First things first: I DO NOT CARE IF YOU LIKE MCDONALD’S. As long as you are not spreading BLATANTLY FALSE INFORMATION THAT IS BASED ON A STUPID INTERNET RUMOR STARTED IN 1998 OR FROM PRACTICES THAT EVERYBODY DID THAT WAS STOPPED IN THE 70′S ?WE CAN BE FRIENDS. It’s true I am passionate about McDonald’s and the incident last week is a PERFECT example of why. Last week I read a post in The Huffington Post that targeted McDonald’s so unfairly that I think steam literally came out of my ears.
Last week I read an ‘article’ called “McDonald’s to shower bloggers with parties and gifts for positive posts”
BARF.
You can click here for the ‘article’ of wish.
I rarely get so outraged but if you are a blogger, you should be upset as well. Even if you HATE Mcdonald’s.
For one, if that is what McDonald’s is doing EVERY BRAND THAT IS AWARE OF WHAT “THE TWITTER’ IS, IS DOING THE SAME FREAKING THING. It’s just that it is so much more fun to attach a controversial band to it and like usual BLAME THEM!
I’m torn between being outraged that MY integrity as a blogger and person was personally attacked as I had personally been at or involved with many events mentioned in the article and quoted in The New York Times article the author of this post, Rachel Tepper, wrote about and wondering if we had been hurled back in time to 2003 when this was actually a new conversation.
Nobody buys my opinion.
NOBODY.
(Ok, I GUESS if Mike Rowe batted his eyes at me and asked him to come and dredge a sewer with him and write that it was the most glorious experience of my life I MIGHT consider it, but write something I don’t believe in just because someone flew me somewhere and gave me some nail polish? Sorry. Wrong girl.)
I went to an event in New York last week for the day.
It’s the type of event that is thrown all the time by brands. In this case it was Mcdonald’s “Flavor of Summer” event and they were debuting their summer line of new ‘berry’ foods. Namely their Blueberry Banana and Walnut Oatmeal and their Cherry Berry Chiller.
They paid for my airfare. transportation while I was in the city, they had a dinner for all the bloggers the night before and then the next day they had a fun event where we sampled the oatmeal and the chiller and also had some fun things like chair massages, mani’s, makeup and fashion consultation all with a “Berry” theme.
There was music and mingling and lots of photo taking and networking. Then we picked up a small brown paper ‘swag’ bag full of information about their product and some fun berry nail polish, lipsticks and blush.
Then we were taken to the airport and flown home. (And I went straight to bed because it was a LOT for my back. But due to everything going on lately everyone thought going to NYC for the day would be good for me.)
I’ve been to several events like this and I started thinking in my head and looking over my notes about what I would write about and what opinions I would issue.
THEN I got a letter from Molly telling us that an article in the Huffington Post had come out about McDonald’s and their relationships and she wanted to clarify that McDonald’s TRULY wanted our honest opinions and they would continue working with us, even if we had negative opinions.
AND THAT IS TRUE OF EVERY BRAND I HAVE CHOSEN TO WORK WITH.
Ms. Tepper quoted, “Many who did take part, however, wrote positive things.”
This doesn’t really surprise me.
For one, I am VERY picky about what brands I work with. If I think we aren’t going to be a good match, I won’t do it. For example, I have LOVED Oreck vacuums for years. Their company contacted me back in November before my back went out and asked if I would like to review their new Magnisium vacuum because they did their research and saw a post I wrote in 2006 (For free) about how much I loved my Oreck. They are not paying me to write this post other than supplying me with a vacuum to review AND ONE TO GIVE AWAY TO MY READERS. (I’m posting the giveway next week, so stay tuned.) The very first question that I asked when I was contacted
was if I could give my honest opinion, even if they were negative. They responded that not only could I give my honest opinion but that it is policy that they encourage honest opinion of their product. It’s how they improve. And guess what? There are some things that I would improve about this vacuum and I told them all the ways I felt they could improve and they were glad for the feed back. That is what I have found with most companies.
And that is what I have found with every reputable brand I have worked with….they want honesty.
I DID work with a brand I didn’t have much knowledge (GE’S Lighting and appliance center) about simply because I was (again) going through a hard time and a trip to Louisville and a banquet at The Downs with hats custom made by a top Kentucky Derby milliner sounded uplifting, I went determined to give my honest opinion.
And guess what? I had a GREAT time and even rediscovered my funny when we were asked to reveal our laundry “secrets”.
They showed us a product called “Clean Steel”. It looked exactly like stainless but could handle Butterlump’s many, many handprints without a mark? GUESS WHO BOUGHT ALL CLEAN STEEL APPLIANCES FOR HER NEW HOUSE?!!!!! And I love them all. Especially my fridge. But the ice maker is on the fritz and that is disappointing but I am being honest about it. I am sure it is something I am doing wrong and the warranty covers it.
So it’s not just YOU that we are learning for and about. I would have gone for a mismatched jumble of the cheapest appliances out there if I hadn’t gone and except for the ice maker thing I am so, so, so, SO happy with my choices.(They have an AMAZING product called an Advantium oven that I would KILL FOR, people. We tried to make it work but my appliances had already been put in and it was too tricky to try. (ALTHOUGH AT THAT TIME I HAD FORGOTTEN THEY MADE IT IN A MICROWAVE SIZE. EHEM. ;P)
And I had SO many more examples of positive brand work but it’s probably time to stop (Just don’t miss my Oreck giveaway peeps, you will KICK yourself)
I’m sorry if this post seems “ME! ME! ME!” but I HAD to give you my personal opinion on this. This article thinks that just because people throw parties for flights or dinners or gifts that we’ll lie and mislead YOU. YOU, the people WE LOVE.
I would never do that.
And I don’t only write about things that people pay me to. Heck, I have a post planned about the miracle of WEN shampoo, the best nightlight for toddlers ever and a book that Ree recommended to me when my poor puppy died called, Dog Heaven, so that we could better explain to Aaron why “we put his puppy in the mud”. i have written and written and written how much I adore Lisa Leonard’s jewelry and Diet Coke has NEVER compensated me and I have their image on the bottom of my blog. I am writing about all of those things because I love them.
If you hate big corporations, or consumption of animals or fast food, then that’s fine. We’re never going to agree. But I have NEVER seen a company like McDonald’s work SO HARD to stay WHAT THEY ARE (They are a fast food restaurant, people.) and ALSO try to improve and make everyone happy and still take SO MUCH CRAP. (And if you think it’s all roses and rainbows to stand up and say I AM PROUD TO WORK WITH MCDONALD’S!!! Than you are even more drugs than I am. The president of their company has to have a ton of security to go EVERYWHERE with her JUST TO DO HER JOB. That is so, so, WRONG!)
I like working with brands. I do like the perks that blogging has brought me. While I swear this blog will NEVER be a walking commercial, I need the work. I’m out of a job, have medical bills and frankly, I am VERY grateful for the times I’ve been able to buy groceries for my family from the money my blog has brought me. (I should clarify I have never taken money directly from a brand other than the product I review or the trip I am on. If i work with my Ad Affiliate is when I am usually paid for my time and I get money every time someone loads this page or I do other freelance work.) BUT…this blog will NEVER be a commercial. And you can call me out if it is. And try to avoid turning your nose up at me just because I chose to work with brands and your blog doesn’t even have ads. We Blog differently, that’s all.
In my opinion there’s room for us all.
Very interesting post. I’m not a blogger who does giveaways or has been asked to represent a specific company (although I was paid for about 3 years to write for Babble and they cycle through a ton of various advertisers). I have some Google ads up on my new blog that I don’t really have any control over. So it’s interesting to hear from a blogger who does get courted by marketers to hear how some of that works. Thank you for being an honest voice amidst it all.
Yes. ;)
Loralee good for you! There is so much negativity out there but in my experience, like yours, my REAL opinion matters and because I voice it companies who value those real opinions have asked to work with me. Even when I point out problems.
I was upset by the McDonald’s post too. Not only have a I read what a great experience they give bloggers and know that they ask for honest feedback, but as a company they give back an enormous amount and I am proud to help out with out Ronald McDonald house when I can. Actual Ronald freaks out my kids a little, but whatevs, they are terrified of the Chick-Fil-A cow too.
Also, I totally dig McDonald’s. They do have healthy choices when you order their healthy items and their staff (at least in Charlotte) is always friendly. The kids eat and play in the play place for hours and we are all happy campers. We love the happy meals with the smaller fries and the apples and the best happy meal toys out there. Their Asian chicken salad rocks my socks off and their oatmeal is yummy! I would love to try these new berry flavors!
Anyhoo, you work with the companies you believe in and want to work with. There will always be naysayers and drama seekers. You have a professional relationship with a company that values your opinion and people should respect that.
Here’s my two cents on the kerfuffle: people are confusing bloggers with journalists.
A journalist needs (in an ideal world, according to what we were all taught in Journalism School) to maintain objectivity, and not allow their views to be swayed by offers of goods or services in exchange for positive consideration for a story. In other words, for a journalist to be effective, they have to be Switzerland. They can’t start an article with, or even be seen to be implying “I love (or hate) McDonald’s/polyester/a given political candidate or position.”
Bloggers are just folks who need not make any such claim to objectivity beyond their own personal biases, needs, wants and experiences. They write what they feel. If someone wants to fly them to Honolulu, put them up at a Waikiki hotel and lavish them with mai tais and fresh grilled seafood for two weeks, there’s no canon of ethics that says thou shall not do that.
You’re a blogger, and you’re honest. You write what you feel and what you think. You’re as transparent about your feelings, thoughts and reasoning as anyone out there on Teh Interwebz. You need not justify your posts or your behavior to anyone at all. The NYT and the Huffington Post can sniff and scoff that they wouldn’t do what you did. Too bad (as well as bullpuckey). They’re not you, and you’re not them.
I straddle the fence a little bit, because I have worn a journalist’s hat and I have also blogged with an extra helping of opinion front and center, with more on the side. If I have an opinion, I have to shelve it when I’m writing in a formal “working” capacity, or else state quite clearly that the statement that follows is my *opinion.*
I do need to state that in an age of Fox and MSNBC, both of whom pretend to wear journalist’s clothing but have no real pretense of impartiality, seeing the likes of the New York Times and HuffPo throwing stones at bloggers is the height of absurdity.
Amen to everything said.
Your perspective is always yours. That’s what I love about you.
You know that I’m a vacuum fetishist and drink 8 gallons of Diet Coke, so I am not one to judge.
I followed a link here from Twitter. You are very fortunate to get to travel so many places as an ambassador for your blog and blog readers. I hear Churchill Downs is to die for AND you got a custom hat? I did read that McDonald’s piece in NYT; it did sound like they are working very hard to turn around their sometimes negative image. Good for you for helping your brands and your family at the same time.
A-FREAKING-MEN.
I love you.
Well said my friend, well said. Thanks for taking a stance on this. I totally agree with you and it was refreshing to read it from your point of view. XOXO, Shelley {howdoesshe.com}
Ugh. That Dork Po article shows how little the writer actually knew about brand blogging. It angers me because these people are so influential. Yet, they don’t know squat.
It also makes me think, dang, why don’t I write articles, I could at least do better than that.
And this hoo-ha about McDonalds being so horrible. They put out a product. You’re the one that chooses whether or not to buy it.
Jim Gaffigan has a long bit about fast food on his Mr Universe show. He makes total sense.
I had to create a Huffington Post account, that post irked me so much! I commented on there
So, it looks like my comment got eaten by the internet. I love you and A-FREAKING-MEN!
I like reading reviews on blogs.
Anyways, I like how McDonalds is adding new food to their menu. It allows me to make better choices for my family when we have to eat out.
When I heard about the McDonalds controversy you were actually the first person I thought of. Do people not realize that this kind of stuff goes on in all aspects of society. It is a way to get people talking about their brand and nothing more. I will never understand why McDonalds is always vilified. I have to say as far as fast food goes they are actually one of the better ones for you. Are they health food? Of course not, but they have worked really hard to better themselves and give people what they want. We don’t eat a ton of fast food simply because of the cost but come on. You can take the worst item on their menu and put it up against the best of another companies menu and I bet they wouldn’t be that different in nutrition. There are a lot worse companies out there to pick on. Why are all the ills of society always placed on McDonalds shoulders?
Loralee, I will always admire you for your passion and integrity. FOREVAH! xoxo
P.S. I miss you.
Amen, Lorelei! I have always liked McDonalds, even before they knew of my existence, so I have zero ethical qualms about saying nice things about them on my blog. Like you, I am proud to be working with them to help change people’s perceptions about their products.
Whenever I receive compensation for ANY post, for ANY review, I consider that to be compensation for my TIME. Not for my OPINION.
I’d like to second Brittany’s, David’s and Bonggamom’s comments. For some reason, whenever the media is looking for a scapegoat, they choose McDonald’s. A large company like that is a very easy target. People need to realize that flying a blogger to headquarters or throwing a huge party is no different than sending them a baby bottle for review. Readers know if you’re being honest, and if you’re not, you won’t have any readers. The brands with which you want to work are the ones–like McDonald’s–who want your opinion no matter what that opinion is.
First off, if Huff Post had just left out ONE word, “positive”, the headline wouldn’t have been misleading and inflammatory – “McDonald’s To Shower Bloggers With Parties And Gifts For xxxxxxxx Posts” would have been better.
Secondly, it’s not McDonald’s that makes people obese, no more than it’s guns that kill people — it’s the people consistently making poor food choices, or the person holding the gun, that’s doing the damage.
Third, moms (and dads) do the food shopping and the getting of food at restaurants. We have to feed the kids. Or they get seriously cranky. So, it’s logical that McDonalds as a brand would want to work with moms. Personally our family LOVES McDonalds. It’s not something we eat everyday, but if we’re on a road trip, I know I can stop there at any time and get a consistent, tasty, affordable meal that we can eat in the car. Or if a little someone has to get an immunization, we usually swing by to get a $1 hot fudge sundae.
Fourth, how can Huff Po slam McDonald’s for using social media to reach their target market? That’s just good business practices for 2012, people.
Lastly, there ARE a lot of slimey and slick sites on the Internet where people are in-your-face trying to sell you something. But, to slam McDonalds because they do blogger outreach and then ask for an honest opinion??? That’s just inflammatory ‘journalism’ by Huff Post – Howard Stern style – to be controversial, and get more clicks.
Nobody buys my opinion.
I am one of those people that LOVES McDonald’s. I really do. I wish I didn’t. I will say this. McDonald’s doesn’t always love me. I sometimes have have a belly ache about an hour after I eat.
The thing I admire about McDonald’s in they have answered their critics and have vastly changed their menu to include foods and portion sizes that are healthy in a human diet.
When I go to McD, I rarely ever order anything healthy. This fact is not thier fault. I could if I wanted to. It’s just that their reconstituted onion on top of the cheese burger tastes to very good to me.
I feel bad that McD is always on the losing end of bad publicity. I’m not sure why everyone LOVES to HATE them so much.
I appreciated your very long rant. As a new blogger I was pleased to hear about your expereinces with working brands.
You know what sounds so good to me right now? Fries. Mmmm.
You said:
“Nobody buys my opinion. NOBODY.”
But that is not exactly true. McDonalds, or whatever brand you are working for, is buying your opinion, be it a good opinion or a bad opinion, maybe not always with cash, but with trips, and makeovers, and food, and swag. The end result is that you will post your opinion.
I think that many bloggers who do reviews and giveaways write posts that, to a lot of us, read like advertisements. As a reader, I have no idea if you (the writer) really likes the product because it’s great, or if you like the product because it was free, you got wined and dined, or you got paid.
And that isn’t a bad thing!
Many bloggers are making money from their blog, and like a celebrity who endorses or advertises a product, they get paid. Do I necessarily believe that a celebrity really uses and loves the shampoo they are modelling for? Not really, but it does bring an awareness to the shampoo that I may not have known before. Same with bloggers.
I have trouble believing that a blogger who received what you did and wrote a scathing review would be consistently brought back by the company. I also think that even if the company attempted to make things right, other companies might be wary. I think that it is natural for people to at least attempt to be balanced in their approach and their posts or even leave their negative comments to private correspondence.
This is not to say that I think bloggers are dishonest; far from it. I think that, like you mentioned, bloggers go with the brand that they already like and would have no problem saying they like. I also think that it is a form of advertising that is beneficial to both the brand and the blogger. After all, the blogger is earning a living as well as the brand.
As a reader, I have yet to see a bad review by someone who was paid. Every review that I have ever read has been either completely positive or balanced tipping to positive. Obviously, this is not to say that negative reviews do not exist, but I simply have not seen any unless I go to a website where people are not paid for their reviews in any way.
If I am shopping for a vacuum and someone blogs about a vacuum, then my attention may be peaked. As far as trusting their review? No, I will go elsewhere for unsolicited reviews, but the company, and the blogger, achieved their aims – interest from a potential buyer and clicks to the blog.
Perhaps the problem is in the word “review”. If someone is being compensated in any way, is it a review? I don’t think so. I think it’s an advertisement.
And there is nothing wrong with that at all.
Nobody buys my POSITIVE opinion.
I have said some negative things in reviews. Read the next one this week. There are a few. (And IF the blogger is ethical, you WOULD know who is blogging about a product just because or those that received a compensation due to the FCC guidelines). But as you said, I work with brands that I normally love to work with so yup, you are going to mainly see positive comments but I don’t hold back about where the product could be improved)
“I have said some negative things in reviews.”
And there is the rub. You have said SOME negative things. You “don’t hold back about where the product could be improved”. That’s great.
I assume though, that you do not do full out negative reviews if you receive a product that you really don’t like?
I can go to amazon, where people purchase items and read reviews – some will be great, some will be balanced and some will be terrible.
There is a difference there.
And again – not a bad thing.
What you do is advertise. And what people on amazon or other sites that offer reviews do is… review. They are reviewing a product that they purchased. You are advertising, in the form of a review, a product or brand that you are being compensated for in some way – even though you mention that compensation and follow ethical guidelines).
See the difference?
If I was surprised by a product and full out hated it (I full out LOATHE the Mcrib) yes, I absolutely would. I wrote a longer response below.
I agree with you, I hate to, but I do. The very nature of the “marketing” business is to generate positive opinion. Taking a group of bloggers, flying them here or there, putting on the ritz, passing out the swag, all of that is specifically designed to generate a positive opinion no matter what the company or blogger says. I’m not going to say that all bloggers fall for the marketing plan hook line and sinker, but I will agree that the odds are slim that you will be asked back if you don’t. That’s just business. These companies are playing the odds and I feel pretty sure that they’re not betting the long shots…
Yes, but is there anything wrong with that? Why aren’t people giving say, actors as much grief for saying how much they love a product that they would never have touched in their lives without a MUCH bigger paycheck? I work with companies that for the most part I have already purchased PLENTY of product on my own dime. This blog is not completely a review blog. I chose products and companies I am likely to love or have “Some” negative things to say. To me, I would trust a review by someone who is familiar with the brand or if not the brand the product and see how it stacks up. For example, the Oreck magnisium vacuum I am reviewing and giving away this week. I have been a customer ON MY OWN DIME For 15 years. I’m a perfect person to see how their new modle stands up. (And yes…I would have purchased it on my own. Along with McDonald’s line of products.) Also, if you can’t trust a review where compensation (I never take money for reviews) has happened, don’t pick up you newspaper. They get paid.
But the thing that pissed me off is that this reporter was making it sound like ONE BRAND that is so, so easy for everyone to hate is doing what every brand on the block has been doing. THAT is why I wrote. And that is the last I will say about blogger compensation because that is the oldest conversation on the block.
Funny, I was asked to participate in the McDonalds new “healthy image” but I declined, partly because I am up to my eyeballs. Partly because it is not a brand I choose to work with because of my food platform, although I do commend them on their effort to make their menu more healthy and spread the word. Good for you to write this post!! I do lots of spokesperson work and always choose brands that I believe in!
BTW- I know Mike Rowe and he isa very cool guy!!
Thank-you. I agree with you completely. Just to follow in your example, I also went to a McDonald’s event. My spouse and son love this stuff – I made a point to share that it is a treat for many, including my family, but you wouldn’t go to McD’s looking for helath food. I was honest.
And I rarely print negative reviews, 1. I a am a big consumer who likes a lot of stuff, and 2. I let the brand know if I wrote I would say, “Don’t buy this stuff.” They prefer me not to say anything, and I comply, even if it means losing work with a big PR firm (this happened this week).Is that honest? I believe it is fair and thiat is how I work. I could write a review and focus on the positive and leave out the negative, but that would not be fully truthful. I think most bloggers are honest but there are a few out there who like controversy so they stir the pot for attention.
Mitch
Dog Heaven is the best fucking book EVER when it comes to dealing with the loss of a pet. We had a family friend send it to us after we lost our black lab of 12 years. Striker was the BEST dog. We opened the book and my sister read it aloud to us and I sobbed like a freaking toddler who has just been told that she can’t play with the pots and pans… I’m not religious, but i LOVED the whole god discussion/depiction. (a little orange man? I’m so in)
We keep it next to his ashes. I love that book. so very much.
OK, I know this isn’t the point of your post, but I wish I’d known you were going to be in Louisville…I TOTALLY would’ve made Hubs drive me the 2 hrs so I could come meet you, live & in person!
Very well put. I think everyone can tell when a blogger isn’t giving their authentic opinion. The blog post will usually look like a copied and pasted manual for the brand.
P.S. I love your laundry secret sign. My husband has actually hidden clothes from me to protect his treasured t-shirts. :)
Great post. Just read it in my reader, and then I came over to say, HI, I read this, and also maybe help you get some ad revenue or whatever.
Peace!
awe. thanks,love. I always read your comments and smile. I love when you “catch up”. all the comments make me grin. And yes, they do help. :P xo