What do you want from a blog? [no names please]

on_my_oe · 07-03-2016 11:30PM

Much like the others, I don't expect a blogger to demonstrate their profit margins or how they agree a BIK agreement. What I do expect is for a blogger to disclose enough information so I can determine whether or not their review of a product or service is likely to be 100% honest, or if it is likely to be coloured by a commercial arrangement. This can be done in a number of ways
* sponsored
* advertorial
* editorial

A brief statement stating you are delighted to be working with the brand professionally as you have enjoyed their services previously - we don't need the life story.

BloggerConf15 did a survey last year which found 58% of Irish bloggers think its possible to earn money from their blogs, and 29% do so. The bloggers generate income by acting as a traffic driver for Irish businesses and brands and by providing expert endorsement on products. According to the survey 84% of bloggers believe transparency around any sponsored content is important too and make their fans and followers aware of this fact. I guess we keep coming back to the same sticking point, what defines sponsorship - is it cold hard cash, or does it include products and services. BTW BloggerConf15 was hosted by EOF Media in partnership with Lifes2good, who also happened to enable your Mothers Day lunch on Saturday... The brief mention of Lifes2good in your post ticks the disclosure box in my opinion so I'm not sure why the persistent aversion to disclosure and honesty comes from.
https://www.businessworld.ie/news/29-of-Irish-bloggers-make-an-income-from-blogging-561797.html

Again, you deserve a gold star for taking part in the conversation, but realistically I'd like to know how a blogger would explain this situation of gifts and quid pro quo to a Revenue inspector? Especially those who then sell the gifts and products on, like the dewoop (sp?) situation recently.

Lifes2Good

on_my_oe · 07-03-2016 11:40PM

SB_Part2 wrote: »

Would you not automatically tune out though if you heard "I'm paid to say this"? I know I would. It's why I don't trust anything on the likes of Xpose etc.

I hope you don't think that readers shouldn't be told the truth to prevent them exercising judgement.

meeeeh · 08-03-2016 12:59AM

dudara wrote: »

Where does the line between blogging stop and journalism start? I think we all understand very well that journalists receive many samples and products as part of their job. And we accept how they write about them. I don't think any of us expect Mr Wine Writer to call out which samples he received, but we all know that he's probably listing them because a sample crossed his path AND he liked it enough to list it. The AND part is very important here, because we are trusting this writers judgement sufficiently to let them sort the wheat from the chaff.

But bloggers aren't treated in the same way? Some bloggers are making the transition to paid writers, which effectively makes them journalists.

The only difference for me is that if I see a writer I don't know in a respectable magazine/newspaper I will assume that they earned their position with good writing. It's not always perfect and sloppiness bothers me, especially when it turns out my casual knowledge of subject is better than theirs and they are supposed to tell me something new. Travel writing is especially annoying. It seems travel writing is essentially prone to that because anyone who goes for a yearly holiday seems to be good enough to do a review. I don't want food writers reviewing beauty products, travel writers doing fashion and all the diet bloggers doing travel. Actually healthy food/ diet bloggers should be all shot anyway.

With digital content becoming so prominent lifestyle bloggers often write for newspaper/magazines. The line is so blurred that there is really no difference. Anyway I just assume that unless stated otherwise reviewed product was free sample. So for me it is more the quality and reputation of publication/writer than what they are called that earns trust.

idunno78 · 08-03-2016 01:36AM

About the reviews, whatever about the bloggers being paid or getting the item as a sample/for free! It's when they don't actually even try the product for a decent amount of time to be able give a proper review is what annoys me! and also it's always positive ever anything negative! That's not aimed at Rosemary!

I do think they should just have a simple #spon or ad(saw that on a snapchat during the week) if it is. Especially if they haven't trialled it.

Rosemary, I think your just being business savvy doing what you explained. Using your social media platform to help them and get the product you want to use and genuinely like in return! It would be different if you didn't like/use the product and said you were! I follow you on snapchat and to be fair if you do talk about something you seem to be quite honest when you don't like something!

senowenos · 08-03-2016 01:25PM

I would like to say good for Rosemary for responding to these threads it shows she wants to be clear and open to her followers and she's trying
There are other bloggers ect who are members or who read these threads that should take a leaf out of her book and respond to this debate
After all the members commenting here would not be commenting if they didn't follow bloggers in the first place it's just most have lost faith in them now
Due to the small minority who are in it purely for money and free items
This type of thing has being going on for a while and no one was really bothered by it until that small group just pushed everything and anything on their audience
People started noticing this and decided enough is enough
I would like to see if these bloggers ect are as brave as Rosemary to join in much respect to her

Ilyana 2.0 · 08-03-2016 02:03PM

Fair play to Rosemary for contributing, even if people do disagree with her. Debate is a good thing.

I think that people are becoming disillusioned with bloggers because the whole area has gotten so bloated and commercialised that it bears very little resemblance to what attracted people in the first place. What once was a girl with a laptop and time on her hands to chat about what she got in Boots last week, has become a business woman working with luxury brands, jetting off around the world and being sent the kind of products that most of us can only wish to have. Obviously that's not the situation for the majority of bloggers, but this is where a lot of the most popular/prominent bloggers now are.

I'm not blaming them for taking advantage of this 'dream come true' scenario, I would too. But they are clearly not funding this lifestyle out of their own pockets, and when money/freebies come into play, then their readers have a right to be made aware that things have changed. I take beauty editors' reviews with a big pinch of salt, but the idea behind blogging is that the reader should have greater faith in the content. A lot of us didn't come down in the last shower and already know this, but younger impressionable readers may not.

senowenos · 08-03-2016 03:09PM

Ilyana 2.0 wrote: »

Fair play to Rosemary for contributing, even if people do disagree with her. Debate is a good thing.

I think that people are becoming disillusioned with bloggers because the whole area has gotten so bloated and commercialised that it bears very little resemblance to what attracted people in the first place. What once was a girl with a laptop and time on her hands to chat about what she got in Boots last week, has become a business woman working with luxury brands, jetting off around the world and being sent the kind of products that most of us can only wish to have. Obviously that's not the situation for the majority of bloggers, but this is where a lot of the most popular/prominent bloggers now are.

I'm not blaming them for taking advantage of this 'dream come true' scenario, I would too. But they are clearly not funding this lifestyle out of their own pockets, and when money/freebies come into play, then their readers have a right to be made aware that things have changed. I take beauty editors' reviews with a big pinch of salt, but the idea behind blogging is that the reader should have greater faith in the content. A lot of us didn't come down in the last shower and already know this, but younger impressionable readers may not.

I agree the way I view it now is some bloggers feel if they are offering their services ( mentions on social media ect ) in exchange for the companies services ( free items treatments ect) they don't need to disclose that
If they didn't have a large number of followers they wouldn't be in the position to do this and as soon as people feel they aren't being honest the bubble will burst

It's great to be in the position they are in whereby the can demand money in exchange for advertising or have a company send them
Items free for a mention on social media ect
It's staying in that position that will be hard how can they stay relevant when this is constantly going on there's always someone bigger and better ready to steal the crown

The way to stay relevant and have longevity is to be completely honest with your followers do it if your passionate about what your paid for or what you have received for free people notice that keep your blogs updated with good honest content

I've already noticed on these platforms a new breed of up and coming girls in the beauty world who are not only posting about what they love they are showing how they use the stuff they buy or receive which is refreshing as the whole advertising with zero input is becoming stale

onthemitch · 08-03-2016 04:19PM

I've just read the Sali Hughes post which was already linked in this thread, but I didn't get around to it. Just in case you haven't read it, it's on her website and is really very good. (I can't link cos I'm only new!)

I'm going to do up a personal statement on my own blog, reflecting exactly how I work, but my attitude would be 100% in line with hers.

Pretty much: I'll post about whatever I want, whenever I want. If it's a paid, commercial partnership (in which money has changed hands, into my bank account), I will state that by hashtagging #ad or #spon on social media, or by stating "sponsored" on my blog. Otherwise, readers can assume that a proportion of the things I write about will be free samples. I'm a journalist – I get sent a lot of samples. Sometimes I'll say they're free, as in, "I just got sent xx gorgeous thing". Sometimes I won't – as repeating, over and over again, "xx brand did my nails for free in exchange for my MCing their event / posting on social media / helping them with their Facebook" will just get tiring. And honestly? It's no one's business if I'm exchanging my services for someone else's, with no monetary gain for either party. It doesn't influence my writing (I could probably get my nails done for free in a variety of salons around town; if I choose one over another, it's because I think they're good) and therefore there is no need for me to disclose each and every time I write about a sample or receive a free service.

I'd like to think that I have built up a good enough reputation that my followers – on social media and in terms of my writing – know that I (a) won't work with brands I don't genuinely like and use myself and (b) if I say something's good, it's because I think it's good, not because I got sent a set of lipsticks and am only desperate to remain in the PR company's good books.

In all of the above, I am in line with the ASAI's requirements of bloggers and, also, doing a hell of a lot more than almost every other prolific blogger in Ireland.

Now: can we stop talking about me and get back to what we want to see in the blogs we read?

I personally would like to see Irish bloggers start to label posts sponsored or advertorial (if they are); I'd like an end to cappuccino / macaron flatlays (although I have been guilty of that, I'm sure); I'd like not to see the YSL logo for the rest of the year; and I'd like everyone to learn how to pronounce the fancy French brands they love. Anyone else?

Sunny Dayz · 08-03-2016 05:05PM

I would follow beauty and fashion blogs.

I have made a cull on snapchat, instagram and facebook of those "bloggers" who don't, IMO, actually blog. Like others who have posted here, I was getting exhausted from lengthy snapchats with rants, showing what they got in the post, waffling etc.

Those whom I follow now, I enjoy their blogs or social media posting.
In a blog, I am a bit of a grammer Nazi - I hate the lower case "i" being used when referring to one's self. I love when some one is a good writer, I love when some one just has a flow, a way with words, a way of describing things, a conversational tone. Some of these bloggers I nearly wish I was friends with them in real life, they come across so well in their blog! Many of the bloggers I follow actually don't give much away about themselves personally and I've never found myself being nosy or wanting to know more.

On a blog post I like the post to be interspersed with photos rather than a few at the top and then the text. Like a white background and clear text, but don't make the text too big, it looks a bit childish IMO, no flashing headers. I also like when a blog post shows the first paragraph and you click to read more, if I want to read other blog posts I don't really want to be scrolling down the page for ages to get to the next post.

I think a blogger should have their own style and personality which is what I feel the bloggers I do follow, have. I have read blog or facebook posts in the past which read just like a pr press release and when you have read a few of them from "bloggers" I'm actually embarrassed for them passing stuff off as their own work.

retro:electro · 08-03-2016 05:36PM

Rosemary if the fact that you are exchanging your services (even without monetary gain) with another's is "nobody's business" then why bother putting it out there at all? Keep it to yourself so. Unless of course, you need us to know about the exchange in order for it to have any significant value and viability. Then of course it is our business, isn't it?

retro:electro · 08-03-2016 05:48PM

Also, why be a beauty blogger if you are going to wear the same make up every single day and never switch it up or try anything new? Like what is the point in being a beauty blogger? It's analogous to owning a shop and never changing the stock, having the same old stock sitting there day in and day out. It's boring and it makes no sense to me. This is the path you've chosen so make the most of it and utilise it. Really annoys me. (not directed at Rosemary, just a thought in general)

dudara · 08-03-2016 06:01PM

onthemitch wrote: »

I personally would like to see Irish bloggers start to label posts sponsored or advertorial (if they are); I'd like an end to cappuccino / macaron flatlays (although I have been guilty of that, I'm sure); I'd like not to see the YSL logo for the rest of the year; and I'd like everyone to learn how to pronounce the fancy French brands they love. Anyone else?

What I like: I'm sure that I'll think of a few more things, but here's a starting list.

A clear, simple layout with a neutral background. No flashing images or the like
The less pink, the better
Use a standard font - please! In black or other neutral colour. No one really needs to express their individuality that much.
Don't use centered text. I personally like justified text, but at the very minimum it should be left-justified
Clear photos, well-sized. Small thumbnails don't work.
Please don't finish with "XXX" (disclaimer, personal dislike )
Try to write with a start, middle and end. It's old school, but a structured post reads better
Don't regurgitate press releases and imagery verbatim. It's annoying. Put some effort into creating your own content
Develop your own style. I am sick to my backteeth of food shots where bowls are held in outstretched hands, or antique spoons are carelessly strewn about the place
Learn how to use photo editing software. I used to take pictures with my DSLR, but now I pretty much exclusively use my iPhone. However, I still run them through a quick edit to adjust light balances and crop out odd bits.

senowenos · 08-03-2016 06:14PM

anna080 wrote: »

Rosemary if the fact that you are exchanging your services (even without monetary gain) with another's is "nobody's business" then why bother putting it out there at all? Keep it to yourself so. Unless of course, you need us to know about the exchange in order for it to have any significant value and viability. Then of course it is our business, isn't it?

I agree if you get free press samples all well and good say nothing about it and use it yourself
If however you mention the sample to your followers then it is of some benefit to you and you should mention it
You are only in the position to receive these samples because of your followers if they don't trust you then they will lose interest and unfollow leaving the blogger high and dry unless a blog has good content no one can maintain a career based on payments for advertising and press samples ..
If you want to remain respected in the career path you have chosen don't do this sort of thing and not be transparent it's career suicide
This type of popularity has a short life spam when it's over your forgotten be different from the rest

Hrududu · 08-03-2016 06:30PM

dudara wrote: »

Where does the line between blogging stop and journalism start? I think we all understand very well that journalists receive many samples and products as part of their job. And we accept how they write about them. I don't think any of us expect Mr Wine Writer to call out which samples he received, but we all know that he's probably listing them because a sample crossed his path AND he liked it enough to list it. The AND part is very important here, because we are trusting this writers judgement sufficiently to let them sort the wheat from the chaff.

But bloggers aren't treated in the same way? Some bloggers are making the transition to paid writers, which effectively makes them journalists.

I tend to trust journalists because there is always a mix of good and bad reviews. For example ten different journalists will review the same thing and could give ten completely different reviews. And they tend to be pretty honest about whether they like it or not. However with bloggers it seems to be that most of the reviews are positive. Which makes me doubt their honesty. Are the reviews all good because the product is geniunely good? I wonder if bloggers are worried about losing out on the samples/paid gigs if they give a negative review, so just give positive reviews for anything they receive?

SB_Part2 · 08-03-2016 06:43PM

Hrududu wrote: »

I tend to trust journalists because there is always a mix of good and bad reviews. For example ten different journalists will review the same thing and could give ten completely different reviews. And they tend to be pretty honest about whether they like it or not. However with bloggers it seems to be that most of the reviews are positive. Which makes me doubt their honesty. Are the reviews all good because the product is geniunely good? I wonder if bloggers are worried about losing out on the samples/paid gigs if they give a negative review, so just give positive reviews for anything they receive?

I've often wondered about that myself. I *think* thebeauttruth said that she gave negative reviews about certain products and they stopped sending them to her.

dudara · 08-03-2016 06:43PM

Hrududu wrote: »

I wonder if bloggers are worried about losing out on the samples/paid gigs if they give a negative review, so just give positive reviews for anything they receive?

There could well be an element of that. I personally only tend to write positive reviews of restaurants. But trust me, there are some dogs that I have visited, but I don't have the energy or desire to write bad reviews. I very rarely stick the boot in.

hearmehearye · 08-03-2016 07:29PM

Someone must have read this post. I was on snapchat today and a certain someone bought clothes for her child and labelled how much they were etc. Followed by a "not sponsored, not freebies".

Unreg0909 · 08-03-2016 08:14PM

Agree hearmehearye; also 2 new blog posts in 24 hours. ....coincidence?

senowenos · 08-03-2016 09:18PM

hearmehearye wrote: »

Someone must have read this post. I was on snapchat today and a certain someone bought clothes for her child and labelled how much they were etc. Followed by a "not sponsored, not freebies".

That's a good thing hopefully this will continue and things that are sponsored ect will be mentioned a few bloggers said months back they were going to start doing this I still haven't seen it happen with them and there has been numerous mentions of items like clothes make up lunch in hotels since these declarations

retro:electro · 08-03-2016 10:19PM

Unreg0909 wrote: »

Agree hearmehearye; also 2 new blog posts in 24 hours. ....coincidence?

And she has even stated in her blog that one of them is an ad! Fair play at least she's taking suggestions on board.

on_my_oe · 08-03-2016 10:34PM

anna080 wrote: »

And she has even stated in her blog that one of them is an ad! Fair play at least she's taking suggestions on board.

She's discovered the left hand justify button too. Baby steps, but still a gold star for effort.

If she's back here again looking for feedback, I'd like to suggest she credits the original source of her recipe (maybe something like 'modified from a recipe by xxxx')

doireannod · 08-03-2016 11:01PM

onthemitch wrote: »

and I'd like everyone to learn how to pronounce the fancy French brands they love. Anyone else?

We'll have to agree to disagree on some of the disclosure stuff. But this is hilarious!

Breifne72 · 09-03-2016 01:13AM

I remember one blogger done a series of snaps on the effort that goes into creating a blog/brand, and how there is no such thing as a 'freebie'.
I get why some people want more transparency, BUT, you have to realise how much work goes into becoming a 'digital influencer'(probably not the right term but anyway).
I think it's about recognising that these bloggers put work into their posts. ANYONE can promote a product, but not everyone can sell it. If that makes sense. To use the example of the raincoat(sorry Rosemary for bringing it up again), it was still paid for. The blogger still has to work on the posts, and they don't grow their enormous followings overnight. Anyone can have a social media presence, not everyone can just automatically become 'famous'.
All that being said, I do think that if bloggers are going to be transparent, they should state if the post is sponsored in the blog. Sharon from behindgreeneyes does it, and I think Cherry Sue and her gang do it too.

Think about it. Would you be willing to give positive reviews on products/places you didn't like? I know I couldn't. Bloggers aren't dishonest, they aren't 'selling' themselves, they're working hard. Whats the point in being negative about something, when you could just say nothing. Negativity breeds negativity. No point in being a bitch and getting a reputation as one. Just my opinion though. I quite like following bloggers on snapchat. Im quite nosey so love getting a look into their lives, and enjoy their reviews. Hope I haven't offended anyone with my long-winded gibberish haha.

on_my_oe · 09-03-2016 09:47AM

Breifne72 wrote: »

Think about it. Would you be willing to give positive reviews on products/places you didn't like? I know I couldn't. Bloggers aren't dishonest, they aren't 'selling' themselves, they're working hard. Whats the point in being negative about something, when you could just say nothing. Negativity breeds negativity. No point in being a bitch and getting a reputation as one. Just my opinion though. I quite like following bloggers on snapchat. Im quite nosey so love getting a look into their lives, and enjoy their reviews. Hope I haven't offended anyone with my long-winded gibberish haha.

This makes it advertising. We talked about this in class yesterday and our Marketing lecturer said it should be clearly disclosed if the service or product has been supplied free of charge or in exchange. He talked us the new ASAI code (effective 01.03.16) and we had a good discussion about it. One girl was heatedly defending bloggers who don't tell, but someone said after class she is a would-be blogger...

lazygal · 09-03-2016 10:05AM

OP what I like in a blog is well-written content. That's my number one. The majority of bloggers I've skimmed through have really poor writing skills and when I see mistakes like "lot's" and "alot" it puts me off. There is one fairly well-known blogger who, in her bio, describes herself as a journalist. If she is writing for a living, she needs to proofread her stuff a hell of a lot better than she is now.

I'm really cynical about disclosures and if a blog features a product or service I now assume it has been featured for payment, either in kind or for money. I expect more and take on board reviews from professional journalists because they have editors to answer to and generally don't take to snapchat or instagram with the inevitable "haterz gonna hate" posts if someone questions their ethics. They also have a professional body, the NUJ, to represent them. Bloggers can't have it both ways and claim it is just a little hobby and moan about getting feedback while at the same time self-describing as "journalists" or "stylists" or whatever this week's hot career happen to be.

scarbouro · 09-03-2016 10:09AM

Breifne72 wrote: »

Think about it. Would you be willing to give positive reviews on products/places you didn't like? I know I couldn't. Bloggers aren't dishonest, they aren't 'selling' themselves, they're working hard. Whats the point in being negative about something, when you could just say nothing. Negativity breeds negativity. No point in being a bitch and getting a reputation as one.

I'm sorry but this makes no sense. A blogger should share their own experiences, observations and opinions about products or places weather its positive or not. There is no harm in saying a product isn't up to scratch if it's not. If you're afraid of giving a negative review incase you won't be liked by people, well I don't think you're in it for the right reasons. This is the whole point in reviewing something, giving others an insight into the product and weather it's worth purchasing it or not. Sure what's the point in mentioning only the good products... A lot of people would research a product before buying and make their decision based on reviews.

Also, There are many dishonest bloggers out there who have been caught out by their lies online by their followers and have been corrected over it. Never put something up if you're not 100% sure it's correct. Also give credit to other people's photos ect. I hate seeing people robbing photos from other people /sites and pawning them off as their own. It's lazy and very dishonest.

Sunny Dayz · 09-03-2016 10:35AM

A few people mentioned on this thread one of their bug bears of a blog is the centre alignment of the text. I hadn't really noticed it before but I was doing my bloglovin' catch up this morning and one of the blogs I follow had the text of the blog post done in centre alignment and I have to admit it did make it less comfortable to read.

frogstar · 09-03-2016 12:03PM

Another one looking for well written content.

I'm not a grammar Nazi at all and small mistakes don't usually bother me (perhaps because my own grammar is not great!)

I hate seeing words shortened in a post and also on snapchat. Some examples: peeps, deets, gorge, gorge malorge, hilar etc..

senowenos · 09-03-2016 01:34PM

One blogger put ad on her blog post but shared the same info on Instagram and didn't declare it surely if it's an ad it should be declared across the board

meeeeh · 09-03-2016 04:03PM

Words like fab, lippy and bubbly or bubbles (for sparkling wine) should be outlawed.

What do you want from a blog? [no names please]

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