Instagrammers and Influencers

[scotx]

New thread to follow on from this one

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3462129-Can-we-chat-about-fashion-Instagrammers-influencers?msgid=84590932

Actually to be fair she does say the hotels always approach her and not the other way round. Serendipitous!

Clemmie's thread has actually been an eye-opener. Travel usually covered too? Blimey!

It is indeed a real eye opener. Clemmie's mum even pops up and makes an appearance as a follower!

Poor Clemmie has had to endure trips to review Devon, glamping, a cruise, Kefalonia, Cornwall, Mauritius, skiing, Cornwall and now this duff stay in Devon. Since June last year. No wonder she's feeling a bit jaded when the hand wash runs out.

When she says "I've only ever had hotels/holiday companies come to me first (or via their PR company) with an offer of a review" she obviously forgot about the holiday to Kefalonia for a mate's wedding where she said "I approached Sunvilteam and was given a 20% discount". Unbelievable. If someone asks a straightforward question, you would at least think they could provide a straightforward answer.

I know someone who wanted £500 to be gifted cushions that they would then tag and also get to keep!

wouldyoulikeabag that's a long list of gifted/reduced holiday accomodation
Her photo about it, where she's doing a thumbs down, is very childish.

I think we’re going to see a lot more negative reviews as a show of integrity, which will in turn perhaps make businesses warier of dishing out gifts and discounts.

Clemmie doesn’t believe the “ownis” (😫) is on her to forwarn the hotel about the negative review (and thumbs down photo, which I cringed at too) was on the way. I do wonder what the hotel thinks about this all. Agree I think there will be a lot more honest/mixed reviews in future, mainly as a way to try to claim the trips as business expenses rather than taxable income perhaps?? This may put a natural brake on this type of marketing!

I feel sorry for the hotel, giving Clemmie Telford a discount then getting that. I haven't seen her mum chipping in but that's cringe too, having your mum pop up.

I suppose this is how it gets messy. As a paying visitor to an expensive hotel Clemmie feels entitled to top class service and clearly doesn't feel she received it. But having gifted part of the stay to her, the hotel probably feels entitled to a decent review too, and whether they feel a few bullet points, a handful of blurry photos on facebook and a thumbs down selfie on instagram is value for money, I am not sure. Neither party probably happy with this arrangement. They would have been better off gifting the whole thing as an AD and paying for editorial control with a positive review on her page rather than a gifted travel review where the lines are blurred between paying guest and travel journalist.

I just looked up CT out of nosiness - she’s wasn’t previously on my radar - and bloody hell, it’s a complete cringe-fest. That poor hotel. All the “well done, hun”, and the “you sold out” comments. Agree with pp that this is where it gets messy, and that companies will be less likely to engage with influencers if they think they’ll end up with a thumbs down review. (Not on FB so haven’t seen the actual review.)

Still quite conflicted about the review. On one hand, we argue reviews from Influencers are never honest because they are essentially sponsored by the object of the review. On the other hand, this review seems to be about boosting CT's credibility as an influencer to the detriment of a business which hasn't quite gifted enough (full stay, travel costs). It didn't strike the right tone.

What's not clear is whether she brought these things to their attention at the time? So they had a chance to rectify them.

I feel conflicted too. I think it is also because everyone there is no substance behind the review about how the hotel dealt with the niggles (which can often make the difference between a crappy and a good stay). The reviews on trip advisor are similar tbh but the hotel has responded to them (I only read a handful though) and they are more detailed. It looks like the promotion was done through a PR agency. The hotel would be better off spending their money sorting out their internal issues rather than a luxury travel PR agency. They don’t ready for this sort of promotional activity.

Ironic that Alison Perry is saying "Clemmie I can’t believe how much crap you’re getting for posting an honest review. Would people prefer you pretended you loved every part of the stay? What if someone booked on your recommendation and felt let down and like they’d wasted their money?"

This is exactly the issue that has been bothering people like me on these threads for ages - that we have purchased things on the basis of being influenced on instagram and feel like we wasted our money. I suppose that is why seeing an "honest" review of a hotel is so jarring, because it doesn't normally happen.

They're all obviously so wealthy already it's just depressing.
I want a review from someone who has paid for their trip in full. No dodgy 20% or whatever off. Just the creepy audacity of living like this where they are always looking for freebies and money off. It's just awful. I'm so embarrassed for them. But I think these kind of upper middle class people think like that. They want endless holidays and children in private schools but don't want to have to pay.
I don't know who they 'influence' I'm just left pleased I never have to come across them in real life.
Do they actually have a positive effect on the brands they flog? Or is it all a vacuum of middle class nonsense? They middle class PR companies seeing themselves reflected back and therefore thinking it's all quite jolly and successful?
Maybe this is why Mrs Hinch has been successful because she isn't part of the 'brand.'.
I can't even face thinking about the make versions. Is he still endlessly filming those poor poor kids.
I'd happily send him a fiver just to give the poor mites a minutes privacy.

They are most definitely not upper middle class.

Also none of them can spell drawer which bugs the shit out of me.

If I was a brand I'd insist on copy approval simply to address the spelling and grammar issues!!

I don’t think the Financial Times article by AH ever materialised - maybe because it didn’t get past editorial fact checking?

@hopeishere you could offer your services as a #gift #Ad #collab in return for a review. This could be the making of a whole new business because clearly there is a gap in the market for Influencer spell checkers.

I understood that even if the item was a gift from the brand, it had to be tagged Ad at the beginning of the post? StealMyStyle doesn’t seem to tag anything Ad yet every outfit is made up of gifts - does she have the most generous friends ever?

I noticed that ABush has tagged a meal she had last night as gifted!! Plus her hair was gifted as well.

I would love to know if that restaurants bookings go through the roof because of one gifted meal - not even reviewed just gifted. Otherwise why are they bothering??

I would love to know if that restaurants bookings go through the roof because of one gifted meal - not even reviewed just gifted. Otherwise why are they bothering??

I'd like to know that too. I know whenever the Hinch woman features anything, it's gets sold out in no time but it's usually cheap stuff. But some of the more expensive stuff? The holiday home that DLAM and cohorts stayed in is apparently 10 grand a week high season. How many people can afford that?

Shame the FT article never materialised - was it ever even a thing?

Shame the FT article never materialised - was it ever even a thing?

It must have been, or else I'm sure she wouldn't have posted about it. She had some photos taken for it as well? Strange how it hasn't been published, I was looking forward to reading her insights

She posted about it here: www.instagram.com/p/BtbdG8zAXgs/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=5vgw9d8jn8ub but I can’t find an actual article

Scamp & dude and cowshed overload on Instagram today 🙄