Are You Providing Value To Your Blog Readers?
// 7.16.09 // Filed under: Tech & Blogging
The debate over sponsored blogging has dragged on and on. I’ve read some bloggers lamenting over the record number of sponsorships happening at this year’s BlogHer conference. Just yesterday, Newsweek posted an article titled, “Trusted Mom or Sellout?” And MomDot has organized an ill-conceived PR Blackout week.
Companies and bloggers alike are getting more savvy when working with one another, but there is still controversy in the world of “parenting bloggers and product reviews.” Are Moms “selling out?”
I think a more appropriate question would be, “Are Moms providing value to their readers?”
What Does “The Stuff” Really Mean To You?
As a writer, your job is to inform and/or entertain. And – make no mistake – if you blog, seek comments, and participate in social media and the blogging community, you are a writer. You are putting words out there for the world to read, and that means you have a responsibility.
If you enjoy reviewing products and believe you are filling a need for your readers (some niche blogs do this very well), by all means, go for it. But I think sometimes bloggers fall into a trap where they see “the stuff” as a measure of their success. Getting emails from companies that want your opinion, and want you to write about it, and want to compensate you (with product or any other way)? Well, that’s flattering, right? Who doesn’t want free stuff?
And maybe you get addicted to the stuff. Oh, the stuff! We get offered some sweet stuff. We use the term “swag” now, which is defined as “a burglar’s or thief’s booty.” So it is subconsciously implied that you are stealing stuff. When you get the stuff, you might feel obligated to write about the stuff, because that’s why they send it, and what if the stuff stops coming?!? What if the people that provide the stuff no longer deem your blog worthy?
Integrity
One of the goals of a public relations professional is to get eyeballs on their product without paying to advertise for them. There’s nothing wrong with that, and almost every writer and editor has written about a product they have sampled, or that has come across their desk in the form of a press release. Public relations and marketing professionals are important to writers, but they don’t define your success. You are under no obligation to write about anything.
If you’re overwhelmed with product pitches, be more selective. I get the point of MomDot’s “blackout” (write about what you love), but the way it was presented was all wrong. Why blame your exasperation on PR people? They’re just doing their jobs. Liz/Mom 101 covers this wonderfully in her post, as does Caroline McCarthy at CNET.
If you try a product, genuinely endorse it, and feel it would provide value to your readers, you should pass your opinion on to your audience. If you’re just reviewing something because a company sent you a freebie, you’re only hurting yourself. Your audience will eventually lose trust – and interest – in you.
There really is no controversy. As parenting bloggers, we have the good fortune to be able to direct our own publications. There are no editors standing over us (at least not with personal blogs) demanding we write about a certain topic. It’s our responsibility to grow and know our audience and provide them with value. If your blog thrives through product reviews, good for you. But if your blog is not thriving, step back and re-evaluate what your readers want.
About two years ago, I wrote a post titled “I Kinda Loathe Product Reviews.” I said I wasn’t interested in reading “review” blogs on a regular basis, I would not add them to my feed reader, and I wasn’t sure where this whole trend in review blogs was going. (Apparently it’s going toward “burnout.”) I also stated that I didn’t enjoy visiting a blog I love and seeing a random review of something that totally didn’t fit the blog’s topic. And finally, I said I would no longer review products on my blog. I stand by my thoughts in that post, with one exception. I’ve decided I will entertain product reviews again. Occasional, relevant, transparent reviews of products that fit my blog’s mission and that I think you, dear reader, will value.
I Kinda Loathe Product Reviews
I’m Giving Away a Gift Card Because THIS PR Person Gets It
BlogHer Plans and Growing Your Blog Community
38 Responses to “Are You Providing Value To Your Blog Readers?”
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I review products I like when I want to and when I think the information is beneficial to my readers. Mostly I write about what is on my heart. But, to each her own. If a blogger has been taken in by the RIDICULOUS amount of emails from generic PR people touting their products and now feel burnt out than by all means, take a break. But, remember the good ole Dr. Philism- we teach people how to treat us. If mom bloggers are burnt out from blogging for companies for free they have no one to blame but themselves for allowing it to happen.
Melissa Multitasking Mama´s last blog ..Fun, Exciting Kids Games Your Kids Will Love to Play
Whoo!!
This is awesome Shannon, every single word. Obviously your blog is about what you want to write about first, but if it attracting and keeping an audience is important to you, then their interests have to factor in there somewhere. I guess I’m just not that interested in someone describing their new refrigerator.
Well, maybe if it’s a Sub Zero.
mom101´s last blog ..My 2 cents (ie about a million words) on the PR Blackout
great piece. You said it best when you said moms think the “stuff” is what’s making them successful or important. Moms that look to free products or comments for that matter to measure their “success” are on the wrong track in my opinion-hence contributing to their burnout.
Any room left in that 5k?
Lee of MWOB´s last blog ..My Delicious Summer Babies
Congrats on being the featured blogger on SITS…interesting post today, something to think about.
Great post. I hear every word too. It is really important that we keep our integrity or we lose the audience which got us followers in the first place. I have a no ad blog and plan to keep it that way. I get followers very slowly…. but for the integrity that I keep, it’s worth it.
Val
Val´s last blog ..Remodeled kids kitchens!
Stopping by from SITS. Not sure I did the game right but at least I have it a whirl..
Amy´s last blog ..TEN
Hi – stopping by from SITS…Happy Saturday Sharefest! Great post – I cant wait to check out the rest of your blog.
Tina ´s last blog ..Child to Cherish {Review}
Since, I’m pretty new at blogging I’m not sure if I can way in on this subject yet but, I will read more on this topic:) Congratulations on being featured!
wanda´s last blog ..Inside vs Outside: Put the gadgets Down!
I would think that if a mom read a review, tried the product, and it didn’t match the review, then the blog that reviewed would lose credibility and readership.
I don’t advertise. Haven’t had the opportunity. However, if I did, it would have to relate to my conent mission and be something I truly believed in.
Each blog is “owned” by the writer. They make decisions for their “product” they create. Like all “businesses,” it will either succeed or fail by their choices. It’s all about choice!
What a great debate opporunity. Thanks so much!
maryleigh´s last blog ..♥ The Freshness after the Storm
Good points Shannon. I find it interesting that you said in a previous post you didn’t know where the product review trend was going 2 years ago, but now realize it’s towards “burnout.”
I did not start out as a product reviewer, but rather a niche WAHM blog, with personal musings thrown in. Then I developed 3 blogs, and am now back to one (all merged) because of …. burnout.
Which leads me to the decision I will be focusing more on my enjoyment of sharing WAHM info, and parenting and grandparenting stories with maybe a relevant review thrown in now and then when I wrap up what I have lined up.
Thanks for an inspiring piece!
Cindi @ Moomette’s Magnificents´s last blog ..Back To School: Accessorize With PakNak – Review and Giveaway
Forgot to mention: Happy Saturday Sharefest from SITS
Cindi @ Moomette’s Magnificents´s last blog ..Back To School: Accessorize With PakNak – Review and Giveaway
love your blog design!!! very cool. congrats on being the SITS FB too!
scrappysue´s last blog ..would you like an AK-47 with that?
I agree with alot of your points… I review products but make it very clear to companies that I will not pretend to like something. I also only consider products that relate to my readers, if it’s not aligned with my readers, why on earth would I waste their time, ya know?
Susan´s last blog ..McDonald’s – Are You loving it?
Perhaps it’s because I’m not a “mommy blogger” or maybe it’s because I didn’t have a contact link set up, but I never had a PR company search me out and offer me swag. At first I was a little jealous of the other bloggers who were getting all this free stuff and I couldn’t figure out why. Looking back at it now though, I’m sort of lucky that I didn’t get sucked into it. I wouldn’t review something that I didn’t love and although I could sell something like no tomorrow (I’m going into Public Relations as a major in College!), it doesn’t really bother me anymore.
I was approached the other day for the first time by a company and I said yes, because I truly do enjoy that company and have been a long time customer.
I started my blog for writing, not for product reviews and at the end of the day it would be nice if more bloggers could remember that as well. I’m not saying I’m not going to do reviews, ect ever, but my main focus is on writing and sharing certain parts of my life and other things that I find helpful.
I loved this post. It was right on key and made perfect sense; I’ll be back for more!
I found you off of SITS and I wanted to say hi!
Thanks so much for sharing, I’m a homeschooler too so I’m so glad to have found this site. Very interesting post for 7/16. Love the quality. I’ll be back soon, Julie
Julie Jacobs´s last blog ..House is Sold!
Happy SITS,
I do reviews now and then but only on products which I feel are relevant to my readers and those that I am personally interested in.
Dominique´s last blog ..Weekend Edition-Rejuvinating your family
I think that you make an excellent point. I mostly blog about activities for kids along with parenting advice. I do review products that I think relate to my readers, for example a children’s book I love or a fun children’s dvd etc. I am picky about what I review though. It needs to be beneficial to my readers. Excellent post-thanks!
Loved Saturday share fest at sits- came here from there!
Toddler Craft Onna´s last blog ..Toddler Crafts Art Contest Voting
Great article, thank you!
Debbie´s last blog ..Candy Buffet
You said it perfectly. I, too, posted yesterday about the “Blackout”.
Fabulous post over at SITS!
Tiffany´s last blog ..The Black Out.
Nice post!
I’m starting to feel like a broken record… because I keep saying the same thing on other blogs. lol But I resent the implication of how this whiny blackout is reflecting on “mommy” bloggers. You do not see tech, entertainment and social media bloggers, for example, staging a blackout because they cannot handle the pressures that blogging entails.
And if you are so burned out, one week will not fix your problem. In fact, we all know how stressful it is when you come back from a vacation trying to get caught up with everything you missed out on while you were on vacation.
Anyway, just don’t give people the wrong impression of mom bloggers. And there are a whole lot of great mommy bloggers out there!
Donna´s last blog ..The Mommy Confessions – I hate to exercise
Stopping by from SITS..I love this post. I have been approached by one company to try their product for a review and giveaway. Small company though, not like Dyson. I guess I am too new because I would love to try more products from big companies. Naive maybe. But first and foremost its MY blog about my kids and my crazy life. I wouldn’t advertise anything I don’t trust!
Candy @ Serendipity Mom´s last blog ..College Headaches
Great tips, I read another article a few months ago and it helped me out tremendously. I also learned the linking out rule quickly too…many bloggers don’t realize what a difference sharing other links makes.
I think reviews should be done sparingly for a blog that calls itself a mom/mommy blog. I don’t know of anyone who wants to only read a person’s reviews day after day. Blech. Other than that, I go back and forth on whether I want to do reviews at all on my particular blog. For now, I only review things I’m REALLY interested in like eco-friendly products for kids and that seems to work for me because my readers are a lot like me. But that’s something that happens every-now-and-again. Reading awesome blogs like HulaSeventy (which has little to no ad/product/pitch/PR material) makes me really want to just enjoy writing and sharing.
Just give people tips that are about _them_ and what _they’re_ interested in. Works for me
I believe that some of the remarks are correct, but not all of them. They are right when they point out that some people write reviews just to make a buck, but the majority is not that way. I believe that bloggers should be loyal to their readers and not surprise them with unexpected content that doesn’t match their blog.
I was having issues with this. My blog is about eclectic spirituality, but I also writing. I wanted to address both in a single blog, so I decided to write book reviews. Then I encountered another roadblock: in order to write honest, unbiased, and complete book reviews I needed to address everything in the book. Well, I knew that some of my reader would be bored to tears with a complete review, so I gave it up.
Recently I found a solution though, I write my book reviews for two other blogs and whenever I find a book that is perfect for my blog, then I go ahead and write it there.
I don’t have that many followers (yet) I’ve only been around since May, but I can tell you that if being honest and consistent with my content is what is going to keep them around, then I’ll be able to keep the ones I have.
This was a great thought provoking post, thanks for sharing
Magaly´s last blog ..Book Reviews: “The Puff & The Pagan”
Thanks so much for sharing, I’m a homeschooler too so I’m so glad to have found this site. Very interesting post for 7/16. Regards
I think that you make an excellent point. I mostly blog about activities for kids along with parenting advice. I do review products that I think relate to my readers, for example a children’s book I love or a fun children’s dvd etc. I am picky about what I review though. It needs to be beneficial to my readers. Excellent post-thanks!
Great post! I am still relatively new at blogging. I don’t do reviews or anything. If I really think a product is great, I’ll say something about it on my blog. I’m not worried about getting paid for saying it… That’s not why I blog. I think you said exactly what I feel about the whole review situation…
Thanks for sharing!
Mama Mel´s last blog ..Celebrating My 100th Post With a Giveaway!
Excellent article at SITS today…….LOVING your blog and wonderful information. Thank you for sharing so freely!
angie´s last blog ..Sears resolution
Fabulous piece…Very well written! Thanks for sharing.
Jacqueline´s last blog ..{Red Hot…Smokin’}
Great tips, I read another article a few months ago and it helped me out tremendously. I also learned the linking out rule quickly too…many bloggers don’t realize what a difference sharing other links makes.
I respectfully disagree with everything on this post.
Whatever happened to blogging for fun?? Who decided that a blog must, or must not, include specific elements?? Why is the implied intent that every blogger “must” be aimed at attracting and increasing it’s audience??
Hello? It’s a blog. Just a blog. Only a blog. Jeepers creepers, we aren’t curing cancer here people!!
Jeannie´s last blog ..So I was thinking…
Good points here and thank you for speaking up about this. I am very careful what products or books I review. If it looks like I might not like the product I pass on reviewing it. If the company says they want an honest opinion then I will review and be honest with both pros and cons. I rely on other homeschool moms curriculum reviews so I would hope they are not caught up in this kind of scenario with PR people.
Sisterlisa´s last blog ..August 2009
Im fairly new to the blog world, so I appreciate this advice.
-visiting from SITS
Julia´s last blog ..Giveaway!!! "Letter To My Daughter"
You have your point and I agree with you. Values do matter:-)
Character and values are the real reflection of ones personality. we are being judged as well by the things that we write and share:-)
I always say that I don’t have riches that you can find in this world but I do have something that my father gave me..It was the only thing he left me when he died.and that’s his legacy.. His VALUES.!