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.

#PRRequest, @BuyItYourself and Round 257 in PRs Shooting Themselves in the Foot with Bloggers

Its that time of the year again when a PR thinks they are oh so smart and writes an insightful post to their company blog about how awful bloggers are who review and how we always misuse the #PRRequest Hashtag.

So far, so standard.

However, and although it can't be proved but probably will come out as these things tend to  suddenly a twitter feed (mentioned in aforementioned blog post, funny that) has popped up asking PRs and other (wankier) bloggers to send in tweets and names of bloggers who they then affectively "name and shame" on this feed. It also, curiously, does lots to promote the post about how evil bloggers are who review. That makes up most of its feed actually. As I say, curiously so.

See, this could have worked OK. I'm no great fan of the blatant misuse of the #PRRequest hashtag myself. When it was first used it was a great way for emerging bloggers  to set out that we were here and if you want to get in touch, then do so. It was a waving flag of "PR Friendly" to the brands hungry to snap us and our expertise (and cheap advertising) up.

However, to me, this is cyber bullying hidden behind a right on satire and statement on us much maligned bloggers.

What really grates with me is that they happily name and shame the blogger (or blagger apparently) involved, yet they don't have the balls at their disposal to use their actual name. Hence, to me, this is the PR firms way of slagging us off without shooting itself in the foot and losing our precious free advertising.

Its worth noting that the post's author is actually someone who has approached me (along with other colleagues) to write for them and to review Easter products with The Brats. Its also widely seen as double standards that the Boss of this PR firm is constantly seen using the hashtag to plead for Bloggers to write for free.

If they are so keen to make the world of blogging a better place, why hide behind an alias? You all know what I feel about anonymous people slagging others off.

Its already upset one lovely blogger and that one is quite enough.

What annoys me the most is on the day this all kicks off, and gives bullying bloggers and others the chance to throw cyber barbs on this site without being exposed for it (and thus letting the wimpish trolls that they are who are too weak to actually do it directly have the perfect outlet), we have several bloggers being driven slowly mental by an SEO who has sent bundles of emails over and over, driving bloggers potty over the last week.

Have these bloggers set up an anonymous Twitter feed and named and shamed this SEO? No.

When we get treated as little more than free advertising, do we go to twitter and anonymously slate them? No.

I for one hope this dies on its yawnsome arse soon. And if it is the same PR firm responsible, then there are frankly better ways to promote yourself than biting the hand that graciously drops the washing, the ironing, the cooking and everything else to write you a post.

And apologies all round we hope.

The Annual "I Went to Britmums Live" Post- 2013 Edition

Wow guys!

I have to say, I have been to around 5 conferences over the years I've been blogging (at the first ever Britmums meet up at London Zoo, I only had one blog), from Cybermummy, to Blog Camp and then to Britmums Live. However, I have never, ever known one to be so, well, emotional.

I cried so much Saturday, I gave myself a stonking headache. I cried my darn make up off. (Apologies if I scared anyone).

I want to say though, it was OK to cry. It was what so many of us needed. Friend's of the never forgotten Kerry and Matilda-Mae. Those who had met them, those who had merely heard about their passing and felt empathy, emotion and feeling for their families.

The strength of support over the weekend, well, I do say sometimes that blogging can be a bit of a mindfield, friendship and angry moments wise, but not this weekend. We hugged, we laughed at certain bits. We were there for every single one of each other.

I have a few thank you's:

Should Bloggers Accept Working for Free?

Now, no doubt some narrow minded  individuals will say that I am completely out of order for this post, as its completely fine and dandy for massive companies to take the massive piss  advantage of us bloggers. God knows why they'd think that, but I happen to hope that, once you, more sensible reader has a look at what I have to say, you'll agree I make a valid point.

I feel I had to write the above as, sadly, the minute I express an opinion there are certain parties who are clearly bored and who think its fine to completely miss the point and side with a massive company just to stick the boot in to anything I say. They have their reasons, frankly I'm awaiting the nasty comments (not mentioning me by name but pretty obvious that's who they are talking about, as I say to them directly, they really should grow up) via Twitter and anonymously via the comments. Very brave.

Not.

Anyway, the point I'm making is this: would you, reader, ever go into any situation where you work for free?

Imagine, if you will, that you go into your everyday job, whatever that may be, and your boss comes over and picks a tiny group of your fellow workers, and then takes the rest of you aside to have a chat. Now, imagine again that all the employees generally do the same job, but for whatever reason, your boss decides that, whilst the group you are in has to work as normal, the tiny minority group can say, chill out in the staff room all day, have parties and take whatever stock they fancy, whilst still getting their wages. You know, the wages you wont be getting anymore whilst you work hard?

You wouldn't take that well, would you?

Seriously?

Yet, in blogging, this, this crappy, piss take behavior is fine and dandy.

It shouldn't be, should it?

There have been many changes to blogging and linking up with brands since I first started building links between the two in 2009. Back then, it was a new thing, and terms were mutually made up as we all went along.

Now, with Google getting tough on some brands, no follow versus follow links, and a marked difference between what bloggers charge for posts and ad space, its a very different situation, and that's where I feel, and I'm not the only one (I'm just not afraid to be open about it), that there is the opportunity for brands and firms to take advantage of us bloggers.

Some do it via mass emails to as many bloggers as they can find details for. That's not exactly hard, we all have contact details on our blogs (back when I started we never did. If I wanted to contact a fellow blogger I'd leave a message on their My Space wall!). The emails these brand send out are pretty obvious. They will be generic, perhaps with a "I have been following your blog and love it!" or maybe a name of your blog copy and pasted (if you're lucky), to draw you in that they know who you are and may actually like your blog. It's doubtful they have even read it, or even know your real name. But some blogger's are suckered in by this.

They'll then ask if you host posts- either written by yourself or by them. And then they'll ask if you do, how much do you currently charge.

After getting back their replies, they will obviously see who charges the least amount and go with them, whilst your inbox may feel like it has dust trundling across it.

Of course, different bloggers value their space and time more than others- I've long said we perhaps need a charter of how much we charge so we all charge the same, a flat rate- it's what journalists do after all. 

Or, the newer way to get something for nothing from bloggers is the "network".

This is what has caused me to be really unimpressed this week. 

I've been a part of networks which worked really well. Every person involved got the same out of it, the terms were clear, I have been happy to be part of it. Panasonic, is one which immediately springs to mind, and before that, Dettol.

Sadly, for every great network, there are those which are, for whatever reason, poorly managed and in the case of the one this week, an utter joke.

I was approached by this massive, no where near administration brand last year. Would I like to join? The terms were, and if they've changed since it's the first I've heard about it, that in return for displaying a network badge, I would be able to contact said brand for products to review, as well as being the first to hear about new ranges either via their website or events.

I liked the company, so I agreed. To my mind the things promised in return for displaying the badge- a badge advert which I normally charge for- I would expect the types of things promised several times in the original email.

So, I sat and waited. The first month, I sent as email after receiving their network email, which said if we wanted to try out something from their new range to get in touch. I never received a reply.

In October, I was invited to an event in London. It said I would have to reply before 2pm to be placed on the guest list. I received the email at 10am, and replied at 10.05am. Well within the 2pm cut off.

I got an email saying see you at the event. I was quite excited to be going, as I love the brand and it was a nice evening event away from the daily grind.

Except that at 1pm on the day of the event, I got another email saying, actually, I could no longer come as there was too many guests.

So, I emailed to say this was completely unacceptable, and that I'd emailed well within the time frame and been told I was guest listed. I wanted an explanation, which is fair enough. I never got a response. 

The same old faces as had been at other events were all there though. They'd all been at the last two events I'd seen mentioned in the e-newsletter. I felt very short changed. I asked again between the non-event and December about reviews and again, no reply.

All the while, this free ad was sitting on my blog. And I was seeing the same people going to events, and getting products, whilst they displayed the same badge as me. So, I'm working for free, whilst they get the goodies.

I emailed to see what they had to say, saying I'd remove the badge as I felt that my membership was not worth the bother. It took a fortnight for them to reply, and I feel they only did so because I'd told them I was removing the badge.

They persuaded me to stay, apologised for being ignorant and said that the event I was uninvited to was a mistake and they'd emailed me by mistake, apparently. They then said it appeared I wasn't on their list as a member by accident too (hard to believe considering the monthly newsletter). They never once said I didn't need to display the badge though, in fact it felt like they really wanted me to keep it where it was.

Again, I got suckered in. Just like with the holiday company who two years in a row told me my application was a formality as I'd already been picked, only for me to be passed over and asked to display a free ad (the same one those involved and getting free holidays and camcorders displayed but with nothing in return).

This week, I saw a Facebook status from a Blogger who I like a lot, and she was getting nasty comments regards her questioning about a zoo event. From someone going. Obviously.

Yes, this brand had another London event, which again the same old faces where all at, and yet again the first I heard about it was from Facebook.

I stuck up for the blogger getting aggro, and took to a group to ask why this network behaved how they do, that I'd had enough and had started to feel it was nothing but a scam for the majority of us. Another blogger agreed, as did another who direct messaged me regards it.

Except, when those invited heard, a few had to get nasty- funnily enough one of those was one who'd got arsey with my being miffed at the aforementioned holiday company. Clearly, this blogger likes working for the idea of a dangled carrot, but I for one feel the rest of us deserve better.

Why should these massive companies treat us this way? If they have a massive network, that's fair enough, it should be the case that they know how to run it so that every member gets the same opportunities as others. Sadly, with this brand, its simply not the case and the same select group get invited time and again, whether its a kids range launch or a homewares launch or adult clothing launch (as this was thrown that I may not have fitted the bill for the latest one, despite having two children). And what do we all have in common in this network- that's right, the click through advert. Some get the goods, the majority get passed over, ignored and only gain a response when publicly questioning their practices in a social media setting.

I say, enough.

If you want to work for free, that's up to you. But I for one feel bloggers new, old or in between deserve better treatment. Sadly, all the while I get shouted down, other's are too afraid to stand up and agree, and the same old factions will use it as an excuse to batter anything I say.

Bloggers need to learn to love themselves more, the spaces we work hard on.

It seems brands are happy to walk all over us, after all.....

Awards Season and Why You Should Blog For You

This is one of those posts which will either be taken in the way it is meant to, with tongue firmly in cheek and Mr Blue Sky on the stereo annoying the neighbours in a jolly fashion, or with hell and fury. Either or is cool.

Its just a little post to counteract all the "Eek! Who will nominate me? Am I good enough? " in the "Awards Season Crazy Month" which has just all started once again. Its like a bad smell or the lead up to a smear test. Inevitable and unavoidable. 

Bloggers United-#HealingForKerry

This morning, I am a proud and humble Blogger.

You see, I do rant a bit here, about our some time howling at the moon incidents. But when it comes down to the crunch, us Bloggers can actually make a massive difference, either with charity, actions or just sending out a mass amount of tweets.

That's what happened last night, with #HealingForKerry. One of our own, one of our talented, gorgeous bloggers is very sick, and we want her home for Christmas, where she belongs. I have followed the updates of her other half, who has gallantly taken over her blog to keep us informed. 

I was choked last night to see that, by just tweeting and retweeting, at just after 10pm #healingforKerry was a top trend on Twitter. And that takes a hell of a ot of tweets to accomplish.

I'm not a massive believer in religion, but its positive vibes which I send in the hope they will have Kerry home, just as everyone does.

So, say what you like about the spats, the in-fighting and the trolls, but when it comes down to it, we care. A lot.

Thank you.

Dear PR. Not a Way to Handle Bloggers IMHO

Hmmmm.

Can I just say, firstly, that in no way has this post come from sour grapes, bitchiness towards my fellow blogger or anything else which I'm sure certain narrow minded twits people may accuse me of. Its just that, every so often Bloggers get treated pretty unfairly, and sometimes I couldn't care less, and some times it takes the biscuit just a little too much.

I'm not going to name and shame, I'm sure some of you will guess who I'm referring to but, for the rest of you, its a pretty big British firm, who have worked with bloggers before.

Epic. PR. Fail. Bless

I just happened to fire up the Kobo Vox Reader I am testing out for Family Panel this afternoon, you know, not cos I spend my every waking moment online but, cough, for research purposes, when I found a pretty surprising email.

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. 

 Picture: 

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

Do Bloggers Need a Code of Conduct?

Following on from my post asking whether there were rules to blogging, and after another discussion at Blogger.ed, do we need a Bloggers Code of Conduct, a Mission statement for all bloggers?


In recent weeks, we've seen some stories of how Bloggers either individually, or as a group, have been, in their opinion, poorly treated by a PR company, or due to a brand being difficult.


More and more bloggers are being invited to take part in more and more events. But things differ between event.


Some Bloggers complain that all events seem to take place in London, and its true, I don't think I've ever been invited to an event anywhere else, apart from a site visit in Hatfield.


Some complain about the short notice that Bloggers, either Northern or Southern, get about events. This is annoying being that we are all Mums and Dads, either who must take a day off work or organise childcare.


Plus theres travel- do you ask for your travel to be covered, or will that make the PR or brand think you're being to graspy?  If the PR or Brand involved offers to pay travel, do you ask for only part in case they feel its too expensive?

In light of what has humorously come to be known as GravyGate, is it ever exceptable to mail shot as many Bloggers as you can find contact details for, only to cherry pick who comes at the last minute, when more than you have the budget for say they can come?


So, what do businesses do in a situation to ensure they treat their customers the right way, and what they expect in return? 


They have a Mission Statement, or a Customer Charter.


Whilst it would get highly confusing for all bloggers and PRs and Brands to go off merrily and write their own list of dos, don't and expectations, it would become a diverse minefield. 


What we need is to get a group together, and pitch what each sector would like to do and how they'd ideally like to be treated in return. 


Such as timescales- if a brand sends out a product for review, should they be allowed a reasonable time in which they can expect a review to be posted or an event to be mentioned? 


Do Bloggers want more say on how late is too late to be invited to an event?


Should there be a universal travel expenses amount, say 50% for PRs or brads to reimburse Bloggers?


Social Media, in the form we use it, is still relatively new, so maybe rather than Bloggers becoming angry with or disillusioned with PRs and Brands, and these then alienating themselves from Bloggers who can mutually help one another, a charter needs to exist, agreed for and made up by all sides, to make everything run just that little bit smoother.


Then we need never have a gravygate scenario ever again!