Instamums 5

[Supernorthernme]

The thread continues....if it hasn't continued elsewhere! @Lateforall it was me who questioned Lobella loves depression wears lippy campaign. I get that the idea is that being a bit glam might be a way of coping. And i have been guilty of putting my face on to carry on in the world. I get that not everyone with pnd is sat at home in pjs unshowered with greasy hair. But I just find the whole thing so false on her account - maybe that is because I know of her in real life.

But I think so many of them have massivley over exaggerated aspects of their lives because it sells. Whether that is FODs clumsy parenting or whatever. But it really doesnt sit well

@Fruitbowl2 yes, it just seems a bit odd and coincidental.

Not a massive fan of the stories, but DLAM is primarily a fashion account, so it seems a bit strange that she's veering off into travel unless it's an ad or a gift. (That's just my own personal take on it though, at the end of the day she can post what she wants so long as it's clearly marked as an advert or gift)

Influencers will often enthuse about things they've been given for free. And they know that if they tag everything #gifted they will look like the grabby capitalists they really are.

To be fair to MOD I think she's having rubbish weather and is trying to avoid gloomy skies with the close up pics. That's my take on the lack of scenery pictures anyway

@jamoncrumpets I think that's basically what it boils down to.

They're given stuff "for free" though as they have a ready made market that brands want to get in front of, jam.
Say it's mums, and you have thousands of mum followers who hang on your every word, watch your account, want what they have, like their new clothes, their lifestyle etc (evident from these threads) - the brands are going to want a piece of that.
They'll get gifted them, and then the brands will hope that they use them so the followers want to know where it's from, or say that they love it.
There's nothing being done wrong there (IF they use it, they should say it was gifted though, correct.)
If you had the platform I'm sure you wouldn't say no thank you,I don't want it and return it. Come on, you wouldn't really. I don't think you would anyway.Or maybe you would.

Jam that made me lol.

Cady I have a pretty good grasp on this whole Instamum phenomenon. I've been among them. I've sat at the same seminars. I run a small brand but decided to put it on hold until my second child is born. I am very aware of how #gifted and #ad works and I know the getarounds to avoid using them. You are basically teaching your grandma to suck eggs with your comments to me.

Nah Cady I enough enough crap in my house already without it being full of Knor and Dorset cereals, and not being able to pick my nose in the car cos there's a camera in it.

cady Mrs meldrum says she turns down 80% of 'jobs'

Yet she still does one or two a week. Gives you an idea of the enormity of it

I've been approached once! But my insta isn't a 'mummy' account

Of course that Bedruthan stay is #gifted. It's been tagged to shit. The ASA complaints dept was invented for stuff like this.

If I was a creative type , into marketing then sure I’d probably be attracted to this kind of a job for lots of reasons. But I like to think I’d try to find out what the regulations are and play by the rules instead of winging it. What do you think, Cady, is the Cornwall trip a “collaboration” or not?

Never said you didn't, jam. You will have a good grasp then if you've sat at seminars.
Just saying for those who won't know who it works. Just when you're saying "greedy capitalists they are" I was interested to know what you would do if you had a large instagram following with a ready made market of hanging on mums and a brand sent you, say I dunno, a Chanel bag in the post.
Would you say (genuine question now) "no thanks" and send it back as you think it's being a greedy capitalist to accept it?

I wouldn't accept a free Chanel bag, no. I worked with children living in abject poverty for over 10 years and I couldn't live with myself if I was sent so, so much when I know so many have so little.

how it works, not who

It’s a moot point because I wouldn’t have a large following. I’ve locked my account and don’t accept new followers if I don’t know them. What motivates people to grow large followings?

My insta isn't a mum blog, but I've also been approached to feature 'gifts'.

I turned them down, because most of them weren't in line with what my account is about and I would have felt like a fraud gushing about something just because I'd got it for nothing and it's not really why I started it.

But that's my problem. If these accounts want to advertise, then they should go for it. But as has been reiterated numerous times, it needs to be clear.

My business is designing/making clothes for children. I didn't send anyone anything for free yet I built a decent following and made a decent amount of pocket money - still below threshold for income tax, I wasn't high rolling. I also made preemie and newborn baby clothes for refugee women in my community, which I never mentioned on my feed.

I thought about upsizing it all but ultimately came to the conclusion that I couldn't enter into that playground, I didn't want to court these women. And I didn't want to expose my own children.

Good for you Jam and Pavlova.

I also don't have any photos of my kids on there, just for clarity

I may take it up again, but I will not

a) be #gifting anything to anyone who I can see can damn well afford to pay for my stuff themselves
b) use my own children for advertising purposes

Ideally I'd like to do a Toms style thing, where for every ten items I sell I make one thing for charity or the local NICU.

@jamoncrumpets did you ever get anyone asking if you wanted to do a 'collab' (i.e send them something in exchange for them showing it on their blog) just out of interest?

Pavlova, it was tentatively suggested. I considered it. Then refused. Because I'd have done all the work, and they'd have done, what? Stick their name on it? Urgh.

😁 I don't blame you. It's usually termed 'exposure', I think.

Cheeky.

@jamoncrumpets & @PavlovaPrincess would you link your insta accounts?

Well, it's good for you then jam if you honestly would turn down all gifts as you wouldn't take them when others have so little.
(Not meant as a dig, if that's what you would do, then fair enough.)
Others will take them,if they declare it though, all is fine.