10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Asking for Reviews via PM

by Mike Hlatky
7 replies
There have been a couple of threads around here that are discussing asking for reviews via PM. Most of the time people are looking for reviews about some sort of upcoming WSO or product and they need some reviews. However, people oftentime forget to ask politely, or even make sense about what their exact request is. Here is a little guide that I would like someone to follow if they were to ask me for a review. (Note the similarities between this and a sales letter!)

Introduce Yourself
If you are coming out of the blue and I have no idea who you are, introduce yourself. Let me know a little bit about you, what type of IM you are into, etc. This doesn't have to be a 20 page long autobiography, just 2-3 sentences explaining who you are.

Why Me?
Personally, when someone is asking me for a review, I would like to know why they picked me. Maybe it was an informative post I had, or they saw my blog, or something else. I would like to know why you picked me and if there is an area I could focus more on.

Your Product
The final thing you should talk about is what exactly you would like. Usually some sort of review for an upcoming product. Let me know the features of the product and what you hope to accomplish with the product so if I do decide to review the product, I have something to look for.

Remember that you aren't always going to get a review, or even a response. Just be polite and make it personalized. I bet you will get more willing people to write reviews than if you use some sort of copy and paste message.

This doesn't have to be 2 pages long and take 20 minutes to write. Take 5 minutes or so and send a personalized PM. Remember that you are asking someone to go out of their way and take time to you. View them as a customer and treat them with respect.

So, what are your thoughts when it comes to reviews?

Do you give them out freely?

Or do you just ignore people?
#copies #review
  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    It is against the forum rules for consumers to ask for a Review Copy.

    It should be noted in sales copy, according to the FTC, if a Review Copy was given in return for a Review. As the review was in essence paid for by the seller.

    I send Courtesy Copies to a few people when I release a product, but I never request a review in exchange. If I get a review, fantastic, but I don't ask for one nor expect it.
    Signature
    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3293475].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Mike Hlatky
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      It is against the forum rules for consumers to ask for a Review Copy.

      It should be noted in sales copy, according to the FTC, if a Review Copy was given in return for a Review. As the review was in essence paid for by the seller.

      I send Courtesy Copies to a few people when I release a product, but I never request a review in exchange. If I get a review, fantastic, but I don't ask for one nor expect it.
      Good points.

      However, I was talking more about people that come out of nowhere and PM you to ask for a review.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3295448].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      It should be noted in sales copy, according to the FTC, if a Review Copy was given in return for a Review. As the review was in essence paid for by the seller.
      Actually, the FTC does not clearly state this. They say that getting a product for free does not necessarily constitute an endorsement. They state that the value of the product would be considered if evaluated on a case by case basis. I can assume from this they would not consider a free ebook to be payment and therefore the review would not be an endorsement, but I think that they would decide differently if the review was for a diamond ring.

      Correct me if I am wrong.
      Signature

      Founder of JVZoo. All around good guy :)

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3295696].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author DylanJames
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      It is against the forum rules for consumers to ask for a Review Copy.

      It should be noted in sales copy, according to the FTC, if a Review Copy was given in return for a Review. As the review was in essence paid for by the seller.
      If the FTC came knocking on my door because I had a review in a WSO that wasn't worded correctly, I'd have some serious questions about where our tax dollars are going.

      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      I send Courtesy Copies to a few people when I release a product, but I never request a review in exchange. If I get a review, fantastic, but I don't ask for one nor expect it.
      Review copies help the end buyer more than anything else. Yes, sending out review copies and getting reviews helps make sales, but it also lets me work out the kinks in my products before they go live.

      If I didn't send out review copies and get feedback before I launched, I have no outside eyes looking at the material. If I have no outside eyes looking at the material, I have no way to judge if the product is missing anything for people who haven't seen the method yet.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3296016].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author officer_iron
    I don't have a problem reviewing products for people. I'm not really offended if they come out of nowhere to ask, but I feel like I could give them a better critique if they provided me with a little more information about what they are trying to accomplish, etc.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3295957].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    I get a lot of review requests. Most of them won't receive a response. Those that do are the ones that happen to be in my PM box when I have time to do a review right now. You have a higher chance of getting a review if you include a direct link to it in the PM. If you're going to send it to me "when it's done," chances are you won't end up getting a review.

    But I really like doing reviews for people, because it clues me in to people I might not have noticed otherwise - and if the product is good, there's a solid chance I'll help promote it or even propose a JV on something else in the future.
    Signature
    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3295980].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author DylanJames
      Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

      I get a lot of review requests. Most of them won't receive a response. Those that do are the ones that happen to be in my PM box when I have time to do a review right now. You have a higher chance of getting a review if you include a direct link to it in the PM. If you're going to send it to me "when it's done," chances are you won't end up getting a review.

      But I really like doing reviews for people, because it clues me in to people I might not have noticed otherwise - and if the product is good, there's a solid chance I'll help promote it or even propose a JV on something else in the future.
      I think you did a review for one of mine a few months back.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3296023].message }}

Trending Topics