Bloggers and Brands 3

[CookingUpAStormTonight]

New thread I hope.

instagrammers are immediately chucking blame for negative comments back towards their audience in a 'waaaaahhhh, the trolls only come out when I post an ad, its not my fault, I'm just trying to make a living' and avoiding the real issue.

The real issue is simply disclosure. I have no problem seeing an ad, I just prefer honesty and clarity about the ad.

@finks100 at least MOD's #ad was at the start of her hashtags. FOD's was (according to some) missing when he first posted, then buried in the middle of his hashtags. And because it was a freebie rather than them being paid cold, hard cash, apparently they don't feel the need to geotag as a 'paid promotion'.

I realise they're trying to be a bit more transparent, but the the lines are still blurred towards what counts as an ad and what doesn't and how they feel they have to disclose it. I'm seriously feeling like I'm going to have to unfollow these bloggers and just have people who take pics of their pets and dinners fill my feed instead I can't knock these folk for making money/receiving gifts but that's not why I started following them in the first place.

I generally don't care about ads or freebies but a bit of gratitude towards the giver might be nice. "Thanks to x hotel we are staying here tonight to get some child free time" etc rather than make it out to be an 'opportunity'. Candice Braithwaite seems really good at thanking her gifters.

I've never heard of AF before, but I had a look and it's a good example of bad disclosure. Fixed it up for her:

Full disclosure: I am not being paid or sponsored and nor is for this a free holiday. If I was, I’d have used the appropriate tools that instagram provide. I am receiving a discounted rate in return for me working with the hotel on exploring and sharing their wellness offerings.

Exactly right Facebook, that is what she should have written. Too many words are obscuring the issue. And that sentence should have been written on the first picture of that holiday. It's just so disappointingly deceitful. I point the finger of blame too at all the Instagrammers who just story their freebies, neatly avoiding writing words of disclosure. For example did Chloe yesterday pay for those facials or were they free? I couldn't tell so I'm assuming they were gifts.

The problem with those who don't really disclose ahem CLTS is that the assumption is surely that everything they talk about is gifted/discounted etc.

I think some of them need to think about where they want to position themselves in terms of brands they work with and the types of images they put out.

I agree @PavlovaPrincess I don’t mind the money or freebies...go for it but it should be obvious. The clarity is really beginning to bother me.
On radio 5 last week there was some chap from the people who check out advertising (can’t remember what they are called) talking about clamping down on this. It can’t come quick enough!

I absolutely get the need to make a living. I do my maths teaching and I am paid for it. I don't pretend to people I do it for free and then secretly get paid or find there's a discount on my Sainsbury bill.
Just be honest that you're rubbing in £100 face cream because you've been paid/sent it free to promote. Equally don't try on any old crap in the changing rooms with a commission link to give the impression you love it so much you'll be buying it with your own cash when in fact you'll be leaving empty handed but quids in on the commission

Janeways - yes, yes, yes! Another teacher, who combines 3 dc (without monetising them) and a full time job without huge drama. My problem, as a previous poster said, is that, increasingly, I do actually have a problem with the "I too have problems", #must have treats and #womensupportingwomen for, actually, just getting on with life. They are promoting a glossy, envy-filled, existence and fuelling an insecurity in those who don't/can't compete. Attaching the sales pitch to a "community" based theme only serves to heighten my distaste for this grubby, greedy behaviour. I would have had some respect for Mother Pukka's decision to take some time out, presumably to consider what this Instagram game is, if she hadn't installed her husband to keep her place in the game. It's a business, just admit it! Hopefully the Facebook saga will lift the lid on the cynical, algorithm-filled world that social media is. It has never been about us, just about business.

Instagram ‘influencers’ can flog stuff all day – but it’s weird when they use their kids to do it

www.theguardian.com/fashion/2018/mar/21/instagram-influencers-can-flog-stuff-all-day-but-its-weird-when-they-use-their-kids-to-do-it?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard from today's Guardian.

Cooking wow Hadley Freeman hits the nail on the head.
I have no pictures of my kids on my Facebook. They deserve privacy and If it wasn’t for having relatives all over the world I would delete Facebook.

New dishwasher please! And on it goes #shameless #gimmegimmegimme

Blimey that Hadley Freeman column pulls no punches (and neither do the BTL comments!).

Well done Hadley, I wonder if everyone will start accusing her of being jealous

Ha ha yes, I can't see anyone has said "if you don't like it, unfollow" yet either...

Boom. Will MOD and FOD say Hadley is being a 'mean girl' as the Disney comment is aimed squarely at them.

Just come on here to link to Hadley's article. She is bang on the money (IMO).

My D.C. are almost 7 & do not have an online 'presence' - I deactivated FB when they arrived as I disliked the idea of them not having a say over whether or not they were online.

The thought of using them to flog stuff is horrible. If they can't afford to go to uni because I didn't try to monetise their childhood... well... tough.

Was Clemmie Telford's burch box a freebie today? No #ad but wondered why she was randomly telling us about eyeliner (to put on 'one handed' 🤔)

Will MOD and FOD say Hadley is being a 'mean girl' as the Disney comment is aimed squarely at them.

Mod and FOD will no doubt completely ignore that and instead focus on that one time someone called FOD a nasty name instead

Hasn't MP just seen an opportunity to improve PP's followers, so he can be FOD 2.

Do all insta dads have to pull those faces?

😂 Pavlova. Did you see the post the other night where FOD's mum rolled in to tell someone off for calling FOD a name. It did make me laugh. If my son went online to describe his teenage w*nking habits, I'd die a thousand deaths, not start commenting on his account.

Also, the thing is, if FOD stops putting his kids all over Insta, than what is he left with? At least Clemmie has her midwifery stuff to fall back on, whereas who wants to watch the ins and outs of portfolio management (or whatever the hell it is he does for a living when he isn't gurning all over the net)?

I also think MP could survive without showing her kids. Not sure about some of the others though i.e Susie Verrill and Clemmie Telford for example,?because like FOD their whole schtick seems to centre on being a parent.

Has anyone followed the bloggers unveiled account on Instagram?

Aimed at Irish bloggers but it's calling them out on ads/ repackaged goods from aliexpress and also ( and I think this is fab) calling them out for Snapchat or insta stories when driving. They seem to do that a lot here like look at my new nails (advert) whilst I'm driving in the snow!

If you negatively comment on these blogger account they are deleting them and in one instance the bloggers partner is dm'ing people for upsetting his girlfriend!!

I wondered that Pavlova when FOD was doing his sincere 'help for dads' stories. Where would he be without the twins in their bathrobes. So he's got about 2 1/2 years left to delight us until they go to school.

@CookingUpAStormTonight if he's after a Miele one to match his washing machine and tumble dryer I would warn him off, mine is terrible!