfect score isn’t all that uncommon and it can dramatically increase your review’s chances of being chosen. Not surprisingly, many companies have started using online rating systems to help dictate payouts to reviewers.
Getting Started
If you’re determined to make reviewing a regular income source, then the first thing you need to do is to find a reputable company that values your opinion. The great thing about the great British Library, Craiglist, and other similar platforms is that you’ll be able to find a list of available employers that are keen to hire freelance reviewers. Before you begin, make sure you’re aware of the various rights and obligations that come with accepting reviews. Some companies might expect you to keep certain information confidential, while others might want you to post all your work online. There’s also the issue of whether or not you’ll get paid for each review you write, or if you’ll get paid for reviews posted on behalf of a brand or company. It’s important to have this discussed upfront, otherwise the company might assume you agree to all these terms without question.
Payout Negotiation
Regardless of whether or not you decide to go with a traditional or a digital process, once you’re finally contracted it’s time to start negotiating the terms of your contract. One of the most important things to consider is how you’ll be paid – Make sure you’re comfortable with the amounts discussed so far and don’t be afraid to request a raise if necessary. Remember, this is something you need to do on your own – the company can’t negotiate with you directly since they don’t have your best interests at heart.