Description
We’re seeking a few pet-loving, multi-talented people with writing and photography skills to create hands-on reviews of products from our affiliate partners. This position is part-time to start but could quickly evolve into something more if things work out.
A couple of things to sort through before getting to the bottom line. The following attributes are non-negotiable:
- You must own (or have access to) at least one pet—cat, dog, or other common domestic animal (rabbit, hamster, etc.). Even better if you have a multi-pet household.
- You must be willing to receive free stuff and test it on your pet(s). We currently have a lot of dog and cat food products to review, but we get a range of products from toys to leashes, and supplements to GPS dog collars.
- You must have a decent camera and good photography skills. We will accept pictures taken on a mobile phone if they’re top quality. Most of our current product reviewers are using the latest iPhone and/or Samsung phones. Ideally, we’d prefer if you had something a little better than that.
Most of our partners are based in North America, but we’re (slowly) branching out to other regions. Special consideration will be extended to licensed veterinarians.
About Us
We’re a growing digital media company with a strong portfolio of pet care websites and our own brand of pet furniture and accessories. If you’re a pet owner, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of one of our properties.
The program in question is called Special Affiliate Product Reviews (SAPR), and our current writing team is basically maxed out in terms of reviewing new products. We're seeking writers to work exclusively on SAPR.
About the Gig
The nutshell version is “Get free stuff, write about your experience and get paid for it!” But there’s a little more to it than that.
To begin, SAPR operates independently of our usual content stream. This is not a predictably steady gig—yet—although we have a consistent supply of products coming through the pipeline. It could grow into a full-time position if you’re awesome. But the most important aspect is finding the right fit between product, pet, and pet owner. For example, you might have a dog that’s allergic to brown rice. In that case, we would never send you anything that contains brown rice.
We’ve been running this program for over a year, so we know many of the drawbacks and pitfalls that occur between partners and logistics. You’ll be given plenty of time to experience the product and form your opinions. However, these are not open-ended assignments. Once you receive the product and you’ve had enough time for evaluation, we expect to see your review and photographs promptly.
On that note, we have a set of guidelines for taking pictures. Our content managers have a fairly specific protocol for what they need to see. For instance, we ask that you take as many shots in landscape layout as possible (because portrait style looks bad on mobile devices). Each review requires a minimum of 10 pictures, starting with the unopened package.
See these examples of recent product reviews:
https://petkeen.com/habitat-haven-my-own-den-petit-catio-review/
https://petkeen.com/aways-pet-carrier-review/
https://petkeen.com/small-pet-select-products-review-vet-answer/
https://petkeen.com/bella-and-duke-cat-food-review/
How It Works
As vaguely described above, once you’re in the program, you’ll be notified when a product comes in that fits your criteria. Our Director of Editorial will reach out and ask if you’re interested in the product. If yes, the wheels are in motion. Within a short period, the partner will ship the product directly to your doorstep.
You’ll write the review based on a template we supply and take pictures of the product and your pet in various stages of interaction with the product, which varies wildly. Obviously, if you’re reviewing dog food, there’s not much “interaction” except for a few snaps of your pup eating the food. Likewise, if you’re reviewing a cat litter box, it’s incredibly helpful to us if you can at least get a picture of your cat in or near the box itself (they don’t have to be using it! We respect your kitty’s privacy.).
Keep in mind that you’re never obligated to accept a product. If you’re not comfortable with something, just say no, and that will be the end of it until the next product comes along. However, once you’re in the system, we’ll have a good idea about your preferences, so we’ll rarely offer you something we know you won’t take.
The frequency of your assignments will depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to how many products you want to receive. Meanwhile, some weeks we only get a couple of products to review, and other times we have an embarrassment of riches.
What About Compensation?
We pay by the word and there’s a flat fee for taking pictures. Compensation is negotiable but put it this way: we'll make it worth your while. Our regular writers love this program.
Payment via PayPal or Wise (preferred), and generally, we pay within 72 hours of receiving your review and photos. There’s no ambiguity about getting paid. We don’t wait until the review gets published or any of that nonsense.
This is a long-term relationship with massive potential for a go-getter with an eye for staging photographs and a flair for the written word. It’s also helpful if your pet is somewhat photogenic, but that’s not a deal breaker.
Other “Good to Know” Items
Our affiliate partners have been instructed to never reach out directly to a writer unless it’s either absolutely necessary or something to do with shipping. So, you’ll never get an email asking “where’s the review?” from anybody except your editor.
This is a great opportunity for (a) established pet writers who want to develop or exercise their media skills, (b) pet owners who love trying new products and getting free stuff, and/or (c) smart, hard-working people who’re looking for an “in” with a great company that’s on a mission to be the most helpful pet care company in the world.
- We’re also actively looking for licensed veterinarians to join our regular writing team (with weekly or monthly deadlines).
How to Apply
Fill out the form, answering questions about you, your pet(s), and your experience in the pet care niche. If you’re a good fit, we’ll be in touch ASAP.