How to Win Friends and Influence People
Recently WWD, Fashionista.com and Jezebel have all been talking about “top bloggers” and ethics - a topic that is certainly not new (Really WWD? Bloggers receive “gifts” from brands? REALLY?? Get out of town!), but is important nonetheless if you are a consumer or writer of fashion blogs.
As the proprietor of a fairly new blog that is just now becoming the tiniest of blips on brands’ radars, I am starting to deal with a number of these ethical questions. Here are a few I have encountered, and how I’m dealing with them:
1. Gifts:
1a. Swag bags at events - Thank you! Swag bags are a nice way to introduce me to new products, services or designs. However, 99.99% of items I receive in swag bags are not relevant to my blog, or are a product about which I feel lukewarm. In 8 months of blogging, I will feature my first swag-bag introduced product later this month in an upcoming gift guide. I’m featuring it not just because I like it, but because I really, really like it and intend on purchasing it myself.
1b. Gifts from brands - Thank you! Gifts are a nice way for me to review new styles or product. If a gift does not mesh with my personal style, or if I do not like it, I will not write about it, and will return it to the brand (if possible). I will always note when any any item in an outfit post has been provided by a brand (in accordance with Federal Trade Commission guidelines - I take the law seriously).
Full disclosure: Honestly - I am still working out how I feel about this one. Sometimes I feel like I should not accept any gifts. Maybe I should put a price limit on what I accept - but where do I draw the line? $50? $100? How do you as blog readers feel about this? Sound off on my Facebook Page, Tweet me or shoot me an email at BosFashionista@gmail.com
2. Editorial Content: I am the sole author of content on The Boston Fashionista. Brands, boutiques, stylists and other sources provide useful insight into some posts, at which point I will quote them. If I am writing about a brand, boutique, stylist, etc… I do not send copy for pre-approval and no one dictates language for me.
Full disclosure: I have made one edit to a post at the request of the brand involved. There was a discrepancy between the local and national policy of the brand regarding photographs of which I was, at first, not informed. It was a learning moment for me - now I know to ensure that anyone who invites me to review product has full clearance from their brand to do so.
3. Events: Thanks for inv
iting me! Events are a nice way for me to see designs or product up close and are excellent ways for me to meet the designers or the people behind the brand. Rarely, I will write about an event if it is relevant to the blog (i.e. a fashion show for an independent designer, a launch party for a store from which I think my readers will shop). If I think my readers may want to attend, I’ll post the event on my Facebook page.
4. Affiliate Programs: An affiliate program is a way that bloggers can earn money by directing readers to a product. I am an affiliate with Beso.com, which is a site that helps you locate almost anything, apparel-wise, that you may want to buy. It works like this: I’ll wear a pair of shoes on the blog, and, at the bottom of my post, state the brand. I will link to the page on Beso.com that directs readers to where the shoes are sold. If readers purchase an item, I will receive a few cents for directing them to the site. I use Beso because you can find almost almost everything there and because I want to provide my readers a service if they are interested in something that I am wearing. The amount of money I “earn” by doing this is extremely, extremely minimal.
5. Ads: Right now, there are no advertisements on The Boston Fashionista. There may be, someday. This is America, after all! If I ever do accept ads, I will make sure they are with a brand that I trust and who is congruent with the blog.
6. Giveaways: I’m certainly not opposed to giving away fun stuff to my readers! I will not give away anything that isn’t consistent with the blog (sorry, your new set of snow tires will need to come from elsewhere) and I will not ask anyone to “like” or “follow” either the blog or a brand to enter a giveaway.
All of these policies fall into the “My Readers Are Smart” category - and, of course, the “Personal Integrity” category. But questions remain, and I’ll need my smart readers to help me answer them as the blog grows. Everyone agrees there is a line you shouldn’t cross, but everyone has varying ideas of where that line exists. What do you think? What’s acceptable and what’s not in editorial ethics? What do you think about gifts, affiliate programs or ads? Any recommendations for me?
WWD - Hot Fashion Bloggers (11/14/11)
Fashionista.com - Can You Trust the Editoral Integrity of Personal Style Bloggers (11/14/11)
Jezebel.com - The Dirty, Unethical Business of Fashion Blogs (11/15/11)
Cheers, TBF
-
surecashmethod reblogged this from thebostonfashionista
-
yougotserve reblogged this from thebostonfashionista
-
thebostonfashionista posted this
