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!

Think Kat is reading this because she’s just said on instastories that she has no affiliation with Anthropologie.

One of the more honest and straightforward bloggers is midlife chic. Good writing and totally upfront.

Plenty of other affiliations for Kat! Which is good for her but not so sure for us...

I also like MidlifeChic - she seems much more open and honest than other bloggers and as a result I would be more likely to trust her opinions. She does accept gifts and sponsorships to pay for her blog, but she always makes it absolutely clear when she is doing so.

Yes she seems very straightforward and not gushy. Would definitely trust her review/opinions over some other mentioned bloggers.

I agree about midlifechic, her posts are always well thought out and considered, she seems very genuine and transparent about what she does.

Unfollowed DMB this week too, not interested in her holidays or nights out. Clothes are 'samey' and it's all too false for me, also her instasgram story at Bicester was so 'me me me - look at me trying to figure out how to put air in my tyres, I'm having a hilarious breakdown that I am going to film". Just no.

I did like her blog a lot.

Stylemesunday has me reaching for the unfollow button today - massive push for La Redoute even saying the coats "are so reasonable!" She's already drank the M&S Kool Aid.

Shame as she's a cool person and I love #makemotherhooddiverse, but I'm just not interested in being sold to so blatantly.

Thank God for Candice Braithwaite. Breath of fresh air.

Pomegranate which blog? Agree that Kat Farmer has become a parody of her original self. I have unfollowed too. Glad to see that others are disenchanted by hype!

Sorry I meant DMB. I used to ready Poppy's style but her style is completely different to mine.

“They” must all be on the Laredoute pay wagon today!

@Nw3lon thank you for that link. Very interesting. Her writing style looks nothing like her blog, so I guess that's where I'm picking up the fake from.

I see she's now a digital influencer, do I guess that's how I've felt all along. It's not fashion blogging at all any more, just a glossy advertorial like the continuous rolling shopping channels.

Such a shame about Dmbl40 Kat Farmer- used to really enjoy the “gift free” blog. Her shelf life is beginning to show. Wonder who the next big blogger will be?

Little red pear I expect there are lots of articles/interviews where bloggers real selves show through!

Her style in those questions - much more grown up and honest. She actually can write and I would enjoy that a lot more.

I've definitely a blog vacancy. Someone understated but glamorous, polished but transparent (re affiliations) not too many funded night outs/holidays, partial to a designer handbag but also expert at finding gems in M&S (do they exist anymore?).

I think bloggers need to remember their “followers” aren’t thick, mindless sheep, but peers.

Pomegranate I think they do, dmbl40 can write very well and if she laid off the sponsorship I would keep following. I can appreciate that it must be very difficult to turn down all the freebies but a little bit of intel would go a long way.

Should say integrity!

I think they loose their integrity when they believe the hype they are fed-all very 1990s AbFab!

TBH I'm really disappointed she has purchased the same Gucci scarf (mine was a passing exams present).
But I agree, I did enjoy her writing but I am not sure I could get over the falseness now.
I also don't like those 'school mum' blogs. I'll have a look at some of the suggestions on here.

Think they all started as 40 something school mum blogs but have diversified into “my former London life as a head hunter before kids” I now live in the stockbroker belt but frequent London and have a fabuuulooous social life/holidays etc self indulgent yet commercial one eye on the money mainchance falseness...while still portraying themselves as “silly hard up one of us” me!

I wonder if this is the start of the unfollowing of bloggers who think they’re audience is soo gullible they don’t realise they are being patronised and exploited? Bye bye Kat Farmer et al.

I certainly thing days are numbered. A few years ago I settled down to read blogs every night. Now I don’t really read them. Insta stories will go the same way. I guess Kat is positioning herself for whatever is next.

I feel sorry for regional bloggers - they just don’t have a chance compared to ones close to London.

On a separate note do the PRs coordinate dates so they could go to a load of events on the one day?