Anyone seen the MN microsite?

[hunkermunker]

here

I've a couple of comments about it - especially the bf section (surprise, surprise!).

And the weaning section.

actually I would object if we had to post our questions re baby prambulation (and lord knows the huns would probably fill the 100 question quota in about 2 seconds flat) on a thread to be answered by a Maclaren sponsored 'expert'

Yes it possibly is quite patronising to suppose that people can't work out that Avent products will be recommended. But I still don't think that Talk should be involved. FOr reasons that others have put far better than I can

perambulation

gah

exactly, mrsjc.

not 'had to post' obviously - we're not being forced to

have been thinking. The problem with it being in Talk is that whilst it may be clear from links/the thread titles/the context that it's a promotion, that's not the only way people get to specific posts. Mumsnet comes up very highly on Google searches, people search the site etc. And why exactly do big companies want to do promotions like this rather than just stick to standard advertisements? It's precisely because it looks like a standard chat thread; as Hunker says, it's 'relationship-building marketing' and it's subliminal. Obviously there's a lot of it going on, and although it may be thought of as patronising assuming that people can't tell the difference between a standard Talk thread and one of these, obviously it works otherwise companies wouldn't be so keen on this kind of thing. It's also piggy backing on the established reputation and clientele of sites like this. Companies particularly love this kind of marketing when it covers emotive subjects - and there aren't many things more emotive to discuss than parenting.

That's my problem with it really. I don't like the idea of a 'breastfeeding essentials' kit either as it helps plant that little seed that breastfeeding is a bit of a hassle really and you need just as much gubbins for it as you do for formula/bottle feeding, and you will be 'tied' to your baby and restricted bla bla bla. And I think the weaning advice is a bit pants, but whatever. I'm not coming at this from a tubthumping - 'pro-bf lobby' angle, more a 'let's not willingly participate in cynical advertising dressed up as a nice cosy chat with an expert' angle.

rant over

anyway I think MNHQ have got the message. Sorry for going on about it. will shut up now

I would like to know what this Wellbeing Advisor (fgs) brings to Mn that we don't, apart from cash.
If there's a thread about bottles, people get advice. If there's a thread about breastpumps, people get advice. If you want to know about first foods, well, there's no shortage of advice.
Most importantly, if you want to breastfeed and have a problem, there are people here who have experience, occasionally qualifications, tact, sensitivity and no need to push you into buying anything.
Nobody's pushing anything except their knowledge or experience.
Any company that thinks they can use this as a way in to sell products is seriously underestimating the self-selecting group that use this website. Why do you think we're here? We could be reading this kind of thing in Practical Parenting or toddling down to our HV - but no, we choose this way in order to bypass advertising and crap advice delivered with a smile.

I've no objection to Avent per se - lord knows I have a kitchen full of their stuff, and actually have recommended their bottles etc to other because of the interchangeability thing. And I have their microwave steriliser (which is erxcellent for steaming vegetables, fellow BLWers ).

I think my problem with this is fundamentally the same as most people on this thread - that it does seem to undermine the boards. I mean "All of your baby care questions answered, thanks to Vicki Scott" - great, let's just scrap the breastfeeding, weaning, sleeping topics etc, we don't need them now!

I think "Babycare advice from Philips AVENT's advisor" maybe would have been better (I appreciate that this is semantics).

With regard to the difference between this and the live chats - well, if I ask a question about weaning, for example, and Vicki says "oh yes crack on at 4 months", there is no recourse for someone like Aitch to say "well actually that's not DoH guidelines Vicki, why do you say that?" It's not a conversation, there's no debate.

"erxcellent"?!

I'm amazed actually - I thought this ad would be on the home page, and it's not. Obviously there are people who visit MN and don't come on the baords (although we think we are the centre of the MN universe ), I would have thought that those people were a great target audience for this. And maybe stick a bit on the bottom about other advice being available on the boards?

WHY can't I spell this morning!? I blame the cold weather.

Message withdrawn

Well I'd never thought of using my (virtually never used) steriliser to steam vegetables. That kind of advice I wouldn't object to her giving .

Agree with most of the discussion, and still that MNHQ don't seem to 'get' the point.

I do find it terribly funny that Carrie said "We have some "expert" tips" (oh and the link isn't on the second Avent page, BTW)

You know what the answer to all this is, don't you?

££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££

MN doesn't run on thin air. Would you rather that single parents on benefits were put off viewing the site because there was a subscription?

It's ok - you don't need to reply to that one!

Good point Giraffski.
I'm a salt and there was a (supposed) salt on here once linking to her product (some language course.)

It made me furious.

You miss the point spectacularly Forty.

So how do you think MN should pay for the running of the site?

Oh... and I can see the point of everything you're all saying, but I still think it's a blinkered view.

People are fine with ads.
People are not fine with ads that
a.) Are thinly disguised as impartial advice
b.) Undermine breastfeeding which,thanks to various money making machines has nearly been all but wiped out in some parts of the world.

I couldn't give a shite about ads for make up,holidays,shoes and prams. I could give a shite about this one thoguh.

We all KNOW it's cash, fortyplus, none of us are naive and Justine was admirably upfront about that in her post of Fri 16-Nov-07 00:31:20. But there are ways of doing things that will wind people up, and ways that won't.

...wind some people up

wind quite a few people up

You rise to it so easily... [runs away...]

Don't see the problem. It's clearly paid for advertising, same as you get in magazines etc. Nowhere does it say that MN endorse it.

I'm with aitch and everyone on this. As someone who has received enormously useful, kind and reassuring advice on- well all threads really, but mostly the bfing one I now try and give some support back to other new mums posting the exact same threads I was posting 4 months ago. It breaks my heart when I read about some people's difficulties and just want to go round to their houses and make them a nice cup of tea and give them a big hug. I go away from the computer worrying about them.

I'm sure someone will come on here and snort about how ridiculous it is to get so upset about something like this but these are real people on the other end of these posts, having real problems and having them right now. I just hope that Vicki Scott appreciates that.