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!

The Instagram name calling just proves the thread hit a nerve. I don't think we should worry about it at all. The main thing is if bloggers are reviewing their practices, which is good to hear.

May I suggest that any bloggers lurking on here nursing wounded feelings look to M&S? How many unflattering threads have we had about them? (I've even started one myself and I'm a bigger fan than many.) Do they hit back or take to social media to complain? No, because they're a business and they know we're the customers. Watch and learn.

I Must say I feel disappointed in the way that this has been dealt with on kats feed. Comments towards Chloe loves to shop which called her out for calling people dixkheads, have been removed, there’s a hugely mentality going in of calling everyone on here jealous haters
And worse. Chloe has blocked my friend who commented on a way that wasn’t rude.
It seems that they need thicker skins and to walk away from criticism rather than hitting back. It feels Very unprofessional.
No one on this mumsnet thread has used bad language as far as I can see. I feel let down by the (many) bloggers and their supporters on the feed. The new approach from kat
Is good but sarcastic. I was probably naive thinking they were all
Nice people but I’ve now seen a side of them I don’t like at all.

And of course i understand

That it’s not nice reading about yourself but they need to learn to take it on the chin, this is the internet after all

Amazing case here of pot/kettle, except I don’t see anyone in this forum being blatantly rude and name calling. People on their threads are saying report them, followed by abusive names. All that I see has happened on here as been women asking for transparency and voicing their opinions.
It just goes to show how things have gone to these women’s heads if they think they are above criticism.
Sour grapes in my opinion.

I unfollowed CLTS because of this. She's branching into YouTube but can't handle someone politely telling her it's not good business to call people dickheads on a global media platform? OK love. Best of luck.

I think a lot of them do t get the line between nice hobby and business.

There are some right... on insta though. I one made an innocuous comment and someone then came and had a go at me. I was

They have forgotten why they started. Their eyes are the prize..... it’s called greed unfortunately and it’s a terrible thing.
Stories that are so staged and fake, dull beyond belief and do not represent real Mums lives at all.
Tragic

IVe realised now how Instagram gets to be such a big love in, it’s because people with different opinions get blocked. It’s a real shame this has all hapoened, I’ve unfollowed lots of people because of it (not that it will make any difference to them because they have thousands) but I guess that’s not a bad thing.
It’s made me think about transparency, my motivation for reading, and as well, how many clothes do I actually need

Thing about them not behaving professionally. Well, they're not 'professionals' are they? Most are middle class rich housewives who have been fawned over all their lives. So they're not going to take even gentle criticism well. You don't get many professional women (or working class women come to that) with time to shop and blog all day.

People resort to name calling when they're on the defensive. I personally think it's best taken as a back handed compliment but otherwise ignored.

You are totally right, majority of these women have no professionally background in fashion advice but like the rest of us enjoy to look and feel good. It’s a sad day when you suddenly think that because you have a group of sycophants telling you how amazing you are you suddenly think you are an expert in the field
Time to rethink your strategy methinks!

I was totally bemused by the whole Instagram reaction, both from KF and her fan base.

Kat’s comment didn’t seem to bear any relation to what was actually being said on this thread, and seemed to be aimed at getting a sympathetic reaction there to make her feel better.

There may have been a few comments in here about how her thread had changed a bit since she signed either Gleam. And therein lies the problem with a lot of blogs, I think:

they started out as something new and fresh, a “normal” person like us commenting on things they had bought/might like to buy, but now they’ve become increasingly more magazine-like with all their collaborations and “unbiased” reviews/mentions of gifted products.

I think I might go back to reading magazines instead. At least then I know it’s all advertising.

Just for the record for any of the blog followers out there. I am not bitchy, I’m certainly not jealous and if anything I feel slightly sorry for a group of wannabes who don’t actually make women feel good about themselves as their posts have become above and beyond narcissistic

That said, Chloe's decision to ask Kat to remove her "dickheads" comment IS good business. It would be idiotic to leave it there, once it was pointed out that it looks bad. And if she has been blocking people a lot? Well, that's her prerogative - she wouldn't be the only blogger who wants only positive followers, 'tis a tale as old as the Internet.

One could argue that there are better ways to deal with polite constructive feedback, but she doesn't have to agree.

.......And I don't have to follow her!

I think Kat has portrayed it all as LIES.

I suspect that the account someone posted of not finding her particularly great to meet in person really pissed her off.

I swear, if Zoella ever read this thread she'd be like "Amateurs! Talk to me when you've been in the Daily Mail a few times, love!"

TRue elspeth. I have voted with my feet and unfollowed Chloe and kat amongst others. It’s no bad thing, I was finding the whole thing a bit addictive in the same way that Facebook is so I’ll have a rest from this now

I'm amazed that these IG'rs don't realise there is a huge crossover between MN and IG. I do both and am really disappointed at the attitude of DMBL40 and CLTS, both of whom I enjoy following. As for the brand ambassadors calling us twats, there are no words! I have a shiny new pair of SBL loafers sitting here in their box that I'm now thinking of returning and telling them why (that'll show 'em!)

For me though before this kicked off, the thing that had made me start to question DMBL40's integrity was her teaming with Ted Baker. Style wise it hit such a bum note that she would ever wear their clothes. I think of TB as sort of, 'east end office worker made good', so it's disappointing for her to claim to love it because she's getting paid. It makes me wonder if there is any brand she'll turn down!?

And I agree that Ann Marie at catwalk school gates is one of the best. She really puts in a lot of effort to finding the best quality and encourages readers to buy used where possible. And I love that her IG isn't too polished and she has called out fashion bloggers for their dull wear-whatever-they've-been-gifted habits before, she is a breath of fresh air.

majority of these women have no professionally background in fashion advice but like the rest of us enjoy to look and feel good.

..and thats the nub of this whole transparency thing. These blogs started out as real women who loved fashion sharing their daily outfits. Their USP is real outfits in real life. It's supposed to be relatable, down to the assumption that they BUY THEIR OWN CLOTHES LIKE THE REST OF US.

So, while an #ad #spon post is fine now they want to make some money out of the thing, surely it's understandable to assume then that all other posts show clothes bought themselves? Except that's not the case is it, outfits we're supposed to be inspired by are also supplemented and enhanced by brands wanting to sell their products. Might not be straightforward advertising but its certainly promotion and we should be told.

I'll have a look at catwalk school gates. I now won't look at the blogs (DMBL40, CLTS) who have handled this really poorly and I have in previously purchased items that they have detailed. Maybe they have enough followers not to care about this. I'll also not buy from any brands associated with any negativity.

Seriously I don't want to be associated with sycophantic IG followers who pour abuse on anyone with a different opinion. I have found the response from some of the bloggers disappointing, immature & unprofessional (Not getting great advice if they are signed up with agencies...).
I'm going to pop and get some magazines to view today instead.

Don’t you find they all do the SAME thing on repeat, SAME clothes, SAME brands. If you have a big agency behind you then surely they would be making sure you are different from the rest.
Not too clever having same followers watching same old same old.
Which proves the point even more that women just jump
On the bandwagon seeing a golden opportunity to bag some freebies and perhaps gain some fame!!!!
And unfortunately in the meantime become a bit too precious.

Agree with so much of what has been said and have too unfollowed DMBL40 this morning due to her reaction, the sycophantic replies (and the irony in shouting 'Troll' then calling to name and shame those who question integrity...) and The Brand Ambassadors Agency response - nor great for a PR company. Am not jealous, was actually pleased for her success until now and thought her funny and a good writer. Will stick with those who are open to opinion and deal professionally with criticism.

Maybe they could also start declaring when they got a big press discount too

The responses from some of the bloggers have put in mind Kevin the teenager

Like sometimes said already, I want to follow real women wearing real everyday clothes for their real lives but it seems no blogger is immune to flogging clothes for a brand they wouldn't usually be seen dead in all for the £££'s.

The point for me is that I don’t want to unfollow Kat. As I’ve said, I genuinely like her style and her Stories. I just want to know whether she has been gifted the Chambers & Beau jewellery, or the Hill and Friends bag, or her recent stay at Belmond Le Manoir, or ....the list goes on. The fact that I now assume that she has been gifted all these really highlights to me that she blurs the line between her purchases and promotions.

For example, is she thanking Belmond for the “most incredible experience” because she is polite, or has been gifted the stay? She doesn’t explicitly state that it was a gift (and I would hazard a guess that it was), but then wonders why people are questioning her