How to Get Free Products for Review in 4 Easy Steps. 

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A lot of people have been asking me how I have been able to get so many free products for review even though I have only been a product reviewer for 6 short months.

 

If it wasn’t for God in Heaven guiding my steps and opening doors, I don’t think I would be where I am today.

To date I have received over 25 free products for review and generated around $2000 in income.

 

However, with that being said I want to show you the exact steps that I took to get where I am today. It can be done in 4 easy to follow steps

  1. Create credibility
  2. Create great reviews
  3. How to approach companies
  4. Leveraging previous reviews

 

 

But before we get into the nuts and bolts on “How to Get Free Products for Review”, I want to forewarn you about something that I’ve learned along the way.

Back in February of 2016 I began creating the Tactical-Toolbox website and I had no idea where it would take me or what all was involved with reviewing products.

 

To be honest I was winging it, and that was okay except for one thing.

Taxes and Death

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If you’re trying to become an online influencer by reviewing products then you have three options to get products for review.

  1. Review products that you already own.
  2. Purchase a products for review and write them off as a business expense.
  3. Or get free products from companies for review and pay taxes on the market value of the said product.

 

Yes you heard me correctly… if you receive free products for review, the IRS views that as income and you must pay taxes accordingly.

Now that we got that out-of-the-way let’s talk about how you can get free products for review.

Credibility

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Before a company will send you a free product for review they need to know two things.

  1. Are you credible and going to do a good job on the review?
  2. How many people are going to see the review? (AKA Reach)

 

First let’s talk about “Credibility”

How to create a blog step by step

The fastest way to create credibility is to create a website for your brand. I know what you’re thinking, “That sounds like a lot of work”.

 

Of course it takes work, but it’s not as difficult as you might think, especially if you use WordPress. You only need to do 3 things

  1. Register a domain name
  2. Set-up Web Hosting
  3. Install a premium WordPress theme

 

You can see my complete step-by-step guide to setting up a website here.

Control Your Content

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I know there are tons of product reviewers on YouTube who don’t have a website but I believe that’s a big mistake.

For starters if YouTube changes their policies guess what? Your videos will be deleted.

You need to have 100% control over your content. If YouTube removed all of my videos today, I would simply re-upload them directly to my website.

 

Now What?

 

Now that you have a website, go and create some reviews.

I suggest reviewing products that you already own, given that they are related to your niche.

So if you’re interested in reviewing Mobile Tech Gear then create a review about the case that you have on your current cell phone.

Take some high quality photos of the product and write the review. It’s as simple as that.

How To Ask The Companies For Free Products For Review.

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Before you begin asking different companies for free review material, I suggest that you have at least 3-5 high quality product reviews live on your website.

Here’s a little secret, don’t ask for free products….I know what you’re probably thinking.

“If I don’t ask for free products then how on earth do I get them???”

 

This is exactly how I approach companies for products.

 

  • I send them an email. (duh)
  • I introduce myself and the website that I represent.

 

  • I tell them how I found them (Facebook, Instagram, Google, etc)
  • I compliment them on something that I am genuinely impressed with. (Prices, quality, their mission etc.)

 

  • Then I tell them how I noticed there aren’t too many high quality reviews on such and such product and how I would like to fill that void.
  • I then tell them which product(s) that I would like to review.

 

  • I state that I can send the products back if need be.
  • Then I tell them that the only thing that I ask for in return is for them to provide me with something to “Giveaway” to our fans.

 

 

Here is what this looks like in action.

 

Hi,

 

I’m Jonathan Wright with https://Tactical-Toolbox.com

 

I found your page on Instagram and am very impressed with your product line.

 

I’m contacting you because I would love to review some of your products on the Tactical-Toolbox web site and https://YouTube.com/tacticaltoolbox

 

Recently I’ve had the opportunity to review products for Vortex Optics and Redline Concealment Holsters. See reviews at https://tactical-toolbox.com/reviews/

 

In the first month we we’re able to bring in roughly $2,190 in revenue for Vortex Optics and it’s still climbing.

 

 

I will gladly send back any products if need be.

The only thing that I ask in return is that you provide me with product(s) to give away to my fans.

 

 

References

 

Feel free to contact for reference purposes

 

Vortex Optics

Name and contact info

 

Redline Concealment Holsters

Name and contact info

 

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to working with you.

I saved the best for last (Leverage)

get-free-products-for-review

 

You probably noticed something different about my email, did you catch it?

I leveraged my previous product reviews and gave them concrete numbers.

 

One of the first big product reviews that I did was for the Vortex Sparc AR, you can see that review here.

I approached Vortex Optics back in March about reviewing their latest red dot scope. Unfortunately they wouldn’t send me a free product so I had to purchase it.

In the review I linked it to my Amazon Affiliate account, in which I make a small commission.

But the icing on the cake is that I can track how many sales are made and how much money that brought in for Vortex Optics.

The best part is I now have a contact at Vortex Optics that I can leverage as a reference. (Talk about credibility.)

 

Psychology 101

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So how do I get free products? Well because I make the intent behind the email about the company and our audience they typically let me keep the product and provide another one for a “Giveaway”.

In other words my emails are “selfless”. I don’t really care if I get to keep the products, although it is really nice.

Shipping Products Back

Out of the 25 products that I have received, I have only had to ship 2 of them back, and only one of them cost me any money (tax write-off)

 

Let’s sum everything up

  1. Create credibility with website (Learn How Here)
  2. Create at least 5 product reviews in your niche.
  3. Ask companies for free products for review, Using my email template
  4. Leverage your previous reviews as reference

 

I hope this article has helped you figure out how to get free products for review.

If you have any questions or comments leave us a comment below.

 

Jonathan Wright

Proverbs 18:16 “A man’s gift makes room for him And brings him before great men.”