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 also had people come up and ask me about the bag. Like I said, I loved the design, but the leather on mine was so flimsy it stretched when you pulled it gently and, as I said, that was apparent from the minute I opened the package. Maybe I was unlucky.

Can I ask what this inital bag is please. I lead a very sheltered life and these things go straight over my head.

Can I ask what this inital bag is please. I lead a very sheltered life and these things go straight over my head.

flea I think it’s these saywhatyouc.com/ I’ve got one too and love it but not sure it’s worth the ££ to be honest

Sadly I bought one of these bags for my teenage daughters birthday, when it arrived the letters were already peeling off. Messaged the seller no response. Tagged them in a comment and they responded saying to send the bag back and they would fix. I had to ask who would pay the return postage? They said they would refund but never did. Few months later letters all coming off again, been used less than 5 times.

I’ve been so interested, and quite relieved, by this discussion. I saw others advocating for more transparency months ago and watched the mob attack them. Bloggers are being disingenuous to say they are sorry for any ambiguity - they knew very well that some of their followers were getting curious, if not anxious, and they’ve done little to address it til now, and that’s been through gritted teeth. I’ve also had a comment removed one of the blogs under discussion - nothing nasty or personal, just a factual comment about the quality of Hush boyfriend jeans (which Hush was happy to have on their website btw).
I’d forgotten about it til recently, when I was about to add to another person’s comment about the itchiness of a Hush sweater, on the same blog, except the comment had mysteriously disappeared!

It makes me think there has been a very definite strategy to encourage click-through orders, discourage helpful but critical comments about companies that were gifting influencers, and restrict discussion.

I think this highlights the difference between a blogger recommending something they use/wear a lot in their wardrobes and something they are promoting in collaboration. The lack of quality, just wouldn't necessarily show up if it's worn once for a promotional blog. I agree about Hush (I think EveWornOut mentioned she found their quality variable), their sleepwear is great, some of it I've had for years, but some of their other stuff not so much eg. I bought a pair of biker style ponte leggings, which despite delicate washing bagged and the elastane fibres all frayed. They are not very clear what their fabric composition is either. They are raved about by lots of bloggers, though.

Great post mummybelle1 - this whole thread has been such an eye-opener about just what role bloggers play and transparency. Really interesting.

I'm now less likely to purchase an item a blogger recommends

Agree, Pom.

I think it must be a rip off if they can afford to send all the gifts and the wining and dining, it sonehow cheapens the proucts.

I also associate the brand with a someone I I don't agree with or someone who has followers who are supportive of something I disagree with. Sometimes it's very subtle things that put us off a brand.

Brands invest in personalities, but they run the risk of us getting tired with them.

I'm talking about brands in general, not just clothing, it can be interiors, food, anything.

Another unfollower for DMBL40, finding you completely disingenuous.

Being honest, as soon as I realise someone is signed to Gleam, I find it an instant turnoff. That's the biggest negative association there is for me.

Yes, the Gleam connection is interesting, also that the supposed Gleambot (talent signed with Gleam) is an easy one to spot. Storm is the other big player IIRC and whilst talent signed there equally gets its fair share of 'you've changed' commentary they don't come up quite as often on these transparency discussion threads. Perhaps they're just better at hiding it, who knows?

The thread moved quite quickly yesterday but I forgot to thank NotAPenguin for addressing my question surrounding the taxes surrounding 'gifts'.

Also, EdinaMonsoon, wanted to respond to you too but the discussion had moved on. I doubt your products are crap (PM me a link and I'll confirm)! However, despite your experience as a small independent seller is only anecdotal, it has confirmed something that I was already thinking. Small independent labels (unless their business plan is completely built on selling through influencers and instagram) don't benefit from blogger exposure. They will lose out as they are realistically competing with the bigger names in e-commerce with free next day delivery and free returns. The instant gratification click-through is a large part of the blog appeal.

If you look at the larger scheme of it in that context who does benefit from highlighting a business like Edina's on a blog when it's not Edina? The blogger for one, they continue to appear like an authentic, kind (as obviously it's not sponsored, small businesses have no PR budgets you could even call it charitable!) blogger who hasn't completely sold out to the big names, and continually emphasises they love supporting small businesses, so authentic and honest. The big brands that basically keep them financially afloat profit massively because that's exactly the type of blogger they want to be associated with. That's all on the back of Edina's work who gained a few new followers on her SM channel and maybe one of those at some point in the future will commission something but she's not seeing the financial growth both blogger and big brands will.

Being honest, as soon as I realise someone is signed to Gleam, I find it an instant turnoff. That's the biggest negative association there is for me.

I absolutely agree.

Although credit due to Kat for coming on here and answering questions - that takes guts.

I will have to disagree that products have always been marked gifted, this is not true. Only recently have I seen this added (for the majority).

I still think the 'grey area' hasn't been addressed. It seems you can pay a small amount towards an item, receive vouchers, receive free items and therefore you haven't been paid in full by the company, so therefore you declare nothing as it doesn't qualify as an advertisement.

I think the lack of ASA rules have helped these blogs grow very quickly and this has been used to full advantage by all involved.

In my view you have to have some integrity, because when it is gone, it is gone for good.

Products certain;y haven’t always been marked as gifts but any stretch of the imagination.

Take the Hill & Friends bags - every so often, we’ll see instagrams from various bloggers about an event in their store - then a flurry of posts with the bloggers ‘wearing’ their bags. Yet I don’t think I’ve seen many bloggers crediting their new bag as a gift. All the bloggers with these bags puts me off buying one - doesn’t seem worth the price to buy when when freebies seem to get tossed everywhere,

Also has anyone noticed that MeandEm don’t appear to be working with bloggers as much this season and so we haven’t seen many bloggers wearing their clothes lately!

I have really enjoyed this thread as felt frustrated with lack of transparency for a while on Instagram/blogs and you tube.

I thourght what not lamb was disrespectful to a freind taking issue that had nothing to do with her and sharing on her blog to whip up a shit storm then admits it's all about boosting her traffic and she don't care what people think.
It's disrespectful to her followers too most if comments seem to be from small time blogger freinds she unlikely to attract new followers with such behavior.

Always liked what Lizzie loves mostly on Insta but dissapointed such negativity was shared with Instagram just to gain hits and garner sympathy.

One thing that's not seemed to come up is you tubers as many off them also have blogs and active instagram.

Some do box unhauling of all their many freebies so I guess are sometimes more upfront I guess.

I have seem some small Insta businesses have gifted some family vloggers so it's not all the huge brands.

I assume to be be gifted from bigger brands there's a packing order of number of followers.

A lot has been mentioned about gleam.

But what about channel mum? Is but same sort of thing for you tubers?
Founded by netmums founder it's big money and seems like it's used it's vloggers to promote items.

So many if them have you tube videos with same brand hauls at the same time.

Ie Primark and Poundland frequent ones
Sheen clothing/ everything for 5pounds
Aldis and Iceland hauls.
Iceland did work closely with channel mum and I felt pretty sure from what couple vloggers said is they get given gift cards to complete these hauls.

They had couple of promotions like 50 quid voucher for pep clothing and river island but the rest of their hauls I feel are grey area. Do they use their own cash?

I'm so sick of hearing about hello fresh I assume they own shares in the company and every vlogger who promotes it got a free box.

Some vloggers are better at weaving in promotions into their day in the life vlogs which blurs the lines as it's a family vlog but adding in product placement I guess what advertising used to do with tv programmes.

Many of the channel mum vloggers all have douna or cossatto carseats or gifted with cossatto prams .
Most of them rave about sleepyhead,snoozepods and perfect prep machine . They all like mummy clones.

There was instance few months ago quite a few had a delivery of Emma Bridgewater digital radios x2 which featured heavily in their vlogs but no mention of it being a gift.

Halfords gifted some with tents and bikes in the summer

I thourght what not lamb was disrespectful to a freind taking issue that had nothing to do with her and sharing on her blog to whip up a shit storm then admits it's all about boosting her traffic and she don't care what people think. It's disrespectful to her followers too most if comments seem to be from small time blogger freinds she unlikely to attract new followers with such behavior.

I hope it backfired for Dressed as Lamb. Yes I’m sure she will have had a spike in her traffic in the short term. And it really does seem like she’s DESPERATE for hits. But I do hope people saw (from her replies to comments) just what an nasty individual she seems to be. I saw a comment on her twitter account about entires to a comp she was running, it was so patronising. I also felt like I was unearthing a 1960’s M&S catalogue from the archives looking back through some blog posts. Not for me! That’s all I’ll say.

DillyDilly
I was just thinking about the Hills & Friends bag's, I would never buy one now. Also that hair salon, where they all get their hair done & come out with the same style, maybe a little discount/freebie there. Although not a ad of course.

It has been very interesting to see a number of Instagram/Blog accounts wearing old clothes lately, just over the last few days (that were never gifted). After all now they are disclosing a little more it's a little embarrassing isn't it just how much was gifted. I'm predicting we may see a little more of Zara and old items from 3/4 years ago!

Disclaimer: this is not an ad for said bag, if it were I would have said so.

Blimey, I just read the whole Lizzy Loves/Dressed as Lamb saga (I’m off work sick so have plenty of time!) and am gobsmacked. I’d never read either blog before but had seen them linked on Midlife Chic. They have NOTcovered themselves in glory, have they?

Yes, lots of bloggers rehashing old outfits which they don't normally do! I have to say, this whole thread has made me look at Instagram - there really are so many IGers saying the same thing and wearing the same thing - I honestly feel I have been taken for a mug. I am following the Parisienne thread too - so interesting to hear honest, affirming, comments on style and beauty!

Judy - can you direct me to the saga - do I need to read their blogs or Instagram?

It has been very interesting to see a number of Instagram/Blog accounts wearing old clothes lately, just over the last few days (that were never gifted). After all now they are disclosing a little more it's a little embarrassing isn't it just how much was gifted. I'm predicting we may see a little more of Zara and old items from 3/4 years ago!

Haha, I noticed this too. Shit all my clothes are gifted what will I do. I’ll have to resort to the days I used to buy my own stuff, and shop at places like zara 😂😀

I noticed older clothes making an appearance in outfit posts too (as an aside, love some bloggers definition of old; anything from last year backwards it would seem).

Also noticed a Hill and Friends clutch in an insta story today. The image was them supposedly having tea and toast, why on earth would you have you expensive bag right next to your plate?? Not marked as gifted either (or maybe it wasn’t??!)

Blimey, I just read the whole Lizzy Loves/Dressed as Lamb saga (I’m off work sick so have plenty of time!) and am gobsmacked. I’d never read either blog before but had seen them linked on Midlife Chic. They have NOTcovered themselves in glory, have they?

No, they haven’t at all. But it’s more not dressed as lamb than what Lizzy loves that I have issue with. From what I read it seems lamb wasn’t involved in what kicked it all off at all, and that she just decided to write a blog post on it for extra hits, she pretty much admits that.