A Day in the Life of a Product Tester

Hello, this is TheTechBoy with a special in-depth report about the life of a product tester. I saw an article like this before, but could not find it again. 

If you want help becoming a product tester, join our new Slack Channel. https://join.slack.com/t/thetechboy/shared_invite/zt-1d0g8s48y-RBOEwWJdELCCDgs1vurFWQ

    As some of you may know, I started TheTechBoy on July 29th, 2020. Since then I have tested walkie-talkies, PTT apps, keyboard phones, touchscreen phones, and the Samsung Experience store. I have also been featured on startuptofollow. Today I will write about a day in the life of a product tester. And how to start your own product testing website. 

                                                        

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Early Morning:

    Usually, I get emails in the morning and I check them 30 minutes after I wake up and get ready for the day. I make sure to respond to the emails that need attending. I also like reading newsletters to catch up on the latest tech news and new tech companies. 

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Rest of Day:

    I research companies that have products I want to test; I follow up with an email. I research and write tech articles. This is primarily done on a laptop. I usually have (more than) 30 tabs open containing YouTube videos and sites I have not closed. My Blogspot windows are also open. For example, on my Samsung M8 vs M7 comparison, (done in the evening) I had tabs lots of tabs open from review sites and Samsung's official literature open. I also frequently open my email, make phone calls, and check for new messages. Also, if I am testing a device, I would take this time to test it out. When I test phones out, I swap the SIM from my normal phone, and I use the phone for everything including calls, messages, and emails. I usually have an audio drama or a tech YouTube video playing in the background (on laptop speakers) when I am writing my articles. Sometimes, I will take breaks and do something different. I am also submitting my website to directories /communities, commenting on YouTube videos, and getting my business name out in public. 

These are just a few of the Tabs I have open. 

Evening:

    In the evening I usually write articles and do research like in the rest of the day. Around this time, I also send my articles to the editor. I also check my email to see if I have any product testing opportunities. I also send emails and chats to companies to get devices to test. I am also checking my website statistics throughout the day. 

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Now for the part, you came for, how to become a Product Tester?

    First, you need to decide what kind of content you will create, and where you will host your content. I decided to create tech content and write a website. I will be talking about this, but this advice will work for other content and mediums as well. You also have to know that you will work very hard.

                                            Devices/Materials Needed

• Laptop/Tablet with keyboard (I would get one with at least 128 GB, but you can start with anything.)  The storage can be used to save backups of your blog, edit videos, and make graphics. 
• Grammarly or other grammar-checking software.
• Camera/Phone for images
• Pexels/Unsplash "royalty-free images and videos"

1. Establish your niche; decide what you will be writing about. I decided on tech-related content. You may decide on a name now, or you can do it later. 
2. Decide where you will post your content. I decided on Blogger, but you can also use WordPress or Wix for websites, and Vimeo or YouTube for videos. Do your own research to decide what you want to do.
3. I decided on a website, so I started writing and bought a domain name a little later. Research is key, most companies will not give devices to day-old websites. For instance, the first review on this site was based on specs from other sites, not by actually getting a prerelease phone and comparing them. If you get a domain name, you can get 5GB of email for free using Zoho mail. Getting a free Google Voice phone number and a Business email account will help you look more legit. Also make sure to back up your blog after every post, use long passwords, multi-factor authentication, and if you have a Samsung device, use Secure Folder.  
4. After producing content make sure you moderate and respond to your comments if you have any. Growing a community you are active in is a great way to grow a fanbase. We like receiving comments and emails from viewers.  Make sure you are promoting your site on various databases. Do a search like "free business directories" "Free blogger directories" "Business" and "Blogger communities."  These searches help you find communities and directories and get your name out. If you want, create an about.me (my link) page to get your name out on the internet. Here is a link to 50 directories you can submit to. 
5. Find a good analytic software, if you want to be GDPR and COPPA compliant find an analytics software that is cookieless. This software will allow you to tell companies how many people you have visiting your site, where they visited, and how long they stayed. Video hosting companies, such as YouTube have their own analytics software.  
6. Using your analytics software you can set a goal for a number of views.  A good goal to start with might be 5 views a day. In order to get more views, you need to improve your SEO. Look up tips to improve SEO online. "Improve Blogger SEO" "Improve Blogspot SEO", "Improve YouTube SEO", and "Improve WordPress SEO". If you see a tool that WordPress has like the Yoast SEO plugin that is not on your platform search for alternatives. For example, search for "Yoast SEO for Blogspot." etc.  SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it helps you rise to the top of search results. Submitting your site to legitimate directories blogging communities, and influencer directories to get backlinks. Also, guest posting and interviews will help you improve SEO. More on this later.
7. Search for small (insert niche) companies and do a Google search for "Influencer Recruit". "Influencer Wanted." "Ambassador Opportunity" "Collaborator Inquiry" "And, "How can I become a Reviewer or Collaborator?" Here is a link to a company that could help.  Another search you can do is search niches within your niche. For instance, TheTechBoy's niche is technology/smartphones. If I want to review a smartphone, find one with weird features such as "rugged phones" "keyboard phones" "stylus phones" etc.  Also, make sure you know the terms of the review and If you have to return the device. Here at TheTechBoy, we do not do ''puff-pieces'' on devices and write actual reviews, so make sure you know what kind of post you will be creating. Ask the company to publicize the review on social media and on their website.
8. Create a template for reaching out to companies to get devices to test. A good idea would be to state who you are and why you are contacting them, then thank them and sign your name. Then follow up with them when they reach out to you. When you chat and contact people treat them nicely with the respect they deserve. Make sure to leave good feedback in the box at the end of the chat. 
9. Sign up for HARO and search "HARO alternatives" to be recognized as experts in your niche and to get interview opportunities and get quoted abs backlinked across the web. There are opportunities for YouTubers and experts. We got featured on startuptofollow because of this. Also look for interview opportunities to get featured on the news and other tech websites. 
10. Guest posting can allow you to get your name noticed. Interviewing people in your niche is a good idea, we interviewed Lance Ulanoff and Luka Petranović. This is good as you can get good advice from your readers/viewers/listeners. 

Tips:

• Post Frequently and create a posting schedule. 
• Do lots of research. 
• Commenting and participating in discussions on forums, communities, YouTube, and blogs in your niche will get your name out there without social media. Search "small tech blogs," "small _insert niche__ blog" and "small __insert niche__ YouTubers."  I have also discovered companies on YouTube and other blogs, that I have contacted for product testing opportunities. 
• List of Tech YouTubers and Bloggers
• Youtubers"
• TechOdyssey
• Alex Gear and Tech 
• Tech PhD
• Nothing But Tech
• Blogs:
• TheTechBoy.org
• Alex Gear and Tech 
• Make sure you syndicate on other platforms. Search "YouTube syndication sites", "Blogger syndication sites"
• Stay original 
• Look for brands on Amazon, then look them up. If you can't find the website put their name in quotation marks and use Google advanced search to filter out Amazon.  
• Add accessibility software and alt text to the site to make it more accessible. 
• Start a YouTube channel if you have a website and a website if you have a channel. 

If you are 18 are younger and you want to start your own tech blog, enter our Children's Blogging Contest, as a way to get your name out there and win an interview. 

Please comment below. 

Tech Talk To You Later!!