Bloggers and brands 2.

[Merriboo]

continuing the discussion from the previous thread about transparency and disclosure (or lack of) by bloggers

Me too Elspeth, for about the last 10 years!

Thanks **Bo.
Saw on CH’s stories a few days ago that her tumble dryer had died. And voila today a brand new one from a high end brand arrives who apparently “intercepted” so does that mean it’s a freebie?! Sorry getting so cynical and not am mentioning the brand as I don’t want to add the PR merry go round.

I suspect she meant “intervened” and yes looks a lot like a freebie. How clever of them to know she needed a new one! Do tumble drier companies really follow beauty bloggers? 😳

Yeah thats a free washing machine.

In fairness she's not hiding it "they offered us this".

Would I refuse a free washing machine? Hmmmm......not sure tbh. Probably nobody would.

Gosh that buynowbloglater second quote about unboxing is exactly what was being discussed a few pages back, re Jo Malone. Good to know we weren't just making assumptions and casting aspersions, but ye, full paying customers do cover the cost of all these freebies. Well, I assume if someone in the industry is confirming it...

So, to Mrs new mum blogger from Norway, I was considering a buying a foundation from Nars, having heard good things, but seeing as you received a couple of hundred ££ worth from them today, I don't think I'll bother.

@Elspeth, no-one would turn down a free washing machine, true, but it comes back to the point that its not free at all - there is an implicit (or explicit, who knows?) quid pro quo which is that the blogger should post about it to their followers and say how awesome it is and try to get you to buy one as well.

I think people are getting wise to whole "oh my shampoo has run out #sadface"..."oh thanks to SupaExpensive Shampoo for sending me some fantastic shampoo, my hair has never been more bouncy #bouncy" posts that proliferate Instagram now. I'm becoming so cynical it wouldn't surprise me if influencers are now being asked by brands to promote stuff that doesn't really fit with their regular blogger content so they make up a backstory about things breaking down in order to justify promoting household products in amongst the clothes, face cream and handbags.

I get that someone like CH gets sent beauty related products, that is the point of her blog and her expertise. I just don’t see how a dryer fits into her “brand” and will a short insta story actually convert into sales for the brand? It’s an expensive item and it would be interesting to know what the actual deal between them was. I don’t blame her for accepting it per se, it’s just all a bit grabby and detracts from what the main point of her blog. As others have mentioned the overt consumerism of it all makes me uncomfortable and most of them are now happy to flog pretty much anything. Zero integrity seems to be left.

CLTS got messages from people about her new bag today, I can’t help but wonder what makes people think it’s acceptable to do this....she can spend her own money on what she likes!

Who is CH?

I don't understand how Anelli Bush gets sent so much stuff she hardly blogs at all. She must get c£1000 worth of stuff every month.

ABuckToothedGirlinLuxembourg agree totally re CLTS and her bag - her money totally up to her what she does with it (and nice bag at a good price) was a bit that people would have criticised her.

I am super pissed off that DMBL40 has been gifted 2 coats/jackets from Jigsaw. I will never buy anything from them again - they used to be quite aspirational for me as a part time working mother who did listen to their oh, so proud message about their retail policy. They have completely devalued themselves for me. Still, this is a momentary phase in marketing and will quickly be followed by the next strategy.

Is buynowbloglater the blogger who pulled most of her content at some point and lived/moved to Dubai (or near there anyhow). I remember her being mentioned on a previous SM thread, but perhaps I'm mixing them up. She always provided good 'former cult member' insights, similar to those screenshotted.

The second one especially resonates with the 'best friend marketing'. It pisses the pants off me as a lot of e-tailers have started doing this in newsletters, especially those with young demographics like Asos and Beauty Bay. Although the worst has to be Browns Fashion which lost a customer in me forever (pity for them, I was a good customer) when they congenially suggested my hubby buy me some leather legging to show off my assets for him (or something ridiculous in that vein). It wasn't even exclusive to the newsletter, it was the description on the website too.

It's really a bit pathetic to be begging for free stuff when you're already inundated with it. Those type of oh poor me posts (aka please restock my cupboard please) communicate one thing to me, that those bloggers' 'opinions' and, crucially, 'recommendations' are up for sale in exchange for the right type of swag. It's such a stab in the back towards their following, you're basically wringing them out to dry for some free goodies you should be able to afford. Otherwise, why would you be recommending them?

CH = Caroline Hirons, I assume.

Jigsaw does have a stunning sale this year though - the i was after was further reduced today

Yes thats her Botemp, she used to be called lollipop26 and has lived in Dubai for a long time now, maybe even 10 years or thereabouts

Damn Jigsaw and their super sale. I sent them a haughty email explaining why they had lost me as a customer (they never bothered to reply!!) so now I can't be a hypocrite and buy anything in case my name starts a wailing siren on their database and they know how shallow and unprincipled I am

Wipesglitter Anneli bush, I believe used to work in fashion as she's friends with The Frugality and was featured on her blog. I suspect she probably has lots of industry contacts and she knows how to 'work' PR folk to get the goods. She doesn't seem particularly fussy about who she works with.

I really liked buynowbloglater. She seemed really genuine and someone who simply loved discussing her new finds. Although she shopped. A lot. I always felt she shopped for herself and not for blog content.

This and the previous thread have been such eye openers for me. As a result of both i’ve cleared cookies from my phone, deleted Instagram and no longer click on links on blogs. The final straw for me was at the weekend when DMBL40 posted a photo on Instagram of her in running gear #ad. Basically her whole new found love of running was about a new revenue stream and lasted less than 2 weeks. It’s just all so fake and disengenuous.

DomesticDrudge I had a total eyeroll moment at Saturday’s running post too. It was basically an ad for a radio station. Coming from Kat, I was pretty shocked as it was so random & clumsy that it was laughable.

And CLTS has (quite rightly) told people to switch off if her feed annoys them or makes them feel bad about their own lives. I can understand the frustration of “the blogger of a thousand #gifts” but it isn’t cool to be criticised for buying something with your own money (ie yesterday’s handbag purchase) or just going for a run (sans Heart FM ad)

CLTS has really grown on me - she seems a very genuine open person who is just sharing her life - which may or may not be everyone’s thing - oh and I love her cat.

Ohhh - CLTS wasn't really on my radar, I think she is probably much, much younger than me. Where is the online bag abuse - is it on her insta or her blog? And yes, people can buy whatever they like with their own money - my issue is when I am making expensive (for me) buys to support all the freebies being flung around these days.

flea, the messages must have come via her instastories glad she's telling them to jog on!

have to admit, I love instastories, its all just a bit of fun and although I may give an eye roll over some of the stuff shown, I'd never send a snide message to anyone on there.

Are stories the bit where they talk (circled in red?) - how do you access them when they are no longer current #instanovice

I unfollowed her, couldn't relate at all. Her attitude to the #gift tag is annoying (she won't do it). Her endless cashmere collection and gifted fur coats started to make me seriously eye roll.