The blogging world is abuzz following this post from the lovely Sian at Mummy Tips, and lots of other bloggers are posting about this too. One of the best I have read is from Salt & Caramel.
So for those who aren't in the know, let me give a quick run down. When I started blogging I thought a blog was an on line diary and a place for me to have a voice. I had hope that people would read it, mainly my friends and those who have had a premature baby. I thought nothing more about it.
However, many Public Relations (PR) people use blogs to help promote the businesses they work for the products that they sell. They often use bloggers to write reviews of products. In return the blogger can usually (but not always) retain the product for their own use.
I have done a couple of reviews but not many. Partly because I haven't been asked, which is fair enough. Because my blog is reasonably bespoke, most reviews are not relevant. I am about to do a review of toothpaste and products around dental hygeine, but this is directly relevant to my blog as far as I'm concerned, and I was lucky to be chosen to review a toy set for the Wooden Toy Shop.
I am not against reviews but don't generally seek them out, I am usually approached. I am up front about my subject matter and am not afraid to say when something is just not relevant.
There has been criticism of bloggers who seek out product for review. I can understand that PR may find this annoying, but they can filter and delete. You don't have to read a "blagging" letter if you don't want to, just the same way I can delete an approach I am not comfortable with.
Equally as bloggers, we're not paid. We do this for fun, for interest, to keep ourselves active, and to have a voice. Why should I host advertising or write posts for nothing?
But funnily enough, when the question was asked at Salt & Caramel I do actually use blog reviews in my decision to purchase. For example, with toys, I know for a fact that The Boy and Me does very honest toy reviews, and she has helped me in the past decide whether something is worth buying. And an added bonus is that "The Boy" is a similar age to my boy!
Another review I trust is Lou over at Bloggomy whose recent review of these pyjamas sent Father Christmas into an excited frenzy.
So in short I do think reviews have value if they are honest and well written, and I do think its ok for bloggers to accept the products they are given to review.
I don't think its ok to use your blog primarily to get product, I think that's an abuse of the system, and the best blogs, to my mind, are ones that have fantastic content with the odd review in the mix.
So for those who aren't in the know, let me give a quick run down. When I started blogging I thought a blog was an on line diary and a place for me to have a voice. I had hope that people would read it, mainly my friends and those who have had a premature baby. I thought nothing more about it.
However, many Public Relations (PR) people use blogs to help promote the businesses they work for the products that they sell. They often use bloggers to write reviews of products. In return the blogger can usually (but not always) retain the product for their own use.
I have done a couple of reviews but not many. Partly because I haven't been asked, which is fair enough. Because my blog is reasonably bespoke, most reviews are not relevant. I am about to do a review of toothpaste and products around dental hygeine, but this is directly relevant to my blog as far as I'm concerned, and I was lucky to be chosen to review a toy set for the Wooden Toy Shop.
I am not against reviews but don't generally seek them out, I am usually approached. I am up front about my subject matter and am not afraid to say when something is just not relevant.
There has been criticism of bloggers who seek out product for review. I can understand that PR may find this annoying, but they can filter and delete. You don't have to read a "blagging" letter if you don't want to, just the same way I can delete an approach I am not comfortable with.
Equally as bloggers, we're not paid. We do this for fun, for interest, to keep ourselves active, and to have a voice. Why should I host advertising or write posts for nothing?
But funnily enough, when the question was asked at Salt & Caramel I do actually use blog reviews in my decision to purchase. For example, with toys, I know for a fact that The Boy and Me does very honest toy reviews, and she has helped me in the past decide whether something is worth buying. And an added bonus is that "The Boy" is a similar age to my boy!
Another review I trust is Lou over at Bloggomy whose recent review of these pyjamas sent Father Christmas into an excited frenzy.
So in short I do think reviews have value if they are honest and well written, and I do think its ok for bloggers to accept the products they are given to review.
I don't think its ok to use your blog primarily to get product, I think that's an abuse of the system, and the best blogs, to my mind, are ones that have fantastic content with the odd review in the mix.
