I recently was approached by a brand manager of a skincare brand who asked if I might like to try their products and review them. This is a brand easily found locally that I haven’t tried, so I agreed. Much to my surprise, I was then asked to provide a draft of my review prior to publishing. To be honest, its the first time I’ve ever been asked to do this for a product review and it threw me for a loop.
I naturally declined, but said manager was insistent that nothing would be changed, just that they wanted to view the review since I was wont to mention pros and cons. At the risk of being juvenile, I had what might be commonly known as a “W.T.F” look on my face when I read the email. The thought that ran through my mind was, if there was no intention to change anything, then why ask for a draft? What is the purpose except to request revisions if they so feel that certain things shouldn’t be said?
Which begs the question if we bloggers should have to provide a draft review to the company or PR company if they request it?
I will say no.
If it is a product review and not an advertorial, I take the position that I am not obliged to provide a draft review post pre-publishing because what purpose would it serve? I’m not about to revise my opinion and I will not do so. It is a point of integrity on my end – I will be honest but I will be fair. If said company can’t see that, I’d rather not work with them.
As far as I’m concerned, when a company provides someone with a product for them to try it and thereafter review it, they should have confidence enough that the product in question works, and delivers the results it says it does. If it is a product provided for consideration, then well, a review isn’t expected. There is a difference.
The company or PR company should also be familiar enough with a blogger’s style before they even contact said blogger. They should feel that the blogger and their style fits what the company wants, and they should respect that skincare products are very personal, individual things that may not work for everyone. If they choose to blanket email every blog out there without even once reading the blog, then its their problem if they don’t get the desired coverage they want.
Also, when brands or PR representing brands approach bloggers, they really are putting themselves out there and should expect that not everyone will love the product and that there may be similar products out there. They don’t pay bloggers to blog exclusively about their one brand or product so they shouldn’t get their panties in a twist when bloggers don’t behave the way they expect them to. If they’d like control, take out an advertorial and they can have all the control they want.
Its no use saying “Oh, but you said you will mention pros and cons and I wanted to know what they are before they are published”. Fact is, if every product review mentions pros and cons, the way I structure mine, then live with it. No one product is perfect. Ok wait I take that back. I actually have reviews with no cons. But that’s only because I love it so much I can overlook all its flaws 😉
So if you own a blog, and you are offered a product to review and are then asked to provide a draft post of your review before you publish, I urge you to think twice before accepting that offer. A request like that is as good as censorship and I would rather that we share our thoughts freely without first having someone go through it with a fine tooth comb. A free product is nice, but is your integrity worth the price?
Incidentally, said email request came also with an offer to pay for a product review because “As much as we would like to have genuine reviews on our products, it is undeniable that bloggers in general accept a fee to write”. I found that unnerving. No advertorial was requested (I asked) but they meant payment to review a product. Now if that wasn’t incentive for someone to give it a full 10/10 and be raving all about it, I don’t know what is. I would view all reviews I see on this product/brand with a very jaundiced eye from now on, knowing what I know. Needless to say, you will not be seeing anything about that brand on this blog from this point forth. I don’t hold any truck with nonsense like this.
If you are a blogger, I’d like to hear your thoughts on this subject. Please feel free to disagree if you wish. Have you been approached with similar type requests to provide a draft review pre publishing? I don’t mean advertorials for which you are paid not for a product review, but for an infomercial. I have lots to say on that but will hold my peace for now.
Update: Just realised I should have pointed the brand manager to my last post on PR and Bloggers and add this post to that one. And coincidentally, Soloverly has a similar post on said brand up today too!
Paris B
Note: If you have received a similar request, and wish to share your comment on this issue, please refrain from mentioning the brand in your comment.
Arise all bloggers and fight against such shady companies…..PB, this was indeed enlightening! The moment you are requested to send a draft to be reviewed or agree to receive money in exchange for a review, your writing will surely be marred and not 100% honest.
Indeed JackieA! I would love for everyone ever asked to provide a draft review before publication to soundly reject this offer and tell the brand they are going about it the wrong way. Unfortunately however, the lure of freebies is just too strong for most 🙁
Luckily there’s no pr or marketing manager that ask me to do so.If they ask me to do so,I’d say HELL TO THE NO!I will only send them the link of review which is already posted up.Draft is something that can be only seen by the owner,not anyone like pr.I do write pros and cons,but it seems that most of the products get high rating from me coz they suit my skin=)
Good on you for taking this stand.
im borrowing your phrase ” shouldn’t get their panties in a twist ” ahhahahahaha
teehee 😉
Thus far, i have not been asked to send a draft before posting except one time (it was a facial treatment – for contest). Bravo Paris for making the stand!
Thanks Lavender. I think it important that we should stand together on this issue and not give in.
Absolutely no! I would never send a draft review before publishing it and would never work with a company that asks me to do that. I usually send them the link to the review once it’s up, but even then I would never change anything (and no one has ever asked me to yet thankfully).
I’m glad we are of a similar mindset Gio! I do the same you do re: review link as I think its only polite to and thus far, most genuine brand collaborators will never think of asking to change anything!
Hey Paris, thanks so much for sharing your insight again! I’ve only very recently started dabbling in the PR water, and my experience has been pretty positive so far. I’ve never been asked to provide a draft, if I am not convinced by a product I have the freedom not to write about it, and I think the only thing they don’t want me to do is to TRASH a PR sample. That’s something I naturally wouldn’t do. Even when I review products that I paid with my own money and don’t work for me, I never trash it. I tell people the pros and cons honestly, and I tell them why it doesn’t work for me and who it might work better for, but that’s my style. If I talk about promotions/new launches, that’s either because I have already tried the brand/products and LIKE them, or it’s because I am also excited about the launch. Nobody has ever asked me to do it. If I share this kind of information it’s because I personally believe my readers will enjoy the products and getting the products when there’s GWP or so on.
I know this whole system is complicated, and I probably don’t know enough yet, but I vow to be honesty to myself and my readers. Nothing ever works 100% for everybody, and the companies should accept that.
I’m happy you are having a good experience working with PR, Sunny 🙂 I do think its what makes or breaks a relationship 🙂 Like you, I just be objective and not trash anything. Well, unless it is super bad, like makes my face fall off or something LOL! But yeah a lot has to do with understanding the blogger and just reading our blogs. IF they do, they’ll see that we don’t go round bashing products and that we are objective and they should be comfortable with that. Else, they are quite welcome to go elsewhere because there will be others who are comfortable with other methods too 🙂
Hi Paris. I support your stand. A review should be independent and unbiased, unless stated otherwise, in which case, it would no longer be a review but an advertisement.
Thank you! And yes, like all ads, payment please – creams aren’t payment 😉
I think what you did is right. A review is a review, no matter what’s inside it. If there are some pros and cons, it is better that the brand manager should know about it and take it the right way.
Thank you!
That’s what makes me read your blog!!! I came back (to your blog) for a reason 🙂
PS: ewww u should give us more hints on what who asked you to do so!! (that’s not counted as defame right??) I’ll boycott that company!! Shame on them!!
Thank you for the support Hazel 🙂 I don’t think it right to bash that company either only to say that its a mass brand and has got products that some people like, I have featured them before, and I will never do so again 🙂
I agree with you 100%
I would refuse as well. I’ve also had to create guest posting guidelines, because I receive emails weekly from PR people who want to submit a non promotional sponsored post with links back to their client’s site in the bio. I now charge $35 for these posts. Bloggers are not a free source of advertising.
Great job!
Thank you Kimberly. I get those PR emails too but I usually decline for my blog. Glad you’ve worked out a guideline for yours and I have to agree. We spend our own money on hosting and time on blogging, it only makes sense to charge if someone wants an advertising spot!
Definitely a no. I received similar requests recently from a few brands but I’ve never conceded. Its certainly an integrity issue and if anything, blogging is the one avenue where readers can actually get some sense of an honest and personal experience from one user to another, so integrity should never be compromised for the sake of getting a cream or two.
Good on you Nadia! I’m so glad we’re all on the same page here. Honestly, I dont’ know what these companies/PR are thinking some times. Maybe they are trying their luck or maybe there are others who have agreed before. But there’s always a start and the buck stops with us 😀
Dear Paris B.,
I’ve been reading this peace and I also believe that if a company asks you to review a product that it should be without any attachments of previews. Companies can provide products for you to review, I mean you can buy them and review them also. Companies are free to ask but I think you are so right in declining there request. I just started blogging just because sharing is caring and we woman spend a lot of money on products and marketing makes it impossible to know what to believe.
As far as I’m concerned I have the right to write what I want on my blog and so does every other person on this planet, and I would never commit to a draft preview.
Thtanks,
Wojis (Holland)
Hi Wojis, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this matter. As bloggers I believe we should have some ethics and integrity because freebies aren’t everything, are they? All the best with your blog!
Great post! Very timely, too, considering we just received an offer to review a product and were told “if you have negative comments, please let us know instead of writing a post.” Do you believe that???
Hi Sarah, thank you for dropping by 🙂 I can’t believe the cheek of the brand/PR who approached you. It shows they aren’t confident about the product and about you either!
I agree with you ms. Paris! If you truly liked a product you can just buy it for yourself and not rely on to free items. And if they’re really confident with their products, they shouldn’t have any doubts about it. You won’t give away anything and expect the receiver will like it just because you gave it to her for free! 🙂 Everyone is entitled to their opinions towards things and not everybody has the same opinion as the other.
Glad we see eye to eye, Jen 🙂 you’re right. If we bought it ourselves, what would be the difference eh? If they offer a product for review, they should be prepared to live with it 🙂