Today, I was going to write up a review about the Etos Eye Make-up Remover Pads, but while typing it morphed into something a little different. You see, I really dislike this product and that got me thinking on some big topics going round in the blogging world right now: positivity and honesty.
How did I go from eye pads to these big topics? While thinking about what I wanted to type, I realised I rarely if ever review horrible products. It just isn’t really fun to write about and my blog is my happy place. This is my hobby and I want to keep my blog positive.
That means that my readers only ever get to see and read raving reviews about products I love. I have realised that might come across as if I have been paid to push this products, especially in the context of all the recent debate about the commercialisation of blogging – must I say any more than Australian instragrammer?
This is why I think honesty is so important in blogging. I buy most of the products myself, because this gives me full control about what I write about and when. I don’t think working with brands is bad at all, in fact working with brands provides great oppurtunities as long as you are honest about freebies/sponsored content. Do make sure the products fit your blog…and make you happy!
Blogging is all about positivity and honesty for me. I realise this has been a bit of a rambly post about recent topics, and I really want to think about this some more and right a longer post. In the meantime, I would love to hear what my fellow bloggers and readers think about this. Do let me know!
Vandaag begon ik met het schrijven van een review over de Etos Eye Make-up remover pads, maar terwijl ik aan het typen was veranderde het langzaam in iets anders. Ik vind dit namelijk een verschrikkelijk product en dat bracht me aan het denken over twee belangrijke onderwerpen in de blog wereld: positiviteit en eerlijkheid.
Hoe ging ik precies van oog pads naar deze grote thema’s? Terwijl ik aan het bedenken was wat ik precies wilde schrijven, realiseerde ik me dat ik zelden tot nooit negatieve reviews plaats. Ik vind ze gewoon niet leuk om te schrijven en mijn blog is echt mijn ‘happy place’. Dit is mijn hobby en ik wil mijn blog positief houden.
Dat betekend dat mijn lezers alleen maar leuke reviews lezen over producten waar ik dol op ben. Dat kan lijken alsog ik betaalt word om deze producten te promoten, zeker gezien alle ophef over de commercialisatie van de blogwereld – moet ik meer zeggen dan Australische instagrammer?
Daarom is eerlijkheid voor mij zo belangrijk in het bloggen. Ik koop bijna alle producten die je hier ziet zelf, omdat ik dan de volledige controle heb over wat ik waarover schrijf. Ik vind werken met merken een prima idee, zolang je eerlijk bent over gratis producten/ betaalde posts en de producten passen bij je blog…en je blij maken natuurlijk!
Positiviteit en eerlijkheid zijn voor mij belangrijk bij het bloggen. Dit is een beetje een warrige post geworden over recente onderwerpen, en ik wil er graag nog wat meer over nadenken en dan een langere post schrijven. Ondertussen zou ik heel graag horen wat mijn mede bloggers en lezers ervan denken. Laat het me weten!
Very true Annie, no harm is working with brands if you are lucky enough to do so, as long as there is honestly it’s all good 🙂
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Thanks, it is so important to be transparant 🙂
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so true 🙂
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I feel the same way. I will try and avoid products I think I won’t like. First, I don’t want to test out poor quality products and second I hate to be negative but it happens. I have put several poor reviews out about products I really disliked. What I try to do is share what is good about the product (packaging? Service? Ingredients?) but if wasn’t effective for me or there was something I didn’t like, I share it but without putting the company down (unless it just obnoxious). I hated the Younique 3D lashes I tried but I complimented the company on their philanthropy and opportunities they give to women.
Then there was the Obagi eye gel. That was just an obnoxious product that I wasn’t so nice about. I agree honesty is the best policy! I just tested some shampoo and conditioner I didn’t love but it’s a good product. I’ll share what I didn’t like and people can then make their own choice as the menthol smell might be something I dislike but men would love??
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Same here, I try to avoid them when I can, but sometimes you just want to share how products disappointed you. It is a fine line and sometimes very tricky because it can all depend on skin or hair type as well.
I think you are spot on when you say you talk about the positive and negative points and let readers make up their own mind 🙂
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I got a face mask last week that looked like butterscotch pudding with the consistency of slime. I’m like….. Ummmmm. Wow!
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oh wow, that sounds rather interesting…slime is never good
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I know 😳
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I think no matter what you decide to make your blog to be, that acting and writing with 100% transparency (or at least trying to) is the most important. I can totally understand not posting something negative about a product you may have been gifted, but to spin something good from something you don’t like or to write (or create) something you don’t necessarily believe in is where it becomes shady. As long as you stay true to what you want your blog to be, that’s what’s most important.
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Very true! Most of my products are paid for by myself, and I still find it tricky to write those negative reviews. Just not making me happy I guess. I agree with you though, it all comes down to honesty and transparancet. Thanks for the great comment!
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hey great post, I can totally relate to that you want the blog to stay happy and positive:) but am also very happy about that you choose to be open about that you didnt like this product:) because after all we are all just a happy community of beauty bloggers, and if your bad experience with these pads can save somebodys money it is great:) /Mary
ps. so please if you have any other stuff in your cupboard you dont like share:) (but in a positive way;)
https://beautytruuth.wordpress.com/
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Thanks! It is a little tricky, because I agree that negative reviews have also saved me a lot of money in the past. You’re right, it is all about balance and a positive attitude 🙂 thanks for the comment hun, have a lovely week! xo Anne
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Thank you, you too:))
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I think it’s good to post about products you liked and disliked. 🙂 xx
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True, just so much easier to write about stuff you liked though 🙂
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That is true. I admit that I usually write about products that I like. I haven’t found many that I don’t like lol. 🙂 xx
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You make a good point! I can totally relate to the “blog is my happy place” perspective. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. As long as you’re genuinely passionate about your subject matter (which you obviously are!), I think readers can tell, whether or not it’s a sponsored post or whatever 🙂 So bring on the rave reviews, I say!
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Definitely, I agree passion is what really matters, but it just so easy to come of as disingenuous online.
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I totally agree that it’s important to be honest. I try to review products that I do like along with ones that I don’t so that my readers get a good mix. Great post! Thanks for sharing 🙂
xo Kiki
http://colormekiki.com/
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I do occasionally put some negative ones online, but I just don’t feel as good writing them. Besides, with all these great blogs around I rarely purchase horrible stuff anymore 😉 xx
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Honesty is the biggest problem these days in the blogging & “YouTubing ” community . I think that a lot of people are dreaming to make their hobby a career & don’t want to offend a brand. For some reasons I don’t really talk about the crappy products , so I must also seems like a girl who love everything or is paid . (BTW I pay for 99% of my products!) Great subject . I will definitely make a post about this in 2016 🙂 xxx
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I was very worried about coming across like that as well. Definitely a hazard for girls like us that pay for most of our stuff ourselves. Would love to read your take on this 😀 xx
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I think that it is super important to be honest, whether you pay for the product yourself or if it is a PR sample.
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Absolutely, but it can be a little tricky to come across as genuine if you only right rave reviews – I just dislike typing about horrible products. xx
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Such an informative post and by the way, I haven’t used this product before and hence, I don’t know much about it. Great thought!
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Fab post. I think it’s so important to be honest to your readers regardless wether it’s a paid post or not. X
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Absolutely! Especially since I don’t get paid for my hobby 😉 xx
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Ik vind eerlijkheid ook belangrijk anders zou ik direct kunnen stoppen met bloggen. Ik heb ook deze week twee reviews over producten waar ik niet tevreden over ben. Ik heb net als jij ook geen goede ervaring met remover pads 😉
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Heel erg belangrijk! Maar er gebeurd momenteel zo veel in het blog wereldje dat ik er toch even over willen praten.
Ben benieuwd naar je review van de pads!
xx
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