Giving a biased opinion Readers are more likely to skip over reviews that are either overly positive or negative, so be fair and balanced in your opinions. Examples: ✗ “This is the worst record player on the planet and you’d get better quality out of an old cassette player! Do not waste your money!” ✓ “The record player has performed well for over five years now with no problems other than simple routine maintenance whenever necessary (cleaning, changing the slipmat, recalibrating the arm, etcetera… all things you can do at home with a little know-how). That being said, the weight dial seems to shift a little over time, so keep an eye on it unless you want to run down your needles almost immediately. Also, the anti-skate knob is awkwardly placed and can get in the way of the arm when using the automatic setting.” Omitting details A lot of products are now bought online, which doesn’t give buyers an idea of how big it is or how much it weighs. Be sure to include the product’s specs and any accessories that might come with it. Examples: ✗ “It’s pretty big compared to others, but it fits on my table so I’m happy. It’s also not too heavy.” ✓ “Weighing in at 12 pounds with a height of 6-inches, width and depth 18-inches, it’s small enough to move around without any trouble and will look great on a side table.” Faking it If you haven’t used the product, don’t write a review for it as this is not helpful and misleading. Examples: “I just got this turntable today and am so excited to use it! It looks great and it's a 5-star product!” “First time using this type of record player (coming off a decade of an antique model that finally went kaput) and I am very impressed! It sounds like a dream and requires very little maintenance (compared to my former clunker). Finding the right weight and anti-skate settings can be tedious given the small type-font on the dials, but that's just a minor annoyance.” Using promotional slogans Reiterating anything from the company’s marketing campaign of the product will make readers doubt the validity of your review. Examples: ✗ “It truly is for audiophiles everywhere!” ✓ “The record player’s sleek, retro look will appeal to younger music lovers and its user-friendliness and automatic features will come in handy for older buyers with little to no experience with getting it set up.” Making rude remarks about the seller(s) Even if the seller’s customer service skills weren’t ideal, avoid talking bad about them as it will come off as petty. The review is for the product itself, so focus on that. Examples: ✗ “The product is whatever but the woman at the store was so rude and patronizing I have to give the whole thing a big thumbs down!” ✓ “Despite having a less-than-ideal experience with the seller, she knew what she was talking about because I’m extremely happy with this product!”