Comments on: Mommy Blogs, Marketing, and Integrity

By: rebecca

rebecca — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:32:43 +0000

Thanks Karen.
I don’t think getting the products for free is so bad — it’s standard practice for reviewers to be given products — but I hate sponsored posts where marketers pay bloggers to write postive copy and link to their clients. As Mom 101 points out, as long as we review stuff that’s relevant to our blog we should be good. (As much as would love to review a new restaurant or spa, for example, it’s not what the Playground Confidential is all about.)

I hope to see you tomorrow!

By: Karen MEG

Karen MEG — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:14:29 +0000

Great post Rebecca!

I’ve seen the blogosphere morph into mommy marketing mecca as well, since I started blogging. It’s crazy all the blogs that are pure giveaway and review sites. I’ll pop into them occasionally, but there are so many other quality blogs about real people, with real writing, that I’d rather spend my time on.

And I’ll admit to only recently sticking my toe into the product review realm myself. It is very easy to, especially when you’re a SAHM looking to earn an extra dollar (or cent) in today’s economy. And since I love stuff in general, it made sense for me to try my hand at some reviews. I like free stuff as much as the next person (maybe more).

It’s a slippery slope, though, and I grapple with it on an almost daily basis. I also started once my 2nd was born, as an outlet, and a voice. And I have found the community and the cathartic element of blogging to be a godsend at times.

So for that reason, I put up a separate review blog that no one really reads. For practice, and maybe someday it will grow too! And I always divulge if I got these products free for review.

I love your blog, BTW. Hoping to get to the BlogHer meetup tomorrow, if I can stave off this cold that’s threatening to get the better of me and my girl.

By: Mom101

Mom101 — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:46:48 +0000

I love that you’re thinking so much about this. Just to be clear, I don’t think that reviews are inherently bad – I do them daily at Cool Mom Picks.

I guess there are a few things that can keep you on track though: Make sure you love the product (check.) Make sure it’s relevant to your readers and not just something you want. Make sure it’s on brand for your blog. If you’re all about cookies (and hell, who isn’t?) I bet an Awesome Cookie of the Week review would go over gangbusters!

And remind me if you do that – because I would very much like to read awesome cookie recommendations.

By: Rebecca @bitofmomsense

Rebecca @bitofmomsense — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:45:32 +0000

This is a great post, and I so agree on all levels. I have the same type of approach to my blog too – I’ll sell ad space but it will be made clear and I am super picky about reviewing anything – which is likely why I don’t have a lot of reviews! The reviews I do are really from me – something I’ve bought or done.

I wish everyone could make money on their blog, there are some fantastic ones that more than deserve to, but I don’t want that at the expense of everyone’s integrity.

Disclosure is key I think.

Thanks for writing such an honest post. I’ll click on some Google Ads on my way out :)