I usually don’t blog about blogging (because yes, I get how lame and geeky that is) but there’s been a disturbance in the force here in the local blogosphere over the weekend, which is like watching an episode of the Young and the Restless unfold, complete with slow upper body close-ups and killer soundtrack. A prominent food blogger allegedly demanded for a free champagne brunch for himself and his 3 companions over at a chi-chi restaurant in the Joo Chiat vicinity.
Update: The other side of the story.
It’s not my place to talk about who’s right or wrong here, but I figured it is a good time to talk about how I navigate around this tricky issue that is blog advertising/sponsorship.
The way I see it, blog advertising, product reviews and advertorials are a relatively new concept which has been gaining popularity among marketers and PR companies in recent years, which means that the rules governing how this should be done are fuzzy at best. By virtue of the fact that a blogger is basically a dude in his PJs behind a laptop, it’s easy to see how regulation is kind of difficult. These days, it takes you 5 minutes (maybe a little more if you’re picky about choosing the template) to start a blog and even my neighbor’s cat has one. That being said, the really big blogs are sometimes more influential than your local tv station, so when they talk, you want to listen.
I started the blog last year because I wanted someplace to store pictures of the kids and also, it was awfully cathartic to write about how crazy but yet awesome it was to be a mom for the 20,000th time. The husband is always like “how many ways do you have to say the exact same thing?” and I’m like “more than you know because LOOK, TRU JUST DREW A BLOB ON A PIECE OF PAPER AND SAID IT WAS ME ISN’T THAT PRECIOUS?”
Along the way, blogging became a way for me to meet a whole bunch of other moms who were willing to tolerate hearing me go on and on about my kids while I spent hours reading about their lives and their kids and their pet hamsters because it made me feel so much better to know that I’m not the only parent who messes up all the time. Also, it was like research so I could tell the husband to refer to appendix A about how it is statistically proven that my job is way tougher than his so he should give me all his money. Which was all kinds of awesome.
Then further along the way, I had to deal with the whole issue of reviewing products and advertising stuff on the blog and at first I was incredulous because you mean people want to give me actual money for writing about how my kid drew a mural out of his own poop? Somebody should have told me this earlier so I wouldn’t have had to spend all that time getting an education and for that matter, a proper job. WHAT UP fancypants advertisers, here’s my very professional rate card and you’re welcome to send me a cheque for $500,000 while I take a couple more photos of my kids.
I searched the blogosphere for a set of guidelines on how to do this. How much are you supposed to charge for ads? Was it ok to get swag? What’s the acceptable ratio of reviews to non-sponsored content? Am I supposed to rave about stuff just because they sent me a couple of diapers for free? The answers were elusive, with different big-shot bloggers advocating different things.
So I made up my own rules along the way.
1. Reviews aren’t for sale.
The integrity of this blog is something that I guard very closely. It’s tricky when it comes to reviews because we all want to operate on the basis of goodwill. You send me a few jars of your premium organic baby food and I’m supposed to say it’s awesome, even when it tastes like my kid’s vomit. No can do. That doesn’t mean that I act like a diva or an arse just to piss you or your spectacular product off. It just means that I tell it like it is. When I review something, it’s something that I’ve tried and love, even those that I paid for myself.
2. Review vs Content ratio.
People come to this blog for reasons that are beyond me because even I get tired of hearing myself talk everyday. But the one thing I’m sure of is that they’re not here to listen to how I got more swag and how brilliant that swag is. That is to say that I try to keep reviews to a minimum and those that I do review, they’re pretty badass. Which is good, not bad. Just to be clear.
3. Getting free stuff is a privilege, not an entitlement.
We all love free stuff, especially if it’s something you were prepared to pay for anyway, or like a trip to the Bahamas. So when it comes knocking, we smile and say thanks (and do a victory lap) but we don’t get off expecting to be treated like royalty because that’s the kind of thing that makes you a douchebag.
Now for the disclaimer. I’m hardly the authority on social media, seeing that I had no idea what a blog was until not too long ago so you’re welcome to ignore this post and wait for more pictures of the kids tomorrow. Which will look exactly like the pictures I’ve posted before except cuter because seriously, have you seen my kids??
What’s your take on this? Do share.
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I read about the incident. If a blogger wants to write a review on something and demands that he/she gets it for free, I just think it is soooooooo wrong.
@Novie, hi novie, I hoped you’ve read the response from the blogger.
@Daphne,
Yes, I did.
It took courage to admit that he was hostile when he paid his bill.
Anyway, I like what Alvin wrote in his blog:http://alvinology.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/ladyironchef-brad-lau-vs-private-affairs/
@novie,
“If you do not want to write about the product/event/service – do not accept the invite in the first place – the reason PR companies or product owners invite you is obviously to get publicity. If you do not want to feel obliged to write, do not RSVP.”
I disagree with this statement.
I don’t think any blogger should be obligated to cover an event just because they’ve responded to an invite, as much as news reporters are NOT obligated to write about an event simply because they turn up at a press release. The whole point of attending the event is to see if its worth reporting/blogging about, whether its of interest to the readers.
Any good journalist will always find out if an event is newsworthy. Similarly, a good blogger should put the interests of its readers first.
Imagine if a news reporter is being tasked to cover the launch of a brilliant skin product that can apparently reverse the effects of aging, with a live demonstration. In the course of the demonstration, however, somebody starts developing rashes upon its use. Is the reporter then obligated to write a news report about it simply because he RSVPed to the event? Of course not. In fact you would expect him to write a very negative report on this product.
Another aspect of this argument is the fact that blogs are primarily opinion pieces. Just because the food at a particular restaurant is highly reviewed by 95% of its customers doesn’t mean I must necessarily love the food. Blogs are subjective and are inherently so.
Alvin’s rationale is flawed, in this regard.
I took the news with a pinch of salt since we never got to hear the blogger’s side of the story, and we have no idea what was the arrangement between the restaurant and the blogger.
We all have our own agendas with our blogs. Like you, I write my blog to document my experiences and to share the interesting things I see. It’s not a cash generating machine for me. But some bloggers love the freebies and free events+food. It’s easy to get sucked into the reviews/advertising bit of blogging. Especially when people start knocking on our doors. I wouldn’t judge bloggers who enjoy/demand for these freebies, because we behave differently at different stages of our lives. I think what’s most important to to stay true to ourselves. I wouldn’t want to look back at the blog I built 10 years later and feel regretful about anything I had written about. =)
Bing´s last post ..Oh Kitty Kitty
@Bing, i totally agree with not judging bloggers for what they do and the most important thing being true to ourselves. Just because there are certain personal convictions we have about blogging does not necessary make it the right or only way.
Anyhow, I’m glad the issue has been cleared up. Sort of.
No one know what happen except for the blogger and restaurant so no one else should judge, especially when there’s only one side of the story now.
Just wondering, if the restaurant is not happy to give the discount, why did they do it? Why kiss and tell?
I linked to my rant on this subject.
I am so glad to hear 1. That you get cool hook-ups for free and 2. that you don’t bother me as a reader with promotion and advertising.
I come back because you write with humor and style – something every mother writer likes to take in at the end of the day or while goofing off at work.
Ali´s last post ..Falta Un Mes – Only One Month
@Ali, Ali, apologies – Akismet went nuts with your comment for reasons unknown.
Thanks for your kind words. Who doesn’t want swag if its served on a silver plate with sweet floaty music in the background by Brad Pitt in his Troy costume, right? But too each his own I guess. I’m just not really comfortable with the whole concept of advertorial at this point in time.
@Daphne, I thought I would give the ads a whirl just to try to figure out what it’s all about. I didn’t understand Blogher or why people have ads on their blogs at all – nor did I understand how I felt about it. Is it networking? Is it money seeking? I’ve gone back and forth a lot about it and it has been very interesting. I like to compare my favorite writers and average and sub par blogs to see how everyone else handles it. I try to gauge whether people write because they are compelled to get the words that have been swirling around in their head out or because they’ve discovered a mild amusement with free prizes. Or both. Anyways – You’re a great writer – so you’ve got free license to do whateva’ in my book but I appreciate your stance as it is especially.
P.S. Hey Askimet – What’s up big brotha’?
@Ali, talking about Blogher, I’d really love to go someday though because there are a lot of bloggers I plan to stalk when I get there. It would be so awesome to get to meet all the faces behind the blogs I spend so much time reading. Maybe next year, when the kids are big enough to survive a 20-hour flight.
Hi all I’ve posted an update, the blogger himself has spoken.
Just to be clear, the issue here is not on what happened but your opinion on blog advertorials and reviews. Let me know your thoughts on it!
Hi! The link to the blogger’s reply is broken. I read that his blog is blocked or something. Perhaps that’s why the link to it is not working.
@gjzhan, Hi I’ve tested it again – its working. I think it was down for a moment or so.
I am shallow in the authenticity of other bloggers but this I must say, your blog is the only blog I find joy reading. Keep it up !
@Jaq, THanks a lot Jaq!
man, this advert yes-or-no is really hot topic.
To review or to ask for freebies (truth or not does not mater), up to individuals.
If we get a chance to review, I would like to be truth to myself, my friends, and my readers. (can bullshit a bit but not too much :p )
Agree 100% with point 3 !
End of the day, I never forget what started me blogging :)
andy´s last post ..Singapore Zoo- Animal Friends Show is back !
The nature of the blog/web and disclosure are important. Personally, I started Mummy’s Reviews so that other parents can know whether mummy & baby stuff perform as claimed. I incorporated a company to own the site and it is disclosed clearly to readers & sponsors that there is a fee structure in place.
For small-value items, sponsors are charged an article fee to cover effort spent in photography, testing & write-up. For large-value items, they get ad space as rebate.
If reviews are skewed because of any fee involved, readers are smart and would see through that easily.
At the end of the day, it is about crystal-clear communication and individual integrity.
MieVee @ MummysReviews.com´s last post ..How To Clean the Poopiest Bums With Cloth Wipes