Has blogging become that much more promotional?!
When the FTC first issued their guidelines on blogger endorsements (i.e. “free stuff”) in 2009, saying “bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service” I was all… “huh?”
I don’t know if I was super naive at the time, or if the FTC was way ahead of the times, but I didn’t understand the need for disclosures. Blogger reviews and promotions were not as big of thing back then (or where they?!). I barely saw it. I surely wasn’t getting offers (certainly not like I do now).
My. How times have changed.
It makes me sad that anytime I read a review now, I automatically assume the blogger is getting reimbursed in some way (paid or free products).
And it makes me even more sad that if I want to write a casual review of something that I like, and bought on my own, I have to say it.
I tried Clif Shot Gels for the first time at the race on Sunday and liked them so much I ordered (READ: PAID FOR MYSELF) a box to use. I was going to mention it tomorrow with a casual, “what have blogger reviews come to these days?” but I thought it deserved a whole post.
Seriously. I feel like I can’t trust most reviews I read from bloggers, since they are mostly sponsored. Yes, even when people point out the not so great stuff. It just doesn’t seem genuine anymore, when people are reviewing stuff all. the. time.
And the worst is when you start to read something and the blogger reveals at the very end that it was sponsored – like they were trying to trick you. I mean, you can usually tell, but come on.
Am I just a fuddy duddy lost in some early 2000s blogging era? Maybe.
But companies – this advertising doesn’t work on me. I just see it and assume bloggers wanted the free stuff. And kind of skim over it.
What does work – my friends and I discussing products in person, or, yes, organically on our blogs.
And yes, I am a hypocrite – I have another type of gel I still need to review!
Do you take blogger reviews very seriously? Do you notice if they paid for it themselves or got it for free?
Themocracy
I totally know what you mean!!! I think that if the product is a “fit” for the blog, then I don’t mind it as much. BUT, when someone is constantly doing giveaways or reviews of random products, it gets really old.
With that said, I’ve been getting a ton of requests for reviews and if I think the product may be a fit I will give it a try. But, I will say that the majority of stuff I didn’t totally love I never wrote about. Just simply wrote the brand back saying I did not think the product was a good fit for my blog. It feel kinda cheap, but since I work in sales and get shot down all the time, I try to remind myself it’s part of the marketing game. And, if I find something I really love that way- I will be their biggest cheerleader!
Also, if I ever get fake- CALL ME OUT! Thanks. 🙂
I feel cheap if I say YES to everything! Is that what you mean? And I get it not fitting. Like… eye glasses review… I have perfect vision. Why review something I know nothing about?
Ha ha! I will call you out!
Yep! I only say yes to things I think could be a good fit, if I find they are not I feel like I just got free stuff and feel cheap. Maybe I should start putting more value into my opinion though and snap out of that feeling because I’m doing what’s right for my blog! Hmm.
Yeah, I’d say what you’re doing now is right… so don’t feel bad. Of course, it’s because I am doing the same and feel the same way! HA!
It’s because good minds think alike!
GREAT minds 😉
I’m with you, I tend not to read reviews of stuff because I just assume that people are getting it for free. Some people put disclaimers at the beginning of their post, which I appreciate.
I also hate when people ask me if I have a sponsor paying my race entries for me… um, NO, I pay for them myself. No kids = disposable income.
Sorry for the rant, but I agree with you 100% 🙂
No apologies for the rant! I would get annoyed with people assuming that. You would SAY if you were paid!
Our two cents: Disclaimers at the front of the posts are actually just following FTC guidance. EVERYONE should be doing it.
They should be! I am so happy someone brought that to my attention, because I didn’t know, and see a lot of bloggers who aren’t doing it (although one person didn’t last week and did this week, so maybe they saw this post? lol).
I take reviews less seriously if I see a wave for same product on multiple blogs. Hello, Mizuno Sayonara! After a few of them, I just stop reading. If it’s sort of random or I think the blogger has a genuine relationship with company, I’m more likely to read. Believe? Eh. It depends how much blogger whores herself out or if I’m brand loyal to another company.
I might be a bit more whatever since I take free stuff (but not payment) but now, it’s usually companies I’ve supported pre-free stuff. Hence, my Laughing Cow posts.
Oh yeah, good point. Or when everyone is giving away the same thing at the same time… that makes me feel weird too.
When will there be vegan Laughing Cow?! 😉
LOVE CLIF SHOT GELS! I’m surprised I never made you try one of mine. The strawberry ones are my favorites.
ANYWAY, the point of your post. I like it when bloggers do reviews of smaller companies I wouldn’t have heard about before. I’ve found some fun stuff that way (like 1stframe.com where you can totally customize wooden frames). But when it’s a big corporate company that already has commercials and magazine ads, etc, I feel like the blogger just wanted some random free stuff.
I wanted to try Razz at the race but they were all out! I liked the flavor. Very similar to GU consistency, too! It will nice to have some variety.
Good point. I first saw that company you posted on FB about on Riyanti’s blog and they were quite small and I thought it was a cool find!
But maybe someday Asics will want to sponsor us! Or are you done with Asics?
I .. sort of don’t read most sponsored product reviews, unless it’s also for a giveaway for a product I’m already interested in. I will read the ones that are just “oooh, I liked this!” that aren’t sponsored though…otherwise it just feels like reading an ad x)
I have been meaning to try those gels forever! I bought some a couple months ago and still haven’t tried them! I’m not sure I can get over the texture of the gel (I’ve never tried one!) and so I keep putting it off. Maybe one day…
I do read blogger reviews if it’s for a product that looks interesting and I’m thinking about trying, but I don’t like when there are just tons of blogs with reviews for the same product. I feel like it just means that they are sending out a lot of free product and then I don’t believe the reviews as much. I don’t even know if that makes sense! Lol
LOL! Which flavor did you get to try? I am surprised you haven’t tried one. What have you been using on your longer runs?
It does make sense. And that is how they do it! It would make sense to stagger it, right?
It’s a raspberry one that looks yummy. I usually use honey stinger chews, but thought maybe these would give me more of a kick. Maybe I just need someone to convince me that it’ll be ok and I won’t throw up!
I said to Anne on Sunday that I bet it would be fun to work for Clif! I really like their stuff (including Luna).
And I do think the Brooks testing program is interesting in that they don’t want the word spread!
I totally agree and will stop reading your blog if you do too many reviews. I mostly just read right over them.
I feel like I over explain what I paid for and what I got for free for just this reason. I won’t write a certain type of review just because someone sent me the widget to try.
I like Clif gel Shots and most Clif Bar products and I am not saying that because I work for them (part time), I work for them because I like and use their products. The pay and freebie is nice though. Actually when it comes to gels I have been able to use almost any except Power Bar which are too thin. As I work many events I often get left overs. Think I have around 300 gels currently of various brands. I have received free socks in the past and did write a review (not sure of it was for my blog or the company that made them). Since getting those socks they are all I use for running and I got my Badwater runner a sponsor for his second and third BW135. Should add I have also tested Brooks shoes but as per contract have never written a review besides the one I send to Brooks and will not talk about them even if you see me wearing them before they are released to stores.
I said to Anne on Sunday that I bet it would be fun to work for Clif! I really like their stuff (including Luna).
And I do think the Brooks testing program is interesting in that they don’t want the word spread!
You’d be a good addition to the Luna crew and even the Clif Bar crew. Think they are full for 2013 but let me know if interested for the future.
Cool! I will! 🙂
I had/have the same arrangement with a specific pair of Mizunos. The non-disclosure was air-tight. Can’t even mention the name, which is too bad b/c I love them (and super loyal to Mizuno for years)
Oh my gosh I can’t take it. It’s gotten to a serious level of ridiculousness lately. There was a girl I used to really enjoy reading her blog, and then suddenly every post was a sponsored post with a giveaway. And it’s happening to more and more people. I literally one time saw three new posts in my reader from one girl, and I thought to myself, I bet they’re all sponsored. They were. Now, like you said, every once in a while if it’s a product that just makes sense with the blog I don’t mind, but there’s a fine line. And like you said, I hate that I feel like I have to really convince people when I’m writing about something that I like and paid for and didn’t sponsor me. But like you said, I definitely feel like I have to as well. I’m so glad you shared this. I think it all the time. But that being said, like you mentioned too, I do occasionally (once or twice a month–sometimes less) review things or share races that give me a free entry if they fit my blog or I liked the race when I paid for it myself. I just try to make sure it doesn’t make up a large percentage of what I’m writing.
Isn’t it SO bizarre when you see that shift?! It’s like you lose the person – you feel so disconnected to them because they aren’t talking about their life anymore, just whatever giveaway/review! I often wonder the motive behind that. Do people really enjoy writing review posts? I think they are the hardest to write!
Thanks for liking my post! Whenever I write something like this, I wonder if I am WAY off base or not 😉
I used to read a lot of reviews, but some people got carried away and as they posted more reviews. I read their blog less. I think I have done maybe 2 sponsored reviews in my 3 years of blogging. At first I thought it was cool to do reviews, but now I will only do them if it is something I really want to do.
I have a couple cliff shots, but yet I have never tried them. I will have to use those at some point 🙂
The worst part of it is the reviews/giveaways that come from “ad/promo networks” because your reader gets filled up with 18 posts on the same stupid product. They most likely get the “read all” button when that happens. Its annoying and I think its becoming rather ineffective!
That being said, there will be a review/giveaway up on my blog come Friday, so I’m not immune…but in my defense its for a local experience, not just a headband/compression sock/vitamin!
Local experience reviews are probably the most helpful! It would be great to want to find out what something thought of an activity before signing up for it!
It just cracks me the eff up when everyone is posting the same thing. I wonder if that makes them feel lame-o.
I do pay attention to sponsored vs. I pd for this and actually really like (or dislike) something. I like trying new products and like hearing new opinions but if reviews (and bad/flippant ones at that) are the only thing, I’ll probably just skim through.
I actually read some of them, because I am unable to attend a lot of running events, and miss out chatting with other runners, and this way I might hear of something I want to use. Of course there are times I skim right over them.
I am not a fan of anything Clif makes. It goes right through me. I do like Honey Stinger gummies. They are organic, and they don’t mess with my GI.
Aww man! Not even Clif or Luna bars?! NOMZ NOMZ NOMZ!!!
A lot of reviews I read end with “I was given this product in exchange for the review but all opinions are my own” or something like that. I do like the reviews, because like a previous commenter said, there are some products I would have never heard of it I hadn’t seen them online. Plus, I feel like I’ve “gotten to know” some of the bloggers enough to trust their opinions.
Yay! A positive comment. Hee hee hee. That is great that you have a group of bloggers you trust. Now that I think about it, I could always ask offline if whatever the person tried was really what they said.
I have a clif gel that a friend gave me but I haven’t had a chance to try it yet. She gave it to me just before my last half but I didn’t want to try it during a race. I’ll have to so some longer runs so I can give it a shot (pun intended).
As for reviews, I don’t always trust a blogger’s opinion if they do a ton of sponsored posts and ambassadorships. It just doesn’t feel as genuine to me. I do trust your opinions on things though because I know you only review things you really like and only accept products to review if you have genuine interest in them.
I’ve never been offered to review something and I don’t think I’ve ever really reviewed something on my blog but I’ve considered it. I’m ok with that.
For me, it’s gotten to be too much. I started reading blogs before they were even called blogs (seriously) to read people’s stories. I feel like on a lot of my favorite blogs, the stories have gotten lost in the product promotion. So I do what I do on my favorite tv shows when it’s all product placement (I’m looking at you, Biggest Loser and your stupid gum and subway bullshit!). I fast forward.
UNLESS! It’s a cute small company that I’d never have found on my own. Or it’s from someone I trust. Or it’s something the reviewer has PURCHASED FOR THEMSELVES. In these cases, it ups the authenticity for me, and depending on whether or ot it’s a product I am interested in, I may read. (ie your relax reflect review. Never would have found them on my own. LOVE their stuff.)
But usually? I skip it.
I didn’t even think about the correlation with product placement on TV. Sheesh, can we just be free from ads… somewhere? Ha ha ha. Just kidding. I know that is how businesses make money and influence people.
Another commenter said that they miss the stories. I can see that! I have seen a few blogs go that way.
I have to disagree with the fact that you can’t trust reviews when a post is sponsored. I write plenty of sponsored posts but that doesn’t mean that I’m pretending to like a product when I don’t, I just don’t accept offers from companies for products that I wouldn’t buy myself. For example I recently did posts about both Quest Bars and Vitafusion multivites, both of which I had already been buying and using on my own before I wrote sponsored posts on them. I think it depends on whether you trust the blogger to give an honest opinion, and if you can’t trust a blogger that you read, then why are you reading their blog?
Oh, sorry! I am just saying that I don’t usually trust online reviews. I think a lot of people probably value them. I am bit skeptical and don’t trust everything I read online. A lot of blogs I read for entertainment purposes, and probably won’t trust a person until I meet them in real life (or have a long standing email relationship or something). We control whatever we put online… there is a lot even I don’t show on here. I have had other bloggers specifically tell me how they censor review posts, and I censor a lot of crap too, so I just assume I am never getting the whole story. That’s just me 🙂
Depends! Now that the FTC requires it to be at the top and the bottom I know immediately what is true word of mouth and what is for review. I tend to put more stock in the true word of mouth stuff but I don’t wholly discount the for review stuff. I just keep in mind that I tend to be easier on stuff I don’t pay for but I also try to be honest about it 🙂
I was too lazy last night to look up the new rules. Thanks for pointing that out. Being that specific about how we have to write it makes me not want to do anything sponsored! LOL!
I don’t take the actual reviews seriously but I will say it still somewhat works to get the name out there. There are things I’ve certainly bought because I saw them in some way on a blog. I generally despise and mostly ignore most review posts though.
I definitely notice if reviews have been paid for or not. After reading this, I do feel a little bad about writing my own reviews, but I buy my own stuff and I like to let others know what works and what doesn’t. I also get some Google hits for some of my reviews, so I know that there are people out there who are interested in reading honest, unsponsored product reviews, so I keep writing them. Hope that doesn’t make me a terrible person or uncool or whatever. 🙂
No no no! I actually saw your review on my phone and haven’t had a chance to comment yet, but I was going to say it was awesome that you got that yourself and tired it out – I have never seen it and get PF flareup from time to time, so it might be good for me.
I am just bummed that we have to explicitly say that we bought these things our self, and that I usually assume people didn’t. That is my issue 😉
You’re awesome and cool 😉
I don’t mind seeing their reviews, as I’m not aware that the products even existed. Plus, I don’t like trying to add to much to my running routine to where I feel like I can’t run without it.
Do I trust their reviews? most of the food products are half sugar, so it’ll be sweet and digestions is different for every person. I guess I just skim and if it peeks my interest I google it and find feedback from other sources as well.
This is really interesting to me. When I first started blogging I used to do reviews ALL THE TIME bc I thought that’s what bloggers did, now I pretty much say no to anything unless it’s something I really can get behind. I haven’t done a review in a long time but a company I really like emailed me last week for a review on a new shirt. I thought about it for a while and decided I would go ahead and do it.
Do you think you would feel better if the blogger said it at the top of the post instead of at the bottom, so you know, hey i got free crap or $$ opposed to doing it secretly small at the end?
I think it’s interesting you thought you had to do reviews, as a blogger! Do you think that is because that is what you saw other bloggers doing when you started blogging? When I started blogging, it was all about story sharing! So the review thing is still so foreign to me!
Sometimes I spend a lot of time thinking about if I want to review something or do a free race (like how I thought SO long about Venus de Miles then backed out).
I think I would feel better if they said it at the front. Someone else said in a comment that that is required now! I didn’t even know! Oops!
this made me think that my take on this directly correlates to the length of time I’ve been blogging. When I first started, I was all HOOK ME UP WITH THE FREE STUFF YO! Now I have so much less patience for it all…
Kelsey was saying how when she first started blogging she thought she had to do all that stuff.
I did inquire about the NFEC HM. I had so much fun at that race last year!
I can totally see where you’re coming from. It gets ridiculous when you have to disclose that you paid for a product yourself. Isn’t that what most people do??
I say no to 80% of the people who contact me offering free products in exchange for a review but I will agree to try something if it’s a product I’d use (or do use) myself (gel etc) or something I think my readers could enjoy (race giveaway, cash giveaway). I think of those opportunities as ways to give back to my readers… maybe that makes me a cheap blogger but I like to please, especially people who read my ramblings! I did do one review for Malibu that was totally random BUT they offered me a night on the town and a giveaway for my readers. It seemed like a one time opportunity for me so I figured, why not? Although, I didn’t feel good about posting the review so while I don’t regret it, I probably won’t do something like that again.
Also, I love clif gels but tend to use the espresso, mocha, or chocolate flavors!
Hee hee hee, yeah! I think I even wrote this on your blog when you were talking about a new fuel.
I should probably do more of the giveaways I am offered to do. I am just so lazy!
And I don’t think you are a cheap blogger.
And I like Malibu. Ha!
I am mixed on this. I like most reviews. I also will enter just about any giveaway I see. I don’t like it when a blog looks like an ad every single day. That gets annoying. But if there is some real life thrown in there I’m fine. I would love to do sponsored reviews/giveaways for a company or product that intrigued me. I do think there is a fine line though that I wouldn’t want to cross over. I like being able to ramble on about whatever I want on my blog. But I’m not going to lie… I like free stuff. 🙂
LOL! I think that is why I see so many reviews! I think a lot of people just can’t say no to free. I think my mother would be really upset if she saw how much free stuff I declined. Oops.
I totally understand how you feel about bloggers and reviewing certain items. For example, when I ran the Soildier field 10 mile race I tried a Mocha Cliff Gel and I wanted to talk about how much I love it. I then realized that I didnt want to sound like I was promoting something. In all honesty I take reviews with a grain of salt because at the end of the day it ultimately comes up to what you get out of that review. By the way I tried the citrus cliff shot at the Half and they tasted so good.
I mostly skip sponsored posts, giveaways, and the like. I prefer the good old days when we just blogged about stuff we liked not because we got it for free or were paid.
YEAH! Someone else that is stuck in the past (hee hee, in a good way) like me 🙂 You have probably been blogging longer than me so you probably have some of the same thoughts as I do about all this!
Maybe someone else already mentioned this, but I really hate that a lot of companies are using bloggers who aren’t an expert about certain products (running shoes really come to mind), and I especially hate it when a company I like (Brooks, cough cough) does it. While I like certain products, I think that my opinion does NOT make me an expert, and it seems that there is now the assumption of “oh, I have an opinion and I have a blog, therefore I should be paid for talking about a product”. I’m a bit cynical about it, I suppose!
As for products I like – I wish that I were sponsored by Clif! Ha ha! And also by Honeystinger – I really like their energy chews and the waffle-things.
Actually, I am surprised no one mentioned that! I remember when a certain big blogger went to Brooks and came back and gave a bunch of false Brooks info. Like… duh!
Maybe you are cynical, but I am the same way, and am SO turned off by “expert” posts or how to posts for things, well, that people are not expert on. Okay, that sounds all encompassing. I do enjoy DIY posts, some recipes, etc., but how to run in the heat, meet a goal, etc. from an amateur? No. And now you now how bitchy I REALLY am.
I steer clear of sponsored posts. It turns me
Off from a blog & product especially if multiple people are all hocking the same thing at the same time and it is OMG totes the best product ever!! I hate the obnoxious cliquiness of certain brands on twitter and avoid them like the plague. They might have decent product, but I find them annoying 🙂 I shall not name them here. Hehe
In response to a post above about brooks giving shoes to non runners it was because the healthy living bloggers would generate 1000+ comments on a post, whereas runner blog X would generate much less. They wanted people talking about their shoes to the biggest audience. I forget where I read about that… It was purely marketing.
I definitely believe that about Brooks! And it probably worked. As we have discussed before though… so many forms of marketing feel insulting to me. Like that one. Like, target your audience, and use a good spokesperson. I am not going to believe what some random “famous” HLB says.
The sponsored blog posts… I get why blogs take them (revenue) but it seems impartial to an honest review. I’ve had companies send me products and I’ve review them on my blog a few times, but was once never paid for the reviews. I would much rather have ads on my blog from a company without having to change or post anything that was slanted towards that products. Corporate blogs like Engadget and Gawker will host ads on the whole site, but there’s nothing slanted about the type of posts they publish. Disclosures maybe, but that’s understandable.
That is an interesting perspective! I had to click over to your site after reading this and see if you do have ads – which you do – and I had never noticed before 😉
Coming from a marketing background, I understand why companies reach out to lots of bloggers at one time to blog about a specific product. It’s just business, you know? (And people usually gets loooooots of comments on their posts so… yeah.)
Personally, I don’t read (or comment) on sponsored posts and rarely enter giveaways unless it’s a product I really, really see myself using. I love the way you do giveaways/talk about companies: it’s usually something you’ve used & loved (or are passionate about, like races!) and I can tell it’s genuine. Also, you buy the products with your own money!! 🙂
Yeah. It totally makes sense from a marketing background! 🙂 I do wonder how many people feel weirded out by the bombardment of the same product, like I do!
Aww, thanks! I try to keep it real, here!
I tend to skim past product reviews…especially if there’s no giveaway! It sounds selfish, but most of the stuff reviewed are things I am not at all interested in, so unless there’s something in it for me, I won’t read. And when a certain “ambassador program” gives 50 blogs the same product to review, that is particularly annoying. I understand why bloggers do it, but I have a hard time seeing why HLBs are reviewing candy masquerading as vitamins. Not a good fit.
Ha ha ha! I have not seen the candy vitamins!
When I get something for me to review I usually try to buy one to giveaway… (if I ask for one and they won’t give one). Because, yeah… boring!
I usually skim through product review unless it’s actually something I think I’d like…reviews of food don’t mean much to me since I’d have to try it to like it! Otherwise, I think it’s just a way to get free stuff. That being said, a company did just send me something that I’m actually excited to try and use. I don’t get many offers to review things, and I don’t take every offer (even though they’re few and far between!) because I wouldn’t feel right endorsing something I don’t actually think I’ll like…and I wouldn’t want to say something bad about a product someone sent me. (Although maybe that should start happening?) I don’t really trust blog reviews that much anymore.
In terms of marketing, having bloggers write about you gets your brand’s name and product out there, in front of lots of eyes. All publicity is good publicity. I guess you could consider us a very of “celebrity” and brands have been giving free stuff to real celebs for years, to get their products in front of your eyes. This is a new version of that.
I’ve accepted free stuff. Usually it’s stuff I’m going to purchase anyway – running gear, shoes, race entries – so why would I say no? But, I try to only agree to stuff that I would actually pay for or that I’m curious to try, and I try to be honest in my review.
And as for other reviews, I do appreciate learning about new brands and products via blogs. A lot of smaller brands can’t afford to do a lot of marketing, so reaching out to bloggers or going to expos is a cost-effective way to market themselves.
Ha! I had never thought of it with the celebrity spin before. Very true 😉
I understand the small brand/business side, but even then… it doesn’t seem like some of those companies are taking the time to research who they request things from. But, a form letter is probably easier than actually spending much time figuring out a blogger! It doesn’t hurt to ask!
Another thought … blogging is a new form of journalism. I know lots of veteran journalists (my dad) who scoff at that notion, but it’s true. I’ve gotten invited to more than one event as “media.” So, like magazines and newspapers, it makes sense that brands would want this new journalist talking about their product – gets their name in front of a very targeted audience. And if the “old” media has been accepting ads and free products for years, what’s the problem with the new media doing it too? I think the difference is, we don’t have an editorial staff or board to keep us in line.
At the end of the day, I think as long as all parties involved are honest about it, I don’t see the problem with it.
That probably IS how businesses think of us, I think I am just still in shock that anyone would think I have influence over what my readers think! Or that I have a large enough audience! LOL! But just spreading the word is good, right? 😉
Those are my absolute favorite gels! Do they kind of remind you of mountain dew? That’s why I like them!
Most of the time I just skip over product review posts unless it’s something I’ve already been thinking about trying and I am actually interested in what the blogger has to say. I feel like a lot of bloggers do I poor job on reviews and just say things like “this is the best ______ ever!” even though last week they were using a different brand of the same thing. I like when a review mentions the drawbacks or things they didn’t like about the product. Also if a blogger does too many of them I stop reading.
Ha ha ha! I didn’t even think about the Mountain Dew relationship! I just had one during the race and thought it tasted really good!
I always appreciate the drawbacks too. Or even a comparison to other products! I have these Huma gel things to review, so I totally plain to compare them to the regular gels I use.
I do read reviews… sometimes for amusement, sometimes for genuine curiousity for the product. My favourite is when the blogger tries to find something negative to say about the product to make their review seem more believable without actually bashing the product (e.g. “I didn’t love ___ flavour…. BUT, I don’t like that flavour anyway! haha!!! so I guess it’s just me and my preferences!”).