I have a preference to state, and I would like to emphasize this a little more before I actually state it: that it is a preference. A preference I hope others will share. Not “Other ways are stupid! Everyone should do it the way I think is right!” I have plenty of opinions that fall along those lines, too. But in this case, I realize that what I’m basically doing is hoping/requesting that people change the way they’re doing something, in favor of the way I prefer it to be—but fully acknowledging that they needn’t, and/or that they might prefer it otherwise, and that it is a big deal to change something for someone else just as some sort of concession to that person’s preferences, so it’s not something I’m expecting. I won’t be all, “WHAT?? This again?? But I SAID I didn’t LIKE it!!” There are many people who express preferences in regards to what I write on this blog, and I decline to meet those preferences, so I am familiar with that process.
Nevertheless, here is the preference: I would prefer if a sponsored post said so at the very top of the post, or within the first few sentences.
Here is how it feels to me, when I read a sponsored post without realizing it’s sponsored until a little note at the very end: it’s like being invited over to someone’s house for a fun evening, and then realizing when you get there that it’s a “party” selling make-up, or kitchen tools, or candles. Crap, I got suckered. And I feel foolish for not realizing it sooner. And my relationship with the person who tricked me has taken a hit.
I have several local acquaintances who do sales parties, and they would argue with this. I know, because they have argued it within my earshot: “It’s not like a SALES thing!” they say. “It’s just a fun evening! Friends getting together! No pressure! It’s not like you have to BUY anything, it’s just for learning about cool new things! And it’s been so long since I’ve seen you guys! It’s a GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT!” I understand that they might really feel this way about it, but I continue to NOT feel this way about it. And with sponsored posts, I understand that a blogger might say that it’s their own content, that they weren’t in any way pressured or instructed what to write, so it’s the same as a regular post. I understand how they can see it this way, but it’s still not the way I see it. My preference is still to know from the start what I’m getting into, rather than getting tricked into it and feeling manipulated and suckered at the end.
You have summed up how I feel exactly. I can totally LOVE a post, yet my glee-love-share with everyone balloon is totally deflated when I come across a “By the way, sponsored!” note at the bottom. Rational or not. Leaves a really bad taste.
I am ALL FOR sponsored posts in general. I’m fine with people making money. I just prefer to KNOW.
Agree- my preference as well. Nothing wrong with making money- good, in fact! – but I much prefer if it’s just said up front, so we’re all on the same page.
Yes about the surprise sponsored posts! And I am completely with you on the sales parties. One time I went to one (with a friend) where they had racks of clothes you could try on. Makes it that much more awkward when you don’t buy something. Usually I am a sucker in situations like that, but I did not cave. (Mostly because the stuff was kind of expensive.)
I agree. I hate the tiny little font used at the bottom of a post to let me know what /why/who the post is sponsored by. Have no problem whatsoever with ppl making money via internet just gives me a skeezy feeling as if they are trying to get over on me, even if they are not. There is a “gotcha” flavor to it that I can’t shake.
Yes, yes, yes.
Agreed. Totally and completely.
This is a really reasonable stance.
Just chiming in to note that I could not agree more that a sales party does not equal a girls’ night out!
HELL yes.
I am so glad I’m not the only one who feels this way! Thank you!!
Total agreement.
I’m the opposite. When a post is identified as sponsored at the beginning I usually feel like I’m being hit over the head with it, for example:
SPONSORED post:
This post is SPONSORED (but it’s totally my opinion) but still, it’s SPONSORED (but they didn’t tell me what to write). Did I mention it’s SPONSORED?
I prefer a nice unobtrusive note at the bottom instead of the I-refuse-to-let-you-read-this-post-until-I’m-SURE-you-know-it’s-sponsored attitude.
I know this isn’t the direct opposite of your preference – you didn’t say they had to devote an entire paragraph to a discussion of the sponsored nature of the post – but I feel that happens a lot when the disclosure is at the beginning. Then again, maybe I’m overly sensitive to it.
YES, this. Since I mostly prefer not to read sponsored posts I like to know up front. I’m always so irritated when I’ve read through a whole post before finding out it was sponsored, like I just wasted my time reading an AD. Ick.
I wonder if there is some way to determine which way serves the purpose of the sponsoring company better. By the way these comments are leaning, you seem to have the majority siding with you and I wonder if PR pitches should advise bloggers to post their disclosure up front in hopes of yielding a better response from the potential consumer.
As for me, I’m more turned off by giveaways that have you enter 30 different ways and leave a comment for each tweet and like and subscription and hey! Come back and do it again tomorrow. That right there will cause me to unsubscribe from both that blog and will even turn my stomach on the product.
Great post, as always, Ms. Swistle.
Yes!
I always do feel a little tricked at the end when I realize a post I just read has been sponsored in some way. And I’ve worked with an agency that does include the SPONSORED thing at the top of the post. I do like it better.
But I ALSO think it’s possible to write a really nice post that might be sponsored but doesn’t FEEL sponsored and I might have skipped had I read the disclosure at the beginning. So I see it both ways.
I agree about everything.
I guess I haven’t read enough sponsored posts to have developed a preference, but you make a good case for it. I’ve also never been to a party that was selling something, although I feel like I’d have the same discomfort with that type of surprise situation that you express.
What matters for me is the blogger. If a blogger I love writes a sponsored post, I just don’t care when or how or how often she mentions the sponsorship – because I’d read the post anyway.
Total agreement, though I have a bigger issue with the parties that don’t disclose their sales-ey-ness ahead of time, just because a) I think they’re more actively misleading, and b) they’re a bigger deal to get out of.
So I’d say that I absolutely prefer sponsored posts to disclose at the start, but it’s a smaller issue than getting invited to a ‘party’ that was entirely a PartyLite/Tupperware/etc. event. The former is annoying, but it’d take a while before I stopped reading beacause of it. The latter would only take 1 or 2 times before I stopped going to that person’s ‘parties’ of all types.
I just typed a thoughtful (well, at least I hope it was) comment and then I hit a button and accidentally erased it…Anyway, just wanted to say that I agree wih your preference.
Sales parties get to me: I have friends who happen to also sell products but every event seems to be all about the sale. I find myself skipping events they host because I don’t want to give the false impression that I’m going to buy something.
Yes! I don’t mind sponsored posts, either. Just tell me up front.
I get what you are saying on the Sales Party Pressure. I always offer the “come and just have fun” line and in the past, I’ve had friends do exactly that — it really doesn’t bother me. I figure, I’m already having folks over and am serving food – no need to stay away just because you don’t want to buy anything. However, I do get what you are saying.
Clarification:
I would never, ever invite someone into my home and NOT tell them it was a sales party. That’s rude and valid grounds for unfriending!
Yeah get THIS:
My co-worker sends out a mass invite on Facebook for a “Girl’s Night party” saying it would be fun and there would be drinks and she wanted all her girlfriends to go. I couldn’t as hubby wasn’t home and I didn’t have a sitter but I felt like I was really missing out from the way she made it sound.
A few days later I find out it was one of those spa party things where you buy crap because you feel pressured to buy it. I love selling parties as long as I KNOW they are selling parties. Had I shown up to that co-worker’s house thinking I was getting some girl time with a few margaritas I would have went CRAZY.
Oh, I share your preference, all right. I share the HECK out of your preference. And your analogy is dead on.
Anyone who invites me to a sales party without TELLING me it’s a sales party is eternally suspect, in my book. It’s a bait and switch, and I do not like it one little bit.
Yes, tell me at the top.
I agree with Lydndsy 100%. I despise those giveaways have 87 methods of entry and you have to leave 12 comments. I have unsubscribed to blogs for that. I don’t mind sponsored posts and I’ve found it is pretty clear by the amount of blue links in a post when something is sponsored, it doesn’t matter if they say something right away or not. What really gets to me is when a really good blogger seems to dash off this half-assed post promoting some company when it seems like they a)don’t really care and b) accept every.single.offer they get.
I evidently don’t read many blogs because I cannot even think of what a sponsored blog looks like.
But I SO HATE those sales parties. I have made it a rule that I simply won’t attend them. Ever. I don’t care if Jesus is selling.
FUCK THAT, it’s not a sales thing. It’s totally a sales thing! I hate those things (“no pressure to buy anything at all, just come over for some wine and snacks!”) Yes, but then I feel like the asshole who didn’t buy anything at the party. GOOD LORD PEOPLE.
Oh wait. The only exception to my curse-laden rule is Tupperware. I kind of love Tupperware parties. BUT NOTHING ELSE, DO NOT INVITE ME.
YES.
I remember reading a lonnnnnnnggggg post about the writer’s new washer and dryer and how awesome they were and how her old ones were awful by comparison, etc etc etc. And then at the very end there was this little disclaimer “I was not compensated for this review other than receiving a [whatever the brand was] washer and dryer to facilitate my review.”
The post was fine, but then I felt totally cheated when I got to the end.
I earmarked this to come back and comment, and now two weeks has gone by. Whoops.
Swistle, I was so happy to read this post. I don’t know why it helps to hear other people voice your own discomforts, but it does. More and more of my regular bloggers are doing sponsored posts, and I find that I feel betrayed when I get to the end and learn that it’s a sponsored post.
And the funny thing is, the ones that feel the most betraying are the ones which work the topic so seamlessly into the writer’s usual style that the disclaimer comes as a slap in the face. Demerits for being such a good writer!
In general, I am most offended by posts where the writer received material gain from a company (Like Superjules’s example of the washer & dryer). I have read a few posts where the disclaimer at the end didn’t upset me (and believe you me I noticed this, because it’s an aberration), and I think with each of these it was a publicity campaign by a charity or something like that (so, someone spends a while talking about his mom and how she died of cancer, and how it would really have helped to [xxx]; if the campaign is to raise awareness for [xxx], then I’m happy to have it mentioned unobtrusively at the end).
I’ll try to think about whether any other posts have successfully (in my eyes) placed the disclaimer at the bottom.
It’s true that by placing the disclaimer up top, your run the risk of not being read (and as a reader, you run the risk of missing some good stories), but as well-written as they may be, and as much as they continue an ongoing ‘conversation’ you’re having with the writer, they’re still *commercials.* Just like the sales parties. It’s true that if I know ahead of time that it’s a sales party and choose not to go then I might miss some great time with good friends, but there are other ways to get together with those friends. You don’t have to have your social gathering monetized. (Caveat: I’m not saying sales parties are bad, or that people wouldn’t choose to go, just that it should be a conscious choice.)
You know, come to think of it, because of this little sense of betrayal that pops up each time I get to the end of a post and learn it was an advertisement, I have developed a corresponding feeling of happiness and security when someone tells me up front that the post is sponsored. I think I am more likely to read through to the end just as a supportive gesture. That might not have been the case if everybody’d chosen the up-front approach.
Niki- I AM THE SAME WAY!! I get such a happy little lift from seeing the sponsor thing announced up front, I make a special effort to read the post and then leave a comment!