Comments on: Gifting Bloggers Doesn’t Mean Pushing Swag http://marketingconversation.com/2008/06/16/gifting-bloggers-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-pushing-swag/ Digital PR and Social Media Marketing by Abraham Harrison LLC Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:57:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris Abraham http://marketingconversation.com/2008/06/16/gifting-bloggers-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-pushing-swag/comment-page-1/#comment-2543 Chris Abraham Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:37:05 +0000 http://marketingconversation.com/2008/06/16/gifting-bloggers-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-pushing-swag/#comment-2543 That is one hell of an amazing post -- do you mind if I stovepipe this to a post? That is one hell of an amazing post — do you mind if I stovepipe this to a post?

]]> By: Stevie http://marketingconversation.com/2008/06/16/gifting-bloggers-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-pushing-swag/comment-page-1/#comment-2542 Stevie Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:30:59 +0000 http://marketingconversation.com/2008/06/16/gifting-bloggers-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-pushing-swag/#comment-2542 Swag is the name of the game in Los Angeles-- in a city that lives and dies by celebrities getting swag and quite frankly are the least needy for that - because they have the $$ to pay for anything given to them. Swag has a bad connotation because it smacks of pandering and quite frankly payola. However when it comes to blogging-- depending on the topic of course--one can hardly blog about a skincare line if one hasn't tried it -- or has tried it for only one week and doesn't own up to the fact. Gifting is somewhat different. Sometimes it's a holiday or birthday gift that really is a "gift" between a corporate entity and the blogger for the support (if there has been support and I don't mean Perez Hilton type support that has been advertised) that the blogger may have given. Or it can be something that the corporate entity has done to gain the attention to the brand in such an unusual and interesting way that it definitely gains the immediate attention and enthusiasm of the blogger-- like a video iPod that has videos of fashion shows or make-up tips from NY Fashion Week . In LA there is a gifting process that is quid pro quo but typically for the more visible press--- which means stylists who bring in celebrities to a suite whose promoter gives them a trip or a great big fat goody bag of stuff (the same goody bag given to the celebrities) However that being said, even the stylists get shunned despite bringing or sending in celebrity friends, clients or contacts. Some PR and brands don't think that bloggers count. Trust me-- we can reach people faster if you are kind, polite and friendly. Agreeing with Chris here that offerin me some worthy information is well worth it -- whether it's to be written about or giving me some heads up on a trend or event that's about to launch. I have pr people who slip me the 411 on celebrity clients wearing the brands they represent before anyone else has it. You can bet I run that information and pronto!! Others tell me about new things just because they know I can help support that when it launches-- because I can "plan" for blogs around it. it all depends on how and what you value. I have yet to see anyone gift me something so amazing that I would jump .. Been promised things (cars to come get me and other trinkets), but they never come through-- suddenly bloggers are persona not so grata Swag is the name of the game in Los Angeles– in a city that lives and dies by celebrities getting swag and quite frankly are the least needy for that – because they have the $$ to pay for anything given to them.

Swag has a bad connotation because it smacks of pandering and quite frankly payola. However when it comes to blogging– depending on the topic of course–one can hardly blog about a skincare line if one hasn’t tried it — or has tried it for only one week and doesn’t own up to the fact.

Gifting is somewhat different. Sometimes it’s a holiday or birthday gift that really is a “gift” between a corporate entity and the blogger for the support (if there has been support and I don’t mean Perez Hilton type support that has been advertised) that the blogger may have given. Or it can be something that the corporate entity has done to gain the attention to the brand in such an unusual and interesting way that it definitely gains the immediate attention and enthusiasm of the blogger– like a video iPod that has videos of fashion shows or make-up tips from NY Fashion Week .
In LA there is a gifting process that is quid pro quo but typically for the more visible press— which means stylists who bring in celebrities to a suite whose promoter gives them a trip or a great big fat goody bag of stuff (the same goody bag given to the celebrities)
However that being said, even the stylists get shunned despite bringing or sending in celebrity friends, clients or contacts.
Some PR and brands don’t think that bloggers count. Trust me– we can reach people faster if you are kind, polite and friendly.
Agreeing with Chris here that offerin me some worthy information is well worth it — whether it’s to be written about or giving me some heads up on a trend or event that’s about to launch.
I have pr people who slip me the 411 on celebrity clients wearing the brands they represent before anyone else has it. You can bet I run that information and pronto!! Others tell me about new things just because they know I can help support that when it launches– because I can “plan” for blogs around it.

it all depends on how and what you value. I have yet to see anyone gift me something so amazing that I would jump .. Been promised things (cars to come get me and other trinkets), but they never come through– suddenly bloggers are persona not so grata

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