Where To Get Products To Review and Keep

I've had my blog for a couple of years, and at first, it was a touch and go kind of thing. I changed at at least a million times....well maybe just like 5, before I decided what I really wanted to use it for. Photo blog, personal journal, photo blog again, couponing. Finally I decided to focus on things I did and am at least pretty decent at......telling stories about the funny things my kids do, and SHOPPING. I kept seeing blogs where people were giving stuff away. I wanted in on that, but I couldn't figure out how they could afford it. Why would someone want to just go buy things to give away to strangers. That does not sound like a good time at all! I like to spend my money on my kids, and sometimes on me :). What I discovered once I dug a little deeper, was that there were actually programs out there that GAVE you free things for FREE in return for an honest review. Not only that, but many of those companies will also provide a free item to give away to one of your readers through blog contests. Super fun!!! I was so excited to get my very first product to review. It started out with small items like cosmetics, and then pretty quickly grew to video games, skincare lines, etc. Want to know what will be on my doorstep next? You see that pretty Kindle over to the right? :)

I am a BzzAgent, and I was given the wonderful opportunity to review the New Kindle with this post ..... Momma Needs a Kindle. BzzAgent is a "Word of Mouth" product promoting website. Usually you don't have to do anything special to get in on the campaign like the Kindle Campaign I had to fight for :) Several times a month they announce new campaigns they need BzzAgents for and you simply click the apply button. I joined BzzAgent in February of 2011, receive my first campaign within a month or so, and have since received several products including Covergirl cosmetics , Wii Cars 2 Video Game , Free memberships with several online programs such as Itemize, and True Care, Educator etc. I have also received toys, Burt's Bees New Skincare for Sensitive Skin, and now am awaiting both the new Kindle as well as Madden 12 Video Game, and yes I play Madden. Ask my guy why he was cryin the other day. Because he got beat by a G-U-R-L!!! I also had to post something to "grab" BzzAgent's attention and "win" a spot in the Madden 12 Campaign, check out "We Need Madden Counseling".

Once you join (100% Free) you fill in your information, provide your Site Url, and yes you can use your Hubpage profile to review products with BzzAgent, once you fill your information out, you sit back and wait for emails to come. They usually send out invites and you simply inform them whether you want in on them or not. Each campaign you take part in (review) earns you higher levels which in turn gives you better perks, earlier invites, and more substantial campaigns.

BzzAgent is by far my favorite site for receiving products for free to review. You can join for yourself at BzzAgent.com

Tomoson is another great site that you can pick up a large variety of items to review. Companies post the products they want reviewed on Tomoson, and bloggers simply scroll through the ones available, check to see what the prerequisites are and apply. Some promotions require nothing, other than you clicking apply. Others require you to have certain number of Twitter followers, Facebook friends etc. Don't be discouraged if you don't have tons though because there are promotions there that suit all ranges. It's one of the funnest places I like to get freebies from, and Tomoson offers lots of products that allow giveaways to your readers along with your own free product. GREAT way to get traffic to your blog, as well as followers to build you up for better products. You can join Tomoson today for FREE!

House Party is a fantastic site that sends you FREE products and coupons in order for you to host a party and spread the word on the product. I haven't been with them very long, just about a month or so, but I have been in on a Chef Boyardee party so far. I was sent a box full of coupons for FREE cans of Chef Boyardee, tons of $.50 off coupons for my party guests, a very nice Chef Boyardee Hat, Recipe cards to hand out to party guests, a thermal bag to keep temperature cool or hot for food or drinks, many note pads for party guest...and more. You join, apply for the different parties, and wait to see if you made the cut. Then you get to receive all the goodies on your front door to throw a great bash! It really can't get much better than that. House Party is 100% Free to join.

• Crowdtap (Read my Review)
• The Buzz Brand Network
• Pitch It To Me (blog must be 6 months old)
• Bloggy Moms
• Vocalpoint
• Mom Select ( just received a box of about $350 Leap Frog products from this one...including the Leap Pad)
• Bake Me a Wish
• Educational Toys Planet
• Parenting Magazine Mom Tester

Once you receive a product to review, it's very important to check up on the companies instructions and how they want the product reviewed (honest of course). Some like for you to promote their products and websites on social networking sites, others like for you to have your contestants visit their sites and comment on your blog about their favorite product or one they would like to have. Each company is different, but the one common factor is that they want a genuine, honest review of their product. It allows them to perfect it for us the consumers.

If you're not sure how to review a product, here are a few basic guidelines:

• Post you're overall opinion
• Pros and Cons very important to note your likes and dislikes
• Would you recommend it and if so, for who
• If you were looking into the product, what details and information would you want to know about it....
• Honesty, honesty, honest!!!
• IMPORTANT: If you receive products for FREE to review, it is the LAW to disclose that information, meaning you have to let your audience know that you in fact got it free to review it.

Again....honesty, honesty, honesty is key not just for the reviewed companies, but also to build trust with your readers. You can get your own site disclosure on disclosurepolicy.org. Just customize it to your site and paste it. I have both a sitewide disclosure as a page, and I also post a short to the point disclosure on each post I write reviewing a product. I also place one when I DO NOT receive it for free, rather purchase it on my own. If you know of any good programs like these listed, please feel free to share so that others may benefit.