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Asking for a Review Copy (Vendors)

by gjhabs8
16 replies
I am starting my affiliate campaign, I have been searching for product to sell on JVzoo /Clickbank/Warrior + and have found some I like.

I want to make sure what I promote is a quality product. What is the best way to ask for a review copy? I think it is more likely to be able to get a product that is just being launched, but what about products that have been on the marketplace for a long time. Is there still a good chance you can still ask for a review copy and get one from the Vendor?

Can you do this with Clickbank and Warriorplus Vendors?

Whats the best way to ask?
#copy #review #vendors
  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    IMO, if you want a free copy of one of my products, you better have a lot of sales and be able to prove it...like through JVZoo.


    The best thing to do is to actually pay for the product yourself. If you don't want to pay for it, it's probably not best to expect other people to pay.


    This actually has a good side benefit. When you create a page/email to sell the product, include a copy of your receipt, blurring any sensitive info. Now you can say "I bought this with my own money" and recommend you do too".


    Sure, this will have some additional upfront costs and you probably won't want to sell every product you pay for. But when you do sell a product and show people you paid for it yourself, they will take your recommendation much more seriously and you'll very likely make more sales than you would have if you didn't pay for the product yourself.


    Take this a step further and mention the similar products you also bought and paid for, post a copy of your receipt, then say you can't recommend them and point them to the product you do recommend.
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    • Profile picture of the author sparrow
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      IMO, if you want a free copy of one of my products, you better have a lot of sales and be able to prove it...like through JVZoo.


      The best thing to do is to actually pay for the product yourself.


      This actually has a good side benefit. When you create a page/email to sell the product, include a copy of your receipt, blurring any sensitive info. Now you can say "I bought this with my own money" and recommend you do too".
      Great answer Kurt

      probably the best recommendation I've seen on this forum in a long time

      Ed
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      IMO, if you want a free copy of one of my products, you better have a lot of sales and be able to prove it...like through JVZoo.


      The best thing to do is to actually pay for the product yourself. If you don't want to pay for it, it's probably not best to expect other people to pay.


      This actually has a good side benefit. When you create a page/email to sell the product, include a copy of your receipt, blurring any sensitive info. Now you can say "I bought this with my own money" and recommend you do too".


      Sure, this will have some additional upfront costs and you probably won't want to sell every product you pay for. But when you do sell a product and show people you paid for it yourself, they will take your recommendation much more seriously and you'll very likely make more sales than you would have if you didn't pay for the product yourself.


      Take this a step further and mention the similar products you also bought and paid for, post a copy of your receipt, then say you can't recommend them and point them to the product you do recommend.
      I agree with you to certain extent . I do purchase a lot of products that I promote.

      But quite honestly there have been some sub niches that I have NO interest in personally but I know my List might have interest.

      In this case, I would kindly ask for a Review Copy for my own references to relate to my customers and see if it's legit. My Reputation is pretty solid and thus the Vendor realizes it's a win-win for us both.


      However in many other cases like a PLR Rights Product of course I will pay for it. And do regularly.

      Also, I'm not an idiot and going to ask for a $300 Review Copy.

      You need to be respectful to the Product Creator
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  • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
    I have to agree with Kurt on this.

    My products are not available simply for the asking. If I don't know you and/or your track record, and therefore have no idea whether you are actually wanting to review the product, or whether you're even able to sell the product to others after having provided a review... why would I just give every Tom, Dick and Harry a free copy?


    Here's what I do, instead.

    Prior to launching a new product, I approach the affiliate marketers that I think can/will successfully promote that product (just the cream of the crop). I send them a review copy without ever being asked, and give them the launch info (including a link to my affiliate sign up page).

    After launch, I monitor sales to see if I recognize any of my buyers (very few super affiliates will ever ask for a review copy). If I recognize a particular buyer as a good potential affiliate for the product, I will process a refund for that buyer's purchase transaction and immediately send a personal email letting them know that I have done so, that I am happy to see they are interested in the product, and that their copy is "on me".

    Nine times out of ten, they will sign up to my affiliate program, and I have just recruited a super affiliate.

    I still get the occasional surprise.

    My download pages typically include an invitation to join my affiliate program, and a lot of customers sign up as affiliates from there. If they go on to bring in a reasonable number of sales under their affiliate link... I'm not at all bashful about giving them a "refund" on their original purchase well after the fact.

    It's good will, and it goes a long way toward building a loyal affiliate base for future product launches.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
      I think it also depends on what the product is exactly.

      For example, I have a plugin which has a limit on the # of times it can be used.

      If someone 'new to the game' approached me for a review copy, I'd want to see the site they intend to be marketing it from. My decision would be based on what they had in place already. If I sensed sincere intentions based on it being very appropriate to offer, I might slip one out.

      Having said that, I do have a list of "affiliate requirements" which includes getting on a list I have just for the affiliates and having bought the product themselves.

      It would have to be a very convincing plea.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Some vendors will simply give you the product in exchange for a review - so that they can put it on their website. A review copy giveaway for a testimonial is a strong motivator for some people. Just ask people. Everyone's not the same.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
      Originally Posted by Randall Magwood View Post

      Some vendors will simply give you the product in exchange for a review - so that they can put it on their website. A review copy giveaway for a testimonial is a strong motivator for some people. Just ask people. Everyone's not the same.
      That works IF the vendor doesn't already have a buyers' list, and therefore no other good source of testimonials/reviews.

      If, however, the vendor does have a buyers' list already (i.e. this is not his first product), he can easily get testimonials by doing a "pre-launch" or a special discount to existing customers before launching the product to the general public. He probably also already has an affiliate force in place and has their sales stats readily available so that he can "pick and choose" which ones to give a free copy to if he thinks it will help convince them to promote his launch.

      Good affiliates are important to the product creators, but seasoned product creators aren't so desparate for reviewers that they are just sitting around waiting for affiliates to come asking for a review copy.

      So I'll say it again...
      Buy a copy. Once you've got it and are ready to do a real review, contact the vendor to let him know that you purchased the product and to give him your thoughts on the product. Maybe he'll want to use your comments as a testimonial on his sales page or blog. You will have put some "skin in the game" and begun to develop what could be a long and profitable relationship for both parties.
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    • Profile picture of the author megamind22
      Originally Posted by Randall Magwood View Post

      Some vendors will simply give you the product in exchange for a review - so that they can put it on their website. A review copy giveaway for a testimonial is a strong motivator for some people. Just ask people. Everyone's not the same.
      That works too Randall depending on the vendor you approach.
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      • Profile picture of the author myob
        My personal preference as a Clickbank affiliate has always been to buy and examine each product before promoting to my lists. By providing a critical product presell or review (often in contrast to vendors' claims), sharing the purchase experience, and leveraging the growing Clickbank brand (for example their unconditional 60-day money back guarantee), conversion rates can be dramatically increased.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sarevok
    I ask for review copies nearly every day.

    (Plenty of vendors can attest to my annoying antics rofl).

    Here's what I do...

    I ask for the reviews when I apply to promote.

    That way, they can see that I have at least some quantity of sales, and I also "kiss ass" a little bit.

    What do I mean?

    Well, I'm sure to compliment their work when I ask for the review copy of course.



    Wish you the best.
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  • Profile picture of the author essmeier
    I ask for a review copy. If they say no, I promote something else.

    Charlie
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
      You can usually just make things a lot more simple by just paying for the things that you want others to pay for.

      This gives you insight into the process (what your customers will experience) and the product.

      With this said, it always good to see people wanting to actually look at the products they review rather them promoting them blindly.

      Daniel
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve B
        I'm floored!

        You mean there are actually affiliates out there promoting and selling products that they no experience with? How could that be?

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author trevord92
          Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

          I'm floored!

          You mean there are actually affiliates out there promoting and selling products that they no experience with? How could that be?

          Steve
          I hope I detected a hint of sarcasm in your reply!

          Or maybe you're not on the "right" lists
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        • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
          Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

          I'm floored!

          You mean there are actually affiliates out there promoting and selling products that they no experience with? How could that be?

          Steve
          This is just the way it is Steven.

          It's very good however to see folks investing time and effort to take a gander, popping out their heads after they've went through the experience exclaiming 'Yes! This is ideal for my audience and we shall convert in multiples.'.

          Daniel
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  • Profile picture of the author trevord92
    As an affiliate, I'll quite often ask for a review copy - lots of products launched all the time in the IM market. Plus most of the front end products are 100% commission anyway.

    Sometimes I use it as a filter - those who know their product is "iffy" tend to ignore the request.

    If the vendor responds with a no and a valid reason (much like Kurt's explanation) then I'll decide whether or not to buy a copy.

    As a vendor, I'm often asked for review copies and my view will vary according to whether or not you've got a history of sales on Warrior+ and/or whether or not I know you in some other way.

    Review copy or paid-for, I don't think you should do something that claims to be a review if you haven't actually seen the product. Of course, if the "product" is an upcoming webinar or ongoing case study, that's awkward so you'd need to go on the regular quality of the product creator and put that caveat into your recommendation to your list.

    Some of my successful affiliates buy their own copy, others ask for a review copy. Others promote sight-unseen.

    It varies.
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