How to forum: How to get free products for testing?

by samasabagh - 4/5/12 3:26 PM

In Reply to: You don't get them. by R. Proffitt

My brother used to have his own company about 8 years ago and he used to have a deal with a company located in the USA and he used to get the latest Nokia phones because he used to do software testing for the application his company created
so I guess its possible but you must build a good reputation to yourself

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I get free loaners but

by R. Proffitt - 4/5/12 3:29 PM

In Reply to: Reply by samasabagh

My apps are tested on them and them I have to return the units. I return them early with tracking on the shipments because I want them to keep supplying me test units when I need them.

See Lee Koo's excellent reply on how to get started.
Bob

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Answer Best answer as chosen by user samasabagh

Just my thoughts...

by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 4/3/12 3:19 PM

In Reply to: How to get free products for testing? by samasabagh

I think you first have to establish yourself on YouTube. Create your channel and start reviewing the products that you buy and own. Grow your subscriber base and number of views on your videos.

If and that is a big "IF", you become popular and get a hundred thousands of views, and established a substantial subscriber base--people/manufactures will start to take notice and they will reach out to you. Seeking them out is not going to happen, because there are just too many folks willing to do this and how would these people know how you do as a reviewer. It's like applying for a job and you have no work experience, it just doesn't fly.

You really have to prove to the world of YouTube viewers that you are worthy of watching your videos.

It's a tough business, but you gotta start somewhere and that start with you creating your channel and getting noticed.

Good luck with this.

BTW all the products you see on CNET that are reviewed by our editors, all those products are loaned to them and they do not get to keep any of the products they review and I mean not one single item, period. There are no freebies.

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by samasabagh - 4/5/12 3:33 PM

In Reply to: Just my thoughts... by Lee Koo (ADMIN)

I know its hard nothing comes easy but what is more difficult is that I have no products to review
I only have a blackberry bold which is way too old and most people are mostly looking at touch screen devices

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The question you need to ask yourself is...

by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 4/6/12 9:05 AM

In Reply to: Reply by samasabagh

what would compel manufactures to loan you products to review--what makes you so special? They don't know who you are--why would they trust you to make an objective review? Are you a professional reviewer or someone who is well established in this field?

You need to establish yourself first whether it is on YouTube or anywhere on the Internet to become a tech influencer to gain any credibility to who will watch your reviews and trust what you have to say. And if the Blackberry Bold is the only device you have and it is outdated, then how would you know what to look for in new devices to compare to and make a objective review of products if it were loaned to you.

I'm not trying to be discouraging, but you need to gain experience in this field and have sufficient knowledge around the technologies you will be reviewing, before anyone will give you the light of day to trust their products with you and allow for you to make an objective review. Right now as it stands, you don't have a resume to show for as to what you are capable of or how you fair in front of camera. And if you want to be a product reviewer, you really have to standout from the rest, as their are plenty of product reviewers already on YouTube.

I hope you understand where I'm going with this.

Good luck to you, I wish the best to your success.

Respectfully,
-Lee

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