Download the article
wikiHow is a “wiki”, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are written by multiple authors. To create this article, 61 people, some anonymous, worked to edit it and improve it over time. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of all facts cited and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 767,398 times. Find out more…
From books and movies to plumbers and hotels, reviewing a product or service can be a useful skill. Reviews allow a consumer to share their opinion about a product or service, and others can gather information from that review to make an informed decision about whether or not to try the product or service.
Try a product or service. To write a review, you must try the product. It seems obvious, but many people still write reviews without much first-hand knowledge of the product. Try it, take your time and get to know the product or service well enough to speak authoritatively about it.
Record. Gather the details you’ll need to write your review. For example, if you’re reviewing a restaurant, find out the names and ingredients of the specific dishes you’re tasting. Pay attention to the decor. Write down your server name.
Paint. In some cases, your review will be enhanced with photos. Document your experience with a picture so your readers know what you mean when you say, “There was a huge stain on the ceiling of my hotel room.”[1]
Find out the parameters to view. If you plan to submit your review to a specific website, blog, or magazine, make sure you know all of the review specifications. For example, there may be a word limit or a specific format.
- Also check the deadline, especially if the review is about something timely, like a movie, album, or book. Your review should coincide with the release of these types of items.
Get your angle. Each review has a unique perspective. You do make arguments in your review though. Determine how you want to talk about the product or service. Will this be a positive or negative review? What will you focus on?
- This works especially well for a book or movie review, where you can pick a specific topic and write your review around that topic.
Know your audience. Think about who will read your review. Are you blogging about heavy metal music and your readers will already know various bands and songs? Are you writing a more technical overview and will your readers understand the jargon you include?[2]
- If you are writing for a general audience, assume that some readers will need additional explanations about certain references or expressions you use.
Briefly describe the product or service. In a few sentences or less, describe the product you are reviewing. You’ll discover other details during your review, but the initial description will give your reader a sense of what you’re talking about.
- If it’s a movie or book, don’t spend the entire review summarizing the plot. No need to give the whole story. Just a brief overview in 1-2 sentences is enough.
Write with details. Provide plenty of detail and evidence for the argument you are making. If you’re reviewing a music album, talk about the instruments or vocals on a particular song. If you are reviewing a film, say why the cinematography is revolutionary and give examples from the film.[3]
Use complete sentences. Your review will carry much more weight if you write in complete sentences rather than fragments that leave the reader wanting more. Don’t write things like “okay food, terrible service”. This does not tell the reader anything concrete and therefore does not constitute a useful review.
Include useful descriptive words. Skip words like “oh” and “okay”. These words are not very useful in terms of product description. If you want to write a compelling review that gives the reader an idea of what you experienced, choose more descriptive words. Also remember that when writing a review, it must flow and be consistent. [4]
Personalize your review. Link your review directly to your personal experience. Do not use vague statements and generalities. People who read your review will want to know about your experience, so they can decide if they want to use the service. Tell a story about why you like going to a certain nightclub or why you find your concierge service so reliable.[5]
Position this product or service among competitors. Consider where this product fits among similar products. You should certainly judge a product on its own merits, but people reading your reviews will find it helpful to reference a restaurant they are familiar with. This makes it easier for the readers of your review to compare – and therefore to decide whether to try the product or service.
Turn on the pattern. If possible, give your reader a sample of what you experienced. This could be a picture of a meal you ate, or it could be a link to a movie trailer, or it could be a snippet of a song from an album you’re reviewing.
Let it be true. Be honest in your review. Don’t stretch the truth to fit your argument one way or another. Don’t make things up or exaggerate to get your point across. If you don’t have enough evidence to support your point, leave it out.
Give an honest review. Maybe you had a bad experience with a particular plumber, but balance your review with what the plumber did well. If the meal was excellent except for the stains in the glass of water, mention the negative part. People find reviews more credible if they acknowledge the good and the bad together.
Be creative and interesting. The best reviews are the ones that draw the reader in and engage them. Write in a way that is imaginative and captures the essence of the product or service you are reviewing.[6]
- Some accounts are written in different formats, even as poems or haikus. Other reviews are cheesy, conveying the facts in a humorous way.
Add insider information to your review. Include information that the reader would not have if they looked at the service’s website or saw an ad for the service. Provide information or details that you can only get when you use the service.
Keep your review clear and concise. Don’t overdo the review with excessive praise or criticism. Remove redundant words to make your meaning clear in the review.
Proofread your review. Take some time to read your review carefully, making sure your grammar and spelling are correct. People will ignore your review if it’s full of grammatical errors that make it difficult to read.[7]
Let someone else read it. Have someone read your review before posting it online or publishing it. It’s a good rule of thumb to have someone else proofread your writing to make sure your writing is clear and that your main points are adequately supported.
Submit your review. If you are publishing your review in a magazine, blog, or other source, please submit your review. Your review may need to go through an editor and may take some time to print or post online.
- If you’re submitting your review to a site like Yelp or Amazon, follow their review guidelines to ensure your review is accepted and published.[8]
Sample template for review and examples
- Do not write malicious or untrue things in the review. There have been cases where companies have sued reviewers for comments made in reviews, alleging defamation. If your review is honest and truthful, you shouldn’t have to worry about defamation lawsuits against you. Thanks Helpful 2 Not helpful 0
Categories: How to
Source: HIS Education