The Art of Reviewing: Tips from HackerNoon Editors

Hey hackers!

Reviews are perhaps one of the more common forms of content we consume on the internet, and HackerNoon editors have historically cut their teeth reviewing all manners of hardware and software.

We are huge fans of reviews since it takes a certain level of critical thinking and skill to pull off, but it’s not always a straightforward process. If you’re interested in becoming a reviewer, here are some insights based on our own experience over the years:

1. Be Objective!

Nothing is perfect. An article that sings praise of a product is not a review. It’s an endorsement.

If you want to be taken seriously as a reviewer, you need to be able to present all sides of a product, flaws and all, so readers know that you’re on their side. Reviewing is, after all, a service for the consumers and NOT for the producers :-)

For example, when reviewing the Maecker VR Quest 3 Blue Light Lenses, former HackerNoon VP Limarc summed up his experience perfectly when he said that the discomfort the product added wasn’t worth it for users who don't need corrective lenses.

https://hackernoon.com/quest-3-blue-light-lenses-are-they-worth-it?embedable=true

This indicates to the reader that it might not be for everyone, and that’s perfectly OK. You’re not a company’s mouthpiece, and neither should you be. Review a product on its merits, not on whether it will please the company.

2. DYOR

Doing your homework on a product serves two purposes. On one hand, it makes it easier for you to explain to the reader how you’re uniquely qualified to present your thoughts on a product or service. On the other, it helps you understand what others are saying about the product, especially if it has been on the market or been publicly available for a while.

Researching can be as easy as Googling the product, reading the news, or even learning more about the company. You may also reach out to a company’s media team if you have any questions and most will happily oblige to your request. If it’s a big company, like, say, Apple, it makes more sense to read news leading up to the launch of a product to better contextualize how that product came to be and why it’s important.

3. Read other reviews!

You’ll actually be surprised by the amount of value you can gain by simply reading other reviews. It doesn’t even necessarily have to be for the same product you want to review. When you read other peoples’ reviews, you either gain an insight into an aspect of a product that you otherwise would not have known, or, you learn to better identify the difference between a good review and a marketing copy designed to make you buy something. Either of those things is a plus in our books.

4. Use HackerNoon Templates

Betcha you didn’t see that one coming. 😂

HackerNoon has multiple templates to get you started on your reviewing journey. If you want to review a product, use this template; if you want to review a game, use this template; and if contextualizing news is more your fancy, try this template.

Some reviews we love!

If you’re looking for inspiration on the kind of reviews HackerNoon will accept, here are some examples:

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👋 Till next time!

The HackerNoon Team