Professionalism Versus Product-Why Constructive Criticism Is Important for a Review Blog

I am writing this after a particularly shocking bit of blogger/PR relations over a very expensive buggy being, well, a bit shite.

I have reviewed for a number of years now, through times when I had to turn down products down to the sheer weight, to the leaner times, and back around again. One thing that I feel has always kept me in good stats is my honesty.

Whether I have bought something, or been lucky enough to be sent it, I do always do my best to really give a 360 viewpoint of a product, however expensive it is. Otherwise, how will your readers know what they are getting?

My tagline has always been "testing the good, bad and overpriced so you don't have to", and I stick by it to this day.

Sadly, I have come in for some criticism from my fellow bloggers and reviewers, and have, on occasion, had a curt response from brands and their reps too. To my mind, I don't let it fuss me, as the good brands, those who actually want their business to survive, will welcome constructive reviews and will use them to their advantage.

I don't believe I've ever done a bitchy or unprofessional post as I've always tried to weigh up the good and bad points of a product or service, however bad it may have been. If something is utterly great, I will still mention the price or availability or boredom factor.

Unfortunately, not all reviewers are the same as me. Some will put the chance of what many mistakenly call a freebie over being honest. All I feel this is achieving is setting an unwelcome precedent for the honest amongst us, to be glowing about everything we ever review. It also means some-not all- brands and their PR folk tend to expect that, if you are sent something, you will be so overwhelmed with their generosity to pick you and yours that you can only bow and scrape and give it top marks no matter what.

The reason I say "mistakenly" call something a freebie, is because when you think of it, when the majority of us actually take time to put a review together, testing items, researching prices, and links, as well as taking pictures or filming vlogs (I do all of this on Family Panel), it all takes time. That time equates to the cost of the item sent, so great if an item is over £40, not great if you've been sent a game worth a fiver. Not only that, even if a product may retail for £500 (as is the case with Buggy Gate), yet their actual cost to produce is a lot less.

Other traditional media outlets, such as Which? do all the above, with a team of staff, all getting paid rather well. They have professional photographers, they have heavy hitting sites and tweet feeds, all run by different people, and they have very fancy tools to put these articles together.

We do it alone- or with their help of our kids!

I do think some-again not all but some- forget this.

Transparency should always win out over the mighty idea of products and parties, but sadly, with bloggers who are honest being called unprofessional and PRs demanding products back (even ones reviewed prior to a negative review of a separate product), what hope is there for actual professionalism and constructive reviews?

It seems some brands believe the might of owning a product and being sent it for "free" means they want a good review no matter what. And if that's really all they do want, why send a product at all, when you can canvass as many bloggers as you like for £50 each to write or post a pre-written sponsored post?

Let's hope this doesn't set us on a dodgy road to blogs filled with mindless fluff and little intelligent feedback.

THE GUEST SPOT: Why Working With Brands is Like Dating

I hope you all enjoyed last weeks Guest Spot, and have all popped on over to read more posts. Onto this weeks, and its a post by someone you should know by now, and a Guest at Family Panel, Emma from the blog Mellow Mummy. Emma is a Mum of one, a tech genius, edits Parent Wheels (a Top Gear for parents!) and is a comper extraordinaire, so if you don't already read her blog, make sure to bookmark it for a mix of reviews, parenting and prizes.


The post is called "Why Working With Brands is Like Dating".

For a little while now I've felt that, as a blogger, working with brands is a little like a string of awkward teenage dates.

Me: 16, Frequent pub-goer

You: 17, Pub-quiz team-member, college drop-out

The Date: The one where we ate Hobnobs (not even the chocolate ones) in silence in a rusty Mini Metro, staring out to sea on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Hayling Island

The PR Lesson: If we have nothing in common, this relationship will go nowhere. I have nothing to offer you, you have nothing to offer me. Let's just call it a day.

Me: 17, Between relationships

You: 17, Cute, not as experienced as you're willing to admit

The Date: The one where we fumbled about in the dark a bit and I went home feeling sorry for you

The PR Lesson: Don't be afraid to admit if you've never worked with bloggers before. I'm always willing to share my tips and advice if you ask me nicely! I'd much rather you were honest and took things slowly than embarrassed yourself and put me off for life.

Me: 18, University fresher, drunk most of the time

You: 45, Local entrepreneur, bald

The Date: The one where you gave me flowers, picked me up in your fast car, made me feel grown-up, took me out for dinner and then I declined ‘coffee’ at yours... I never called you back.

The PR Lesson: Yes, you may have something impressive to show off. Yes you may have lots of money with which to buy me lovely goodies but I'm not going to jump into bed with you just because of your bling. Our relationship needs to be about more than the freebies. For starters, I have to like you and what you have to offer. Without this, you're just wasting your money – I'm not going to pimp you, or your product if it isn't relevant to my readers.

I can think of a million other too-close-to-the-truth examples; The one where I really wasn't trendy enough for you. The one where your language was too saucy even for me. The one where you asked me to go behind other people's backs. The one where you went behind my back. The one where you actually bored me to sleep (but I woke up before you noticed). The one where I thought I really liked you but it turns out you're an arse.

But they're not all bad (the PR's OR the teenage boyfriends). Take the PR who asks you exactly how you want to be wined and dined. The PR who reads your blog regularly and knows what topics you blogged about yesterday, last week or even several months ago. The PR who you could chat with for hours on the phone. The PR who really understands why you blog and what's in it for you. The PR who tells you what's in it for them. The PR who doesn't need you or want you to blog about a specific event or product but just sends you a small gift to cheer you up when you are feeling down. These are the brand representatives you want to get to know better. So give them your number and hope that they call you... it may be a match made in heaven.

Me: 23, In a full-time relationship

You: 22 , Single, shy but scrumptious

The Date: Road Trip to Niagara Falls – you told me I had a nice smile and beautiful big eyes

The PR Lesson: Gentle flattery and a positive attitude gets you a very long way.

I married him.

Thanks to Emma for a great insightful piece- and lets hope brands take notice!

If you have a post you'd like to submit, then feel free to email with the post or a link. We have no spots for the next 3 weeks, but are always looking for submissions. 

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Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net