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OK. As some of you know, there’s been something of a political scandal in the beauty blogging world. An article has recently been published on the MAF forum questioning the clout that bloggers have and whether or not we should be classified as “media”.
I surmise that the main points of the article which was written by a make-up artist are as follows:
- Bloggers have too much power. Apparently we can “make or break” a brand or a product just by expressing our opinions.
- Bloggers do not test out products on enough people / skintones to be able to form an accurate opinion on whether something would work for Joe Public.
- Bloggers are fickle characters who only write about what is new, and generally shout loudly, offering readers a load of badly-researched, ill-considered content.
As you can imagine, the article has stirred up a lot of passion, and actually, the comments are more interesting than the initial provocation.
- Bloggers have been accused of being cliquey and unqualified to talk about beauty products. Apparently having a passion for something does not qualify a blogger to talk about whether she likes the formula of a lipstick or not.
- Bloggers are greedy and only out for what they can get for free, and lack identity and integrity.
I think a lot of the comments missed the point of the original article, which was about whether a blog should be considered as valid “media”. Of course it should. Media is any kind of way of communicating with a reader, be it online, in print or signwriting “I Love MAC” in the sky.
I trust bloggers. Not just because I know some of them and am apparently part of a “clique” but because these women are writing about products for the love of doing so, not because they have been sponsored by a brand or are at the sway of whichever brand is advertising in their magazine / on their site that month.
When I first started out with my nail varnish addiction, did I flick through back copies of magazines to see what was “in”? No. I stumbled upon specialist blogs which I felt gave me an honest opinion of a colour / formula. I don’t have to be a make-up artist to know that a very expensive eyeshadow I bought works better over a primer. Or that glitter nail varnish takes forever to get off. Or that pastel green polish gives warm-toned people “lobster hands”.
Are bloggers sheep? OK, so it can get annoying reading the millionth XYZ review after there has been an event, but actually, if it is a product I am interested in, I will gobble up all of the reviews and make my own decision after reading them. I would never buy a car, or a book, or a CD on ONE PERSON’s recommendation so I think it is positive to have plenty of feedback on a product. I bet Nice Things isn’t the only blog you read!
Do we have too much power? I really don’t think so. Good blogs will offer the disclaimer on whether or not they were sent something for review, and will always point out that just because something worked for them doesn’t mean it will work for everyone.
As and when I am sent something to review, I will always give you an honest opinion. That’s the beauty of blogging, if you’ll pardon the pun. If I were to lie about the performance of a product, I would soon get found out. So what’s the point?
I do agree that “look what I bought in Superdrug today” posts can be repetitive and boring. But I’ve done posts along those lines, which makes me think that if someone cares enough to leave a comment about it, then someone is interested in what you have to say. Personally, I prefer to avoid sites with bad grammar, repetitive content and poor photos. But that doesn’t mean that the author’s view is any less valid than the author of a spangly and shiny blog.
Recently I sent out a tweet mentioning that I was about to purchase items from a brand I had never bought from before, and did anyone have any recommendations? I was inundated with responses, from bloggers, journalists and make-up artists, all recommending the same specific product to me. What does that say?
As you know, Sheenie and I were issued press passes to IMATS. We were thrilled as it means that someone out there likes what we are doing and values our opinions. But just because we had press passes doesn’t automatically mean we are trying to tread on people’s toes. It means that someone over at MakeUp Artist Magazine (yes, “media”) saw this blog and liked what we were doing enough to invite us to attend the show, knowing full well we would blog about it afterwards. As we did. With honest feedback.
Like it or not, there is a market for blogs. Brands love us as they get free advertising. PRs like to build relationships with bloggers as it is an easy and fast way of spreading the word about something new. Readers love us as they feel that they have a trustworthy friend that will tell the truth about something. I love the “comments” section as it means people can ask questions and receive responses personal to them. It doesn’t make me an expert (even if I can tell what nail polish people are wearing from ten paces) but as far as I am concerned, I will keep blogging for as long as you want to keep reading.
The original article can be found here.
Very well stated on your part. I think a lot of the problem from ‘media’ not wanting to admit that bloggers should be classified amongst them, is that perhaps they think they haven’t ‘paid their dues’, so to speak. Many of us may have degrees, but not in their chosen field, we didn’t do internships with cosmetics companies, and that sort of thing. As you know, more is learned about life and our chosen profession or passion from ‘doing’ it, rather than from ‘learning’ it in school. Print ads and TV spots are good (and expensive) advertising mediums, but they don’t give any true opinions, in most cases. Blogs are often easier access, and they are filled with varying opinions. Most people ar smart enough to thoroughly research any product thy may be interested in from a number of sources, and then draw there own opinion. If companies and their PR firms are willing and wanting to work with us on their products, then I guess it doesn’t really matters what the media thinks of us. It’s not going to make or break a blog if we don’t always have media access. It’s nice, yes, to be able to report things to our readers, but we never seem to have a shortage of information. I tend to think a lot of bloggers know more about products than the people selling them or representing them–even many consumers know more about products than sales or media people in many cases! So we’ll keep doing what we love and appreciating everyone else who does it as well 🙂
I can personally say that I’ve sat on the other side of the fence, having worked on a few women’s magazines and experienced how limited and controlled the beauty side is, so some of us do have a media background.
As a reader and consumer, I’ve been frustrated that a quarter of a page is considered enough coverage on promoting and informing of products that may be of interest to me and others so the advent of beauty bloggers is revolutionary and fresh, and it consumes my fascination and addiction. I don’t read magazines for beauty news, I don’t even buy them. My sole source are beauty blogs. They’re written by people who share my interest and passion, and have their finger on the pulse, months before they are picked up by the press and fed to Joe Public.
If it weren’t for beauty blogs, I’d have never heard of Lip Tars, OPI, China Glaze…and if it weren’t for make-up tutorials, I would not have known which primers to use and how to improve my skills. And I took a make-up course at college too but have learned more from blogs. Best of all, the details and description beauty bloggers provide is amazing and helps form my decision to buy. I can say I’ve not been disappointed. The power of beauty blogs is remarkable and influential – bringing new audiences to brands from different sides of the world.
The opinions voiced are honest and invaluable. I am selective about which blogs I like to read too, which are fortunately written well and impartial and I consider them to be of a professional level. I do worry there are some beauty blogs that might tarnish the reputation of those who have worked hard to get to where they are by exploiting the opportunities PRs give but the bond between fellow bloggers is so strong that any such fears are quickly dispelled. The other thing with beauty blogs is the rapid speed at which they turn out reviews whereas magazines and newspapers have to plan months ahead.
To me, blogging is the next step up from (music) fanzines, which evolved in much the same way as beauty blogs are heading towards. It sounds to me a case of sour grapes from those moaning about beauty bloggers.
My two pence worth – there are just too many blogs now because it’s so easy to start one up. There are a lot of bloggers who have designs on being the next Lauren Luke or Tavi and their blogs are just cynical vehicles to fame and fortune (or so they think) hence there are A LOT of very boring, repetitive unoriginal blogs out there amongst the brilliant, creative, original ones.
Of course the PRs are courting the bloggers – its easy to see why – an event or a release of free products and BAM the blogosphere is buzzin. Bodyshop, Maybelline, L’Oreal… everyone is talking about their new products because so many samples are floating about and all the bloggers have been given cupcakes and pink fizz and think the brands genuinely care (newsflash – they don’t – it’s just the clever ones who’ve cottoned on to how to use social networking as MARKETING and fair play to them but you have to understand the true situation)
I still read a select few blogs – the ones that I know are written by those with a genuine passion and can give me the exclusive scoops on new products. Nice Things being one of them – hence my commenting here.
Although I’d dispute the “genuine bond” between bloggers – In my experience it’s pretty much a superficial popularity contest judged on the number of readers/views/freebies you can bag. (not ALL, but in general)
[…] Blogging / Media / My Thoughts « Helen and Sheenie's Nice Things OK. As some of you know, there’s been something of a political scandal in the beauty blogging world. An article has recently been published on the MAF forum questioning the clout that bloggers have and whether or not we should be … […]
I love consumer blogs. Hell, I love blogs. Nobody forces me to read them or believe them as Gospel-Truth. You all publish disclaimers so – caveat emptor. The blogosphere is open to anyone with internet access so one must exercise caution when reading and contributing and deciding whether or not to act upon what one has discovered.
I haven’t read a single magazine article about nail polish that could hold a candle to a single nail blog. Categorically not ever – never. No way as informative or entertaining and magazines publish useless photos to boot.
Every blogger I have read has taken great pains to be fair. I’m sure Helen wrote about a polish with application issues but suggested that the high temperature in her house was perhaps to blame. That is entirely typical of the serious and fair-minded way that fanatics treat their subject.
Sour grapes is the phrase that springs to my mind too. If bloggers have achieved a good reputation it is because their readers have learned that their views are worth attending to over a period of time. Blogs remain the only source for me to get the honest and accurate information I require about polish. Nail companies can put out all the glossy PR they like but I’ll make up my mind about whether to invest in a product only after getting a comprehensive overview from the blogs.
With thanks to Helen and Sheenie and all my many other favourites for your work.
I shall keep this short and sweet! I love reading blogs…I have neither the time nor the motivation to write on although I probably spend more time and money researching my products than most “bloggers” I am somewhat a product junkie and have no loyalty to any brands!
Yes blogs are media as you rightly say Helen however, I do think there is evidence to support that many “bloggers” do use their blog as a way of gaining “freebies” Fair play to them. If a blog is interesting, varied, well written and of course has a large audience then of course marketing execs are going to shower you with products to test and hopefully rave about!
Hmm – magazines have occasionally given me ideas for looks, but for actual products? No – they’re the ones with the range that is too narrow, anything I might want from their pages I’ve quite possibly already found and coveted in Superdrug/Boots/John Lewis. Blogs are a different story. Helen and Sheenie got me interested in makeup blogs in the first place. Oxford Jasmine has been a goldmine of information about which companies don’t test on animals, and this has approximately doubled the number of companies I’d consider buying from. Mizz Worthy’s review of the new Revlon mascara saved me from wasting eight quid on the thing. Several of the paler ladies in the blogosphere have reviewed foundations that might actually work on my naturally goth-toned complexion. I could go on forever… Needless to say magazines have *never* provided this level of information in my experience!
Perfectly stated! Agree wholeheartedly with your points!
Helen, well said! I wish there was blogging when I first started buying cosmetics in my teens, it could have saved me so much money. My drawers are full of cosmetics that do not “work” or irritate the hell out of my skin, I bought them because I read in “such and such” magazine that the “whatever” fabulous product will do this or that magic, with photos to boot, that do not even feature the specific advertised product or altered so much that it’s irrelevant what they used. Have you ever bought a lipstick after seeing an advertising campaign and no matter what, it just doesn’t appear to be the same color? How about the super long lashes that the product is going to give you when it is obvious the lashes are the glued on kind. The journalists who write their reviews, do they actually receive and try a product or is it some marketing fact sheet? I can’t tell you how many times I swore at a magazine after the dream product turned out to be a lie. I never buy anything these days without reading Makeupalley, you know the average Joe forum and of course blogs!
I blog for fun, to share my experiences and thoughts. I am very new to blogging and have no journalistic training, everything I have blogged about (bar one free gift available to anyone) has been bought with my own hard earned money. I do however have beauty and make up training and work in that industry in a round about way.
I think that the PR/Media circus are getting a little nervous about how much we can now trust in the every womans opinion of the product. Before we had to rely on what journos were paid to write and the pretty pictures the marketing department can photoshop. They can no longer blind us with science and I think they are running a little scared that people can now do on their lunch break what they are doing for a full time job. I find the magazines are behind the times now with a lot of the products and I get better information from blogs as to where will actually have the products and where have the best prices (something no magazine is ever going to tell you).
I think if someone is writing a great blog then companies would be crazy not to introduce them to their brand or new products by way of samples. After all a sample sent to a blogger is a win win situation as I am never going to buy a new product without reading blogs now (not after the revlon mascara and OPI matte fiascos) and if there is no review I’m just not that sure I would part with my hard earned cash.
Blogs have also introduced me to many brands I have never heard of and would never hear of, are journos wandering round beauty base in Westfield, Superdrug or Asda on the lookout for interesting products to share? I didn’t think so.
Thank you ladies for citing us as one of your favourite blogs. That kind of encouragement will drive us to do more. You’ve all raised interesting points and it would seem it’s a case of picking out the the finest from what effectively is a bubbling mass of blogs.
You do notice the difference and I’ve been informed of blogging events where certain guests have exploited the complimentary gifts and samples sent. Perhaps that’s down to immaturity and inexperience. Helen and I probably buy a good 70-80% of products reviewed on our blog and we love it. It gives us the opportunity to speak as a consumer plus like all of you, we are savvy in what we are looking for in terms of longevity, quality, appearance, etc. I don’t think that’s going to change yet when PRs kindly send us things, we carefully select what can try.
Illamasqua is the best example I can think of who understand bloggers and have worked it to their advantage. They are another brand I hadn’t heard of until I started reading beauty blogs and I owe it to Helen personally for introducing me to them otherwise I probably would not have paid too much attention to them when I walked past their counter in Selfridges.
Magazines do indeed manipulate images like the lash inserts for mascara ads and the celebrities who suddenly have Bambi-esque lashes (Cheryl Cole, I’m specifically pointing my finger at you) just don’t represent the truth.
bloggers are in the end members of the public who will buy the products out there..
bloggers tend to show off a product without photoshop or clever studio lighting so you get to see the real effect of a product
Bloggers dont tend to be sponsored by a brand , so can honestly say if they like product xyz
I dont know when i last read a beauty magazine as nearly every time ive looked, the products have been old news / unbelievable ( eg Mabelline’s great lash mascara…always touted by media.absolute rubbish in real life) or paid to review by a brand and thus bias.
Ahhh. I have only recently been sent items for review – up until I’d say approximately a month ago, I’d been solely footing the bill for what started out as basically a hobby and has turned into a passion. Mind you, I’m not complaining, but I don’t see a whole lot of “perks” per se, other than interacting with other folks who do the same thing, and the readers who enjoy the same thing! It may sound trite, but that’s perhaps the best reward I could get out of all of this, is some friends who share a common interest and passion. Did I go to journalism school? Well, no. I did work for my school papers both in high school and college, but it wasn’t my concentration of interest – however, that said, I don’t even work in the field that I was studying, which was history! Should I be considered “media”? Well, I rather think yes – if we can get passed the fact that media should be exclusively in print, absolutely. I have learned a whole lot more about makeup and nail polish myself from both the beauty blogs and the YouTube beauty gurus than I ever did in a magazine – and that’s a solid fact.
Here’s what I am thinking – perhaps folks are misguided about what we do, and why we do it, and what we “get” out of it. Perhaps we need to re-evaluate in general what we consider to be “media” these days.
I just want to tell you that I think you wrote a wonderful article here, it’s so well thought out and a great response.
BRAVO! WELL written piece, friend!
Media has evolved with the evolution of technology so of course bloggers should be considered media. I say that having spent 15 years in journalism as a reporter and a managing editor and now, as a someone in corporate communications on the other side of the fence…oh yea AND, as a blogger!!!! I see how bloggers are gaining respect by some media outlets, PR firms and are also seen as competition for media outlets because sometimes, they break things first!
In the beauty blogging world, I don’t see the level of competition that you can see in the world of political blogging, for example. Maybe I’m not reading the “right clique” of blogs, then? ha.
Oh, and newsflash to the people who say we’re greedy: If samples stopped tomorrow, guess what?! I’d still be blogging!!!! It’s the ACT of blogging I love. It’s the friends I’ve made through this “clique” that I “belong” to that I love. It’s the creative liberties I get to take in writing that I love.
When it comes to what I have to say, it’s up to the reader if they want to agree with me, or go look at another review (because guaranteed there are more out there, and they will, because I do it myself as a blog reader!) And I think most of the people reading our blogs know that! Also, we are a community that likes to look at the pictures. Show me 80 pictures of OPI Mad as a Hatter because even though I already know about it, it’s pretty. (Ok, maybe 80 is a bit extreme…maybe 80 over a period of time…)
To think that we are unqualified to merely express an opinion is absurd. I have never claimed or claim to be an expert, to my knowledge none of the bloggers I read regularly do. BUT I have learned about new brands, techniques for removing glitter polishes, how to do a water-marbling mani, where to get great deals on polish, etc.
I LOVE the beauty blogging community for that! CHEERS TO ALL OF YOU!
Now I’d like to put my two cents in. I’m not a blogger but I’m a lover of blogs. Very informative posting and comments. I still like magazines but I don’t look to them for up to date information about polish, makeup and all of extras that go along with it. I can get instant information about the things I’m interested in. Blogs have made me much more informed and also poorer! I enjoy the wonderful writing, photos and the personalities of the bloggers. I do consider you media. After all look at the movie about the blogger about Julia Child! Maybe someday one of you will have a movie about you. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful movie. There are some lousy blogs here also. Just like there’s lousy magazine and bad writing. I know that magazines are out to sell me all the beauty products they can. Heavily photoshopped pictures and yes who really believes those lashes are all mascara? I can read truthfull product reviews. If I don’t like the information I can go find another blog. I get to see products up close, how much product is in the bottle or box and what it looks like on your nails, face, etc. Where am I going to see this on a regular person who may or may not have the same type of skin, nails or whatever. All I see in a magazine is an airbrushed, very young model. I’m suprised some times at the talent of the bloggers. Very good writing and photography is wonderful to have 24 hours a day. Your also not getting a salary so what’s a few freebies? Your doing this for the love of it. I wonder if someone will recognize how important some of the blogs are and start paying them. Won’t that open up a bigger can of worms. I also can’t begin to imagine the amount of time you put into a blog. All for some polishes. I’m sure just like every other thing that there’s some people just in it for the freebies. Maybe all their compaining might make it a bit messy for others but I don’t think so. Just because you have a blog means your entitiled to free products. I think you have to put in your dues and also be a good blog with great writing. I don’t think everyone deserves free products because you show a polish. I hope I wasn’t repetitive or off topic. I just wanted to let you know how much you mean to me and how wonderful I think you are.
Lovely post and well argued. x
[…] the bloggers! Helen’s Nice Thing’s wrote a wonderful article addressing the question, should bloggers be considered as media or press and I think she expressed her views quite […]
[…] the bloggers! Helen’s Nice Thing’s wrote a wonderful article addressing the question, should bloggers be considered as media or press and I think she expressed her views quite […]
[…] the bloggers! Helen’s Nice Thing’s wrote a wonderful article addressing the question, should bloggers be considered as media or press and I think she expressed her views quite […]
[…] the bloggers! Helen’s Nice Thing’s wrote a wonderful article addressing the question, should bloggers be considered as media or press and I think she expressed her views quite […]
[…] the bloggers! Helen’s Nice Thing’s wrote a wonderful article addressing the question, should bloggers be considered as media or press and I think she expressed her views quite […]
I agree with each and every word you have said. this is a very meaningful and well-written article. but I wud like to add, i also blog to interact with people all over the world, who have similar interests as i do 🙂 and whenever i am sent something for review, i always mention it at the begining and add a disclaimer at the end of the post.
Thankyou everyone for your amazing comments – I can see that this is an argument that isn’t going away, and I really appreciate you taking the time to read my thoughts and add your brilliant contributions.