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Original poster

Bloggers and brands

999 replies

homebythesea · 07/11/2017 15:01

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!

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AdiosPieceOfToast · 02/12/2017 16:15

The marmite thing I think is because it’s a jar personalised with your name on - so they’re trying to both raise their profile and enter the Christmas present market, which marmite obviously wouldn’t naturally be in.

Original poster
homebythesea · 02/12/2017 16:30

This is also probably a clever blog post, you're being given some insider info so you feel like you are in the know then she gets a cut if you buy anything through the affiliate links.

But isn’t this the point of (and usefulness of) fashion and beauty blogs: they do the trawling and reviewing so we can work out if we Want to buy. Given the work they do so we don’t have to what’s wrong with them earning a few quid if we click through? It costs us no more than it would otherwise and the blogger gets some return for their time.

I think it’s a bit sneery to say “it’s a clever blog post because they then get paid” - why shouldn’t they??

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FleaRiddenScruffBag · 02/12/2017 16:55

I agree and disagree with you homebythesea - yes, they are doing the work, creating a nice platform and putting together an attractive choice and I don't begrudge them their money for that. The "but" for me is that now I believe they are doing all that in a business like "affiliate" manner - not bringing us the best choices, just the best income generating choices - it slightly dents their integrity for me. That said, even now i know this I will probably continue to read the blogs. Just differently.

NatMatCat · 02/12/2017 17:25

The Marmite 'love it or hate it' thing is classic marketing. If you can convince consumers that a product is not actually mass market but more personal in its appeal then people are more likely to buy it. It appeals to our sense of ourselves as unique individuals with discerning taste.

botemp · 02/12/2017 20:49

Adding on Flea's point, I just had a look at the MLC blog post. Incidentally, her 'best value' pick is the HOF advent calendar. The very one that one very disappointed OP on another dedicated thread is decimating with her disappointment at how crap it is.

A quick glance at the HOF website and with the full overview of contents in view, I really struggle to see how anyone would deem that good value, let alone the best value for money pick, especially when they have access to so many of those calendars and set out to do a dedicated post about them. If I had bought that on her recommendation I'd really be wondering what she'd based that pick on as it surely wasn't the contents.

I think it's a healthy approach to assume the worst rather than expect the best out of these bloggers to avoid coming out disappointed. Same way I would assume everything is gifted unless they specifically state it's their own, rather than the opposite. Doesn't excuse their lack of disclosure but it would certainly make it more tolerable. Though I assume that a healthy dose of scepticism will, in the long term, somewhat suck the joy you once had out of it.

Floisme · 03/12/2017 08:06

But isn’t this the point of (and usefulness of) fashion and beauty blogs: they do the trawling and reviewing so we can work out if we Want to buy.
I think that should indeed be the point of them. If I thought they were still genuinely trawling and giving honest reviews then I for one would still be reading them and happy for my click to earn them a fee provided they told me.

But I think that - perhaps with a few honourable exceptions - stopped happening a long time ago.

Original poster
homebythesea · 03/12/2017 08:35

On the basis that no blogger can look at every single store to bring us their edit of the best stripy jumpers (or whatever) and the fact that I have enjoyed buying things I wouldn’t have known about (or had the time to search out) other than via a blog, I’m not that bothered if the blogger has chosen the sources with best return for them via the affiliate link. As I’ve said before, their time needs to be remunerated and it’s not costing me a penny

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botemp · 03/12/2017 09:23

I think the era of a blogger working in service for its readership isn't realistic anymore, however nice and helpful they may seem and we wish it all to be the standard rather than the exception. Affiliate sales are not the big money spinner and I think they'd struggle to live off that alone. They earn their money by selling access to the community they create and nourish with sponsored work and consulting brands on how to best reach their following. That will massively impact their choice of content.

This is in large part down to the brands, they were slow when it came to digital and as a consequence lost control like they had it in traditional media. Negative reviews were rife and they had impact. They've caught up and then some, and are in my view in full exploitation mode with the severe lack of regulation and bloggers who, for the most part, are completely inexperienced business wise.

Floisme · 03/12/2017 09:28

But if all a blogger is doing is passing on some affiliate links then what good is that to me me? I already have an inbox groaning under links from Hush and Johnnie Boden - I don't need a blogger for that. What I would value- and be happy to pay for - is good old fashioned research and honest, warts and all reviews. Like magasines used to do back in the day.

Original poster
homebythesea · 03/12/2017 14:27

floisme what those emails can’t tell you is how the item might look on someone like you(or me) in terms of size and age. Neither are they shortcuts to the gems through the dross. That’s what I value from blogs

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Original poster
homebythesea · 03/12/2017 14:28

I gave up on magazines years ago precisely because they do not speak to me or feature people like me.

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Floisme · 03/12/2017 15:06

If they work for you that's fair enough - I'm just talking about why they don't do anything for me and why they lost me as a reader. If they really were highlighting the gems and the duds, that would be great but I don't believe they do that any more. They mostly seem to just be pushing whatever product they've been told to promote that week.

I agree with bo's comment though that they're being played by the brands just as much as we are.

PNGirl · 03/12/2017 15:10

I wanted bloggers to be someone who wasn't a marketing employee of Hush or wherever holding the item in their hands and telling me whether it was worth the money inc. all pros and cons. Now they basically are an employee, freelance, for the length of the post or video.

Which is why I liked it when there was no such thing as a full time blogger. It's like a magazine only geared towards magazine journos.

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 04/12/2017 12:53

Forever Amber has a really interesting blog post today about how she earns money from blogging. It is a good insight into the industry if anyone is still interested.

ZaraW · 04/12/2017 18:14

I cannot believe the HoF was picked as best value she doesn't have much respect for the people who follow her.

AdiosPieceOfToast · 04/12/2017 18:33

Maybe the bloggers that thought the HOF calendar was the best we’re distracted by all the bright stripy gap jumpers and marmite sandwiches Grin

AdiosPieceOfToast · 04/12/2017 18:34

*were

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 04/12/2017 19:45

From what I've read on the HOF thread it seems a real treat. Not.

Dozyoldtwonk · 04/12/2017 19:55

Were HoF paying more than the rest, I wonder?

Ithasbeenalongtime · 04/12/2017 21:52

I nearly didn't read the Forever Amber post when I initially saw an article about 'sanctimommies' Hmm but once I had found the post about monetising her blog it was a really interesting read - refreshingly open and honest. Puts the sales roundups and gift guides into context as well!

AnnaAlyce · 05/12/2017 15:51

I unfollowed DoesMyBumLook40 back in October, after she took her child on a long haul flight after he'd been sick and then chuckled and chortled about how he'd 'pebbledashed' the plane vomiting on the flight. How selfish! No doubt infecting the whole flight with norovirus!

Plus all the smugness and gushing about brands that she was clearly getting for free! Very annoying!

Ithasbeenalongtime · 05/12/2017 17:34

And then let him go in the pool as soon as he got there Shock. A toddler pooped in the baby pool at our last hotel and the entire pool had to be drained and cleaned and was out of action for hours.

littlekellysmum · 05/12/2017 18:58

When one connects the online presence with offline presence, naturally it increases the follows in the online marketplace. If you are a blogger, by connecting with Brands offline and by making yourself present offline, you get better exposure and identity. You can talk about the event in the blog. If the event was popular, there will be backlinks which will help in appearing in google search. Hope this makes sense.

3asAbird · 07/12/2017 12:55

I noticed a new campaign on insta this week run by papers show your support appreciate midwives and donate money and thourght how lovely it's a charitable cause and I have no doubt our over stretched midwives within the nhs would appreciate this.

But then I saw Mrs meldrum on you tube who had done a video about the campaign as a paid promotion.

Which then made me question all the other bloggers and you tubers pushing this campaign on you tube have they been paid Also?

3asAbird · 07/12/2017 12:56

Pampers are running the campaign