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How I Organize a Book or Product Review Post

If you want your book or product reviewed check out the guidelines here.

Many Everyday EMS Tips readers have their own blogs that I enjoy reading. A book or product review is a good topic for a blog post. Reviews are also a good way to tell readers about books you have read and products you use. Linking the book title or product name to your Amazon or other merchant account is a good way to direct some traffic (and potentially some revenue) to your affiliate programs.

This is the format I use to organize a book or product review blog post or magazine article.

1. Introduce the book or product in the first paragraph. I often use an anecdote or story to connect me and the reader to the book or product. For example, in a boot review I might talk about a time I wished I had water proof boots, steel toes, or better traction.

Bloggers this is your first opportunity to hyperlink the product name or book title to your Amazon or other merchant affiliate account.

2. In the second paragraph describe what the product does or what the book is about. Stick to the basics or the most important features. For readers that want more information your could end the paragraph by saying there is more information available from the manufacturer’s or publisher’s website.

3. Write about what you liked about the product or book in the third paragraph. In the previous paragraph you wrote about facts. In this paragraph write your opinion.

4. In the fourth paragraph share your ideas to improve the product or make the next edition of the book better. You could also write about how the product could be best used by the intended audience.

5. Close the review with a final paragraph on where readers can find more or purchase the product. This paragraph might include a web address, phone number, and MSRP.

Bloggers this is your second opportunity for an Amazon (link to the Everyday EMS Tips A-Store) or other merchant affiliate link.

Finally, if I don’t have a positive opinion of a book or product I have been asked to review I follow my mom’s words of wisdom, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Thus, I will share any negative thoughts only with the vendor that asked me to do the review and not do a public review.

Updated November 20, 2012: How to Write a Must-Read Product Review on ProBlogger.

By Greg Friese

Greg Friese, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is an author, educator, paramedic, and marathon runner.

Greg was the co-host of the award winning EMSEduCast podcast, the only podcast by and for EMS educators. Greg has written for EMS1.com, JEMS.com, Wilderness Medical Associates, JEMS Magazine, EMSWorld.com and EMS World Magazine, and the NAEMSE Educator Newsletter.