How to Get Free Products to Review Even If You Have 0 Followers

Nowadays I get paid to write product reviews to publish on my platforms because I get tons of views. However, there was a time when I needed to get these products for free but I didn’t have an audience yet, so it was hard to get brands to send me some. Thankfully, many brands are willing to work with new creators, even if they have 0 followers.

If you’ve ever searched for a product review online, you probably know how useful they can be. Asking for companies to get free products to review on YouTube is a good way to help your viewers find the right product.

By doing product reviews, you will not only help your viewers but you might also get paid later on. It’s a win for your viewers, a win for you, and a win for the seller.

This is a beneficial practice for bloggers, but it has even more potential for YouTubers and vloggers in general.

Here you will learn why you should do product reviews on YouTube and how to get free samples from companies.

1. Search for companies that are already giving products to creators

It’s much easier to convince a company to give you free samples if they’ve already done it before. When a company knows about the potential of giving samples to YouTubers for reviews, they will be open to sending products to you.

To do this, go search on YouTube:

*Niche* Product Review

Let’s say I’m a makeup artist that does makeup tutorial videos. I would just search Makeup Product Review on YouTube.

These results show some review videos of a recently launched product. These are potentially companies that give free samples to vloggers. They already know that it’s worth to send free samples, and they’re used to do it. It’s more probable to receive a free product from them for your YouTube channel.

2. Visit their website and look for their contact form

These companies will surely have a contact form that you can use to ask them for a product. You will need to give some of your data –country, name, etc. Make sure to give your real information.

If you can’t find the contact form, go to the “About” page and look for their email directions.

3. Write your email

Tell them about what you do and nicely ask if they would be willing to give some free samples for review. Make sure you write as professionally as you can, although you don’t need to be so formal. Also, be brief and to the point.

Make sure you tell them that you will give a fair review by pointing out the good and the bad. If you have many subscribers, make sure to tell them.

Finally, if you’ve read Dale Carnegie’s classic book How to Win Friends & Influence People (affiliate link), you know that the most effective way to make companies give you something for free is by telling them the benefits they can get from that. Tell them that you you can help your viewers get to know the product, which will influence them into thinking about buying it.

Be clear that you could return the product after doing the review. This will make them trust you a little bit more.

Also, don’t forget to include your channel or website URL. This way they’ll know you’re not lying about being a vlogger.

The final result should look something like this:

“To the [Name] Company

I’m a vlogger in the [Niche Name] niche. I’ve been searching for products to help my viewers achieve better results with [Activity Talk About in Your Videos]. I have come across your brand and I think I can get more eyeballs on your product for a really low cost.

I only ask for a free sample that I can use to try the products, show them and talk about them on my videos. I’ll put a link to it so they can purchase it online right away.

I’d like to clarify that my reviews are honest and fair. I will tell my viewers why I like the product, how they can use it and what things I think could be improved. This is an honest perspective that will make them gain more trust in your product because they will know exactly what to expect.

I wouldn’t mind returning the product afterward.

I’d also like to clarify that I won’t be doing any review if I don’t like the product at all. If this is the case, I will just return it to you.

Here is my YouTube channel: [Channel URL]

Here is my website: [Website URL]

Warm regards,

[Your Name].”

You can use the same template and just change the information between the [] when contacting different companies.

Also, make sure to include any big wins that you have already.

For example, if one of your videos got tens of thousands of views, show it to them so you can give them more proof that it will be worth it.

4. Don’t get impatient

You might have to wait weeks before you get a final response. Some of these companies won’t answer or will just simply tell you “No”.

Don’t be a spammer, just wait for a response and walk away if they reject you. You can write them back once you get more subscribers.

This is why you need to reach out to at least 10 companies. You won’t get any product from most of them. By contacting a lot of them you make sure you get at least one product to review.

If after a week they haven’t answered yet, then you can send another follow-up email. After that, just stop and ask somewhere else. Again, don’t spam them.

5. Be prepared to do your review as soon as you get the product

Some companies will tell you to do the review within the first 7 days and then return it.

Some others will just tell you to keep the product.

6. Tell the company when you finish the review

Use their contact form again and send them the link to your review. If they like it and see that people are watching your video, they’ll probably send you more free samples later on.

If they like the review, they might ask you if they can share it on their social networks.

If this happens, you can start building a relationship with the company. You might end up being sponsored by them if your channel keeps growing.