Comments on: Bloggers and Freebies http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html When Everyday Decisions Add Up to Something Amazing Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:23:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: chezjulie http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-29244 chezjulie Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:56:48 +0000 http://www.healthytippingpoint.dreamhosters.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-29244 I don't have a problem with someone reviewing freebies, clearly stated as such, on a blog. But I would have assumed that "sponsorship" of an event simply meant that the company allowed its name and logo to be used in advertising, signs, etc. <br /><br />I would never have guessed that the sponsorship also snuck in a product placement requirement, which makes me more uncomfortable. Like product placement in the movies, it is not transparent to the viewer/reader, and ultimately changes the director/blogger's creation.<br /><br />I do think it is good that you have explained the sponsorship deal to your readers. Like others, I get many ideas from reading food blogs. I don't have a problem with someone reviewing freebies, clearly stated as such, on a blog. But I would have assumed that "sponsorship" of an event simply meant that the company allowed its name and logo to be used in advertising, signs, etc.

I would never have guessed that the sponsorship also snuck in a product placement requirement, which makes me more uncomfortable. Like product placement in the movies, it is not transparent to the viewer/reader, and ultimately changes the director/blogger's creation.

I do think it is good that you have explained the sponsorship deal to your readers. Like others, I get many ideas from reading food blogs.

]]> By: eatingRD http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28839 eatingRD Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:52:48 +0000 http://www.healthytippingpoint.dreamhosters.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28839 wow, I didn't get to read all the comments, but there are definitely some great points out there. Honestly I never really thought about this topic in this way before and never looked at food reviews in a negative light. I think they are a great way to introduce others to different foods, especially when they are honest and true to their review. I think that disclosure would be a beneficial aspect to blogging, but everything shouldn't have to be mentioned every. single. time. That will get just as redundant as the eating the same products over and over and over gets. A featured products page is a great idea. I mostly like to look at what original recipes a blogger has to offer rather than products, but I'm not going to lie that they do influence even if we may not even realize it. And you know, I don't know if I can speak for others when I say this but, to be honest I'm jealous!! :) You certainly have worked your ass off to get where you're at now and you completely deserve success and free products/sponsorship by all means. But, it can be like a commercial sometimes when blogs just review free products they receive all the time (dvr for blogs?). I think your blog, out of most of the more trafficked, I have to say I don't feel that way. I think you represent a true person, not friggin' perfect all the time, who eats nutritious meals on a budget and busy schedule. Sometimes I feel like I don't want to read other blogs because they are TOO perfect, but I always keep coming back to yours because it's true. :) Thanks! wow, I didn't get to read all the comments, but there are definitely some great points out there. Honestly I never really thought about this topic in this way before and never looked at food reviews in a negative light. I think they are a great way to introduce others to different foods, especially when they are honest and true to their review. I think that disclosure would be a beneficial aspect to blogging, but everything shouldn't have to be mentioned every. single. time. That will get just as redundant as the eating the same products over and over and over gets. A featured products page is a great idea. I mostly like to look at what original recipes a blogger has to offer rather than products, but I'm not going to lie that they do influence even if we may not even realize it. And you know, I don't know if I can speak for others when I say this but, to be honest I'm jealous!! :) You certainly have worked your ass off to get where you're at now and you completely deserve success and free products/sponsorship by all means. But, it can be like a commercial sometimes when blogs just review free products they receive all the time (dvr for blogs?). I think your blog, out of most of the more trafficked, I have to say I don't feel that way. I think you represent a true person, not friggin' perfect all the time, who eats nutritious meals on a budget and busy schedule. Sometimes I feel like I don't want to read other blogs because they are TOO perfect, but I always keep coming back to yours because it's true. :) Thanks!

]]> By: Sam http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28822 Sam Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:26:34 +0000 http://www.healthytippingpoint.dreamhosters.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28822 Kathy-We live on Guam which is a US territory but some companies (them included)consider it int'l shipping while others do not. The ONLY shipping option it was giving me was $185. I tried calling (their 800 # won't accept calls outside CONUS) and emailed CS twice, then the CEO once and never received a response. So I was never able to order it at all. I found Life's Greens at Vitamin World which I'm using instead. Kathy-We live on Guam which is a US territory but some companies (them included)consider it int'l shipping while others do not. The ONLY shipping option it was giving me was $185. I tried calling (their 800 # won't accept calls outside CONUS) and emailed CS twice, then the CEO once and never received a response. So I was never able to order it at all. I found Life's Greens at Vitamin World which I'm using instead.

]]> By: KK @ Running Through Life http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28783 KK @ Running Through Life Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:18:47 +0000 http://www.healthytippingpoint.dreamhosters.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28783 Right on. Right on.

]]> By: Melissa http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28762 Melissa Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:04:30 +0000 http://www.healthytippingpoint.dreamhosters.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28762 Hi Caitlin,<br />I like product reviews as long as they're honest. My only problem with the reviews is that lately it seems like a lot of bloggers are being given the same products to review and they're all eating them at the same time day after day. The blogs are starting to become repetitive and the personalities are missing. I see many bloggers eating the same things for breakfast, then lunch, and then dinner. Some bloggers have seemed to stop cooking and are just relying on the products. It's a change I haven't liked, but I understand that you have to do what you can to make money and to pay for things like the Summit. I just hope this won't be a permanent change. Hi Caitlin,
I like product reviews as long as they're honest. My only problem with the reviews is that lately it seems like a lot of bloggers are being given the same products to review and they're all eating them at the same time day after day. The blogs are starting to become repetitive and the personalities are missing. I see many bloggers eating the same things for breakfast, then lunch, and then dinner. Some bloggers have seemed to stop cooking and are just relying on the products. It's a change I haven't liked, but I understand that you have to do what you can to make money and to pay for things like the Summit. I just hope this won't be a permanent change.

]]> By: Laura W http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28760 Laura W Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:41:12 +0000 http://www.healthytippingpoint.dreamhosters.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28760 It seems like you do the best you can when it comes to letting readers know if you're showing something on the blog that was a freebie. I wouldn't think for a minute that you blog for the "free stuff"- it's clear that blogging takes way too much time for that to really pay off! You put hours upon hours into this so it's really only fair that you get to try complimentary new products. <br /><br />It's no coincidence that my favorite bloggers seem to be honest and "real" about their work, and that comes through in their blogs. I would agree that some bloggers spend way too much time reviewing products, but, that's just my opinion and no one forces me to read those blogs.<br /> <br />I really appreciate your honesty-- you never review 12798749 products just because, and you just went out of your way to explain how the summit is being taken care of! It seems like you do the best you can when it comes to letting readers know if you're showing something on the blog that was a freebie. I wouldn't think for a minute that you blog for the "free stuff"- it's clear that blogging takes way too much time for that to really pay off! You put hours upon hours into this so it's really only fair that you get to try complimentary new products.

It's no coincidence that my favorite bloggers seem to be honest and "real" about their work, and that comes through in their blogs. I would agree that some bloggers spend way too much time reviewing products, but, that's just my opinion and no one forces me to read those blogs.

I really appreciate your honesty– you never review 12798749 products just because, and you just went out of your way to explain how the summit is being taken care of!

]]> By: redhead75 http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28759 redhead75 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:33:49 +0000 http://www.healthytippingpoint.dreamhosters.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28759 Who cares if it was donated or you asked for it?? All I want to know is if it's worth my $$! If I want to find out for myself all I have to do is e-mail and ask for a sample...it's that easy. Who cares if it was donated or you asked for it?? All I want to know is if it's worth my $$! If I want to find out for myself all I have to do is e-mail and ask for a sample…it's that easy.

]]> By: Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28748 Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:20:41 +0000 http://www.healthytippingpoint.dreamhosters.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28748 colleen- sorry i must've misunderstood your question. no of course stonyfield did not ask me to blog without saying they are sponsoring the yogurt consumption. they are a very transparent company and i'm a very transparent blogger. i would never agree to do that nor would i ever work with anyone who asked me! thats lying and misleading my readers. colleen- sorry i must've misunderstood your question. no of course stonyfield did not ask me to blog without saying they are sponsoring the yogurt consumption. they are a very transparent company and i'm a very transparent blogger. i would never agree to do that nor would i ever work with anyone who asked me! thats lying and misleading my readers.

]]> By: colleen http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28747 colleen Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:13:46 +0000 http://www.healthytippingpoint.dreamhosters.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28747 not to belabor the point, but I'm not sure you answered my question...Did you agree to blog about Oikos w/o explicitly mentioning the free samples? I'm not asking to be a pain - just very curious about how these things work :-) not to belabor the point, but I'm not sure you answered my question…Did you agree to blog about Oikos w/o explicitly mentioning the free samples? I'm not asking to be a pain – just very curious about how these things work :-)

]]> By: Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28746 Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:04:14 +0000 http://www.healthytippingpoint.dreamhosters.com/2009/07/bloggers-and-freebies.html#comment-28746 colleen- thanks :) i have stated a bijillion times (LOL) that stonyfield is the primary sponsor for the summit and that i'm on the planning committee, so i thought it was pretty clear they are sponsoring my yogurt consumption. if it was not clear, im sorry! one of the troubles with this issue is that if i say it once, not all readers are going to read it. which is why i created the featured products page. colleen- thanks :) i have stated a bijillion times (LOL) that stonyfield is the primary sponsor for the summit and that i'm on the planning committee, so i thought it was pretty clear they are sponsoring my yogurt consumption. if it was not clear, im sorry! one of the troubles with this issue is that if i say it once, not all readers are going to read it. which is why i created the featured products page.

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