Tips for Selecting Products
Thinking of hiring me to write about a product?
Since you’re not likely to want an article on every item you sell, give careful thought to which products you might want me to write on. I can help you with the selection if you’d like me to, but these tips will help you get started. Although focused on toys, you can use these thoughts to help select any type of product.
- Does the toy have educational value?
- Is it creative? Creative toys have the most potential for good lesson plans and articles.
- Can the toy be used in many ways? A video or a science kit that does a single experiment is not a good candidate for most articles. A video may be used in a lesson plan, but I would have to watch the video to understand how to incorporate it.
- Does the toy promote conservative, non-violent values? (I won’t do a plan for it if it doesn’t.)
- If the product isn’t a toy, does it have the ability to teach academics, religion, or values?
Article or Lesson Plan?
I can provide either a lesson plan or an article for your product. Here are some points to keep in mind as you select which to purchase:
If you want to reach homeschoolers, you will probably want a lesson plan. However, keep in mind that most homeschool families exist on a single income and are cautious about their education budget. Very expensive toys may have less opportunity to convert to sales. Inexpensive toys, those that are unusually discounted on your site, or those with multiple educational uses (and those that can be used by all the children in the family) are more likely to appeal to them. Homeschoolers often study unusual things, so quirky toys may have a better chance of success with that market.
If you want to reach traditionally schooled children, choose an article. These toys are those which have multiple ways to play with the toy, both in formal teaching time or in informal activities. Toys that tie in with current school curricula will appeal to these parents. Toys should be useful just as toys, since they will often be gifts to children.
The Final Decision
I won’t accept a job I don’t feel I can do justice to, so in the end, the final decision will be mine. I want to be sure you have an article that serves your audience and that I am excited to write about. My rejection isn’t a reflection on you, but on my ability to write about your product.