**sidenote: I could REALLY use a new tirade button if anyone wants to trade for ad space or some fudge**
Recently I got a post offer from a company through a site I use. The company requested a change and said if I was uncomfortable I was welcome to take the post down. The company also stated that I should remove my disclosure before they paid me because ‘saying that this is a sponsored post just sounds terrible’. I deleted the disclosure against better judgement and made the appropriate changes and was asked to change it again. At this point I was over it so I deleted it as I was no longer comfortable having this post, company or links on my blog.
They demanded to know why I deleted it which was reasonable and I explained it in a normal fashion. This rep also threatened to report me to the site. I was emailed back with hostility and the representative questioning if I even knew what I was doing and it was strongly suggested several times that I put the post back up. At this point I stopped responding and reporting them to the site for harassment and asking me not to disclose which is very clearly stated as against the rules. As of the writing of this post I haven’t heard from either the company or the site and that is just fine with me.
I don’t know if this company was new to the site or what but I got pretty heated about it. Of course I’m not disclosing the company or the site I got the offer from because I’m not here to do that I just want to share some thoughts. I also ask that if you are on my facebook and know who I am talking about that you do not mention the company in any comments.
As bloggers we are legally obligated to disclose, you CAN be fined up to $11,000. Would that happen to most of us? No. Is it possible? Yes. Your readers don’t want to be fed a bunch of crap and you should want to disclose anyway. It’s just the way it should be.
I really feel like some companies (definitely not the majority, most companies are awesome to work with) think bloggers should be grateful to be getting ‘free’ products. Usually these are companies that are sending us samples and promo products that they would pass out like tshirts at a football game and want us to give them the moon in return for them desiding to grace us with their acknowledgment. Again, this is NOT the majority, I have only encountered a few of these companies and I don’t work with them.
I do get ‘free’ products but to me it isn’t free it is in exchange for a review, permanent links, my name on a product, ad space and many times that is worth a lot more then the products. Companies who fit this bill should remember that bloggers aren’t here to do your bidding for free, we don’t want table scraps and we certainly won’t be scared by threats. We also aren’t afraid to let our friends and readers know who is a terrible company to work with. Most of us are working women or stay at home moms just trying to scrape by who like the chance to trade a post and links for something awesome for our kid(s) and share great giveaways with our readers so they can get something awesome too.
I don’t expect to be pampered and coddled and given whatever I want but I do expect mutual respect and to work with a company that won’t expect me to lie to you.
I agree with you 100%
They are trading a product for exposure to the reader base YOU worked to create and continue to maintain; that INCLUDES readers world wide. A blog doesn’t just keep itself. It requires time and effort and in reality is a MUCH cheaper alternative for a company than print exposure which usually gets tossed in the trash anyway or lined in the dog kennel. I know I’ve purchased products from reviews and blogs I’ve read WAY more often than from an email ad or something that came in the mail.
How frustrating for you, especially given that you put the time into writing it. They obviously have no respect or knowledge of how it works. OR they’ve worked with some bloggers who sell their soul for cheerios and throw regulation to the wind. Good for you for standing professionally and maintaining your ethics!
Ducky recently posted..Save A Stamp, Blog A Letter Part 2
wow that is just not cool…
i am just now delvining into the possibility of product reviews/giveaways & this is the exact thing that detours me. i cannot imagine a company so unprofessional that they would ask you to remove your disclosure?
good for you for standing your ground & knowing what’s up!
cyn
cyn recently posted..random cuteness
I get a few emails here and there to do product reviews…I never respond to them. I’m not ever sure I want the hassle of it all. But yeah, you could get in definite trouble for not disclosing that information…and they should’ve known that. I mean, dang…what did they want you to say?
You’re the second blogger I’ve read that had this exact same problem. Probably from the same company. What you’ve said is 100% correct. Good for you for doing what you did!
Recently, I had two companies contact me to do reviews asking me to pick something from their catalog and they’d send it to me. That was over 2 months ago and I’ve never heard another thing! Since no crazies have shown up at my house, I guess I’m okay!
nitebyrd recently posted..A Woman Should …
I’ve only had one company approach me about a post and request that it didn’t include a disclosure. At the advise of another blogger, I simply stated “I am required under the FCC regulations to disclose, blah blah blah” and they never emailed me back. Apparently they don’t want to work with bloggers who actually know what they’re talking about.
It’s total crap what this rep/company/site tried to pull, and you and the blog are both better off without them.
As for a new button – can you make sugar free fudge for my diabetic, crippled self? lol
Jenn [ Crippled Girl ] recently posted..Two Month Wait
Ohh get em girl. I have had a couple of companies try that and I have flown right back at them. I won’t be harassed either..
Angel recently posted..TTUT: My one word…
AMEN!
Carrie recently posted..BeMine Vday Event, Alexa& Angels Review & Giveaway
There are many PR people who definitely try to the most they can squeeze out of each blogger. Good for you for standing up for yourself. “Bloggers aren’t here to do your bidding for free” is so true but many of them don’t see it like that.
I’ve turned down many “sponsored” type posts because I don’t like the demands and they really do come across as demands.
I think it is important from the beginning to have your rules and regulations laid out with the firms you are working with and not be afraid to say no if something feels fishy or you just don’t like it.
Moe aka @biggirlblue recently posted..Wild Orchid by Rimmel
You already know how I feel about this. =) I bet I could figure out how to make you a button. Now I just need to find some time. You need to figure out how to bake some healthy stuff and then you can send it to me. I don’t trust myself with regular treats! I will eat the whole damn thing.
Jayme (The Random Blogette) recently posted..Bouncin’ Around The Room
Glad you stood up to them. I just read a post about bad sponsored blog requests today on KludgyMom, and she had a link to the FTC guidelines (http://business.ftc.gov/documents/bus71-ftcs-revised-endorsement-guideswhat-people-are-asking) It’s not worth it to compromise your hard work for their unreasonable demands.
Ally recently posted..I Used To Know All About Celebrities