The mommy blog world is abuzz regarding a recent article published by the Wall Street Journal. The article addresses bloggers, product reviews, and paid posts and essentially asks if bloggers are selling out. Since everyone seems to be talking about this article I decided it would be a good time to let you (my readers) know where I stand on the whole product review/ advertising/ paid post issue.
1. I am never compensated with money for any post I write. Everything I write about on this blog are my opinions, unless I am quoting someone else, and then it should be obvious.
2. I do accept products for review. My review policy is simple, if you want me to review your product you need to give me a sample. And, as a courtesy to my readers I also ask for another item to giveaway.
3. I do not accept products for review that do not embrace the themes of this blog. I receive emails every day from companies wanting me to review their products. I say no to almost all of them because they are not things I could support. You will never see me reviewing Happy Meals or mini blinds because those items are not relevant to my site.
4. Because of #3, my reviews are usually positive. If there is a negative, I will not hesitate to address it.
5. There are times when I love something so much that I will write about it and promote it without being asked by the company. Over the past year I have written about my love of OxiClean, Dave Ramsey, the Vita-Mix, Motivated Moms and other products. These companies have no idea I am writing about their product, I don’t need free stuff to write about things I like.
6. Sometimes I write about products and then the company contacts me regarding a giveaway or review. If I have already endorsed a product I am happy to give one away to a reader and share the fun!
7. The main goal of my blog has been and will always be to help my readers live a happier, simpler, healthier, greener, and thriftier lives. My readers always come first.
When I am interested in a product I research the product online. Many times my research leads me to blogs. When I am reading a review of a product, I am interested to know if the person was compensated for the review. I don’t mind paid posts, as long as I know that is what I am reading. When I watch a television commercial I know I am viewing a paid advertisement. When I am reading a blog the line is easily blurred. Rest assured the lines here will always be clear.
What do you all think? Is there a right or a wrong way to handle product reviews/ promotions? Can a blogger write too many reviews? Do you trust and/or use blogs when trying to find information about a certain product? If your favorite blogger recommends something are you more likely to try it? Share your thoughts below.
Coming next week: A guide to writing product reviews.
I love this. This is exactly how I feel about the subject but have never articulted it in writing. I might have to steal this idea for a post.
great post!
It is a really hard decision to make. I will not endorse something I do not stand behind. I have written posts that I was paid for but will only do so if I stand behind the post that they want written. Same with reviews. I will always be honest about what I like and do not like. And that is the most important thing I think.
You’ve made some good points. I write a lot of reviews on my blog, but only for homeschool curriculum and Christian books (so far), so they have only been things that might be of interest to my readers. I also am not compensated for any reviews other than receiving the product to review, and I also write about stuff I’ve bought myself. Since I was (and continue to be) on a review team, I received some things that I didn’t particularly love, and I tried to state the positives and who might like the product even while saying I wasn’t that crazy about it. I never said I really hated something though. That just isn’t my style. I am turned off by blogs with nothing but seemingly random reviews and feel like they’re one big ad.
This is pretty much how I feel about this too. I don’t know if I would feel right about being paid to blog about something specific. But, I don’t mind reviewing products as long as I can state my true opinion.
I’m somewhat new to the whole blogging world, and I never realized what a lucrative business it can be, and it definitely turns me off. I think it’s totally fine to endorse/review something that I have tried and love, as that would be helpful to my readers, but anything beyond that is a little much. (My blog isn’t big enough to make money or get requests for reviews LOL – so my opinion is all hypothetical.)
Great post!
Is there a right or a wrong way to handle product reviews/promotions?
I think you handle it the right way, but many don’t. If someone is going to review and promote all the time, they should have a separate blog for it where the message is clear.
Can a blogger write too many reviews?
Yes. I get sick of it.
Do you trust and/or use blogs when trying to find information about a certain product?
If I see a need for whatever it is, I’ll certainly try it.
If your favorite blogger recommends something are you more likely to try it?
Not necessarily. It depends on what it is.
Well done. Too many bloggers don’t have this down in writing somewhere, confusing the PR people who are reaching out to them and often, confusing their loyal readers. Thanks for posting this and for your honesty.
I am sure that if a blogger reviews too much it would turn me off. I would get suspicious. But dont get me wrong I love a good review. If a blogger has say a product advertisement on the side and has for example a receipe that has this product in it I am fine with that. That is what I think is a take it or leave it advertisement. I research almost everything I buy. I dont know everything but I do know a thing or two about affiliate marketing and it makes me see everything I read in a new light. This blog keeps it real and authentic and it shows. You say right off the bat… “I got this in the mail to review” The blogs that don’t will probably lose readers in time. Fake enthusiasm for product after product on a blog would start to smell like a affliate marketer
I absolutely love your blog! I think you do a good job when you review products. In no way does your reviews turn me away from your blog. You have a lot of good information to read. However, when someone only does reviews I do not read their blogs. There is no reason to read them. I read blogs to learn how to be a better mommy and wife. Not to figure out what else I need to buy.
I do try things based on what people say in their blogs. Actually, I bought oxyclean based on your recommendation.
I would think twice if I knew someone had been paid for their endorsement.
I recognize and realize that you are sharing your life in many ways. I actually love to hear about products you support and encourage, because usually I know nothing about these things and it educates me on what is out there that might be good for my own family. In no way do I think that you should spend all your time doing reviews without “getting a little something” for it.
If someone is continually doing reviews, with no purpose or discretion, I would think differently. But, my trust in certain bloggers doesn’t come from the products they review, but the life they lead and share.
Thanks for your posts!
I am fairly new to the “blog world” so I don’t really have an opinion about how product reviews should be handled. HOWEVER, I think the way you handle them is very professional. Every review feels like a helpful hint from a friend. How many times do we discover some trick as a mommy and rush to tell all of our friends? On that note, I tried OxyClean because of your review and I LOVE it! I saved a great deal of money by using your “mommy knowledge”. Thank you for sharing
PS: My husband did think I lost my mind when he opened our laundry room door and found 6 trash cans full of soaking laundry. I use my little bathroom trash cans to soak items…
I personally have never been ASKED to review something. In my blog I sometimes discuss a product/restaurant, etc. I rarely hold punches! LOL BUT… I DO actually refrain from giving the company/business/product name if I am giving a negative review. I will only name them if it is positive. Maybe it’s that I don’t want to hurt others?
I don’t know that a blogger can write too many reviews. While I don’t necessarily go SOLELY on what a blogger says, I will often consider it, and will try, or not try, something based on the blog review. But final decision is always based on my own experience.
I agree! I recently posted my stance on product reviews on my blog and its fairly similar. I do enjoy writing reviews and doing the homework behind finding a good product, but only within the realm of my blog and things that others would find useful. I’m already researching and doing lots of homework on the products I use, so I enjoy sharing that with my readers and they appreciate that I’ve done my homework when I do share.
Most bloggers are good about not doing too many reviews, but I did know of one that went way too far. She started out with just a few on a regular basis, which was understandable, but eventually she was posting nearly 20 times a day and every one was either a paid review, a book review or a contest entry. I can understand the desire to make money from blogging (what sahm can’t use the extra income) but that really was too much, imho.
Other than that, if it’s a blogger I like and feel that I’ve gotten to know through their writing, I’m inclined to consider the product they’re promoting if it’s 1) something I really can use and 2) they genuinely have a high opinion of it. Otherwise, I tend to skip that post and go on.
Thank you for putting us, your readers, first. I do try products recommended by the sites I love. It is good to know exactly where you are on this issue. Thanks.
I need to write up a post like this sometime! You did a really great job talking about what you are doing and why you are doing it.
As far as the questions…
I definitely think bloggers can get to where they are writing too many reviews. I have unsubscribed from blogs that have gone that direction.
If a blogger I trust gives a positive review to a product, I might be more likely to be interested in it. Depending on what it is though, I might be apt to try to find other opinions as well.
You stated your feelings on this topic very clearly and concisely. Just another reason I love your blog! I might just have to *borrow* this post idea, too.
I feel pretty much the same way you do!
I have done a few reviews/giveaways on my blog, but they are all for things I just LOVE.
I’ve only been blogging since February 2009 but I have done a few reviews. Like you, I don’t accept payment but do appreciate a product for myself and one for my readers to win.
I was once asked to review hunting knives. While I was a hunter prior to becoming a busy mommy, I didn’t think it related much to my blog and politely declined.
It’s fun to review things that are relevant to me and my blog but I don’t want to sell myself out either. I guess we just need to fine a balance. I always do honest reviews because I LIKE TO READ HONEST REVIEWS! I like to know what other mommies think of products and it helps me to know if it would work for me and our family!
I wouldn’t run out and buy something I didn’t need on a recommendation but I would appreciate a review of something I was considering.
And I often mention/review things without free things just because I like them!
I just want to say that I really enjoy your blog and you level-head on many issues. You are a bit of a blog role model to me and many others I am sure!
I appreciate your honesty about the reviews. You definitely have kept in line with your blog and what you want it to be about. I have bought a few things from recommendations from blogs.
Word of mouth is the best! 
It’s hard to “wade” through the product promos and the actual content of some blogs. Blogs like yours are just more obviously interested in content and readers. And I hope mine is too.