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I get sent products from companies review all the time and have no problem reviewing them. Why? Because of my purpose on this blog. I created this blog to help women to maintain their natural hair. Telling you what products I think are good, bad and mediocre, can help the natural or aspiring natural haire woman to faster reach your hair goals. These goals may have to do with length, moisture or style. I'm here to help with all of those. You see, to me, you're all my girlfriends and I'm merely sharing my finds with you.
Now, will I accept payment for reviews? Yes! But, they will be done under the understanding that my review will be honest. I will certainly accvept payment to exclusively demo a product or product line and aid in a company's advertising. But hey, I've given products not-so-great reviews before and those companies have thanked me in varying ways. Additionally, when a company ships their full product line overnight to me in Jamaica, it does cost them, though they can often afford to pay me for my review. It's a little unfair to say that they are not spending any money on advertising. The shipping and the products cost money. What do you think?
Should I stop reviewing products for your benefit because I'm not always being adequately compensated? Should money talk or I walk away from Review-land? Am I even ready for what would really be an endorsement deal in that I would have to project an image desired by select companies? To me, a review just like someone on YouTube doing a tutorial on how to fix something using a certain product... like how to fix scratches on your car or how to do something on an iPad. I dunno. I'd just hate for everyone to stop using/reviewing products on Youtube or the internet because they want money more than they want to help others. I guess there is nothing wrong for wanting to be paid for helping others. Hmm.
Please, please, please share your thoughts on this issue. I'd love to hear the perspectives of other bloggers/vlogger and readers/viewers. See the videos that have sparked this blog post below.
I think we both agree on the same things. I do believe it should be a choice of the vlogger whether they want to strictly do paid reviews or not. It depends on what their mission and goals are. I think because we have grown with some of these vloggers and have seen them come from nothing, it's hard to come to terms with the changes they make. It appears to be negative; when in fact they may be adapting to the successes they've achieved. I would still love to see them do reviews for smaller companies and give everyone an opportunity to show their worth because as with everything, everyone deserves a chance. Hey I'll take the free products and do the reviews for free LOL.
ReplyDeleteHahaha. Hi Carrli. Thanks for responding. I Agree. It's good to do reviews for smaller companies. They are the ones who give us options and challenge the larger companies to better meet our needs. I think it is just best for us, as consumers, to be objective and know that no matter what the review, honest or otherwise, the product still may not be suitable for us... and yes, people grow and become successful and we must try to accomodate the changes that are necessary given their increasing success and support them.
ReplyDeleteThis thing is so deep...Big businesses have big budgets and they can afford to work out a win/win for all. Why give only free product? I think your time and editing skills account for something. I think the good will you've developed with your viewers account for something. Small businesses often are struggling to stay afloat among a sea of larger businesses. I have sympathy for their plight. it can be difficult for them to build credibility without the endorsement of review of many vloggers.
ReplyDeleteThat said: I think a vlogger has to be honest with themselves. Are you really doing the videos because "getting free product" is a major saving for you in your beauty budget. There is nothing wrong with that. Just be prepared for the consequences of losing some viewers(because they misinterpret your motives) or perhaps gaining viewers who want regular reviews. The key is not to have your destiny determined because of a lack of communication and understanding.
As far as viewers who look down on people doing reviews: Hello! Business isn't new. But what is the same, unfortunately, and I don't mean all, is that many minority members have mixed feelings about business. There are some people who feel that they should be given your time, product and energy for less because we are in minority status. I recall the complaints initially against a well recognized black brand that is now global in outreach and how the company was vilified because of the costs of their products. But yet, minorities would pay two times as much for bigger brands produced by "white" companies. I say this because many minorities have a history of disproportionate economic stability in their communities as compared to other groups. I think understanding history can help one to determine when they are in fact being treated with a lack of respect.
I look at some of the vloggers, an example Michelle Phan, who make millions of dollar per year. She endorses product in magazines and other media outlets. But for African Americans not too many of her counterparts from You Tube making millions.
In the end, I would ask myself what is my goal? What works for me and for the larger community? How can what I do either help or hinder the community spirit on you tube? As with many things in life, I think one can find the balance which helps keep them whole but also does not lower their self esteem. No one wants to be exploited by big companies. Why shouldn't they have to earn our respect? I searched to see if there are other minority groups online with the same problem: couldn't find any. What does that mean in the larger scope of things? How many of these companies that want reviews would buy advertising in Minority magazines? How many of them schlep their things to the natural hair shows? Many of the natural hair shows have small to medium size businesses who've had to pay more than just shipping cost for product, coming to sell their wares?
As usual Diedre you asked a good question and I thank you for opening up the discussion.
There is no "simple answer" as you can tell. But whatever the answer is: somehow you have to find a balance that works for you.
I think if your purpose is to help people, then you won't care rather you get paid or not. For some people, blogging really pays some bills for them or they want it to. So those people probably shouldn't review products for free if they want to make money off of it is how I see it.
ReplyDeleteI stopped reviewing products because the purpose of my then natural hair blog wasnt' to encourage people to keep spending money and as natural became more popular the amount of crappy products with cute natural minded packaging and marketing exploded. My purpose back then was to encourage people to learn their hair and how to care for it, not indulge in products that made promises for people to latch on to. It had nothing to do with me not getting paid because for me I wasn't interested in making a living/hustle for myself in that manner.
So I say all this to say, it depends on your intentions.