I know we have discussed this before as bloggers, but recently someone was sharing this article in Fashion Incubator and I feel that its outlandish and slightly stuck up. I am absolutely FED UP with designers and small businesses acting like they are the queen B of whatever they do and as bloggers we are inconveniencing them by advertising them. If your answer is no, then its no, I’m not begging you, I’m giving you an opportunity and you can take it or you can leave it.
PSA ANNOUNCEMENT: I don’t run a website to advertise your business for free. I am so completely sick of people thinking that bloggers are just trying to use someone for products and that they do all the work and we do nothing at all. Your product is special to YOU, it doesn’t hold a special place in my heart that I get a hard on to write about it for 2 hours of my life FOR someone I have never met on a product I have never seen. Sure, there are some products I would love to try, but trust me, nothing I write is “free”, it takes a lot of time and my time is worth about $60 an hour. How about as bloggers if we all collectively just asked for $100 to talk about companies on our sites and then, instead of ‘samples’, you can send us advertising dollars. That would actually work better for me anyway.
I can’t believe a site that puts out information to the masses would publish something like this when it should be encouraging its designers to find ways to bring their designs to light. And no, I am not a design blog and unless its child related, you will rarely find me mentioning fashion, but holding out for the “big bloggers” to talk about your stuff may mean that you will spend quite a bit of time being unknown.
Is it me or have people with products gone haywire with narcissism. My life doesn’t stop over a pair of shoes-no matter WHAT price tag you put on them.
But what really gets me, after I took the time to go to that site and read it, basically wasting 1.5 minutes of my life, I realized I had already written my feelings on this under another post here therefore I put that opinion up and they EDIT MY RESPONSE where its displayed in a way that makes me look uninformed and I get this email:
You are welcome to disagree but direct attacks are unwelcome. As far as the matter of ignorance is concerned, you failed to address the specificity of the issue of samples -among other matters. While you may be a “successful” wahm hairbow maker, I didn’t last 25+ years in this business being “ignorant” and would suggest it is not within the parameters of your experience to make such an assertion.
Similarly, it was inappropriate for you to post verbatim your previous entry much of which covered old ground when a summary and a link would have sufficed. Publishing duplicate content across websites devalues one’s page ranking and as mine is PR6 and with over 200,000 visitors monthly so I’d like to keep it that way.
I have amended your entry deleting the duplicate content and added a link to your post.”
Is it me or is this the most condescending self absorbed email you have ever seen. Direct attacks? Um, my opinion differing from theirs is not a direct attack. It may not be their opinion and I suppose you can call that an attack if your not on the other side. This email I received is an attack. But this article is hardly an attack, its educational. And how dare she say its inappropriate to post my other words from here. They are MINE, I wrote them, they are perfectly articulated to my feelings and why would I rewrite the same thing over again? My bad I had to bring my cat to the vet to talk about putting her down this morning. Ill try to work harder to create a new post with the same points just for them. They know that they won’t lose page rank over my opinion being in the comments. Covering “OLD” Ground? If it was such old news, why are they writing about it? I am assuming they have read my blog before because its certainly a valid response to many of the points they put out and I would not assume their readers have read my opinion.
Are they screening all the comments for duplicate thoughts out of all their visitors? Dude. I think she just didn’t like what I had to say. I love how she tries to point out that she has a page rank 6 on the site and her visitors monthly to me. Was that her way to say “know your roll”? Is this where I apologize and say I’m sorry I’m just a lowly old mommy blogger?
I think they should have a little more responsibility in putting out 2 sides of the story for the designers they are trying to “help” and if they are going to post something controversial, expect some hard realities and other opinions and let them be known. For the record, I tried to post the link to my site first, but it kept telling me it was under a “Wp-Spam” and would not go through, so instead I added some things onto the previous post I wrote and used that as my response.
Oh, and I apologize that my online business is not GOOD enough to have an experience with blogging and SEO and the “success” of mine you put in quotations. It doesn’t matter what I create from home, this is the “support” they bring from their network? Got it….WAHM and Mom Designers are not actual designers.
If I made dresses I would have more credibility?
Pathetic.
Oh, and correction Kathy…you only have 199,999 visitors now.
~Trisha
The real issue is this: A writer at Vogue is being paid to do her job by the publisher, which is money that stems from advertising revenue. A blogger on the other hand is both the writer and the publisher, and so she perceives the “sample” as fair compensation for promoting the product. When you lay these models side by side, you can see why suddenly the blogger’s opinion seems of less value than the writer’s.
The blogger model is also challenging for small businesses who can’t afford to give away a lot of product, and let’s face it, it can call into question the integrity of the blogger who now seems like she’s doing a review “for the stuff.”
Some bloggers are unscrupulous. It’s a fact. It’s up to those of us who aren’t to set clear guidelines for reviews, samples, and returns, and to let companies know what kind of sales/click/influence/return they can expect to get for their investment. We’re all in this little ecosystem together.
@Laura-Whateverebay: I agree! I was just about to go reply to her snide comment about my comment and say “Hey, aren’t you a blogger too?” LOL This woman is an idiot AND she practically begged all us “Mommy Bloggers” for help with the CPSIA thing. I doubt she will ever get that kind of support from us again!
Yes, you’re definitely right to speak your mind Trisha. I’m pretty sick of all this blogger bashing.
It’s like our time and effort are not even worth anything. Don’t we have to pay for hosting, domain, spend time on networking to generate traffic, do some research in order to produce good write ups and reviews, etc? I don’t supposed that occurred to these people *duh* If I wanted to do everything for FREE, I would rather do it for a charitable cause.
Ignorance is an understatement. If “they” did not check the stats or have the criteria set and agreed upon for the “Reviews” they are as much to blame as the Media failing to perform. How dare they bash on all bloggers? Hmmm, Isn’t she a blogger? I wonder why she does not offer any give-aways.
As for traffic and PR. We all know that PR varies and should not worry to much about. We all know that Momdot.com Alexa ranking is a lot better than hers.
Check the stats at http://website.grader.com
Fashion Incubator Score 81
while Momdot.com Score is 92
For the record, whenever I am approached for affiliate accounts the mention of being a MOM Blogger gets them excited and offering giveaways to boot.
I do not appreciate her post at all. I am behind you 100%, the nerve. One cannot blame others for their mistakes.
I have several online stores, and before I offer an item for a giveaway, I check the bloggers stats and previous giveaways. If the are new or this would be their first giveaway, I go as far as writing the post and leave room for their personal review. I will ship to the item and allow for them to keep and ship directly to the winner the other.
One thing she has managed to do with bashing bloggers is to generate traffic and increase click through.
With the power of social networking, one Tweet of Blogger bashing could take her either way.
Okay, I done, I am off to catch up on email.
You go Trisha!!
Ok, so I haven’t been around in awhile – (sorry- I’ve totally missed you – just have to get my hiney back in gear!) – and while I have no idea who you are talking about, the fact that they would edit your response is appalling! Who on earth would do that? Oh, wait – someone who is just trying to make themselves look better.
MomDot rocks, and continues to be the one blog I always look forward to reading. You give honest product reviews, and I’ve found some FANTASTIC items from places that I never would have heard about otherwise.
To the woman who has the audacity to block or edit comments – I’d like to know who you are, because I’d like to avoid purchasing anything from you. I wouldn’t give you the honor of a link online, simply because you’re an idiot and I wouldn’t want to help your SEO.
Sorry that you’re dealing with this, Trisha. Keep doing what you’re doing.
Wow. This is the SAME lady who, by any means necessary (to include us horrible, big, bad bloggers), wanted to get the message out about the CPSIA, and so we did. Bloggers. And here we are, being bashed, being called freeloaders.
Wow.
I would respond, but I think I’m too pissed to. I’m so sick of the bashing.
You know, they say they want a list of the supposed “freeloading bloggers” – what about the whiny sellers that snub their noses at us and are too good for us to waste our time with? How about that list?
unbecoming. Good grief. She didnt mind sending an unbecoming email.
Trisha,
You might find this funny…she responded to my comment and said she didn’t call any one names or bash “Mommy Bloggers” because it’s “unbecoming”. What an idiot!
Oh, and I got 4 hits on my blog from her site. LOL
OK, weird, but my comment just showed up there.
@ Shan:
see, and i tried to respond there and it wouldnt let mine go through either and she is accusing me of being unprofessional. I wasnt the one blocking comments out and editing them. But i did block her from my site aftewards.
Thanks Trisha for letting us know what is going on out there in PR and product review world. All of FYI posts really help us bloggers become more aware and more professional at what we do (and most of us do what we do as an expression of our creativity and wanting to inform other families).
That site won’t let me leave my comment….but this is what I tried to submit:
Your article brings up some good points, but bashing “Mommy Bloggers” is not the most brilliant tack to get your point across. I am a “Mommy Blogger” and I realize that, in your opinion, already gives me less credibility and one strike against me. However, what you failed to mention is that Moms make most, if not all of the financial decisions in the home, including what products to buy.
If I have read an unfavorable review of a product, I will not buy it. For example, my then 3 year old daughter wanted a play tent for Christmas. I went online to check out a very popular manufacturer of the product. They did not get good reviews for their quality or customer service. Hence, I did not buy from them. We bloggers do have some power, whether you want to acknowledge it or not.
As for asking a company for the opportunity to review their product on our blogs? Well, that is usually a win-win for both sides. The Blogger gets more traffic to their site and the designer (or creator, manufacturer, etc.) gets inexpensive advertising that will be able to be viewed for as long as said blogger has their site up and running. But if the product, or sample, sent for critique is not something that can truly be tested out, then how am I supposed to write an honest assessment? You cannot send me a size 2T outfit when my daughter wears a girls XS.
In these tough economic times, I cannot, in good conscience, give a “seal of approval” to a product that has not withstood the rigors of what it was intended for. I would not write a review of a Dyson Vacuum cleaner because I don’t own one. I cannot recommend your children’s clothing unless I already own it or you send me my daughter’s size to try out.
Moms want to know if the product holds up to rambunctious kid playing, several washings or just normal, everyday wear and tear. That is impossible to do if the product cannot actually be thoroughly tried out by us “Mommy Bloggers”. I am more likely to buy something that received a favorable write-up from a trusted “Mommy Blogger” rather than a paid endorsement from a major magazine or newspaper.
And for said review, which is time consuming, instead of dollars, we get to keep the product. What is wrong with that? I am sure that giving me a product to review and keep is far less expensive than advertising in a magazine or newspaper. I believe you are not only doing a disservice to your own businesses by not tapping into the power of the “Mommy Blogger” but also limiting your potential customer base by bashing us.
The internet is forever. You cannot just erase the offending posts/articles and expect it to be completely deleted. Someone, somewhere has already copied and posted this article. It will never go away and, therefore, “Mommy Bloggers” everywhere will read, and be offended by it. You have just lost a mass of customers because of your terse criticism of us.
Clarification- by “that article” i meant the one that you linked to.
Okay I started that article and clicked off when I realized what a waste of time and angst it would be for me after reading the first few paragraphs. I don’t strictly review fashion product but i have freaking worked in the fashion industry and I’m totally annoyed that they assume people have no experience. whether fashion industry or not, many women bring their time, talents AND previous experience to the table. If other people are listening to them, WHO CARES what that experience is. I’m actually launching a new line geared toward moms in a few months and believe me I will be emailing you and other great mommy bloggers for the chance to send you samples and maybe be written nicely about.
I’m a small (tiny) mom-owned business and I heart bloggers big time. Nothing but love for the mommy bloggers from this mommy!
@ crafter:
Both parties going into it have something to gain and something to lose. If you are a blogger, a business, a PR rep, simply..do your homework.
We wish there was something to tell us which businesses signed up for giveaways and never sent out prizes….but every experience is unique. I have an online business, I have had sites take my product and never contact me again. And I have been a blogger and i know bloggers that are not legitimate.
But its just an experience. Just like all walmarts dont suck because of one bad customer service rep.
Atleast that’s my point of view. I give people the benefit of the doubt 99% of the time.
I know there’s a lot of legitimate bloggers who do have readers. I just think everyone should be given the benefit of the doubt. You mean well and they probably do also in terms of protecting themselves. I think the people in the etsy thread were complaining more about receiving unsolicited requests from people they don’t know. I’ve seen my fair share of scams around there and a number of sellers who who didn’t do the research first and learned the hard way.
@ crafter:
But there are millions of blogs and because of some scammers it shouldn’t make everyone fall under a scamming category. Just like CPSIA was sweeping legislation that punished the masses for the few, articles that punish all mom bloggers for the few do the same disservice.
I would like to take the time to point out that many companies have approached me to run a contest and I generally do for them….I write up a post, I go to all the sites that take hours to advertise, I keep them up for 2 weeks and then THEY never send the giveaway prize out to the winner from my site after its over with. Then I have someone without a prize and its me that looks like I couldn’t hold up to the bargain.
So i would say there are just as many online businesses or designers that are unprofessional or don’t keep their end of the bargain…but those don’t make me stop trusting everyone that approaches me. It just wouldn’t be fair to the legitimate businesses that are trying to get the word out and are not taking advantage of or scamming bloggers.
~Trisha
I haven’t completely followed what you’re talking about and am not going to read the thread. I just want to point out that many small online shop owners get lots of scam emails (consignment shops who take product and then stop all communication etc) so it’s shouldn’t be surprising they would be skeptical. There are millions of personal blogs out there and not all are well known, so a shop owner needs to be choosey about giving away sample of they could give away all their stock with no benefit.
If I was blogging about someone’s product I would do it because I genuinely like it myself or had already bought it. I wouldn’t expect free product unless I was a well known magazine.