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!

Just noticed that Midlifechic has won Bolgger of the Year.
She is someone who appears to get the balance between her own personal opinions and advertising right.
This could be because she also works full time, and does not have a massive financial need to constantly make money out go her blog.
Either way, well done MLC!

Sorry, that should be Blogger of the Year.

That's so funny - MLC leaves me a bit cold. I cant seem to warm to her at all.

She should be good at writing - didn't she used to head the Selfridges Magazine?

But very well done anyway MLC

Yes I think she did head that magazine.
I like her and her blog. She does not appear to be false in any way.

Yes, another MLC fan here. She's not necessarily my style clotheswise but she writes well and really has built a community.

She mentions this discussion in today's blog

So I'm guessing all these Liberty calendars are gifts?!

Ah, but that is the whole point, Whisp, we shouldn't have to be guessing.

But MLC has a career in marketing so this is the perfect platform for her and knows what approach to take to make a successful blog.

I was wondering how it works on Insta stories, as there’s not the tag option there for #ad unless they write it on the story itself, also it disappears after 24 hours, so?

Wondering about Liberty calendars too - I know it sounds stupid, but I’d almost feel embarrassed if I bought one for £150 then found out they were free to everyone I’d seen getting them.

Bit late to be advertising an advent calendar though, so maybe not?

There are bloggers who review the Liberty calendar before it's even out, don't they? Pretty sure I told YouTube to hide one of those videos before they went on sale. Fleur de force, possibly?

I'd assume they're all gifted. The M&S one too I'd wager considering how heavily they seem to be hedging on social media sales.

WIT has been gifted a Liberty calendar - she posted about it today and someone has pulled her up on whether it was gifted and she said that she had said when she received it on Stories that it was gifted.

MOD also seems to have one (see her Stories) so if they have been sending them out, I can only assume it has been gifted.

Wearmymoney is being very clear she bought hers herself.

They are the people I have noticed - and this is because I bought one myself (well, technically, my Mum did - but cash was involved!) and it has hacked me off a bit and taken a bit of the shine off my lovely calendar if every sodding blogger has been gifted one. And has certainly made me think twice about getting one next year - so actually made it less desirable in my eyes if anyone from Liberty is reading this!

Erica Davies too, I know she’s good at disclosing though. Ooh #onemouseplace I know exactly what you mean but am also jealous, I bet it’s lovely? Are you doing a days at a time or a big frenzy?

Also, alongside the disclosure thing I guess my biggest issue is that blogs used to be a great way for me to get style ideas from people like me (just more stylish ). But now those people are living a different lifestyle - eg out at blogger marketing events etc. And I’m not interested in that, because it’s irrelevant to me.

Liberty must have gifted loads of them as last year I noticed so many vloggers/bloggers had them.

I have one this year but agree that it takes the shine off and I won't get one again.

I agree it would totally take the shine off for me if I'd bought one. A Life to Style said she'd bought her M&S one.

I’ve seen three bloggers with the liberty calendar and two I know paid for it. I suspect lily pebbles didn’t though. But wears my money and Chloe loves to shop did. In fact hers is a Christmas gift.

As far as I have seen WIT and Erica Davies were gifted their calendars. CLTS's is a Christmas present. A Life to Style and What Lizzy Loves bought their own M&S calendars. MOD has not said either way on her Story today. I would not buy the Liberty's one on principle because they have over-gifted and reduced the brand appeal as a result. If lots of people feel that way then it was a bad marketing gig. Trouble is that so many people don't know or seem to care.

No escaping that sodding calendar today.

It's now very meh (in my eyes) and one of my original points on this thread. If you really like or want, put your Mum where your mouth is.

Off putting for next years attempt at getting me to buy it.

Please don't put your Mum there.

Money obviously

So Anelli Bush showing off a new wallet - unclear if it was paid for or gifted. Also reveals accidentally she banks with Coutts. Now I think you need assets of £1million to bank with them so frankly she can afford to buy her own "bits". She seriously needs to donate that stuff to a women's shelter or something not flog it off online...

Can't believe they flog the gifts and keep the cash. I admire the bloggers who either send them back if they are not a 'fit' or donate/give away.
Anneli Bush, I've stopped following as she's annoying and not particularly transparent. WIT also seems to love herself. Definitely needs to proof read her work. God knows how she had an editorial job on a mag. I know she's Italian but still...

I still like Kat, The Frugality, Susie So So and The Fashion Lift.

Oh and just started following Erica Davies after seeing the discussion on here and I'm liking her posts.

My brother banks with Coutts and he has no money (his bank statements get sent here)! He does own a house that is worth about £1 million but it is mortgaged up to the hilt!

I think where all this is falling down unfortunately, is, seeing other people get things for free isn’t going to make me want to buy them.

I can see why they’re doing it, to a certain extent it’s the natural evolution, but, if bloggers (promoting stuff) came about through standard advertising becoming less cost effective / effective then bloggers clearly becoming advertising vehicles isn’t going to have longevity either. Just one of those things I guess?