Reviews & Tutorials Work Well as Passive Income Generators
One fun and lucrative way to add passive income to your repertoire is to do product reviews, film reviews, and tutorials. You can write them, take pictures, screenshots, and even do a demo with a video on some products. Then link to every product you used to make that demo. For example, if you demonstrated a blender, you’d link to the blender - but you can also link to the ingredients in the recipe you used.
When you write any type of review, it’s best to follow some guidelines to ensure that you rank well for good keywords, encourage sharing by viewers, and make the affiliate links less noticeable by creating pretty links and embedding them within the content you want to monetize. The possibilities with reviews and tutorials are endless.
Understand What You’re Reviewing
You can’t review anything effectively if you haven’t used it yourself for a while. Your lack of knowledge will become apparent in your review. Instead, use the product, watch the movie, or use the service, and then, when you truly understand it—the good and the bad—you’re ready to start creating your review.
Know What the Audience Searches
When you decide to write the review, you need to know what the audience is searching for. They may not be searching for the name of the product. They might be searching for the results of the product. For example, with a movie review, they may know the title and want to see what you think, but they also might be looking up “Best Scary Movies.” You need to know your audience well enough to get this right.
Take Notes During Your Use
When you’re using the product, especially if you know you’re going to write a review of it, take notes. When an issue arises, write it down. When something pleases you, write it down. Did you have to contact customer service? Did you have to look up extra information to understand the movie? All of that is important information for your review.
Get Out Your Camera
While you can’t take a picture of a movie or show, if it’s a product or service, there are ways to take pictures that help explain your review better. You may need to do a screenshot for a digital product, and for a physical product, you may want to take pictures and video. This is going to make your review much better. Even for a movie, you could take a picture of yourself and your friends in front of the movie sign to make it more personal.
Determine the Story You’ll Tell
Everyone loves stories, and writing a review doesn’t have to be a boring ‘this, then, that’ event. It can be a story. You can explain why you wanted to try it, why you like it (or don’t like it), what could be better, and so forth while relating it to your life and your business, if relevant. Tell the story in a new way instead of being too technical about it so that people want to read it—but cover the techie details too.
Use a Lot of Detail
A product review is a time when you can use all those flowery words your English teacher told you not to use. You want your audience to feel as if they’re experiencing the product with you. Explain the fine details to them. Compare and contrast other products, services, movies, songs, etc. This will help your audience understand what it’s like to view or use this one. Always use complete sentences with descriptive words in your reviews so that the words flow.
Offer Additional Value
If possible, offer your audience a discount, a bonus, or something special if they order or use the product after reading your review. Link to the product within the text of the review but also link to it under the review so that they have ample opportunity to get the product and use it.
Steps to Create High-Quality Reviews and Tutorials
1. Select a Product or Service:
- Choose a product or service you’re genuinely interested in and believe would benefit your audience.
2. Use the Product Thoroughly:
- Spend adequate time using the product. This could range from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the product's nature.
3. Conduct Keyword Research:
- Identify the keywords your target audience is searching for. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush.
4. Take Detailed Notes:
- Document your experiences, both positive and negative. Note any issues, exceptional features, and overall usability.
5. Capture Visuals:
- Take high-quality photos and videos. Screenshots can be useful for digital products, while physical products might need more elaborate setups.
6. Tell a Story:
- Frame your review within a narrative. Share your personal journey with the product, why you chose it, and how it helped (or didn’t help) you.
7. Write the Review:
- Start with an engaging introduction.
- Follow with a detailed description of the product.
- Include your personal experience and observations.
- Provide a balanced view by mentioning any cons.
- Conclude with your final thoughts and a call to action.
8. Optimize for SEO:
- Use your target keywords naturally throughout the review.
- Include headings, subheadings, and bullet points to enhance readability.
9. Promote Affiliate Links:
- Embed affiliate links naturally within the content.
- Use tools like Pretty Links to make affiliate links more user-friendly.
10. Offer Additional Incentives:
- Provide your audience with special discounts, bonuses, or other incentives to encourage purchases.
Conclusion
Reviews and tutorials are powerful tools for generating passive income. By sharing your genuine experiences and insights, you can build trust with your audience and guide them in making informed decisions. Whether it’s a product, a service, or even a movie, your reviews can provide valuable information that helps others while also earning you passive income through affiliate links.
The key to success lies in understanding your audience, providing detailed and honest reviews, and using effective SEO strategies to reach a wider audience. With dedication and creativity, you can turn reviews and tutorials into a significant source of passive income.