The Amazon Vine program is an invitation only group that Amazon.com members are selected to join to preview and review new items before they are released to the general market. Well, in most cases that is true. Sometimes the items have already been released and the manufacturer or publisher wants to get more reviews for the product.
Do Amazon Vine members only get books to review?
No, as an Amazon Vine member I have been offered many different items to review from books, to board games, to speakers, to food products to makeup. Basically any item that Amazon sells on its site may be available in the Vine newsletter. They have 2 newsletters that are made available on the 3rd and 4th Thursday of every month and each member is allowed to select up to 2 items off of the list to review. These products must be used and reviewed by the Vine member though. You are not allowed to give away any of the products.
Do you have to review every Amazon Vine Product?
No, you have to review 75% of the products that you have received in order to select and receive more products off of the list.
Do you always have to write a favorable review for Amazon Vine products?
No, Amazon only requires that you write an honest review about the products you receive. You do not receive any backlash from Amazon or dropped from the program if you write an honest review that is not favorable to the merchandise. There have been a few products that I have received that I have not rated well and Amazon has not asked me to change my review.
How can I join the Amazon Vine Program?
Unfortunately, you cannot join the program unless Amazon.com sends you an invitation to participate. They do not tell us the parameters they use to invite people but a good way to make yourself a desirable candidate is to start reviewing products that you have bought and be as thorough as possible.
My thoughts on the Amazon Vine Program
I enjoy reading and reviewing products and I think that it is a beneficial service to companies and authors who want to get reviews for their products. I do not think that the program is skewed and that these companies are paying for good reviews. Many people I know in the Amazon Vine program from their postings in the forum are extremely scrupulous and honest about their reviews.
You can read more about the Amazon Vine program here.
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