I’ve been wanting to write about this issue for sometime and I haven’t gotten the nerve to just write it, so here it goes.
We as bloggers get pitch on products (some more than others). I have had the pleasure of reviewing 2 products in the past, YBF Skincare Control and the Microsoft Zune.
Now there are some bloggers out there in the blogosphere that use their blogger profile to do more than just review products, but they use it to get free stuff just for the sake of proving they have the clout. Yes most of these bloggers are considered high profile or A-Listers, but where do we draw the line at what you ask for just because you are a blogger?
I have seen some A-Listers (and B-Listers) who feel that just because they are a blogger they are entitled to free access to events, free products, free anything. I can understand that they have some pull in the online community, but as humans are we falling short here? There are some great A-Listers that are using the blogosphere for good and helping out the community through food drives, highlighting community events, and just getting the word out on certain issues.
As bloggers should we be offended if we are not invited to attend an event, review a product, or participate in a blogger forum? I have been surprised by some grown adults acting like spoiled 2 year old when they do not “get their way”. Have the blogebrities forgotten their reason for starting a blog? I for one have to think back to why I started blogging 2 years ago. I started to let my family know what I was doing and now that has grown into sharing my life experience with friends and family.
Do I want the fame that comes with being a blogebrity? Not really. I don’t think I could use my blog as a means to get free items for the sake of getting items. I am honoured to be able to review products, attend events, and let people know how I feel about certain companies and their products. I’m glad I have a voice and I hope through time more and more will listen to my voice.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some truly amazing bloggers out there. I am truly blessed to have some great blogger friends and I hope the fame of their blogs doesn’t cloud who they really are inside!
Amen.
http://web.me.com/kiahtucker/Site/Video.html
I was really encouraged at Blog World when the big PR gurus like Chris Brogan said – it doesn’t matter how many incoming links or readers you have – every blog counts. Especially when it comes to companies that want to find those who are “worthy” or doing reviews or inviting to their events – if you have a blog, you’re an influencer no matter what.
I think it’s also very important for bloggers to establish why they are blogging in the first place, like you said. Is it to make money? Be famous? Just to have fun? To inform? To create social change? I think without that main goal or even mission statement bloggers will continue to be lost and misunderstood.
I think it’s very important to use the power of our blogs for social change. If in the interim we managed to score stuff, all the better. But for me, that’s not the main purpose. My blog is personal and it’s very Raul-centric
@ Buzz – Great video! LOVE IT! and hey I love my blog
@Rebecca – I agree with you 100%. You do good for the community and you bring awareness to issues I would never have thought of. And yes you have to think why you started a blog in the first place. Granted blogs change through time and I like people that keep their initial blog with that thought.
@Raul – yes blogs can be great for social change. I’m starting to see how much good can be obtained from it.
I’ve had an email from an independent business owner who uses the blogosphere for their products. He himself has great success with bloggers but also finds some mainstream to push their clout around.
“What’s frustrating as a small business owner is when, say, a writer for one of the world’s top magazine publishers seeks us out, asks for thousands of dollars in product so they can work on a review…then not only do they not write anything, but they don’t even have the courtesy to respond with a thank you.”
Keep the great comments coming guys and I’m glad to get this out there on the blogosphere
Okay…. so I do agree that bloggers shouldn’t be greedy when they don’t get what they ask for. However!, if a compnay wishes for you to Blog about their product, I think it is only fair that they give you the item at no cost!! I mean come on! It is FREE Publicity
You know how expensive it cost’s to advertise in a Newspaper or Magazine?? The least they could do is provide you the unit. Besides I find you get more response from advertising online than in a NewsPapper, Face it most of us are sitting in front of a computer for more than 8 hours a day…. Theres my two sense 
I agree as well. And I know I’ve been just as guilty as many. It’s a rush to get cool stuff for free and into special events…but when I sit back and think about what I really like to do, I realize that it’s not about that at all.
During my hiatus period I’ve realized that I just love to write and take pictures.
Getting back to that has been very freeing.
Holy Mother Mary and the Baby Jesus YES. I used to work at a large and influential college radio station when I was in university, so I’m no stranger to the allure of swag. However, radio had a little system called “payola” that pretty much prevented us from adding content in return for gifts. I wish the blogosphere was bound by similar rules.
Entitlement makes my brain hurt.
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One of the reasons I could never really bring myself to advertise on my site, accept money for specific content, or provide editorial comment on pretty much anything which wasn’t self-prompted.
It would be different if I were a professional blogger, certainly, but as a personal (or even “creative” blogger, as I like to think of it) I’d have little to gain (only some swag which probably isn’t what I would have chosen to purchase anyway) and a lot to lose: honesty, creative control of my site, and most importantly interesting site content.
Nothing turns me off a blog faster than when I realize it’s nothing but a paid advertisement for stuff. I can read those elsewhere.
It’s a fine balance when it comes to ads for sure but I have chosen to include them on my site as long as they follow certain rules… they need to be local, it needs to be a product I can get behind, I can interview someone at the company to find out more and add content for my readers other than a new logo, and I will always disclose if something was given to me for free, for a discount, or if it was a paid add. Again, it all comes back to deciding what kind of blogger you’re going to be. If it’s strictly personal, that’s awesome. But if you’re going to “go pro” you need to understand what you’re getting you (and most importantly) your readers into.
While my current version doesn’t accept ads, I do think I’ll get to the point (and I’m starting to get to that point) where I’ll need to accept paid advertisements, but also with certain restrictions (as very properly indicated by Rebecca). We are not out to sell our souls, but we also have to put food on the table. And if our blogs get us some income, why not? I know for a fact that whenever I talk to someone who is interested in my blog, I say exactly what I blog about – ME
(well, me and the things that happen to me, including events, etc.)
But heck, even bloggers who make money off of their blogs are also doing good. See the most recent example of John Chow with his matching donations to the Union Gospel Mission.
My point of this blog post was to bring people back down. There are some bloggers out there that will use the fact they have a blog as a way to get free stuff and get items.
I’m not denying anyone for advertising on their blog, that is totally different from this post.
It is when we as bloggers use our “blogger status” that is annoying. The “Do you know who I am?” “Do you know how many hits my blog gets?” phrases comes to mind. I just want bloggers not to forget where they came from and who they are!
There is a lot of good that bloggers have done and I just want to make sure bloggers are not thought of as “bottom feeders”.