Your Opinion on My Opinion; Here, There or Everywhere?
There have been several posts circulating of late on the topic of reviews on parenting blogs.
Personally, I don’t give a hoot if you do reviews on your blog or how you write them. If there’s no giveaway, I’m clicking away immediately before even reading it, and it doesn’t affect me. If there’s a giveaway, I may consider checking that first to see if I want to enter (rarely) before reading the review or choosing to click away (usually). Either way, it’s your blog and I really, REALLY don’t give a flying crap.
However, I do care what you think. I very rarely do reviews and/or giveaways here (because they’re all over here) but occasionally I accept a product sample that either doesn’t fit at T.O.P. or that the company requests be reviewed here instead. (Why? I have no idea. Three daily readers vs. three thousand daily readers. Makes you want to go ‘Hmmmm.’) I wrote a little bit about my policies on reviewing items here, but I’m curious what you (three) think. Do you even care? Should I keep the reviews at The Opinionated Parent), or just keep doing what I’m doing and just go with the flow and do what feels right for each product.
(This post was inspired by a review request for this site specifically from a site that sells kids furniture. I chose a product that my kids can use and that will also be an asset in my classroom once we’re done with it here – stay tuned for that. I know the product from seeing it in my colleagues’ classrooms and I have other awesome things from the same manufacturer so I’m sure it won’t suck and you’ll read about it – here – in the future.)
May 29th, 2009 at 8:05 am
I say keep doing what you’re doing.
I don’t mind reading the occasional sponsored review. I do one once in awhile on my blog, usually only if there’s a giveaway to go along with it.
And, like you, I usually only pay attention to them if there’s a giveaway and/or if it’s something I might really be interested in.
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May 30th, 2009 at 10:14 am
I find it a tad annoying that bloggers are trying to influence bloggers one way or another. I write reviews on books, some products and services when I feel like it. I am not going to set up another blog to do so, because seriously I have no time for the three blogs I write for as it is. If my readers choose to read my review or click away is really their choice, I harbour no ill will for that. The amount that I do I feel should annoy no one. And if I want to make a little $$ (and it is very little) why would anyone begrudge me for that. That makes my stories, experiences and posts less significant? I think not. I have had some AMAZING opportunities since beginning to blog 5 years ago, that it part of the experience for me.
Review girl. I like your honesty, especially on this blog. I always try to offer a piece of myself in the posts concerning reviews. Be true to you and screw everyone else
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