I ran into a blogger friend Sunday night and almost immediately we started talking about restaurants in San Diego, as foodie bloggers tend to do. After rattling off a list of our favorites, she asked me what I thought about one particular restaurant I had blogged about. Did I really like it or was I just saying I liked it because I had to, she asked.
Ah, so there it was. Can you really trust a blogger who gets free stuff? It’s a valid question, considering how many unethical practices are thrown around in the blogging world these days, and it motivated me to address it point blank.
So here’s the deal: I’m in a more unique position than most bloggers. When I get invited to try a new restaurant, visit a hotel or sample a product, I’m getting pitched for my day job as a freelance writer, where I write about food, travel, style, weddings and entertainment for different magazines and websites. The understanding is that I’m trying it in consideration for a magazine story, not my blog. It’s research.* But this blog is a happy little synergy between my day job and my hobby, so it becomes this lucky second child who can reap the benefits from the first born.
I’m very rarely contractually obligated to blog about something, but when I do, it’s because I believe in the brand (and will also tell you if I didn’t like something). I really like what Whole Foods stands for, so I partnered on a blog post with them. I’m very committed to natural beauty products (as much as I can and afford), so I partnered with Beauty Counter and Simple Skincare.
Are there restaurants I don’t like and places that just don’t jive with me? Of course. I just don’t find it productive to devote a whole post to a restaurant or product I didn’t like. Wouldn’t you rather have news you can use? If I don’t love it, I won’t write about it, and you can count on that.
So thanks for listening to this minor detour. I think it’s an important issue to address, so dear blogger friend, thanks for unintentionally inspiring me!
*There’s of course a discussion of ethics in relation to that, but that’s a line I like to tread carefully on my own and not on this space since, well, it doesn’t have anything to do with the blog.
Hey!
You know we left Sab-E-Lee and I had one of those… “duh, did I really ask Archana that stupid of a question” moments. ;) LOL. I definitely know better and I hope I didn’t offend. It absolutely wasn’t my intention.
Either way, I think you have phenomenal taste in food and I have a history of liking every place you like.
Let’s get together soon. I think you’re awesome. :)
XO
Not at all! It’s a valid question. I’m glad you brought it up!
i like how you call your blog the younger sibling that reaps the benefits of your day job – that’s a really good analogy. at the end of the day, our blogs are extensions of ourselves and our day to day life, and readers are going to notice if a blogger starts promoting something that seems off their vibe. i was listening to a radio interview with wit & delight and she was talking about how she got asked to do a sponsored post with a company that made ruffled baby bloomers. i mean… really. how obviously off-brand would that be? it’s in everybody’s best interest to keep it real: the bloggers keep their authenticity & therefore their readers, readers are introduced to a product they might actually use & love, and sponsors hit their target demographic. everyone wins.
longest post comment ever. but i think it’s pretty great that you brought this up!
Thanks, Maggie! I totally agree. It’s incredibly obvious when a blogger veers off topic just for a sponsored post. It’s all about being honest to yourself and to your readers. If the stars align (and they should), it’s like you said, it’ll be a win-win-win situation!