One of the nice things about blogging is when you get to work with brands whose products you love. But are you putting off readers by featuring too many gifted items?
Brands send you a product because they like what you do, and because it’s a great way for your readers to find potentially new to them companies or causes them to look at a company in a different light. It’s difficult sometimes to say no to a gifted item, especially if it’s a brand or item you love.
People are reading your blog because they love your style, which is another reason why you may be offered items. Being gifted items is also a good way for both you and your reader to trial out new trends and how to make them work for you without having to hand over your own hard earned money. However, there are downsides. In theory, you would only ever be offered items that you would choose yourself, but it can be so tempting to accept everything that comes your way.
In that situation, the reader might be put off because it’s not your normal style – they may be left wondering if you really do love that different look, or whether you’re feeling obligated to say it. (Your reader is much more invested in your style than you realise!)
An outfit with a few different c/o items may also be annoying the brands that sent the items to you – they’ve sent you that item most likely on the basis that you will only be promoting that item in a post. Lumping them in with a few other brands might be seen by the brand like you’re not really that interested in them, that you’re just trying to meet all your obligations as soon as possible. If you haven’t already cleared it with them that you’re going to feature their item with something else gifted, then they may not say anything, but you might not hear from them again – and no one wants to lose a relationship with a PR (or whoever) that’s taken however long to build up!
In the end, of course, it’s whatever you feel comfortable doing – but hopefully this post has given you something to think about. What do you think – does an all c/o outfit put you off, or is it just a necessity that has to be done sometimes?
(If you didn’t know already, c/o is how many bloggers make a note that they were provided that item care of a brand. It’s just a bit easier than spelling it out each time!)
I’ve unfollowed bloggers because not only did their blogs become a long list of c/o items – it was also painfully obvious that they were just posting so they could fulfill their obligations to PRs, without it actually being their style. Or maybe I’m just grumpy because I don’t get sent stuff. One or the other.
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I was just chatting about this topic earlier – it’s one that really gets my goat. Some blogs I’ve followed for 6 months to a year have begun to feature sponsored links or gifted items in EVERY post and it’s such a turn off. I don’t think being sent products is the pinnacle of success and it does make me wonder if a blogger would spend their money on such items in real life.