Bloggers and Brands 3

[CookingUpAStormTonight]

New thread I hope.

[Whatisthislifeiffullofcare]

For some reason both threads seem to have become mostly about MOD and FOD . I appreciate they are high profile Instagrammers but it appears to be burying some of the issues I thought these threads were discussing.

[FacebookAteMyBrain]

That's a fair observation, @Whatisthislife, though I think this thread has generally been more diverse than than the Instamums thread (which as a PP noted is the place for 'general disappointment' to be aired - this one tries to stay focused on brands/marketing/transparency issues). But the reality is that combined, FOD and MOD have over 1m followers (mainly you would expect to be ones interested in parenting/family topics) so they dwarf most of the other bloggers and are the ones that tend to attract the higher profile brands as a result. They have also been trailblazers in some ways in terms of branching out into other areas such as books etc. I think that's why they pop up so frequently in discussion. It does feel a bit like Groundhog Day at times though.

[instabum]

I think they are under most scrutiny as they are by far the most popular. I only know them, MP and CB out of all of the ones talked about.
MOD in particular did an almost complete 180 from her original USP so I think that is why many feel she has 'sold out'.

[ElspethFlashman]

Yes bit if this thread is about declaration of brands people are working with, then I think the conversation is pretty over wrt MOD/FOD as they do declare now. Which is why I prefer this thread to the other one, which is a lot more vent-y.

[Whatisthislifeiffullofcare]

Funny MOD and FOD weren't on my radar at all really.
Anyhow re the brands/marketing/transparency, (though my observations of two particular instances may fall under general dissatisfaction)
First a brand I was aware of and knew from reading didn't deliver to my location appeared to give/discount/supply a local blogger with a dining room set, great I though I like their stuff. I asked the retailer and nope they don't deliver to my postcode. Obviously I am not the whole world but that's irritating. Blogger never mentioned table was gifted/sponsored/ad but tagged in pictures.
Secondly an experience put on 3 blogger feeds that no one can have, the Dino sleepover at the Natural history museum with airbnb special area for a few. Not clear initially on website that you wouldn't get the same experience, only by poking round website was it clearer. I would even have been willing to pay for it looked such fun, not sure what the point of this was or whose marketing. I commented on it on a blog (but if course wasn't published and I didn't adhere to the good vibes only, I only said I felt it was rather deceptive marketing) I'd love to know the point of this one, was it to raise the museums profile, an ad for airbnb, I'm genuinely interested to know what that was all about and what I'm missing in it.

[ElspethFlashman]

Candice also does seem to declare everything. To the extent that im a bit at the amount of stuff she got for her baby, my god!

But I sure as hell wasnt rejecting anything when I had a baby so I don't expect her to. Actually now that I think on it, we've never had to buy a pram or buggy in our lives as we've always gotten hand me downs. And I wouldn't expect to be hated on just because I didnt have to purchase any of them.

She also does seem to exude gratitude. Sometimes I find her world weariness a bit off kilter with my mood and I dont check in with her Stories for a while. "Teatime" was too much for me at times as it was like a lecture I wasnt always in the mood for, even if the wisdom was solid.

But I do appreciate her attitude of 100% transparency.

[megansmandstop]

Whatisthislifeiffullofcare I agree, I've stopped checking this thread because its just one post after another about MOD/FOD. This thread moved away from the original issues pages ago.

Also, this is the Style and Beauty board, and whilst both these account may have large followings and Mumsnet may be largely aimed at parents, neither of these accounts specialise in fashion content. Hardly ever in fact.

Incidentally, whilst both are indeed high profile accounts, they are in now way the biggest out there. There are plenty of instagrammers will 1 million plus followers who would do well to be scrutinised for there transparency in terms of gifted and paid for content.

[megansmandstop]

Style and Beauty bloggers with 1 million plus followers I meant. I'd really like to keep this within the topic. As PP have pointed out there's the AIBU thread for more general discussion.

[Whatisthislifeiffullofcare]

megansmandstop the other thread linked to above also seems to be focussing on MOD and FOD . I haven't read recent posts there is great detail this morning but that's my perception from a quick dip in, I know they're massive but does it all need to be about them.

[FacebookAteMyBrain]

I think the discussion moved on from pure fashion a while ago though, probably when household brands started moving in on fashion bloggers. I don't think you can say the thread can only discuss fashion because it's on a S&B board. The Instmums thread has moved way beyond a AIBU topic now, that's just an evolution of the discussion. I think we are all violently agreeing though that if MOD/FOD discussion can be kept to the bare minimum that would be great for everyone!!

@Elspeth, I am also flabbergasted at the amount of stuff sent to bloggers. There is one fashion blogger I see who has coats, sweatshirts, shoes, jewellery, dresses etc sent to her, both small and high street brands. Some disclosed, mainly reluctantly. She only has around 15k followers, which is pretty small fry nowadays. I find it incredible that so much gear is sent her way. She is fairly personality-free zone as well, I just cant see the appeal for brands

[Paintbox]

A few pageant back I think (I have lost track) people saying how genuinely nice clts is. Agree that she comes across this way but i can’t forget that she called people calling for transparency “knobs” on dmbl40 s original post that started all this. It’s hard to imagine her lovely soft voice saying this but she did. She never apologised as far as I’m aware, just got her comment deleted because of the backlash. She then blocked my friend who commented that she shouldn’t call her audience knobs. She is either a complete snowflake who shuts down all constructive criticism on the grounds of be nice or don’t comment, or she just puts on this nice persona to sell her brand. Either way I’m not buying her or the way she sells her little boy on her stories every day.
Thinking about this following these threads, I feel like by following these people on Instagram, I may as well be on you tube watching the 3 minute tv ads that come on between programs. It’s exactly the same and now I feel stupid. Yes I might get some ideas for outfits but it is just watching ads! DAvina and fearne advertising Home hair dye on tv has always had people sniggering, as if they sit with their head over their sink using Home hair dye! Influencers are exactly the same, they are just advertising things to promote their own brand and make more money. If you are fine with that then so be it but I’m not comfortable with being sold to all the time on the basis of these women sharing their lives and their families. Some of them talk about how it is their business and then in the next breath say it is their family and we shouldn’t criticise them as it’s too personal. Surely mixing work with showing their kids and lives is always going to go wrong somehow. And bloody hell how much do I hate that term influencers! I don’t want to be influenced! It’s such a strange title and makes the followers appear to be easily influenced like sheep. Maybe we are. Sorry for rant

[Fruitbowl2]

www.pressreader.com/uk/grazia-uk/20160816/283016874108244

I posted this on the other thread. Grazia mag article featuring MOD/FOD MP.

Interesting that in August 2016 they were pretty clear what their aim was, just it being transparent wasn't.

To be fair though, MP says they misquoted them.

[megansmandstop]

Paintbox I said something similar way back on the first thread. The instagrammers mentioned here HAVE to show their everyday lives and families because that is their USP; allegedly they are normal women, just like us, bumbling along, juggling work and kids, but trying to look stylish along the way. Without that, who would they be? They don't have a prior media career, they're not print journalists, or former fashion editors, or retail buyers, no. They are just mums from the 'burbs with time on their hands to start an Instagram account or blog about clothes (largely, for the ones discussed here).

Except, "normal" women don't go to swanky breakfast lunches, or take their children to film premieres, or have ten leather jackets, fifty floral maxi dresses, multiple designer trainers, bags etc. Since their profile exploded and the likes of Gleam took over, they no longer have a credible USP any more. Hence the selling of their souls mentality of flogging as much "stuff" as possible before the bubble bursts.

[FacebookAteMyBrain]

I don’t follow CLTS. She’s not someone I could ever envisage being friends with in real life for lots of reasons and I suppose that’s one of my benchmarks of whether I waste my time looking at their “squares” or not.

[ABuckToothedGirlinLuxembourg]

What’s everyone’s thoughts on all these look what I’ve found on the internet... I’m not buying them....but swipe up for my affiliate link stories that keep popping up? Now some do say they are affiliate links, but if you’re not buying them, why should we? I’m not liking them at all.

[WhatIfYourArmBursts]

If the link was specific to that item or a single visit to that website from that link I would be ok with it I suppose. But because it stays on your computer for a longer period of time it feels like a phishing exercise and I’m not keen so I actively don’t use. They are a bit spammy.

[MadameGrizzly]

I've noticed the website name/brand is typically cropped out in those types of 'look what I found! swipe up!' affiliate links so you are obliged to swipe up.

It's clickbait. No different to a clickbait Daily Mail heading. That's why it doesn't sit well with me, so I purposely never swipe up on Instagram. There's nothing I need to buy so desperately that I'm willing to be treated like a punter.

[User80656448969]

Yes @madameGrizzly! I hadn’t noticed that until you pointed it out, but something did feel “off” about the images but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Totally agree at the clickbait comment. One blogger mentioned on on this thread earlier is the worst for that.

[MadameGrizzly]

All the stealth advertising on Instagram just makes me feel like I'm being treated like a fool.

[ABuckToothedGirlinLuxembourg]

We all wanted transparency, but I know that now we’ve got it from a few of them I for one am shocked at the sheer volume of gifted items, and ads. I really didn’t realise just how much of this was going on.

[Ididnthearanything]

I haven't deleted Instagram yet but getting close. It's an addictive, pain of an app.

Can someone explain this #af on some posts, particularly swipe up ones. Does it mean affiliate link? Why have they changed it from #ad?
Apologies if this has already been explained and I've missed it.

[megansmandstop]

I would assume #af is to denote an affiliate link yes. #ad is something different; an agreed for post in exchange for real money (as opposed to a product) with a specific brief about what to feature, what key words to say, when to post it to maximise audience etc...

An affiliate programme is something the blogger signs up to and will earn a small percentage from any sales directly linked the the buyer clicking through from their page to buy the item. They probably get sent the money every month or so in a chunk (perhaps someone can advise?)

So, not an advert.

[Lazypyjama]

I actually unfollowed MOD and FOD today. I find them extremely boring. They both try so hard to be funny and they are not natural comedians.

[IsThisAWindUp]

Who has used #af? I haven't seen that anywhere, it must be a new thing. It's hardly clear and transparent if nobody knows what it means.

[JessicaPeach]

Mum of Boys and Mabel uses #af occasionally.