Bloggers and Brands 3

[CookingUpAStormTonight]

New thread I hope.

So you've been paid and get the holiday for free?

They are all collaborations whether they paid you or just gave a discount - a discount is just a payment in kind if non bloggers don’t get access to the same sort of discount. I think your disclosure on the Disney holiday has been super clear actually. But I was surprised to see you say it was the first holiday collaboration when clearly it wasn’t.

So essentially Disney is a job and the other holidays were freebies?

I said it was the the first paid family/travel collab but I couldn’t have tagged the Martinhal holiday as a paid collaboration as I wasn’t paid to go. The cruise wasn’t a family trip. Also the tagged partnership option is quite new I think it came in a few months back I much prefer if as it’s clearer than #ad which can be lost amongst other #

@itsbeenalongtime
Would #collaboration be more transparent s is a blogger has received a press discount?

@Ollycat
some parts were discounts ie the accomdation but not flights/food/drink

I know the paid collaboration feature is new and I thought you’ve both used it really well as you’ve used it consistently in all posts. I think #ad is clear enough if there is a commercial element to other trips (and hence the reviews), and I know you’ve used that on more recent posts (eg your recent martinhal one). It was just the statement that this was the first holiday collaboration I took issue with, because it wasn’t, in my view.

Paid partnership I mean, not paid collaboration feature.

Re #’s personally if something has been given for free I like #gift - it’s clear and unambiguous.

Paid Partnership in the top bit also v clear.

Collaboration is rather woolly imo.

I imagine the Paid Partnerships expect a minimum number of views - I’ve noticed Inthefrow (whose life is one big Paid Partnership) is very angsty at the mo about people not seeing her pictures and is going on about it in her stories almost daily so I imagine she’s under pressure from the brands. I do find her a little tiring if I’m honest - on a freebie holiday with one brand and whilst there doing endless Paid partnerships for others whilst going on and on about how hard her and her boyfriend are working to take the pictures.

Most “proper “ jobs are a damn sight harder!! (Midwifery for instance as I’m sure MOD will agree)

Most “proper “ jobs are a damn sight harder

I agree. I have a popular-ish IG (Not fashion or Insta mum stuff) and producing 'content' isn't hard at all. It's an enjoyable hobby, at most.

I have been offered some promotions (nothing in the realm of a Disney holiday, mind) but decided not to go down that route (not knocking anyone who does btw) but Insta has always been a creative outlet and I didn't want stop enjoying it.

@ollycat
Midwifery is a really tough but equally rewarding job similar to motherhood I guess!

anyalovesrose haha I think motherhood (for most) is a doddle in comparison to midwifery- I have a good friend whose a midwife and have complete admiration for the literally life and death decisions which have to be made daily! I’m fortunate that my most challenging elements of motherhood are convincing my 15 year old that cauliflower is not the food of the devil!

Enjoy Disney and have a safe journey home.

^meant to say said 15 year old would most certainly have died during birth (pre eclampsia/ failed induction) without the quick thinking of an amazing midwife which resulted in a v swift delivery under GA and a couple of weeks in SCBU. I am very appreciative.

I agree, I’m very grateful to the midwives who helped deliver my children. In a stretched maternity ward their patience, calmness and ability to multi task was incredible. Thanks for coming on the thread again to clarify these points Anya and I hope you all enjoy the rest of your time in Disney. I have enjoyed reading your posts and I think you are doing a fantastic job promoting Disney so unlike the other blogger I’m sure it actually has been “amazing for them” 😂

@itsbeenalongtime
Haha thanks

Just discovered these threads and find them really interesting - so many great points raised.

I've got my own (very modest) blog and instagram which I do because I'm passionate about the things I write about - this is nice and simple because it's not complicated by money as i don't make any from it! It does seem that as soon as bloggers get big they become clones of each other. I agree with a previous poster who described it as homogenised.
I don't understand how sending the same product/outfit to all of these people is affective for brands? With each new post extolling the virtue or X foundation or posing in X branded bag and outfit, it becomes less of an authentic recommendation.
I've unfollowed so many of them because I simply cannot trust what they purport to love anymore, like I used to when I actually discovered some really great products theo fun various bloggers.

Did anyone catch the Maldives trip that Benefit recently sent a bunch of beauty bloggers on? It was unreal - I cannot understand how brands can think that sending bloggers to a £3000 a night resort for four nights to launch a mascara is a good way to spend their budget? If anyone watches Inthefrow she did a video that shows the resort quite well and I not mind admitting I was stunned at the indulgence.

Surely it can't last?!

@anya I really hope you are enjoying your Disney holiday - it looks amazing but bloody exhausting at the same time! I’d need a week somewhere else to get over it I think!

Did anyone see Jessica aveys video last night regarding being scammed by someone pretending to work for a travel company wanting to Collaborate with her?

No do you have a link amanda?

@ithasbeenalongtime - MLC doesn’t do insta that much I don’t think and to be honest I never read through the 87 hashtags after photos to check. She’s a blogger first and foremost and is open about which brands send her stuff so I’d always assume the same for any pictures she puts on IG. She’s prob not comparable to the people being discussed here who use IG as their primary platform?

No, still as clear as mud to me! What exactly is a paid partnership - totally meaningless to me. Were you paid to go or given a free holiday in exchange for Insta content. Transparency will only really work when we don't have to ask these questions. Until then it's all murky, murky, murky.........

I actually couldn't believe that AMR was flogging Lenor on her page.
It made me unfollow her!

I am impressed at how many Instamums are reading these threads - witness the sudden interest in championing the smaller brands suggested upthread!!

I don't think the Gucci belts are sponsored; I just think it proves that bloggers are as much sheep as the rest of us.