Comments on: Paid Reviews: Why Our Mom Influencers are Paid to Review Products

By: momtriedit

momtriedit — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:36:23 +0000

I love the idea for people being compensated for their time. People get compensated for their time to take surveys online. Why not bloggers? I think there has been a stigma about it because of a few bad eggs. You are not told to write a specific opinion. Your opinions are your own. You are just compensated for your time. It really helps the company as well. How else will they know that there great product works for only a fraction of the time because the battery life was horrible? They actually use this feedback, positive and negative, to create better products. I have found some of my children’s (and my own) favorite items from reading honest reviews of other moms.
So I fully support your efforts! Kudos to you!

By: Sara Chi

Sara Chi — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:23:03 +0000

I am a firm believer that for whatever we do, the time we put in should be appreciated in some way. Moms are such strong community and already under paid/appreciated, I think it’s fantastic idea to pay moms who have taken time out of their crazy life and give opinions. The best way to show respect !

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:48:56 +0000

@silver - the negative absolutely helps the company! That is one of our main reasons for paid reviews. The blogger might feel a bit more free to share her honest opinion with the brand without an un-said obligation to say something nice.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:46:59 +0000

Thanks, Christy. That is exactly what we are trying to create. A program where the blogger gets paid for her time to write regardless of what her opinion is. We are trying to create a program where ONLY the time is bought NOT the opinion.

By: silver

silver — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:44:21 +0000

I do not know enough of how the blogging goeswith trying products and reviewing them. But i think it is great that you get a free product to test and give your opinion.
I am not sure if you get a questionaire to answer or if you just write what you think.
I have always wondered thought that the company does not want you to put negative feedback except maybe something that is not so bad.
They just want positive feedback if you are sharing your thoughts with others.
If it was a product to test only by you and not to tell others about than they would want the real truth that is the company.
I did not realize that you had to claim it on your income tax which sucks.
So i guess it would be nice to be compensated in someway.
They should do the product test as a gift than you should not have to claim it.
I would like to be able to do product reviews on my blog which is not really anything yet.
But maybe someday.
Anyways it is nice to read a review and have the honest opinion of the blogger if it is good or bad.
Even the negative can help the company to try and make the product better for the customer.

By: Christy aka Imfreckles

Christy aka Imfreckles — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:37:50 +0000

I believe writers should always be paid for their time, and that goes for reviewing products/services. I don’t think a person should be paid for their opinion but certainly the time and effort it takes to write. As long a a review is honest and the writer writes with professional integrity there is nothing wrong with being compensated for writing…but that is where the difficulty lies. How does a reader know that the review is honest and the writer’s opinion has not been bought? I think that comes down to the source and whether they are a solid, honest and profeesional source and the reader can trust it as a source of information

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:36:07 +0000

Thanks, Erica! Absolutely, each Mom Influencer Review would be clearly disclosed as such.

It’s wonderful that we can create a space to offer support to the incredible women who write for us, including financial!

By: Erica Ehn

Erica Ehn — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:29:07 +0000

Michelle

I am in total agreement with you. “Mom Reviews” are a huge part of spreading the brand though word of mouth. Brands need to pay writers for their time. These “mom bloggers” are usually highly educated, thoughtful women with earned influence and a way with words. They absolutely should be paid for that expertise. The only caveat is that is should be transparent - ie posted somewhere that writer was compensated.

On my site, like on this one, we work with amazing women. I want them to enjoy some financial benefit for their hard work.

Kudos to you Michelle for putting so much thought into this. I’m right beside you on this!

Erica