Create a Sampling campaign

This guide walks you through the process of using Vibe to submit a Sampling or Ambassadors campaign request. The details you provide in your request will enable Bazaarvoice to create and launch your campaign. Use our sampling timeline estimator to efficiently plan the timing of your campaign request submission.

If you have any questions when creating your campaign, visit the Support Community to connect with your Bazaarvoice project team and receive support.

Video overview

For an overview of how to create a Sampling campaign, watch this video: 

If you require a descriptive transcript for this video, you can access the Create a Sampling campaign transcript directly.

Before you begin

1. Ensure you have access to Vibe. You can do this by

   1. Accessing Vibe directly.

   2. Signing in to the Bazaarvoice Portal  and then, from the navigation bar, selecting Vibe > Campaigns.

Note: The Campaigns page will be your home for campaign creation and monitoring. If you have trouble signing in, please contact your Bazaarvoice Account Team or your company’s Bazaarvoice Vibe Administrator.

Create a campaign request

Campaign requests are the primary tools for submitting all campaign details and requirements to Bazaarvoice. To ensure a smooth and timely campaign process, please complete your request accurately and thoroughly.

Step 1: Add campaign information 

1. Select Create Campaign. The Create Campaign modal will appear.

2. Complete the following fields:

   • Campaign Name: Enter a name for the campaign to help you identify it.

   • Community: Select the community you want to sample your products and create content for the campaign. To create a Sampling or Ambassadors campaign, select Bazaarvoice Sampling.

Step 2: Select delivery and shipping methods 

1. Locale: Select a language and country for this campaign.

2. Currency: Select the currency you want to use for this campaign.

3. Delivery method: Select whether products will be shipped to members or if members will receive a coupon code to redeem and order the product themselves.

4. Shipping manager or coupon code provider: Depending on your project scope, identify whether you or Bazaarvoice will ship the products or generate the coupon codes for members.

Tip: If you have already paid for purchase options that you want to use in your campaign, you'll be prompted to select them at this stage. 

Step 3: Select content destination 

Select where you expect to see reviews collected from this campaign. You can target your website or gather reviews from a specific retail partner. You will have access to content and reporting for either option.

1.  Select your content destination: 

   • Your site: Content will be displayed exclusively on your site.

   • A specific retailer: Content will be sent directly to a single retailer of your choice.

2. If your content is going to a specific retailer, select the retailer from the drop-down list. Content will only go to that single retailer.

   

   Note: If you choose to send content to a single retailer, when selecting products, you'll be choosing from the retailer’s catalog, not your own. It is therefore a good idea to make sure the products you want to include in your campaign are available in the retailer’s catalog.
3. Select Create Draft Request.

After this step you can select Save & Exit at any time to save the campaign request as a draft.

Tip: If you have already paid for purchase options that you want to use in your campaign which target a single retailer, this will be your only selection option at this stage.

Step 4: Add your products

Use the Products page to add products to your campaign. You can add:

• Existing products from your product catalog

• New, unreleased products from outside your product catalog

• Products from your chosen retailer’s product catalog, if you’re creating a single destination campaign

Follow these steps to add products to your campaign:

1. Add products to your campaign using either of the following methods:

   1. To add a single product from your catalog, begin entering a product name or product ID in the Product search field. Select the relevant option from the list of products that appears.

   2. To add a single product from outside your catalog, such as a new, unreleased product select Add New Product. To view the information required for each field in the Add New Product modal, refer to the section below.

Required fields for new products

Field	Required information
Product ID	Enter a product ID. If you use BV display, use the product ID from the product display page (PDP) for the product. If you don't know the product ID and plan to provide it at a later date, we recommend you structure the product ID as follows: sampling_productname. Note: You can only enter a product ID for new products from outside your catalog.
Product Name	Enter the product name.  This field is visible to participants—please keep content clear and avoid abbreviations. Note: The product name is auto-populated from your catalog. You can edit it.
Product Description	Enter at least two sentences describing the features and benefits of the product and how to use it. Descriptions help our members understand your product better, and write more accurate reviews. This field is visible to participants—please keep content clear and avoid abbreviations.
Product Brand	Enter the name of your brand. This field is visible to participants—please keep content clear and avoid abbreviations.
Product Category	Enter the category to which the product belongs. This field is visible to participants—please keep content clear and avoid abbreviations.
Product Image	To add an image of the product, either click to select and upload a product image, or enter image URL instead This image is visible to participants—please keep the product image clear and appropriate.
GTIN / EAN / UPC	Enter a UPC, EAN, or GTIN for the product. We will use these identifiers  to syndicate reviews across the Bazaarvoice Network. If you don’t use UPCs or EANs, you can enter product IDs instead.
GTINs / UPCs / EANs for Syndication (optional)	Enter one or more EANs, UPCs, or GTINs separated by commas. When applicable, we will use these identifiers to syndicate user-generated content (UGC) for the product and its variants to all retailers with whom you’ve established a syndication connection. If you don’t use UPCs or EANs, you can enter product IDs instead. When you select a product that already contains UPCs or EANs, you can see how many syndication destinations in the Bazaarvoice Network receive UGC for this product. Note: You can also view syndication destinations for your product from the Product information section of the request summary.
Shipping Availability Date (optional)	Enter the date when this product will be available to ship. We only recommend entering availability dates that are within the next two weeks.
Quantity	Enter the total number of units you would like to sample of that product. A unit represents a single product sample you can offer to the sampling community in exchange for a single review.   If you’ve purchased non-flexible units, you are expected to sample all units in a singular campaign. Note: Treat multipacks of products as single items. For example, a pack of three items sold together should count as one unit as a member will only be responsible for providing one review.
Fair Market Value (FMV)	Enter a fair market value that reflects the normal price of the product on your website or other retailer websites. Don’t include any special characters. This field is visible to participants.

2. Once you've finished adding details, select Create Product to add the product to the campaign and return to the Products page. Repeat steps one and two for each individual product you want to add. 
3. Under Selected Products, you can view information about the products you've selected for the campaign. Use the Status column to make sure you've all product details complete. If any of your products have a status of Missing Details, you'll need to select the edit icon and provide all fields until the status is Valid before you can proceed.
   
   To edit product details, select the edit icon on the right side of the product row. Once you’ve made changes, select Save.
   
   To remove a product from the campaign, select the remove icon on the right side of the product row and select Remove Product.
   
   Use the Additional Information field to include any extra information relevant for the Bazaarvoice project team or members to know about the products you’re sampling.
4. Select Audience to go to the next step.

Step 5: Set your audience

Use the Audience page to help Bazaarvoice target the most suitable members for your campaign.

1. Select who you want to participate in your campaign.

   • Gender: Select if you want people who identify as a specific gender to participate in your campaign.

   • Age range: Enable members of all ages to participate in your campaign, or select a custom age range.

2. Under Advanced Targeting, select the checkboxes next to each question you want to include in your demographic requirements. The following table shows each demographic question and the suggested information to provide.



Question	Suggested information to provide
Where do your desired participants live?	Enter information you want members to provide about their homes to participate in this campaign. For example, zip code, real estate type, building floor, proximity to retail outlets to collect items in store, outdoor space, and climate. Note: If you want to share a file containing zip codes with Bazaarvoice, leave a note in this section. Once you submit your request, Bazaarvoice will contact you about sending the file.
Is this product for pets?	Enter information you want members to provide about their pets to participate in this campaign. For example, pet type, size, weight, age, and any specific needs.
Is this product for children?	Enter information about the target audience for the product. For example, height, age range, or gender.
Do your desired participants homes need to have any specific features?	Enter information you want members to provide about features they have in their home to participate in this campaign. For example, “Bathtub," “Lawn."
Does this product require installation?	Enter information about whether or not the product requires installation by a member or third-party installation.
Which participants should be excluded, and what information should we ask participants to exclude?	Enter information to help us exclude members or add conditions for member reviews. For example, specify whether the product can be used by pregnant women or that members should not mention competitor brands in their review.
Any other requirements?	Enter any other requirements for members to participate in the campaign that you haven’t already mentioned.​

Use the Additional Information field to include any extra information relevant for the Bazaarvoice project team or members to know about the products you’re sampling.


Tip: If you’re creating an Ambassadors campaign, add a note in the Additional Information field that this request should be sampled within your Ambassadors community.
3. Select Content to go to the next step.

Step 6: Content

Use the Content page to select the type of content you want participants to submit after they sample your product. We recommend that you select no more than two tasks per campaign, as the more activities you ask a member to complete, the lower the expected completion rate.

Note: All submitted content will be subject to the Bazaarvoice Visual Content Terms of Use.

1. Under Task Start Date, select if you would like tasks to start as soon as possible or if members should wait until a specific date to begin submitting UGC.

   

   Tip: If you are sampling an unreleased product with an embargo, use the Task Start Date field to specify when members can start submitting content to ensure compliance with the embargo. 

2. Under Reviews, select whether you want members to write a review for your product.

3. Under Social Tasks, select whether you want members to create social content for your product.

   1. Under Instagram, select whether you want members to submit a Story or Post. Enter the Instagram usernames and hashtags you want members to mention in their post. This can include your company's Instagram username.

   2. Under TikTok, select the Video checkbox if you want creators to submit a video on TikTok. Indicate if you plan to use content created in the campaign on your social media channels or websites.

4. Under Post-Campaign Survey, select the Submit product feedback checkbox if you want members to complete a survey once your campaign has ended.

5. Under Visual Content Guidance, decide whether or not you want to include visual content tips for your members.

   1. Select the Add content tips check box if you’d like to include do’s and don’ts to guide your participants.

      

      Tip: Our moderation system rejects content that displays any one of the don’ts selected, so including multiple don’ts could affect completion rates as the member will have to re-do the content.
   2. Select the Add content inspiration check box if you'd like to include media examples to give participants inspiration.
      

      Tip: You must own or have permission to use this example content.

6. In the Additional Information field, enter any additional instructions for members writing reviews or generating social content.

   

   Tip: If your product is under embargo and UGC cannot be published before a specific date, use the Additional Information field to clearly state the embargo details and the exact date when content can be shared.

7. Select Packaging, Shipping or Deals to go to the next step.

Note: Use the Packaging, Shipping or Deals page to provide information around the delivery of your products to members. Your workflow in this page will depend on the project scope you selected in the Create Campaign modal.

If Step 7 is Packaging  (Your delivery method is shipped products, shipped by Bazaarvoice)

If your project scope includes Shipped products as your delivery method and these are being shipped by Bazaarvoice, use the following steps to enter fulfillment information.

Package Details

1. If Bazaarvoice is managing fulfillment, select the type of box you want to use to package your products.

   

   Note: If you have a custom box in scope, refer to the Design a custom box article.

2. Indicate whether or not you will be including any Package inserts.

3. Under Product Dimensions, select Add Dimensions. Select the unit of measurement and add the dimensions for each product in your campaign.

   

   Note: Dimensions should be inclusive of product packaging, if any.

4. Indicate the Estimated Package Weight. 

Packaging Your Products

1. Under Participants, select how many packages will be shipped for this campaign.

2. Under Packaging Instructions, you can optionally share any specific packaging instructions for your sampling campaign, such as which products should be packaged together. Provide any special instructions for our warehouse team when packing your shipment. This includes details like kitting instructions (for example, placing multiple products in a single box) or any other packaging requirements.

If step 7 is Shipping (Your delivery method is shipped products, shipped by me)

Under Fulfillment File Notifications, select your shipping managers. If you select Send to someone else, enter the email address where this information will be sent. 

Tip: If someone else should be responsible for fulfillment, include their email so they can receive fulfillment notifications.

Under Missing or damaged products risk management, select whether or not you want to be notified about shipping issues.

Add any additional information in the relevant field that may be important for the warehouse team.

If step 7 is Deals

For Deals campaigns, Bazaarvoice recommends the following best practices:

• Offer the product at a 100% discount.

• Ensure products and their URLs are live before submitting your campaign request.

• Group similar category items and price points within a single campaign, limiting each campaign to 10-15 products.

• Confirm product availability at the requested purchase locations. If a product is out of stock at a participant’s nearest location, they will be unable to leave a review.

• Use niche location targeting (such as zip codes) in the Audience tab to help ensure product availability and avoid missed review opportunities.

Step 8: Add shipping details

1. Under Warehouse Notifications, select your shipping recipients. If you select Send to someone else, enter the email address where this information will be sent. 

   

   Tip: If someone else should be responsible for fulfillment, include their email so they can receive fulfillment notifications.

2. Under Missing or damaged products risk management, select whether or not you want to be notified about shipping issues.

3. In the Additional Information field, provide any special instructions for our warehouse team when packing your shipment.

4. Select Summary to go to the next section. 

Step 9: Review the summary

Review the information you’ve entered before you submit your request.

1. If you want to make changes to a step in your request, select Edit in the relevant section. 

2. Once you’ve finished making changes, select Request Campaign to send your campaign request to Bazaarvoice.

3. In the modal that appears, enter any additional information you want to pass on to Bazaarvoice and select Submit Request.

Caution: Once you submit your request and its status changes to Requested you'll no longer be able to edit it.

Note: If the status of a request changes from Requested to Draft, this means Bazaarvoice is  going to contact you with questions or required updates before they can approve it.

What's next?

Tip: To discover how to duplicate, manage, find, view, edit, or delete a campaign request, read the Manage a Bazaarvoice Sampling campaign request article.

Submission of your request will create a case for the Bazaarvoice Sampling Operations team to initiate communication on your campaign. Bazaarvoice will review your request and contact you if there are any questions or additional information needed. Ensure you have access to the Bazaarvoice Support Community to action campaign tasks and manage your sampling project(s). 

Note: Make sure you have the items you need for the campaign in stock.

You’ve completed Step 2: Create a  Sampling campaign.

You can now move on to Step 3: Complete and track your campaign tasks.