Master the Art of Video Product Reviews: The Ultimate Guide to Engaging Audiences and Earning Commissions!
I have been writing product reviews for years. It was my way of giving back to the community and sharing my opinions. I enjoy helping others know about great products. I would rarely write a bad review unless it was deceptive, or a scam.
I have recently been invited to join the Amazon Vine Voice program and was most recently promoted to the gold level which allows me to order as many as 8 products a day. This is a great program and Carrie and I have already written, photographed, and/or videotaped, and published over 350 reviews in the last 4 months.
The reviews are half of the strategy in that I am also an Amazon Influencer which allows me to create content and earn a commission on the products I choose to feature on my storefront. So what would normally cost me money to purchase products to feature on a commission-earning platform, I get for free. SWEET!
It has been a learning process in both time management and appropriate content. The content length and depth are always important. We must maintain a high level of reviews to maintain our status as Gold-level Vine Voice(rs).
I am focussing my efforts on video reviews for the Amazon Influencer program as well as YouTube. I am very excited about the income potential and I truly enjoy the creative aspect of it. I am still working on “Dave Cooks” YouTube channel as well.
I was taking some time this morning putting my thoughts together about…
What are the keys to a great video product review?
Understanding the purpose of the video is important. Just like any communication, one should try to know and understand what they are trying to say. In this case, I’m helping people from all walks of life learn about a product or maybe a service too.
I am trying to help people make an informed purchasing decision based on the information I provide, so I should be as thorough and concise as possible… while also efforting to be engaging and entertaining.
- Start with an introduction! I should introduce myself and the product I am reviewing. This should be as brief as possible allowing the audience to make a decision to watch… or not.
- Product Research. I should make myself familiar with all aspects of the product so I can share this information effectively to my audience. I should be knowledgeable about the product and be able to answer potential questions. (A good place to find FAQ is in the questions area of the product listing.)
- Maintain Objectivity! I should remain unbiased and assure my audience that even though I have received the product for free (most of the time), my views are my own and I don’t have to give a “good” review if I don’t believe in it.
- A good presentation! I should have high-quality video, great lighting, a good backdrop and good visuals to help me demonstrate the product and its features. I should use closeups and the product in use. These are all areas I’ve been working on over the years. Cameras and studio lighting is very expensive and I’m investing in them as I am able.
- Detailed Description of the product is important. Clearly describe the product’s features, functionality, and benefits. Explain how it works, its practical applications, and any unique selling points. Provide specific examples and scenarios to illustrate your points effectively.
- Personal Experience: I should share my personal experiences and opinions about the product. Talk about how it performed in real-life situations, highlighting any notable positives or negatives.
- Comparisons. If possible, I should compare products with similar ones. If anything, explain why I chose this product over a competing one.
- Visual Aids: I have used some, but I need to use more visual aids, callouts, transitions, and even sound design in my videos. I have a service that I can get all this stuff from, I just don’t use it enough.
- Demonstration: As I mentioned earlier, I should make an effort to actually use the product on film to help the audience see it in action. This should be part of my planning for every video.
- Honest Conclusion: I’m pretty good at this one I think. Letting the viewer know how I feel about the product is important to the presentation.
- Length and Editing. Oh boy, I’ve been testing this one lately. In June (2023), Amazon had a bonus challenge to create 20 short-form product videos to receive a bonus. What I did was shoot and edit my normal review, usually 2 or 3 minutes, and then cut it down to less than a minute and reformat it to portrait format like Instagram. It showed me how much can really be cut from a video and still be effective.
These are just a few ideas. Going forward, I will give this all more attention. The keys to making 10 to 20 product videos a day is organization and persistence. Without it, my brain just shuts down and I’m in the proverbial weeds with no focus.
