How to write product reviews, or anything else, for your website.
I've come to the conclusion that I need to write my product reviews and other website content LONG before doing keyword research for them. This allows me to get my true thoughts into written form before the distractions begin. I just write, write, write until I have no more to say. It's like a mind-dump of thoughts, and it doesn't even matter if they're in order. Getting them out of my head and recorded is all that counts. I then save my text as version 1.
Then, and only then, do I turn to keyword research. And I do that until I'm just about cross-eyed and light-headed, entering every possible phrase and statement imaginable for the topic. The good ones are saved to an appropriately-named list. Taking a break and coming back later, even the next day, often helps spur some additional creativity.
Once some great keyword phrases are found, two are chosen as primary and secondary (for the title, the first or second paragraphs, and somewhere near the end), plus I make a short list of 3-5 others to sprinkle throughout the middle of the review.
Now, all I have to do is save a version 2 of my review (so version 1 is preserved in case it's needed), and start working those keywords into the text. There may be just a few changes, or complete re-phrasing of paragraphs, in order to accommodate the keyword phrases.
The purpose behind this approach is to separate my thought processes into manageable chunks:
1 - My Review: Getting my thoughts and insights clearly defined, without distractions.
2 - Keyword Research: Putting myself in my customers' shoes, and brainstorming every possible way they would phrase their searches for the product I'm reviewing, or the topic I'm covering.
3 - Bringing it all together: Combining my review and the keyword phrases so it all sounds smooth and natural.
Personally, I can't seem to write a review if I'm also concentrating on the keyword phrases, and trying to work them into my text at the same time. The end result sounds forced, and fake. If I split the process into the three steps above, it goes much smoother and (I think) sounds more like natural writing to my visitors.
Your thoughts?
How do you approach this process?
Bart
Recent Comments
12
Thank You, Sounds like the go for me too. Have been getting all over the place in last couple of posts i did and getting frustrated with myself!! :-) Caroline
Same Bart ... That how you do it, that is how I do it and it's how many people do it. Some may be different but if it works ... It's fine. Many roads to Rome. I keep 2-3 drafts all the time in version 1 and 2 ... Once version 3 is done I publish. Happy holidays Bart. Apeng.
I like your article and adhering to it. As a reader, there is the flow like a rhythm, Why break a content and jump to another as if there is a broken link...so to speak. Whereas, as you indicated on # 3..., sounds smooth and natural. Season's greeting to you, Bart.
I am planning to do quite a few product reviews for the niche I am in so I can suggest to people what the different options are and what my personal recommendation is. Does that mean I need to buy all the different softwares before I can make a review on it or can I do that based on the product description and user comments ? For instance if my niche would be anti virus software, would I need to buy a subscription for McAfee, Norton, AVG .... and then write a review on it. I would value your opinions very much.
Hi Nance ... Basically there are 3 methods:
1. Buy it ... Review it.
2. No need to buy coz I know the product and expert about it.
3. Research about the products thru people that have reviewed them or expert about it and give your take about it.
If we buy products to review ... If we are not gonna use the product ... Gonna be spending a lot of money.
Good luck on your reviews Nancy,
Apeng
Thank you very much Apeng. That is what I thought. I can't afford to buy all those products. I am in the nich of identity theft and the softwares that are available on the market is not cheap sometimes. I appreciate your answer. Thank you so much.
Great article! Sounds soooo easy thru your words! But it does help explain alot. Will use your advice
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I was looking for articles on Writing product reviews and saw yours and liked your approach. I also followed you.
Sonny