I know I have been talking a lot about Ford and cars lately, so if you hate cars than I am sorry. But this is more about blogging and bloggers in general, it just so happens this topic was sparked by the 150 bloggers that Ford brought to Detroit. Apparently, since Ford paid to bring me out, paid for my hotel and fed me an obscene amount of food (which I gladly ate a ton of), that means they are buying my voice. Buying my opinions on their vehicles. That could not be further from the truth.
While we were all enjoying the Ford press conference and reveal of the Ford Fusion, we were also all tweeting like mad. It was fun and engaging. Then a Twitter argument started. I don't do drama, I don't have time for it. But while I didn't participate in the debate, I did follow it and read a long. All the time becoming more and more aggravated. Aggravated that people don't consider bloggers to be true journalists. That they think we can so easily be bought.
@Nock4Six @scottmonty journalists will give you a bad review (a good critique) when deserved, unpaid (directly) bloggers won't = waste of $
— The Sparkle Agency (@Sparkle_Agency) January 9, 2012
Just because I receive a product for "free" does not mean I will automatically praise it with a stellar review. First of all, I put a lot of time and energy into my reviews, so its not free. Instead of paying with money I pay with my time. I am picky when it comes to review items. I will only review something that I know my family will enjoy and use. So generally you won't see an all out negative review, but I will indicate any negatives of a product within my review.
And just because Ford flew me out to Detroit and pampered me does not mean they bought my voice. I had a blast out in Detroit. I met some new people who I plan to keep chatting with and engaged with a brand that clearly values social media. Ford did not give me talking points. Ford did not give me expectations of what they wanted me to tweet about or blog about. In fact, I wasn't given ANY expectations. We were able to walk freely around the auto show to look at other brands. We weren't held hostage in the Ford area. In my mind I went their to learn about their vehicles, their green initiatives and if I found it interesting, I would share it with my readers and followers. And that is what I did.
Of course a question was also raised about why Ford chose to bring mom bloggers to the show. Its not bad enough that Bloggers in general can get a bad rap, but then within the blogging community, mom bloggers get even less respect it seems. Why would a mom be an important person to show new cars too? Hmmm. Well, as a mom of 4 children I am the parent who does 90% of the transporting of said children. So myself, and other moms, play a HUGE part in the purchase of family automobiles. Mom bloggers as a whole have large followings and reach, so to me bringing out a few mom bloggers makes complete sense.So anyway, my point is that my voice is just that: MY voice. No one can buy it. No amount of food and chocolate covered potato chips can change how I feel or influence what I say.
Well said! I think Ford is brilliant. A year ago I would have said I would never drive a Ford. Now that I have reviewed a few of them, and seen the safety features they offer, I will most definitely buy a Ford the next time we need a new vehicle...and I'll tell anyone who will listen :)
ReplyDeleteIf I had reviewed their vehicles and didn't like them, I would shout that from the rooftops too. They take a chance with bloggers, and sometimes it pays off.
Please as if anyone could buy us. We put a lot of work into our reviews and they aren't all shiny. Sure the majority might be but that is because many times we choose not to talk about the negative.
ReplyDeleteLee
It's amazing what people will think. You explained everything very well. Bless you for expressing what many of us have been thinking!
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more !
ReplyDeleteI really couldn't agree more. Thank you for putting this out there!
ReplyDeleteHuge, huge, huge irritant for me as well ... and I don't do as much PR work as many (including you) do. Blogging is WORK and reviewing info or doing social media work is HARD work.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for standing up and saying something about the tweets that were going out. Shame on "media" for not recognizing the value of "mom" bloggers.
I couldn't agree more! I stumbled this post.
ReplyDeleteIf we were for sale, I would be rich.
ReplyDeleteKeep your voice and let the haters hate.
It so important for people to realize that many of use value our honesty and integrity and if you don't have those than your not someone I want to associate with or that brand should associate with.
ReplyDeleteWe do a lot of work for company's and that's all it is work. We provided honest thoughts as well as opinions on good and bad to help company's make better products for all of us not just for brownie points or a product review.
Bravo! Good for you for saying this, Marianna. And thank you so much for taking the time away from your family to be with us.
ReplyDeleteScott Monty
Global Digital Communications
Ford Motor Company
Marianna, I will never say that journalist tell the truth. Often they and their publishers are more apt to make their advertizers happy than to dig deep and tell the,truth. I'm guessing, like me, you are picky about what you will review. I refuse to review items I don't think are wholesome and something my family would not use. I appreciate that from another mom. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteFord is the only vehicle we've bought in over 15 years. Love Ford!
ReplyDeleteI find it funny that anyone still believes that just because somebody works for a newspaper means they are honest and can't be bought as a journalist. Naivete at its finest.
ReplyDelete