Comments on: The Bloggers Bad Rap {How Brands can better work with Bloggers}

By: Shairbearg

Shairbearg — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:46:19 +0000

Honestly if I see a company that doesn’t work with bloggers, or is rude to them I won’t shop with them anymore. I take the opinions of other mom’s much more seriously than some celeb, or whatever their marketing says. I think companies who are rude to bloggers, are being short-sighted. Honestly, social marketing and bloggers are the marketing of today, and if you aren’t on the fore-front of it, you will be trying to catch up.

Yes I have had a few nasty “WE can’t send free products to every begger who asks.” Which to me is rude, insulting, and undoes any positive things I have heard about the company. If I have shopped with that company before, and they are rude to me, then nope. You lost a customer. The thing is I am ok with them not working with me. I get that, and that maybe my stats aren’t up to their requirements, or maybe they aren’t working with people now. One of my awesome companies that I love said they don’t work with bloggers, b/c they have so many requests it is just too overwhelming. So they don’t venture there. Fine. I still shop with them. They were nice about it.

By: Brenda H

Brenda H — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 02:32:17 +0000

I have not done any giveaways or pitches yet because I am a new blogger, but read this to see what to expect. You taught me quite a bit with your blog tonight and I appreciate the insight you shared!

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 22:58:47 +0000

In reply to Jennifer Koutouras.

Thank you Jennifer! You were a pleasure to work with! I know without a doubt Glo Bags are going to be everywhere. I was actually surprised by how much you were willing to giveaway – but it shows exactly what you are saying – you were focusing on the customer. I will tell you it did build a great deal of goodwill with me. I love talking about my glo bag to anyone who will listen, and I must say I people usually don’t talk in the locker room – but when they see how nicely the Glo bag hangs up – most of them have to ask what it is and how it works! 🙂
I really appreciate hearing feedback from a brands side of the perspective too! 🙂

By: Jennifer Koutouras

Jennifer Koutouras — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:44:08 +0000

It’s funny, but when we are contacted by bloggers, we try as hard as we can to send a bag for review, even though we don’t actually make a profit yet and our per unit cost is high. We know what a great opportunity it is, and we appreciate all of the work that it takes. As a small company, we focus most of our energy on good customer service. Building goodwill needs to become important again. As a consumer, I am so tired of companies that just don’t care!

Keep up the good work!
Jennifer, The Glo Bag

By: Mandi

Mandi — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:29:50 +0000

I always expect great customer service. They never know where their next customers are going to come from. You are so right, bloggers are customers too. I’ve never done a product review or giveaway on my blog because I’m not sure how to go about it. But I would love to one day. I’m sorry you were treated rudely. I have read your reviews and giveaways before and you do a great job. Their loss!

By: Sara @ Mom Endeavors

Sara @ Mom Endeavors — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 05:40:30 +0000

Amen to that! So well said and so true! 😉

By: Lolo

Lolo — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 01:52:37 +0000

Well said. Time and effort goes into writing reviews and hosting giveaways. In no way are the products for free. It is a partnership between blogger and brand.

By: Cassie W

Cassie W — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 01:46:54 +0000

I think Tiffany has a great point. I would respond to the email. I would invite them to look at your blog and see that you are a true professional and you shuld be treated like one.

I also want to applaude you for posting this. I have been working on pitch letters and such since I have been back from BlogHer (I need to watch the videos because I feel like my notes are lacking) and this really has helped me as well.

By: Tiffany @ Home Grown Families

Tiffany @ Home Grown Families — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 01:02:47 +0000

Feel free to send a reply e-mail stating just that!! I have been more then verbal with my opinion on this type of insult. For right now, at least, Mommy Bloggers are THE way to advertise. Disney, Peg Perego, Serta, etc would NOT be doing it if we weren’t offering such HUGE returns for them.
Sadly, I have “overheard” some Mommy Bloggers making the SAME COMMENTS!! Of all people to make those comments~ they should know better!! {It was usually negative feedback about a negative review. Like “What is she complaining about? It was free!”} NOTHING we do is free!! This irks me almost as much as the PR Agencies that e-mail us wanting us to share this ‘amazing opportunity’ with our readers. I even had one tell us that “goodwill” was our payment… {That’s fine for non-profit’s but NOT a big company!}
Keep your head up! It’s a shame we ARE the bigger people here because if we did share the info we could show these people just how long of a reach we have… 🙂 Oh, taking the high road is HARD sometimes!!

By: GL

GL — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:47:07 +0000

That is sooooo frustrating! I’ve contacted companies saying I HAVE the product, I LOVE the product, and I want to review it on my blog, then asking if they’d like to sponsor a giveaway to gain attention but even with that, I’ve received some rude replies. Ridiculous. Makes me want to throw that product in the trash! ha!

Good for you for being the bigger person. Your hard work is appreciated by me, by the way!