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Original poster

Bloggers and Brands 3

936 replies

CookingUpAStormTonight · 15/02/2018 13:03

New thread I hope.

OP posts:
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10
SofiaLemon · 25/02/2018 16:15

CLTS is Chloe loves to shop. Someone else who a lot of posters seem to like to slag off.

DillyDilly · 25/02/2018 16:32

@sofialemon Since you’re not bothered if bloggers disclose or not, this thread probably isn’t relevant to you really, is it ?

sanpelligrino · 25/02/2018 16:35

SofiaLemon have you been on mumsnet before? I did explain the relevance from my POV if you take the time to read.

SofiaLemon · 25/02/2018 17:03

I find the threads interesting (and comical at times) but I've no interest in the apparent crusade for transparency.

Sanpelligrino I've been on here for years, I haven't read every single post on these threads. I've read a lot of bitchy posts but don't recall any explaining how the bitching is relevant to the discussion. I have however read a few requesting posters stick to the topic and not make disparaging comments on individual bloggers.

sanpelligrino · 25/02/2018 17:49

Well we are here to discuss them. You have your opinion (or not) and I have mine.

DillyDilly · 25/02/2018 18:03

@sofialemon I’m baffled by your contributions to this thread, you’ve said more than once that you couldn’t care either way about whether or not bloggers are transparent.

Are you a lovestruck fan of some blogger that you think has been wronged here????

megansmandstop · 25/02/2018 18:04

SofiaLemon "I've no interest in the apparent crusade for transparency."

Then this is not the thread for you.

Whether you agree, or understand, or not, financial transparency in social media is a hotly discussed topic right now, it's not just something a group of Mumsnet users decided to make up just to have a bitch. Bloggers know it and they're not denying it. It's just their business is still in it's infancy and they are exploiting a loophole until the regulations catch up with them. Good for them. Doesn't mean we can't discuss and debate it, with each other and with them and essentially come out in favour of the practice being wrong.

You seem to have only read the minority of comments which have been unnecessarily personal and spectacularly failed to grasp the point of any of the last three 1000 post threads.

SofiaLemon · 25/02/2018 18:27

Actually I've read the majority (but not all) of the over 2300 posts on these threads. I completely understand and grasp the point of the discussion.

As I've said I've found the threads interesting but no I don't particularly care if a blogger discloses a gift or uses #ad. If people who do care unfollow bloggers who lack transparency then surely if as many people care as you all seem to think the mass drop in followers should be enough to force them to become more transparent?

I think many posters on here actually think they are far more intelligent than the average blog follower and that we are all just too stupid to realise that the likes of CLTS or Annaelerihart don't actually buy all the products they show. We're really not.

There's probably about 1000 relevant posts on these threads then just a shit load of gossip and bitching. I thought this was supposed to be a discussion forum but obviously only if you agree.

Hiphophippityhop · 25/02/2018 18:54

I'm an average blog follower and I didn't know that DMBL had a monthly paid partnership with M&S before she told us, I honestly thought she just had a local one that was well stocked and convenient! I didn't know that the Shop my Instagram pages were stuffed full of affiliate links, I just thought they all liked Topshop. It only dawned on me the other day (and I've read nearly all the threads) that people earn money from affiliate links on Pinterest. Maybe I am stupid and naive but I would like to know when I am being sold to so I can make informed decisions about what is real and what isn't. Bloggers like to say their followers are clever enough to figure this all out, but its just another cop out excuse for not being clear and upfront about it from the start. I think its good when people come onto the thread with other points of view. Echo chambers aren't healthy and you've made some good points about the thread not straying into gossip and bitchiness. But at the same time you keep repeating that "you don't care" when it has been explained that other people do. There are lots of issues in this world I don't care about, but I wouldn't dream of telling other people who do care about them that they shouldn't waste their time on the issue.

SofiaLemon · 25/02/2018 19:09

Hiphop I find it hard to understand how you didn't realise that DMBL40 was advertising for M&S?! Fair enough some of the others aren't quite do obvious.

It's not that I think posters are wasting their time discussing this topic, I just think there are as many if not more posts basically just slagging bloggers off.

Esther's got a drink problem, Kat gesticulates too much, MP shouldn't take her baby everywhere, MOD was slated then after she appeared on here everyone backtracked. I posted after reading the comments about Esther Coren drink driving and the slagging off Anna Hart got, just absolutely unnecessary.

sanpelligrino · 25/02/2018 19:20

Not going to keep responding to the below...

Anyway. I think the whole thing is irritating guff. Blogger builds up following on the premise that you have intimate access to their life and innermost thoughts and then they sell stuff on the back of this trusted relationship. It's manipulative and frankly crap. Esther may or may not drink too much but she doesn't half go on about it as well as many many other things to be fair. Mother of Daughters built up a huge following on midwifery but that all seems to have paled into insignificance other than her highly lucrative books now she has about a billion followers with her husband and can trade her time like a media outlet. I can see why there's a backlash when people can see what's going on. I much prefer following people who have interesting things to say and are genuinely inspirational rather than ooh look at this skirt I must buy it. The deluge of retail aspiration from Kat is too too much and I like buying clothes! It's a feeding frenzy.

Hiphophippityhop · 25/02/2018 19:20

I know, I feel even more stupid now having admitted that 😂. I mean, I probably guessed there was some deal in place eventually, but I suspect the M&S arrangement had been going on for ages before I clocked it.

SofiaLemon · 25/02/2018 19:32

Sanpelligrino most of the bloggers mentioned here I've followed on/off for years, but for fashion ideas, not to find out their thoughts and feelings.

I think maybe you need to unfollow fashion & interiors bloggers on insta as most of the popular ones now do use their accounts to promote products whether they #ad/gift it.

I love relaxing in the bath reading my favourite blogs or having a scroll through insta, I also love buying clothes and house stuff so I like the easy links to a skirt, lamp or whatever. I don't think I'm being brainwashed in any way into buying stuff.

I really don't think some Mumsnetters complaining is going to make many bloggers become more transparent as it is obvious if you read the comments on insta most of their followers are happy as is. If they or the company's start being fined for non disclosure then things may change.

sanpelligrino · 25/02/2018 19:45

As you've mentioned...

TheLuckyMrsPine · 25/02/2018 19:55

I really don't think some Mumsnetters complaining is going to make many bloggers become more transparent

Incorrect. IF you had been following this thread then you would know that it has attracted blogger/IG’s interest and a few of the biggest have already started to be more transparent. It’s not just MNers - there are many comments on their IG posts.

If it doesn’t make a difference if something is clear labelled as gifted then why not disclose it? And why delete comments querying it?

ABuckToothedGirlinLuxembourg · 25/02/2018 19:55

Sofia Lemon. These threads have encouraged some bloggers to become more transparent though, there’s clear evidence of that in these very replies. DMBL40 being just one example.

PavlovaPrincess · 25/02/2018 19:59

if you read the comments on insta most of their followers are happy as is

The comments under posts are hardly an indicator are they? These threads partly came about because anyone who dared question the bloggers were immediately deleted and/or blocked.

Also, the comments on MODs Dorset post should show you that a lot of people didn't realise she was advertising or being gifted a lot of stuff.

SofiaLemon · 25/02/2018 20:15

Again, I have been following the threads, I do know that SMBL40 & MOD have become more transparent, I also know some other bloggers are aware of this thread and have basically said they don't care.

None of you seem to be explaining why there's a need for the numerous posts on these threads just basically slagging certain bloggers off based on their personalities or blog content, what has that got to do with transparency?

sanpelligrino · 25/02/2018 20:25

Sofia lemon we can discuss whatever we want on here. We don't need your permission or approval. Plenty of other threads if you don't like it. Your protesting is somewhat transparent.

ABuckToothedGirlinLuxembourg · 25/02/2018 20:25

A lot of that has been brought about by their rude responses regarding transparency. I get the feeling you’re a blogger BTW.

sanpelligrino · 25/02/2018 20:29

Of course she is! And not a very articulate one at that!

Hiphophippityhop · 25/02/2018 20:32

Who said bloggers weren’t transparent? 😂

HolyMountain · 25/02/2018 20:33

Sofia you could always practice what you preach Smile and not read this thread.

SofiaLemon · 25/02/2018 20:38

I don't have a blog, my Instagram is set to private, I don't post much on it and have a total of 27 followers. I commented because I thought the thread was getting quite ridiculous.

I'll leave you to your bitching.

SofiaLemon · 25/02/2018 20:43

Sanpelligrino so you felt the need to call Esther a pisshead because she'd been rude about Mumsnet? Fair enough, that makes obvious sense Hmm

I've not said you can't slag the bloggers off, it's nothing to do with me, I just that I find it all a bit childish and pathetic.