The Black Out.
I've kept quiet about this PR "Black Out" as I do not do reviews on my blog or on SITS- we give stuff away from mom-prenuers, but do not review the item or receive any product for ourselves in return. The money we do make is off ads and put directly back into SITS- (like buying bounce houses).
But then I saw Scary Mommy's take on it {which I loved} and my comment to her was turning into it's own post- so here you have it.
I don't care about black outs and I am not interested in slamming other bloggers. I don't read blogs I don't enjoy. Why give someone the page views?
I would love to see brands and PR firms really look at the blogs they are advertising/supporting. Page views can be VERY misleading depending on how a blog is set up. The content, the loyalty and the readership should be the focus- the MATCH of brand to blog.
Working with Pepperidge Farm and Mr Youth on the Fishful Thinking initiative has been a wonderful experience- they offered real training, real compensation and chose their 10 faculty members based on more than page views- an interview was involved- questions about your online and offline reach- I wasn't chosen for the campaign because SITS has lots of page views (in fact, they contacted me through my personal blog and didn't even know I was the "Tiffany" of SITS)- I was chosen because I am a summer camp director who also blogs.
The truth is very few bloggers will ever make any real income from ads on their blogs. If you enjoy free stuff, go for it. If not, don't. But do take the time to know your audience- the connections we've created through blogging are not because of reviews- they are because of the glimpses we offer into each others lives.
If you are feeling burned out from blogging, turn off your computer.
The free bottle of BBQ Sauce will be there to review when you get back.
And if it's not- you'll survive.
I promise.
I don't care about black outs and I am not interested in slamming other bloggers. I don't read blogs I don't enjoy. Why give someone the page views?
I would love to see brands and PR firms really look at the blogs they are advertising/supporting. Page views can be VERY misleading depending on how a blog is set up. The content, the loyalty and the readership should be the focus- the MATCH of brand to blog.
Working with Pepperidge Farm and Mr Youth on the Fishful Thinking initiative has been a wonderful experience- they offered real training, real compensation and chose their 10 faculty members based on more than page views- an interview was involved- questions about your online and offline reach- I wasn't chosen for the campaign because SITS has lots of page views (in fact, they contacted me through my personal blog and didn't even know I was the "Tiffany" of SITS)- I was chosen because I am a summer camp director who also blogs.
The truth is very few bloggers will ever make any real income from ads on their blogs. If you enjoy free stuff, go for it. If not, don't. But do take the time to know your audience- the connections we've created through blogging are not because of reviews- they are because of the glimpses we offer into each others lives.
If you are feeling burned out from blogging, turn off your computer.
The free bottle of BBQ Sauce will be there to review when you get back.
And if it's not- you'll survive.
I promise.
Comments
I did just get an email for a product that I did think was cool. And it's something that totally makes sense in my life. So I'm gonna give it a try because I am truely interested in it since it relates to laundry. Other then that, I kind of blow people off. Like the whole other 2 people who have contacted me.
Anyway, that's my little speel, schpeel. scpeel? you know what I mean.
Brilliantly said, Tiff! You are my hero.
p.s. I grabbed your button!
And it's true. It comes down to choices and from what it sounds like people tend to get themselves in over their heads.
There's just no need for that...and I don't think PR companies ever intended for that to happen. If anything this will be a wake up call for some of them to take into consideration all of those things you listed, content, loyalty, and readership.
Bravo.
I have been slimming down my reading list to those I either really enjoy reading but may never 'talk with' (big wigs like Pioneer Woman) or peeps I feel I have a 'connection' with. Those peeps are generally bloggers I have visited and had visits from for the past year. People that care that you are reading them to know them, rather than just hitting their page to spike their numbers.
Amen sister.
Your site is extremely informative:)
I have a 3 and a 6 year old - both vegetarians.
Not that I wouldn't want to help teens, but um, interesting.
(miss you)
Oh and I am nosy. So its a perfect fit. ;)
Yeah!
☼Hope you're having a sunshine ☼ filled Sunday!☼
That is exactly my problem with the black out. Well stated.
Did I see free taco bell in the comments? They obviously missed their biggest fan in that blast email! lol
AMEN to your words!
I'm a "connections" girl, making connections on an emotional level, that is. I am paid with comments, stories, laughs, friendships, camaraderie, understanding, and advice on my blog. It's been more than enough for me :)
I don't blog for the money because if I did, I'd have given that up as futile a long time ago lol. It's a hobby and an outlet. I just wrote one of those "Not Me!" posts about a bad shopping experience and I feel SO much better now - just unbelievably better. I know if I didn't have this outlet I'd be stewing.
I recently started another site (not a blog but an online newspaper/magazine) and am dealing now with the issue of "swag." People do want to give you freebies to get you to attend events or try their wares. I decided to handle it on a case by case basis but always disclose if I do end up accepting something like free tix. I'm not making money at this new venture and honestly free tix to attend an event that would cost me $35 or $50 could be the difference between getting me there to write about it or not.
Sorry this is getting long.....Anna at http://www.abdpbt.com wrote about how much bloggers can get paid on the Personal Finance section of her blog here (it was a few mos ago.) It was pretty interesting. She did an analysis of how much various paid bloggers might be making.
I'm heading over to read ScaryMommys post right now about this black out, because it's the first I've heard about it.
Thanks for the info.
This post is fantastic, Tiffany, and I couldn't agree with your thoughts more. Honestly, PR and social media naturally seem to go hand in hand. The trick is making the right "love connection". Brands should not associate with bloggers simply because they may have x number of page views.
If the content is utterly horrible, uninventive, and downright offensive, what is the point? I have a hard time believing that companies want to be aligned with bloggers like these long term.
-Francesca
Jamie :)
Great prompt for discussion!
When I began my blog a little over a year ago it was a solution to documenting my life (which includes family, career, friends) since I have no time to scrapbook. I write my blog for myself. Period. Fast forward a year and my blog readership is beyond anything I ever dreamed of. But the bottom line is that I still just write for one person. Me. That is why you'll find no ads on my blog. But I have no problem with blogs that do have ads because I assume that they are writing for themselves and if that is what they want on their blogs then great because it is their blog.
Thank you so very much for featuring me today and make sure you enter the SITS GIVEAWAY.
Now that things have settled I am going to make a comeback to being a good Saucy little girl and visiting each day. Sorry I had been MIA for a few months.
I've got no issue with people putting up ads. I've got no issue with people boycotting ads. I do take issue with people making blogging feel "clique-y" or like it's something I should feel is my "job," or when it's used as a way to judge others' choices.
Blog and let blog! ;)
(Love you so Tiffany, and am I ever glad FT wasn't based on page views or I'd---me of the wee page views--- never have gotten to meet you!)
So well put!
I don't have a huge following, but I have "met" some amazing people reading the blogs. If someone wants to review, or giveaway items, go for it. It's not why I visit, and if it bothers you then move along.
I guess I don't get the part about boycotting for a week because you are burned out. If you are burned out, take a break. I don't think we need a movement to do that.
You said though, didn't you? Much better than me! :)
I dunno... I personally like it better that way! Well said lady!
Personally, I LIKE doing reviews. It's afforded me the opportunity to try stuff (mainly cloth diapers) that I would never have been able to purchase otherwise. It's been great for our family, but I sure never expect to support us doing it.
I agree... if you are burned out, then stop blogging. Your true readers will be there when you get back.
~ AquarianJwl