Hello, have a referral code already?
Come on in.
Hello, have a referral code already?
Come on in.
Dear Sozie,
When shopping went online, we loved the reach and access it enabled but what we needed was information we could trust: what does that really look like? will it work for me? which size should I get? Stock pictures of products didn’t give that real-life context and even pictures of models and other information online left us guessing.
We missed that human, real-life shopping experience. There’s nothing like touching, holding, and getting to know a product IRL yourself. But that’s not possible for many people, who simply don’t have the time. And so the next best thing is someone you trust trying out the product for you IRL and giving you the tea.
That person is you, the Sozie.
You are the one trying the product IRL, whether that means wearing a dress and seeing how it styles with different shoes or placing a cushion on your living room couch to see how it looks, or cooking up a frozen meal and checking out how it tastes.
OMG this is the BEST…
Shopping is better together because
in each other, we trust.
Welcome from everyone at the Sozie Team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fashion, home decor, food, and more! Our partner retailers carefully select products to drop on Sozie and they base their selection on what they want your valued feedback on most. Sometimes it’s their newest products and sometimes it’s their best deals – so all in all – Sozie is a pretty awesome place to discover products.
DO
Pick up products that make sense for you and that you have a genuine interest in trying and reviewing. It is OK to pick up products that interest you but you’re not clear on how they’ll turn out IRL.
DO NOT
Pick up products that are clearly not meant for you: ex. not age or diet appropriate, like chicken dinner if you are vegetarian, or kids items as an adult.
No. Even if a product is available in multiple colors or sizes, you must only review that product once.
If you are reviewing a kid item, make sure the item has not already been reviewed for the same child by another parent account in the same household.
You may access the product in-store or you may have the product shipped to you from the retailer’s website by purchasing it. You may submit content for products as long as you have actually tried, purchased, or used them, however you choose to get the products.
How come you don’t send the product? Why do I have to get it myself?
Our operating model allows you to pick up products to review that you actually care for and share valuable insight into and it allows you to get cash, rather than being sent products you may not care for and are stuck with.
What about returns?
Up to you if you want to keep or return the product after trying and reviewing, as long as you respect the retailer’s return policy. In the event that you try to return the product but are unable to do so per the retailer’s return policy, please contact sarah@sozie.com. In consumable categories like food, returns are not possible.
As a Sozie you are helping other shoppers understand how you perceive products so that they can shop better, just like you would if you were to shop together.
A strong review is one that is:
Detailed
A strong review is one that is detailed, honest, informative, and contextual. All these details help shoppers understand products you’ve tried IRL. Some may agree with your reasons to like or dislike an item – and some may not! Give detailed information and let shoppers decide.
Accurate
Correct product details like the size you’re trying are important to get right.
Understandable
People should be able to read your review and understand it so make sure your review is understandable and your star ratings are not confusing.
Put yourself in the shoes of a shopper who is relying on you to get a sense of the product, and let these DOs and DO NOTs be your guide:
DOs
Bring your inspiration to the forefront
Context is best provided when shoppers can clearly see the product on you and in your environment, styled or used in your way!
Trying a new pan to fry an egg? Show that! Trying out new jeans to see how they look with your favorite shoes? – then show that! Checking out a new laundry hamper? Show how many clothes it fits. Trying a sun hat? Step outside! Testing frozen cheese quesadillas? Let’s see how they turned out!…you get the idea.
Do show the product clearly
Keep a tidy background and take bright and clear pictures – make the product the hero!
DO NOTs
Noisy background
It is unhelpful to have a visually noisy background because then it is hard for the product to shine. Examples of noise include messy backgrounds or pairings with dirty products.
Cut-Off Products
Pictures, where the product is cut-off or unclear, are also unhelpful.
If you don’t like a product, tell other shoppers – and even better, tell them why!
Be Constructive
It is important to be constructive in your criticisms. This helps with relaying what is wrong with the item and why it didn’t meet your expectations.
Mind Your Language
Please be sure to keep your language civil – profanity is not acceptable
We expect you to write unbiased, honest & authentic reviews. All Sozie reviews will be posted to retailer sites unedited, regardless of whether they are favorable or not, provided they follow these guidelines. There is no pressure or expectation to write positive reviews, and negative reviews do not affect Sozie membership.
Yes, you can. Being a Sozie can be a nice side-gig for you while helping thousands of online shoppers make better purchase decisions – kind of like Uber. You are not employed by Sozie.
How does the cash back reward work?
You get cash back on each product that you try and review per our guidelines. We have varying cash back offers on at different times and/or for different products. You get and keep the cash back as long as you have actually tried, purchased or used the product you reviewed. The cash back amount may be more or less than the product cost.
Is it pay or is it a cash back? What’s the difference anyways?
You are paid an amount that changes from time to time or by product for each product that you review. The cash back amount may be more or less than the product cost. We call this payment a cash back. Why is that?
If you are an experienced Sozie, you know that our app requires you to submit proof of your product trial with each review. We do not and will never pay for reviews of products, which you have not actually tried. This is why we call it cash back, because you get back the cash only after trialing the product and completing your review.
So can I tell people I get cash to review as a Sozie?
Yes! Go ahead! And if you are referring someone to Sozie, do explain to them that a product has to be trialled and reviewed before any cash is received. So they will get cash back after getting, trying and reviewing the product.
Yes! We are always running campaigns like referral rewards or contests like BTS! For example, during Super Sozie Summer, we rewarded Sozies with double cashback AND with $47 per referral to Sozie AND with $150 for winners of BTS contests! The chance of winning these rewards is not affected by the sentiment of your reviews.
Your referral code is unique to you, that’s how we know you referred someone to Sozie
Unfortunately, sometimes there are bad actors out there that mis-use your referral code and that might compromise your account. If you think your code is compromised, contact sarah@sozie.com
We recommend keeping your referral code private and only giving it out to people you would recommend for Sozie.
Content you create on Sozie including text reviews and pictures will appear on the relevant product detail page on retailer websites along with other reviews. Sozie reviews are distinguished because Sozie automatically appends the suggested line “I received an incentive to write this review” or other markers or designations to identify the review of a product as incentivized. All reviews are moderated to ensure compliance with the respective retailer’s review writing guidelines. Content may also surface on other locations including but not limited to the product’s photo carousel and on the product listing page.
Sozie automatically appends the suggested line “I received an incentive to write this review” or other designation to identify the review of a product as incentivized to all reviews you create through our mobile application. Please do not add your own additional disclosure in the text of your review.
Perhaps you only want to share pictures you’ve taken and not the text review. If you are promoting the product, you must still disclose that you received an incentive, even if you only share pictures. You should include one of the following hashtags and make sure the hashtag is clearly visible:
1. #sponsoredbysozie (this works on its own)
2. #ad #sozie (or these work when both are used together)
The disclosure should be placed so that it’s hard to miss. It’s best to include the disclosure with the endorsement message itself; it could be easily missed if it’s only included on your profile page, it’s at the end of a post, or it requires a person to click “more” to find it. Here are some examples:
If your review is a picture, the disclosure should be superimposed on the picture long enough to be noticed and read.
If your review is in a video, the disclosure should be in the video and not just in the description uploaded with the video. It’s best if you provide both an audio and video disclosure. You may also want to show the disclosure periodically throughout the video, to make sure that the viewer doesn’t miss it.
You are required by law to disclose any connection you have with the advertiser, including that you have received an incentive when you are product testing.
Please edit content still visible to include one of our required disclosures, or if you prefer to you can just take it down.
We consider anyone under the age of 18 to be a child. We call children kids!
Yes! We drop kid’s clothes, accessories, shoes, and even toys! You can absolutely pick-up kids’ products either in your own Sozie account or on a separate Sozie account created and managed by you for your children. (See more here for guidance on how to set up accounts for multiple people.)
All review content written for kids’ products must be written by the parent even if the opinion belongs to the child. For example:
Correct: “My daughter is 12 years old and tall for her age so she is wearing a size 14 which fits her great! The fabric does not wrinkle easily and the stretch allows her to move freely – even when jumping on the trampoline.
Incorrect: “I am a tall 12 year old wearing a size 14. I love these tights. I can jump on a trampoline so easily because they stretch a lot!
You can only have one Sozie account per device.
Here are the rules for each account:
1 account cannot submit content for more than 1 adult
1 account can submit content for 1 adult AND any number of children
Parents, don’t forget to talk to each other! You cannot review the same item for the same child from 2 parents’ managed accounts.
What if I have more than 1 child?
You can accept items for all your children from the same account. If you would prefer to have separate accounts for each child, or one for you and one for all your children, that is OK as long as you have a separate device for each account.
I only want to review kids’ products. Do I have to set up a Sozie account for an adult?
You must set up and manage the account for your children. You do not have to pick up any adult products on the account.
You may send more questions to sarah@sozie.com, just mention that you’ve already read the FAQ so she doesn’t redirect you here!
Membership is granted to Sozie on an invitation-only basis and based on our current membership capacity. Referrals from existing members are also considered an invitation and are given priority but do not guarantee entry.
Don’t know anyone who is a Sozie? That’s ok, fill out the form above and we’ll be in touch!
Fashion, home decor, food, and more! Our partner retailers carefully select products to drop on Sozie and they base their selection on what they want your valued feedback on most. Sometimes it’s their newest products and sometimes it’s their best deals – so all in all – Sozie is a pretty awesome place to discover products.
Pick up products that make sense for you or that you have a genuine interest in. It is also OK to pick up products that interest you but you’re not clear on how they’ll turn out IRL.
Now say you have a bias against bright red – it won’t make sense to pick up something that is bright red and then say in your review that you don’t like it because it is bright red – that doesn’t help anyone right? Of course, it is a different thing if the product turns out different when you get it or looks different when you place it against something than what you had imagined.
Just remember, shoppers and retailers are expecting you – our Sozies – to write unbiased and authentic reviews – so keep that in mind when you’re picking products and you’ll do great.
No. Even if a product is available in multiple colors or sizes, you must only review that product once.
If you are reviewing a kid item, make sure the item has not already been reviewed for the same child by another parent account in the same household.
You may access the product in-store or you may have the product shipped to you from the retailer’s website by purchasing it. You may submit content for products as long as you have actually tried, purchased, or used them, however you choose to get the products.
Details, details, details.
A strong review is one that is detailed, honest, informative, and contextual. If you love a product and you simply write, “OMG this is the BEST” and you don’t give any information or context to other shoppers that helps them understand why you like it so much, they can’t take much of what you’re saying to mean anything for themselves, right? After all, you may like it for certain reasons and they may hear those reasons and think “that’s not for me!”
Remember, as a Sozie you are helping other shoppers understand how you perceive the product so that they can shop better, just like you would if you were to shop together. So a strong review is one that is detailed, honest, informative, and contextual, which means explaining why you like – or don’t like – something, so other shoppers can benefit from your review.
Put yourself in the shoes of a shopper who is relying on your pictures to get a sense of the product, and let that be your guide. Here are a few tips.
Bring your inspiration to the forefront
Context is best provided when shoppers can clearly see the product on you and in your environment, styled or used in your way. Tell the product story through your pictures.
Trying a new pan to fry an egg? Show us!
Trying out new jeans to see how they look with your favorite shoes? – then show that!
Checking out a new laundry hamper? Show how many clothes it fits.
Trying a sun hat? Step outside!
Testing frozen cheese quesadillas? Let’s see how they turned out!
Show the product clearly
Keep a tidy background and take bright and clear pictures – make the product the hero!
It is unhelpful to have a visually noisy background because then it is hard for the product to shine. Examples of noise include messy backgrounds or pairings with dirty products. Pictures, where the product is cut-off or unclear, are also unhelpful.
Outdoor pictures work great!
Sometimes products fail our expectations, that’s totally normal and totally fine!
Again, as a Sozie you are helping other shoppers understand how you perceive products. So if you don’t like it, tell them – and even better, tell them why!
Were the shorts itchy when you put them on?
Was the towel thinner than it seemed online?
Was the blue not as bright as you needed to match your living room?
Was the steak smaller than you’d hoped? What about it didn’t you like or what should have been different about it to meet your expectations.
And sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with a product, but you try it and it’s just not for you. And that’s fine too, again, just say so and explain!
We expect our Sozies to write unbiased, honest & authentic reviews. All Sozie reviews will be posted to retailer sites unedited, regardless of whether they are favorable or not, provided they follow review submission guidelines. There is no pressure or expectation to write positive reviews, and negative reviews do not affect Sozie membership.
Shoppers and even brands and retailers will appreciate the opportunity to improve their products. Please be sure to keep your language civil – profanity is not acceptable.
You get cashback on each product that you try and review in accordance with review submission guidelines. We can have varying cashback offers on at different times and/or for different products. You get and keep the cashback as long as you have actually tried, purchased or used the product you reviewed.
Yes! We are always running campaigns like referral rewards or contests like BTS! For example, during Super Sozie Summer, we rewarded Sozies with double cashback AND with $47 per referral to Sozie AND with $150 for winners of BTS contests! The chance of winning these rewards is not affected by the sentiment of your reviews.
Your referral code is unique to you, that’s how we know you referred someone to Sozie
Unfortunately, sometimes there are bad actors out there that mis-use your referral code and that might compromise your account. If you think your code is compromised, contact sarah@sozie.com
Content you create on Sozie including text reviews and pictures will appear on the relevant product detail page on retailer websites along with other guest reviews. Sozie reviews are distinguished because Sozie automatically appends the suggested line “I received an incentive to write this review” or other markers or designations to identify the review of a product as incentivized. All reviews are moderated to ensure compliance with the respective retailer’s review writing guidelines. Content may also surface on other locations including but not limited to the product’s photo carousel and on the product listing page.
No. Sozie automatically appends the suggested line “I received an incentive to write this review” or other designation to identify the review of a product as incentivized to all reviews you create through our mobile application. Please do not add your own additional disclosure in the text of your review.
Yes, you can share content submitted to Sozie – your User Content – on any third-party platform including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, or a personal blog, If you share your User Content or otherwise comment on the reviewed products on a third-party platform, you must always comply with the FTC Endorsement Guidelines’ disclosure requirements.
Perhaps you only want to share pictures you’ve taken and not the text review. If you are promoting the product, you must still disclose that you received an incentive, even if you only share pictures. You should include one of the following hashtags and make sure the hashtag is clearly visible:
1. #sponsoredbysozie (this works on its own)
2. #ad #sozie (or these work when both are used together)
The disclosure should be placed so that it’s hard to miss. It’s best to include the disclosure with the endorsement message itself; it could be easily missed if it’s only included on your profile page, it’s at the end of a post, or it requires a person to click “more” to find it.Here are some examples:
If your review is a picture, the disclosure should be superimposed on the picture long enough to be noticed and read.
If your review is in a video, the disclosure should be in the video and not just in the description uploaded with the video. It’s best if you provide both an audio and video disclosure. You may also want to show the disclosure periodically throughout the video, to make sure that the viewer doesn’t miss it.
You are required by law to disclose any connection you have with the advertiser, including that you have received an incentive when you are product testing.
Please edit content still visible to include one of our required disclosures, or if you prefer to you can just take it down.
We consider anyone under the age of 18 to be a child. We call children kids!
Yes! We drop kid’s clothes, accessories, shoes, and even toys! You can absolutely pick-up kids’ products either in your own Sozie account or on a separate Sozie account created and managed by you for your children. (See more here for guidance on how to set up accounts for multiple people.)
All review content written for kids’ products must be written by the parent even if the opinion belongs to the child. For example:
Correct: “My daughter is 12 years old and tall for her age so she is wearing a size 14 which fits her great! The fabric does not wrinkle easily and the stretch allows her to move freely – even when jumping on the trampoline.
Incorrect: “I am a tall 12 year old wearing a size 14. I love these tights. I can jump on a trampoline so easily because they stretch a lot!
You can only have one Sozie account per device.
Here are the rules for each account:
1 account cannot submit content for more than 1 adult
1 account can submit content for 1 adult AND any number of children
Parents, don’t forget to talk to each other! You cannot review the same item for the same child from 2 parents’ managed accounts.
What if I have more than 1 child?
You can accept items for all your children from the same account. If you would prefer to have separate accounts for each child, or one for you and one for all your children, that is OK as long as you have a separate device for each account.
I only want to review kids’ products. Do I have to set up a Sozie account for an adult?
You must set up and manage the account for your children. You do not have to pick up any adult products on the account.
You may send more questions to sarah@sozie.com, just mention that you’ve already read the FAQ so she doesn’t redirect you here!
