Style blogs and freebies

[FallonColby]

Is it just me or does anyone else get annoyed with the amount of freebies style bloggers get. For example, one blogger was berating the fact she had nothing to wear to an event, unsurprisingly she was then contacted by a company who gifted her a dress. I am sure this was not the bloggers intention but I am annoyed at seeing blogs I have previously enjoyed turn into a constant advert. It just takes the reality out of it.

[FallonColby]

Style Guile has always replied to any comments I have left which is a nice touch I think. I wonder how long the whole fashion for 40 something blog thing will go on for though. I see Cherry Menlove has stopped blogging, the home/lifestyle blog circuit seemed to get saturated.

[GeorginaWorsley]

I think the 40 plus bloggers fill a gap in the market,not many magazines aimed at that age group.
As I have said,I love reading all the 40 plus ones.
Yes they are all a bit samey at times but I don't mind that really,I love looking at peoples clothes and lifestyles,am incurably nosy!
I never wear Zara though,can't get on with it at all

[Karbea]

I used to love dmbl40 and got quite a few things she recommended (some of which I've returned/re-sold) but she's changed her style and now just lists loads of stuff, whereas previously it was things she'd bought and how she styled them which I much preferred.
I'd love to know what she's doing re her extension, she did a couple of homey posts very early on and loved her style.

[LordPalmerston]

you see I dont give a fuck about their kids or homes.

[FallonColby]

LP

[WipsGlitter]

I don't care about their kids! But don't mind a bit of a nosey round their houses. I think DMBL40 wears the same things over and over and over. I like it when she's on a quest for a wedding or party outfit though. And her going out looks are stunning.

They're all pretty slim though. No one over a 14, or 12 probably (apart from that lovely girl with curves one linked to about who looks fab!)

I think she does the list to maximise her links and income... it's more subtle than other blogs.

Have you seen the Not Dressed as Lamb one? She's pretty marmite I'd say in what she wears.

[LordPalmerston]

oh and their use of the word MARMITE
fuck off

[nipersvest]

i like does my bum look 40, but phrases like, 'i'm beyond excited', and 'statement necklace' get on my wick.

i'm just bitter because one of her handbags pretty much is my whole wardrobe budget.

[Karbea]

Not so much the bloggers but the youtubers wind me up by saying "I'm currently enjoying this... Scrub, toothpaste, moisturiser, t-shirt etc" I dunno, I like things but I don't really enjoy them!

[LordPalmerston]

whether you like them or not, and Kat is very nice, you can still hate bits of the blog, non?

[Hazelbrowneyes]

I like DMBL40 and she's inspired me with how to pull an outfit together.

I have pretty much zero budget for clothes. I actually tend to shop in New Look, Tesco, Next and charity shops as much as poss as quantity over quality is the only way I can afford to buy some clothes which are in fashion.

Maybe I should start a blog for those of us on a mega low budget

[dozily]

Glad it's not only me who's fed up with the increase in sponsored posts! Fed up with seeing overpriced (and often ugly) Seven Boot Lane boots and everyone suddenly shopping at Boden, including WIT, The Frugality, SGS, etc etc.

[WipsGlitter]

Boden are affiliates so they're getting paid for you clicking and purchasing!! Hence the huge increase in stuff from there. I agree about the seven boot lane stuff - hugely expensive for v average boots.

[princessdave]

Kat doesn't use affiliate links from what I've noticed when hovering over her links - the ASOS and New Look links for example in her recent sandals post are all direct links to the product page on the website. Likewise she isn't using Boden affiliate links yet, I have been wondering when she will apply to become an affiliate and start using them but as yet she is just using direct links to the product pages. Nor Hush, not sure if Hush even offer an affiliate programme but Kat loves Hush and it's one I just randomly hovered over before posting to make sure I wasn't white knight-ing out of turn!

Anyway that's nothing to do with freebies, just where this thread has headed.

[princessdave]

Just to clarify - I meant my comment was nothing to do with freebies. Affiliates are gifted items from time to time/a lot depending on what blog they run

[Floisme]

I've just been for a browse as I hadn't looked at some of these for ages:

Does my Bum Look 40 'Without further ado, let's look at Kurt Geiger where they have a fantastic selection and you can still get 25% off until midnight on Monday' Loads of links and a code.
Style Guile I'm having a bit of a GAP moment right now.' Then links although, to be fair, no code.
School Gate Style 'I'm PR friendly and happy to help brands address the needs of busy working and stay at home mums.'
I bet you are!

Do they think we're completely stupid?

[WipsGlitter]

She links to a lot of M&S and they pay, and John Lewis as well. I'm not knocking what they're doing, they need/want to make money somehow. I don't think they have to say they're affliated links so even going to the product page and purchasing will be enough to earn them some money.

[princessdave]

None of the links KG links Kat used or the GAP links Beth used are affiliate links though, just direct links to the products. So they won't be making £ from you clicking and purchasing unless these were sponsored posts which they would have then (hopefully) disclosed. Compared to some bloggers who cram their posts full of affiliate links these two strike me as quite honest! To be fair, I notice that mainly on US blogs whose links I don't click on anyway.

[princessdave]

sorry WipsGlitter x-posts! They don't look like affiliate links to me but direct links, aff links normally go through a third party tracking system but I could be wrong. I just know how my affiliate links are created/tracked!

[WipsGlitter]

I'm certain she's getting money from both these (M&S and JL). But like I say they have to make money somehow!

[Floisme]

The point is that, whenever I see links now, I'm suspicious. I don't trust any of them any more.
The day I find a blogger that says 'Just been sent some stuff from X - what a load of tat!'' Or even just 'here are links to some freebies that X sent me.' Then maybe I will reconsider.

[Floisme]

they have to make money somehow! I think that's my point. They didn't always do it to make money. They used to do it because they had a passion and something to say and that was why they were worth reading. Now (with one or two honourable exceptions) they're just dull, dull, dull.

[Vickiyumyum]

I deliberately don't click through to links on blogs and type the web address/ name of shop into google and find the item that way. It might seem mean, but if its an affiliate link then we should be made aware of that.
whatlouwears365 states that her links are affiliate links. Shes a bit limited as to what to wear as shes pregnant now, and her clothing is a heavily reliant on Boden prior to that.

[princessdave]

Hi Vickiyumyum

(they're not all affiliate links, just the very few programmes I do belong to )

[LordPalmerston]

but I mean how much money do these average blogs make ? Surely not much more than minimum wage?