My friend Courtney emailed me this link with a “urgent, must read” in the re line.
So, I did what any friend would do under these extreme circumstances…I clicked on the link and read. It’s short. Go read it.
I don’t know about you but my jaw dropped. Basically, we Moms with Blogs are nothing more than t-shirt and banner eating Zombies.
Sheep to the slaughter.
Lambs to the wolves.
So on and so on.
And we’ve enabled this.
We’ve allowed ourselves to be spoken of in this way.
We’ve allowed ourselves to be looked down upon.
Not intentionally. I’m positive of that.
I know, I’ve done this…had heart palpitations due to excitement because I was contacted to be a brand “Ambassador” for a pair of really ugly capri pants. I’ve had multiple orgasms over a sex toy company contacting me to do a review and giveaway. Trust me, I have a drawer FULL of products that I’ve reviewed AND had orgasms over.
I don’t do that anymore. I’m not a sheep, lamb OR zombie.
I don’t know about you but I won’t do ANYTHING for a t-shirt and a banner. Or a vibrator, for that matter. Usually the t-shirts are ugly and I’m sick of the clutter on my blog. Not to mention, I’m not a huge fan of the rabbit and it’s cousins.
I’ll work for check, cash, money order or funds wired into my paypal account.
What about you?
p.s…i know i just wrote about this…kind of. but that article pissed me off!
I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately we have created their hideous view of us. We have proven our worth, not we need to claim our value.
Stefanie´s last blog post ..tears for stains
The link just confirmed what I’ve been feeling/thinking lately. Enough is enough. Larger corporations can afford to pay bloggers so if they want to work with you, they should pay you. In real funds. Not free stuff.
You’re right, we’ve enabled it… however I do think that some bloggers just starting out will be tempted and flattered to do this. But they soon too will realize that a line must be drawn.
I am SO with you.
It really pisses me off that so-called marketing experts are perpetuating this “strategy” of using bloggers.
I had an a-ha moment the other day when I realized I was providing content for NEXT TO NOTHING for a company that stood to make thousands off my copy.
We’re putting in the time, talent and effort. We should be paid if we’re “working” a brand. Which frankly? Eff that.
San Diego Momma´s last blog post ..Summer Vacation Survival Tips for the Mother of Smallish Children
Unfortunately there are a lot of women out there that are willing to give themselves away for a little bit of free stuff. I’ve done it. I don’t like it. I will definitely be more careful about what I sign up for in the future.
Jennifer´s last blog post ..My do it
WOW…very telling. I know I have done my share of commercial things this year especially but I am very, very picky about what I agree to do and the brands I work with. I basically started a secondary blog for reviews.
It’s weird because I have seen both sides of things. I work by day in publishing and I am my company’s social media coordinator. Yes, marketing folks salivate at free publicity.
I’m going to a social media event this Friday and the company is actually paying us very well…WOOT!
Any way, we all need to not give it up so readily.
Let’s play hard to get…our blog space is our online real estate!
OK one more comment. I had a conversation with a PR contact/friend about a year ago and asked her if the blogosphere was saturated. She commented no, that the best bloggers will continue rise to the top.
Companies can shill out free product in exchange for buttons, t-shirts, etc, but the best writers/most professional bloggers will be the ones that are ultimately the most credible.
Any way, that’s my two cents (she says looking like a hypocrite with a big ole branded giveaway on her blog right now!)
Jamie´s last blog post ..American Girl Doll Giveaway
Thanks for the link to the article. As someone who is on a trip right now – not paid – what the article fails to mention is once you establish a “relationship” with the said company there are many many many paid posts ahead in your future. I can tell you that I have been paid ridiculous amount of money for ONE well-thought-out written post that only came to me because of a “free trip.” I only post things on my blog and review blogs that are a good fit for me. I would never promote a dildo – because that’s just not me. I believe that even all of my reviews are a balanced representation of me. Gah. I think I need to blog about blogging.
Like any article written – it was unbalanced.
OHmommy´s last blog post ..Tell me that Im not the only one
Well said.
What I take offense to – which seems to be happening a lot these days – is ad agencies contacting me with information about a headache drug or something, and then asking if I’d be interested in writing about it? Obviously, they want me to blog about it and link back to them. But no offer of ANYTHING in return. Not even a packet of pills!
Pfft.
To be honest, if I felt strongly about a certain headache tablet, I would post something about it. But not because someone asked me to.
But in future, if you even want a shot at me writing about something I haven’t contemplated writing about before? Remember what I’m thinking: ‘What’s in it for me?’ But don’t be guaranteed I will. I have to believe in something to write about it.
Great post.
Jodie at Mummy Mayhem´s last blog post ..Hot or Not Adrian Grenier