Bloggers and brands

[homebythesea]

I love blogs, YouTube, Instagram etc but sometimes do wonder what's in it for the brands especially regarding blogger events.

Straight up reviews of things they get sent I totally get- they try things on/ use a face cream, wax lyrical about how great the thing is, people click through and buy said item. Straightforward advertising. No problem with that at all.

But when a blogger is invited to a dinner, or night away at a hotel, or a movie premiere by a brand I just don't get what is worth the expense? From the blogger perspective they get a night out and a goodie bag and maybe even paid to attend. But what does the brand get in return? A brief tag on an Instagram pic, some photos of beautiful place settings at dinner......but not necessarily sales?? These events must cost thousands to put on.

Hopefully someone with some knowledge about these things will enlighten us!

I wonder what the reaction would be if a customer complained, let's say to Hush about their harem trousers and they said, 'If you don't like them, move on.'

I think she was pretty transparent about the discounted holiday she went on.

However why then not be transparent about the hotel stays, the premier tickets, the various shopping vouchers? It's no big deal these days to say #gifted - all the cool kids are doing it now!

And actually I find it builds enormous confidence. I get where I am with that person - I get when it's personal and when it's business and it means I don't feel that horrible sense of unease, that little voice that goes "are they gushing cos they got it free?"

Oh dear. Why would a 'friend' message her sending her details of this thread?

Why wouldn't they? If you were getting a slagging wouldn't you like to know about it? And no, it wasn't me.

I love thatsnotmyage. I love her writing, she is cultured and erudite but down to earth as well. I LOVE her jumpsuits and grownup tomboy look.

Gosh no I wouldn't Primalass because she doesn't want the feedback so all it has done is upset her.

A friend won't have messaged her, her hits from Mumsnet will have increased, Midlifechic mentioned it when her style was criticised on here last year/earlier this year. She dealt with that far more personal criticism a lot better TBH and appears to have taken that criticism on, and is being more adventurous in her style again. She's pretty classy though.

I find this all a little bit disappointing from us mums. Aren’t we supposed to empower each other.
Kat has had a huge amount of success and I hope this continues.
She does highlight when something is sponsored this is all reiterated on her blog. I find the hate on here unacceptable and if there is anything I will stop reading it is this, not DMBL40!
I don’t see how this thread is helpful to anyone.

I think it has raised some interesting and valid points re consumerism and the occasional lack of authenticity and objectivity of bloggers
I read various blogs and follow a few bloggers on insta
I enjoy the 40 blog and will continue to read it . Am not sure that previous comments are from jealous people to be honest and free speech and discussion should be allowed

I absolutely don't believe people are jealous of anything any blogger earns or is gifted. Why on earth would be people be jealous, it's not like we've all got competing blogs.....
I think that saying anything challenging bloggers is jealousy/catty such a lazy argument.
I think it's a really important issue, the rise in blogging/IG's and the influence it has - particularly on young people imo.

They are just marketers who happen to stage part of their lives as part of that. They are good at what they do but it's not real life. Discussing their work isn't a personal attack. Even if a lack of transparency means it's hard to separate real/marketing. I read and watch a lot of the Gleam stable but I'd love to see a fly on the wall documentary about Gleam's work as the constructed social media world is fascinating.

I would agree with some of the points about transparency however I do not think that Kat tries to deceive anyone, I think she is very clear about her sponsored posts. Just read the hashtags. Therefore I think it’s unfair to focus it on her.

In addition I do not think comments about her salary or lifestyle should be made considering none of us here know her personally.
Yes, she has chosen to put herself out there but that doesn’t excuse a tirade of abuse from keyboard warriors. Some mums on here have written things they assume to be true. These sweeping statements are damaging and unnecessary.

Imagine if it were YOU.

If you start looking at an opposing viewpoint as 'unhelpful' you're in danger of subscribing to a totalitarian model!

The freedom to hold and voice opinion is what separates us from North Korea.

I've found this thread interesting and useful, through it I've discovered a couple of blogs that appeal to me more than the buy, buy, buy ones.

I have nothing against dmbl40, I enjoy reading her blog, she comes across as very engaging and likeable but the rampant consumerism is starting to grate. I get that it's her job but she and other bloggers and instagrammers do take it to excess

Its been good to discover some blogs that are a bit more thoughtful about the effect of clothes on the planet, and it's been nice to see that there are quite a few who feel the same way. Thoughtless consumerism is today's norm and I'm always happy to see it challenged

I completely support freedom of speech!

However that does not mean I support name calling and fake facts that are presented throughout this thread.

I started the thread the getvsime understanding of what is in it for the brands when they wine & dine influencers.....it’s developed a bit into what’s in it for the bloggers and whether they are clear about that so that readers can make their own judgement on bias (or otherwise).

I don’t begrudge any blogger making a living (or enjoying freebies) out of this new way of marketing, it must take ages to research and write and manage the software etc. There are very few “hobby” bloggers these days, but some manage to run them alongside part time jobs which does help them to keep it more real

Nonsense that all mums should empower one another, it should be that we all empower each other where it’s warranted.

Yes, Kat has had a huge amount of success but the fact is that her blog it is not as authentic as it was.

I think she needs to be a lot more transparent about what clothes and other products she actually buys herself and what is gifted. I doubt she’s ever bought any of her Hill & Friends bags but hasn’t ever as far as I’m aware, every credited them as being gifted.

She’s becoming a victim of her own success - promotional work with House of Fraser, sleepovers in John Lewis, Marks & Spencer’s, Christmas dinner with The Body Shop, of all places! - she’ll over saturate herself before two long.

So true Amber

I think generally salaries should be transparent - would make it a lot harder to pay women less than men for a start. And there is a lot out there about how much people get paid for sponsored insta posts etc. All I said was she COULD be making six figures - successful bloggers are making that.

And the jealousy argument is just stupid - there is no way I'd want to be sat hungover in my car on insta stories and kudos to her for putting that out there.

Plus many of us on here work and can easily afford whatever we want to buy. And there are still a lot of people out there who don't realise how much stuff is gifted to bloggers and not all of them are transparent about that.

I watch Lizzie Hadfield on youtube and she has started to show all the vouchers/gifts she gets - I like that transparency and so do a lot of people.

Kat should have taken a leaf out of Mother Pukka’s book in terms of response to this. MP nailed it when she came on the recent instamums thread. Kat’s whole ‘Don’t like it? Don’t read it!’ and power-hunning on the IG post is just...urghhh.

I also remember Kat from years ago on a mums' forum where she came across almost exactly the same as she does now. I found her posts readable and funny and liked her style. She's always had more money than me, lived in a bigger house and had a more glamorous lifestyle. And people, I imagine, have always envied her. If she annoys you, it is as simple as an unfollow.

What an interesting thread! I only follow two blogs; DMBL40 and Midlife Chic and I enjoy them both. They both write very well and obviously invest a lot of time in their blogs to make them so popular and successful. What is interesting though is the whole subject of transparency and promoting certain labels/brands as it can seem less than honest to the reader. I didn't realise DMBL40 belonged to a stable which does change how I feel about what she has to say. I also think it is a shame how she has responded to this thread - so very different to MLC last time around. I don't really "get" Instagram, I did join it, sheep-like, many moons ago but have never really become a devotee - this thread has sent me to have a look at it and, yes, it is an echo chamber. Doesn't seem to encourage or allow for debate much. Not the place for me!

Firstly, hello. I’m new to Mumsnet. Although I have been reading the S&B forum for years. But it was this thread that prompted me to join.

I do like DMBL40’s blog, she has an engaging writing style. But I unfollowed her on Instagram a while ago. On reflection, probably around the time she signed up with gleam. I agree blogs do change. As a they earn more, the buying increases, the brands change, the gifting also increases, and if we can’t afford to keep up with the new direction, we find another blog to fill that blogging void. And that’s what I have done with a lot of bloggers, there is plenty of choice out there and what Mrs Farmer is saying (I’m not calling her Kat I don’t know her, I find it odd that so many people talk of her like she’s their mate!) is correct, if you don’t like it move on. Nobody makes you read it.

I was lead to her insta rant and post from this thread, and this is what gets me, rather than reply here, or even on her blog, she has made a whole woe is me, sympathy gathering post/story. I’m struck by the sycophancy in the replies. Also, the irony is worse things are being said in the replies on there, than was ever written here, and she’s essentially orchestrating it. I think the best thing she could do is delete said post and carry on writing/doing what she likes. It’s her blog....and we are free, should we choose, to stop reading.

I stopped reading her blog a year or so ago when she called one of her children 'the aspie'
Are there any blogs or IG women who look stylish, school run type, capsule wardrobe but don't just try and flog hush/m&s polyester tat?

And, no, I don't envy either of them! It takes a certain person to put themself "out there" in the public domain, certainly not me. I have a very comfortable income so don't feel any envy there either! Disagreeing or disliking doesn't have to denote envy - it can just mean you disagree or dislike.

I think she needs to be a lot more transparent about what clothes and other products she actually buys herself and what is gifted. I doubt she’s ever bought any of her Hill & Friends bags but hasn’t ever as far as I’m aware, every credited them as being gifted.

This. Hill and Friends, Jigsaw, Ted Baker (before the post about them appeared...)it's not enough to add #ad #spon to a post because that only relates to a paid partnership. It's all the items "bought" with gift cards, discounts, free products, goodie bags which need to be made transparent.

It wouldn't be that hard, all bloggers list what their wearing below an outfit. Would it be so had to add e.g. Jumper (gift card) Trousers (20% blogger discount), Shoes (lunch meeting goodie bag) or just more hashtags in a similar vein?