If you have come to this blog more than just this once, you know that I am a totally new blogger, I am not even past my first month yet. (But thanks for coming and a warm welcome!)
I might actually not survive the end of the month as I have signed up for NaBloPoMo (which means a post a day for the month of November) and it is totally killing my social life and the Fun part of my blog title. Well, not really the fun stuff, but it is killing the housework part, and this family needs clean clothes so you see that there is a problem of sort.
Anyhow, going back to this post, I was planning a totally different subject for today, but I can't help but getting involved on this ongoing debate about bloggers in general, and especially mummy bloggers, being in it to blag stuff. You might be among a small group of people who actually reads this, but here it is, my honest view and I promise I'll go back to fun or at least mum stuff tomorrow.
A few articles and posts have been written of late about the new breed of "mummy blaggers". There is a distinct feeling, it seems, that quite a few people are setting up a blog in order to go to PR companies and blag free stuff to review and then keep, from trivial things like nappies to a few toys for the kids or even expensive pushchairs or holidays.
Whilst I am writing my blog for pure escapism and because I feel that I have something to say, even if it is just to nobody, I am also start to feel a bit uncomfortable with this concept that a lot of new bloggers are just in it to blag. I am especially uncomfortable with it when the view is shared amongst some "established" bloggers who started the game a few years ago and now feel that the new blaggers are ruining it for them.
I have checked out "established blogs" full of ads, competitions and sponsored reviews and "new blogs" full of integrity and genuine endorsements that did not come from a PR request or freebie. Of course, I have also seen the exact opposite. So what is going on?
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| via freestuffshop.co.uk |
I think that everyone is missing a crucial element in this debate, the audience.
The advantage of a blogger versus a journalist is the fact that there are no advertisers' needs to meet (unless one chooses to have advertisers) and that you know for a fact that someone is coming to your page to read your own thoughts, whilst in the context of a newspaper or magazine, one journalist can never know for sure the likes or dislikes of the readers and what brings them to but that specific title.
Digital media and social media are much more dynamic and transparent so there is much less hiding. If a PR company is happy to build relationship with someone because they value the audience, then great. If they smell a rat and a bogus blogger, then just move on. The world if full of people trying to blag freebies or sell us something, if you are not interested, you just move on, as such is life.
But please don't blame this on the newbies because that is a bit unfair to the thousands who start a blog every day for themselves, their families or to connect with new people. It is also unfair to blame the blagging trend on the newbies when they clearly must have got the idea from someone who has perhaps been at it for a while and has been boasting about that free holiday or trip to Disneyland a few times too many.
It is much easier to point the finger at the new crowd instead of looking at the blogosphere as a whole.
I just wish the discussion was about good honest bloggers and bloggers who are just out there to get a few products or what not. I do start to resent the fact that the conversation has become a divide between the old faces and the new faces. Social media does not sit still and whomever thinks they have cracked it by having got there first might find out that the community is actually moving away without them and that someone else out there has just come up with something better or more engaging.
That's all folks, that's just the opinion of little new me.
PS: I have dedicated entire posts to great product finds such as the Manduca baby carrier or the Peke Moe sleep sack. I think that the reader can see that I paid for those items and that the whole point of my stories was to save someone else the hassle of searching for something good. So don't call me a blagger or I'll be upset.
I'm a newbie blogger too - it's amazing how such a debate stirs up so much passion! I really enjoyed your Peke Moe post (despite the fact my 'babies' are now way, way too big) because I like how you write. I agree that social media doesn't sit still - I don't think it ever will (or something will be horribly wrong)but transparency and integrity will be things that continue to shine through - and if they don't, maybe we all need to think a lot harder about what we write. There - another new opinion too x
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteI think its wrong to say its all new bloggers. Some established bloggers have set up separate review sites this year so its not fair to put blame squarely on new bloggers. I think its just that when alot of us started blogging (I've being going since 2006, prior to being a Mum), Brands/PRs hadn't thought of us as a way of advertising for a product. That didn't fully happen to the level it is now until 2010. Also, bloggers are asked if they know of others to recommend, and Twitter makes it very easy to find other specific bloggers too.
I review and take on Sponsored posts and its not the first time this debate has sprung up out of nowhere, it wont be the last time either! But do what makes you happy, however old or new your blog happens the be.
Its nice to read posts like this from a mix of bloggers to get everyones opinions and yours is a great read. I dont think its fair at all and you cant tarnish everyone with this blagging brush! You will be offered products to review and i think its ok to accept them despite all the negative stuff going down at the moment. Each to their own and i think PR types will see through the blaggers and only want the bloggers Xx
ReplyDeleteVery good point, and a fair warning that making it about newbies vs oldies is wrong.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. Many of the extremely blagging bloggers that I have seen have been established bloggers, and not the new kids on the block.
Firstly, well done you for starting a blog, secondly, great post. Fundamentally I think everyones blog should be their own personal space to do with what they will. Personally I don't enjoy reading blogs that are constantly posting reviews but then each to their own. I agree though that if you're in it just to blag, then it's perhaps not entirely the right motivation! (ps. where in Italy are you from? my dad is Italian, from Fiuggi in Frosinone)
ReplyDeleteohh I love your blog header, such a great photo!
ReplyDeleteFab post, super to read your persepctive and yes I get very fed up with people saying new bloggers are just in it for what they can get. There are a certain type of blogger, new or old who do that. Nothing to do with age of blog.
Keep up the great work. Mich x
I don't hear a lot of bloggers saying that only new bloggers are the problem. Rather those who do express concern are worried about a few folks who only want the free stuff and using blogging to get it.
ReplyDeleteWhether someone is "new" or not is a pointless discussion. Bloggers decide for themselves what kind of content they want to create.
Blogger reviews and opinions are destined to become more and more important. Like I wrote on Huffington Post, we should worry less about whether this person or that person does reviews and focus more on bigger issues of overall integrity and ethical practices as a community.