Hi everyone! I'm Jenn, the Off-site Review Program Manager here at EF. Now that I have been with EF for a little over two months, and have had the opportunity to jump into the program with both feet and take control of it, I thought it would be a good idea to reach out to everyone here in the EF community and explain how exactly the program works. The purpose of the Off-site Review Program is to use bloggers as ambassadors to EF and our products. We provide bloggers with free products to review, and in turn their reviews -- which are published on their blogs -- introduce us to audiences that we may otherwise not reach. These testimonials, straight from the blogger's mouth -- or fingers, in this case -- can have a great, positive effect in the communities these bloggers are active in!
Hopefully this post will clear up any questions or concerns, and address warranted concerns over transparency and such.
First, the criteria to join the Off-site Review Program:
1. A blogger must have have an active blog. Google Page Rank and Alexa Ranking are important, but not crucial for eligibility. Of course, we love working with highly ranked blogs.
2. A blogger must also have traffic! In order to successfully get the word out about Eden Fantasys and the products we offer, we look for blogs that are not only active and frequently updated, but are also established and have visitors coming in.
3. Bloggers must be willing to post honest, detailed reviews about the products we send them to review.
4. The blogger cannot already be an advanced reviewer for Eden Fantasys. You can be one or the other, but not both (please note that advanced reviewers can still do off-site reviews through the system as they have been doing, but that they are not a part of the Off-site Review Program that I manage bloggers in).
Now, the nitty gritty of product selection:
Bloggers may choose any product that is $50 or less and with no more than three (3) reviews (please note that until recently the review limitation was 2; this was raised to 3 due to concerns raised by both bloggers and the community regarding a low selection of products with few enough reviews). Reviews are set up manually, by contacting me directly with the review request.
Bloggers receive one product at a time, and may do reviews as often as once a month.
A product or gift card giveaway is sometimes offered, but usually for promotional purposes only, and typically only blogs with high rankings and traffic are considered.
Review expectations:
Let's talk about the reviews themselves, and what is expected of bloggers. A blogger is expected to post a review within two weeks of receiving a product, though it's understandable if situations come up where the blogger may not be able to post the review on time. If that happens, that's fine -- I just expect a head's up so I'm not left hanging.
A blogger is expected to provide an honest, detailed review of the product. This is explained from the get-go, so bloggers are obviously encouraged to pick products that they feel comfortable linking to and discussing. A decent review should touch on the following aspects of the product:
- what it is
- what it's designed to do
- features (vibrations, etc.)
The review should also include what the blogger thought of the product, including:
- experience
- any specific pros/cons; product highlights
- was it worth the money, would it be purchased again, recommended to others, etc.
Links are also outlined for the blogger to include:
- link to product, using the product's name as the anchor text (required)
- link to category the product falls under, ex. anchor text "vibrators" linking to link (required)
- link to edenfantasys.com, using "adult toys" or "sex toys" as anchor text (not required; strongly encouraged)
Additionally, a widget that contains the product's info is generated after the blogger submits the summary & link to their published review. While not required, bloggers are strongly encouraged to use the widget, since it summarizes the product nicely, and gives them the opportunity to earn commission from affiliate links. Speaking of which, affiliate codes & links are also encouraged to be used, since they provide bloggers with a "set & forget" way of earning some extra $.
Obviously these features make up the ideal review. What we want & expect from bloggers isn't always what we get. But that's okay. This is a new program, after all. And more importantly, most bloggers are new to the concept of writing about sex toys on their blogs. Many of these bloggers -- the mommy bloggers in particular -- don't even discuss sex on their blogs, let alone the toys they may use while having sex!
Most importantly, I encourage bloggers to use their own voice when writing their product reviews. I want them to talk about the product, what it has to offer, how it worked for them, their experience with it, etc., but I also want them to use their own voices.
These reviews, which are really more like testimonials since they are not always quite so specific or detailed as the reviews produced by advanced reviewers, are different from what you're used to seeing here on EF. Plans are in the works to better distinguish these testimonials from reviews, and the ambassadors (bloggers) from the advanced reviewers.
I know there has been some dissent among members of the EF community regarding both the writing style & details bloggers employ and include in their reviews. Please remember that unlike many of you, who use aliases and don't have to worry about family members, friends, etc., stumbling across your reviews, most of these bloggers are using their real name (or at least an alias that the majority of the online community they're involved in recognizes them by), showing their face in photos, mentioning their family members, kids, pets, etc. There's no veil of anonymity.
Furthermore, most of these bloggers write vanilla posts for vanilla blogs. These are family-oriented, parenting-oriented & personal blogs, ones that are generally appropriate for a PG audience. To suddenly put it out there that they masturbate or do exceptionally naughty things to their partners, & taking things a step further by discussing the products they use to masturbate with or do exceptionally naughty things to their partners with, is a very new concept for them, & while they want to do it, when it comes time to actually write the review, they may initially hold back.
What I'm trying to say is that for those of you who are concerned over the quality of the reviews some of the bloggers are producing for off-site reviews, please remember that this is a new direction these bloggers are going in. The first few reviews may be a little awkward, a little lacking. But I & the rest of the EF staff are doing our best to steer bloggers in the right direction with tips & pointers, and even specific wording suggestions, in order to help them produce reviews that are both a comfortable fit for them & a great resource and a promotional tool for us.
On a related note, please remember that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Many of you get to enjoy the comfort & anonymity that an alias provides you with here at EF, while most of these bloggers have already revealed who they are on their blogs prior to posting reviews. Also worth noting: bloggers are limited to products that are $50 or less. There is no moving up in rank or becoming eligible for more expensive products or new products that need promoting, as many of you in the on-site community are eligible for.
I believe I've covered everything that the Off-site Review Program encompasses. Please keep in mind that the program is always evolving, and as I type this plans are in the works to improve the program further, and to better distinguish testimonials from reviews.
Hopefully this post will clear up any questions or concerns, and address warranted concerns over transparency and such.
First, the criteria to join the Off-site Review Program:
1. A blogger must have have an active blog. Google Page Rank and Alexa Ranking are important, but not crucial for eligibility. Of course, we love working with highly ranked blogs.
2. A blogger must also have traffic! In order to successfully get the word out about Eden Fantasys and the products we offer, we look for blogs that are not only active and frequently updated, but are also established and have visitors coming in.
3. Bloggers must be willing to post honest, detailed reviews about the products we send them to review.
4. The blogger cannot already be an advanced reviewer for Eden Fantasys. You can be one or the other, but not both (please note that advanced reviewers can still do off-site reviews through the system as they have been doing, but that they are not a part of the Off-site Review Program that I manage bloggers in).
Now, the nitty gritty of product selection:
Bloggers may choose any product that is $50 or less and with no more than three (3) reviews (please note that until recently the review limitation was 2; this was raised to 3 due to concerns raised by both bloggers and the community regarding a low selection of products with few enough reviews). Reviews are set up manually, by contacting me directly with the review request.
Bloggers receive one product at a time, and may do reviews as often as once a month.
A product or gift card giveaway is sometimes offered, but usually for promotional purposes only, and typically only blogs with high rankings and traffic are considered.
Review expectations:
Let's talk about the reviews themselves, and what is expected of bloggers. A blogger is expected to post a review within two weeks of receiving a product, though it's understandable if situations come up where the blogger may not be able to post the review on time. If that happens, that's fine -- I just expect a head's up so I'm not left hanging.
A blogger is expected to provide an honest, detailed review of the product. This is explained from the get-go, so bloggers are obviously encouraged to pick products that they feel comfortable linking to and discussing. A decent review should touch on the following aspects of the product:
- what it is
- what it's designed to do
- features (vibrations, etc.)
The review should also include what the blogger thought of the product, including:
- experience
- any specific pros/cons; product highlights
- was it worth the money, would it be purchased again, recommended to others, etc.
Links are also outlined for the blogger to include:
- link to product, using the product's name as the anchor text (required)
- link to category the product falls under, ex. anchor text "vibrators" linking to link (required)
- link to edenfantasys.com, using "adult toys" or "sex toys" as anchor text (not required; strongly encouraged)
Additionally, a widget that contains the product's info is generated after the blogger submits the summary & link to their published review. While not required, bloggers are strongly encouraged to use the widget, since it summarizes the product nicely, and gives them the opportunity to earn commission from affiliate links. Speaking of which, affiliate codes & links are also encouraged to be used, since they provide bloggers with a "set & forget" way of earning some extra $.
Obviously these features make up the ideal review. What we want & expect from bloggers isn't always what we get. But that's okay. This is a new program, after all. And more importantly, most bloggers are new to the concept of writing about sex toys on their blogs. Many of these bloggers -- the mommy bloggers in particular -- don't even discuss sex on their blogs, let alone the toys they may use while having sex!
Most importantly, I encourage bloggers to use their own voice when writing their product reviews. I want them to talk about the product, what it has to offer, how it worked for them, their experience with it, etc., but I also want them to use their own voices.
These reviews, which are really more like testimonials since they are not always quite so specific or detailed as the reviews produced by advanced reviewers, are different from what you're used to seeing here on EF. Plans are in the works to better distinguish these testimonials from reviews, and the ambassadors (bloggers) from the advanced reviewers.
I know there has been some dissent among members of the EF community regarding both the writing style & details bloggers employ and include in their reviews. Please remember that unlike many of you, who use aliases and don't have to worry about family members, friends, etc., stumbling across your reviews, most of these bloggers are using their real name (or at least an alias that the majority of the online community they're involved in recognizes them by), showing their face in photos, mentioning their family members, kids, pets, etc. There's no veil of anonymity.
Furthermore, most of these bloggers write vanilla posts for vanilla blogs. These are family-oriented, parenting-oriented & personal blogs, ones that are generally appropriate for a PG audience. To suddenly put it out there that they masturbate or do exceptionally naughty things to their partners, & taking things a step further by discussing the products they use to masturbate with or do exceptionally naughty things to their partners with, is a very new concept for them, & while they want to do it, when it comes time to actually write the review, they may initially hold back.
What I'm trying to say is that for those of you who are concerned over the quality of the reviews some of the bloggers are producing for off-site reviews, please remember that this is a new direction these bloggers are going in. The first few reviews may be a little awkward, a little lacking. But I & the rest of the EF staff are doing our best to steer bloggers in the right direction with tips & pointers, and even specific wording suggestions, in order to help them produce reviews that are both a comfortable fit for them & a great resource and a promotional tool for us.
On a related note, please remember that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Many of you get to enjoy the comfort & anonymity that an alias provides you with here at EF, while most of these bloggers have already revealed who they are on their blogs prior to posting reviews. Also worth noting: bloggers are limited to products that are $50 or less. There is no moving up in rank or becoming eligible for more expensive products or new products that need promoting, as many of you in the on-site community are eligible for.
I believe I've covered everything that the Off-site Review Program encompasses. Please keep in mind that the program is always evolving, and as I type this plans are in the works to improve the program further, and to better distinguish testimonials from reviews.
