ToolGuyd 2014 Media Guide

Following are the current fees for certain ToolGuyd features and services. (Teaser: anything editorial-related is free of charge.)

New Product Previews: $0

We get this question ALL the time. How much for you to post about our product? Our answer is always the same. If the product is of strong perceived reader interest, strong personal interest, or otherwise worth posting about, we’ll post about it for free. That’s the way it should be.

ToolGuyd does not solicit or accept “insertion fees,” “consideration fees,” “publishing fees,” or compensation.

Deal Posts: $0

We occasionally benefit from deal posts, via affiliate link sales (e.g. via Amazon, Home Depot, etc.), but our intent is to share money-saving tool deals with readers.

You can see a list of our active affiliations on our “where to buy” page.

Product Giveaways: $0

If a product is worth giving away and is something readers might be interested in entering to win, and there’s room in the schedule, we’ll host the giveaway for free. We might sometimes ask for a test sample for vetting purposes.

Product Awards: $0

What is the value of a product award if any and every brand can just buy one?

Product Award Entry/Consideration/Nomination: $0

Here’s our discussion about the matter.

Keep in mind that we typically cannot consider a product for an award if we haven’t had the opportunity to test it firsthand.

Product Reviews: $0

We will happily review products for free, i.e. there is no submission fee.

Some exceptions do apply, such as if we’re asked to sign a content or copyright release form. In the past 5 years, this has happened once.

Store gift cards are accepted if the product to be reviewed is a service that requires purchases to be made (e.g. a retail store smartphone app or new “pick up in store” online purchasing option). In the past 5 years, this has happened twice.

Product Testing and Evaluation: $0*

We do accept no-cost product samples for testing, review, and other editorial purposes.

Product samples are often retained for comparison purposes or given away to readers or non-profit groups.

If we accept a no-cost or discounted product for testing, acknowledgement will be added at the very bottom of a post or review, and possibly within articles as well where relevant.

*Potentially there might eventually be a fee for expedited or above-and-beyond testing, but this is something we are only thinking about and not something currently in effect.

Independent Testing: $varies (Appended on 3/14/2014)

We are willing to consider and undertake paid independent testing opportunities on a case-by-case basis. Such opportunities would typically involve costs, resources, or levels of complexity beyond what we could or would provide as part of regular no-fee editorial coverage.

Sponsored Posts and Advertorials: N/A

We completely reject the idea of sponsored posts and “advertorials.” We feel that editorial coverage should not be tainted with hidden mixed-in advertising messages.

Social Media Mentions: $0

YouTube Videos: $0

If a product video preview or review is worth doing, it’s worth doing for free. We’re not interested in becoming spokesmen.

Traditional Banner Advertisements: $varies, contact for latest rates

We believe that advertisements should be recognizable as advertisements, and that the line between editorial content and advertising should be wide and distinct.

Was ToolGuyd paid to say/post/publish that? is a question we don’t want readers to have to ask. This is why we abstain from editorial-space advertising practices.