Bloggers and brands 2.

[Merriboo]

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

TBH a lot of big corporates talk the talk regarding flexible working because for them also it is seen as a point of differentiation rather than them wholeheartedly buying into it throughout the whole organisation. I used to work for a corporate that probably shouted one of the loudest about how how fabulous their flexible working policies were, when the reality of working there was far far removed from this. It's often the smaller organisations that just do flexible working as a way to get things done, that don't shout about it but who infuse flexible working and accept it as part of their business practices that are more successful. I'm skeptical now about any business that shouts loudly about how AMAZING they are at flexible working. It comes down to people and attitudes at the end of the day.

On another note, the increased transparency amongst some of the bloggers has really brought into sharp focus how utterly crap at it some of the others are. Especially when you know they all promote the same brands and avidly read each other's posts.

I would really love for all bloggers out there to research new brands, small boutiques etc go off the beaten track and find hose little gems that no one else has, do some research write some amazing reviews..... be creative. Surely that is what an influencer shd be?

MP has to be given a lot of credit for what she's currently up to IMO. Imagine how stressful it must be giving a presentation to a room full of people with a baby strapped to you! And having to fly round the country with a baby to get there in the first place. Well done Anna - I'm loving your can do attitude!

To be fair @pleasesendwine, I actually think there are quite a lot of small brands featured on the feeds of these influencers. I don’t care whether it’s big established brands or smaller brands featured, as long as the commercial relationship is made clear so that we know it’s not necessarily an unbiased review.

Elspeth and itsbeenalongtime exactly that. I mean why isn't Mr P at home looking after the baby so she can work. It feels like she's missing the point. Dragging yourself round the country with a baby isn't helping anyone least of all her. Isn't she homeschooling because she missed the deadline for her daughter? Case in bloody point.

I think the older daughter has started school now because there was talk of the school run poppet and generally being a crap Mum and not being able to buy the right socks or something.

I think even if the baby would take a bottle she'd still have it with her. It's part of the narrative - look at me, I can do all this with a baby attached to me, employing mums is a good thing.

I think I see what you mean, flexible working isn’t about taking your baby to work 👉🏼Here she is ! 👈🏼 It’s about access to good childcare and being able to juggle school holidays, not being made to feel bad about being with your child when they are sick, being able to leave early if you have to and being able to work around nativities etc without taking holiday. I still think a lot of what she is saying is admirable though and at least she’s not just flogging espadrilles on her feed.

This whole "I'm a such a crap mum not really" routine is so tiresome and transparent.

I do like what MP is doing but do wonder if it is teetering over the edge of too try hard? Why would she have to take a baby into an interview with her? I doubt they are on the breadline and she is desperately applying for minimum wage jobs. She could bring Papa/Sister/Grandmother Pukka along or a nanny to hold the baby outside the room for half an hour surely?

MP's stories are getting stranger. She comes across as authentic, being her normal self one minute and steps into this weird twilight zone anxiety ridden, gasping for breath the next. It's probably part of the act but irritating nonetheless.

Whipping out a tit in the middle of an interview - she had to do that, right?

Christ I can imagine if it were a thread on here "AIBU to breastfeed in a job interview?"

Why would she have to take a baby into an interview with her?

I actually like MP, but it's not very professional is it? And for all the talk of family friendly companies etc (which is brilliant for everyone all round) I honestly think you should draw the line at taking your baby into an interview. As a potential employer it would irritate the hell out of me.

And as I said upthread, where is Papa Pukka in all this? If we're talking about flexible working, why isn't he doing his share? Why does it always fall to MP to juggle the baby (sometimes literally)? All her feed is doing is sending the message that as a woman and a mother the onus for childcare will always be on you.

Elspeth exactly my thoughts. In fact, a few years ago there was an AIBU very similar to that and the OP had her arse handed to her (maybe the OP was Mother Pukka!!).

Did she bring the baby into the interview? I though she left it outside?

I think the 2nd interview she brought a friend for babysitting outside but the baby kicked off and she had to bring it in and feed it? Or something like that? There was definitely feeding at one of the interviews.

See, if I was doing the interviews I would be wondering about childcare arrangements (but wouldn't ask) so is it just doing herself a disservice?

Is she making herself look flaky and unreliable or is she striking a blow for women everywhere or doing them all a disservice?!?

She said they were lovely about it. But if you were the interviewer you would wonder if a candidate was actually "Flexible" at all.

But at the end of the day she is very good about disclosure, very good at engagement with her followers, and tries to be as transparent as possible. She is also trying to use her platform for something deeper, which not many do.

I don't think everything works, and I don't understand why she's not resting more and working les . But I have a lot of respect for her. She's really tried to engage with MN too, and kudos for that.

Yes kudos to her for engagement and not throwing a hissy fit when criticized. I get the feeling that MP really 'gets' the media, unlike many.

Yes, but she worked in the media as does her husband so that's to be expected.

But is flogging dry shampoo is less stressful than just getting a 9-5 job and a nanny? I would find the unpredictability of job requests, their intrusion into my home space and the financial uncertainty way more stressful.

Very VERY long, but interesting 2 threads about blogs and bloggers.

If anyone wants to read a bit more about it they should check out "Trust me I'm lying" by Ryan Holiday, which is a book about how products manipulate the media by using blogs and bloggers (among other things). Some of the stuff these bloggers get up to is down right shocking ... as is the amount of money they make from it.

disclaimer: I bought my own damn book, didn't get it as a freebie, and I didn't get paid by anyone to say go read the book

Thanks for the book rec Ebba, looks promising.

I have no idea who this MP is but by your descriptions it sounds like an overegged parody account set up by a former digital media strategist communication PR architect (or some sort of title like that) who will happily embrace the dramatics and exaggeration to make her points not caring about the embarrassment that comes with it all as it will hopefully gain some mainstream coverage by going viral where she is able to plug a cause she has become passionate about on discovering the challenges of working motherhood. No commas in that long sentence as her account sounds like someone who never comes up for breath. Does that about sum it up, or is she a genuine instamum with a side cause?

Also, what's anti-feminist about Pilates? In all seriousness though, I do think it's an interesting point to consider the impact of influencers on other women in this aspect. Not that there will be much of a consensus but they're the ones continually bringing up the 'sisterhood'.

Not the Pilates per se, Bo, just the over-egged vision of mummy world being presented. I seriously want to spew when people are lucky to have Pilates to get them out of bed on a Monday morning.

Have read both threads and have had my eyes opened to the amount of gifting that goes on

But I'm in Ireland and it's worse over here - pipsypie and sosu and Jennifer wrynne - all caught up

Social media is supposed to be a new form of advertising isn't it? And I know ads lie to us and have done from day dot but there's generally some truth - with bloggers/ ig etc I feel it's all lies

New thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3169053-Bloggers-and-Brands-3