Callie Cline's Bloggers Appreciation Week was interesting. There are a lot more bloggers than I am aware of (over 200, according to the group members list), and many of them are not syndicated on any fashion feeds, so they're harder to find. With over 200 bloggers, any designer can find a blogger that can best represent their product and are genuinely interested in their particular genre, be it fantasy, formal, casual, etc.
The designers of Second Life are amazing and artistic people, and this week have shown that they're also incredibly generous to bloggers (new and old), because we're genuinely enthusiastic about their products. Over the past two years of blogging, most designers have been overwhelmingly nice to me. Without their support, I wouldn't have kept JuicyBomb going for this long, so the appreciation is mutual.
Do bloggers have an obligation to give out honest critiques? Research and find the under blogged but deserving brands? Let their readers know about the latest and best out there? Do fashion bloggers *have* to do anything? No! Everyone blogs for their own reason, and a fashion blogger is not responsible for anything. While I may not write a novel every time I feature something on this blog, I do know that as a fashion blogger I don't suck since designers DO want to be featured here.
While most people who are being blogged daily on SL fashion blogs are appreciative, there are some that have said that blogging does "nothing" for their business. Really? Do you value good word of mouth, because blogs do that – instead of me telling one of my friends about this great new outfit, I'm telling thousands of people a month. And the blog is archived, people do go back and ask about items blogged a month ago, or a year ago, etc. I think a favorable blog review is like the gift that keeps on giving… whether or not that is measurable.
I can't speak for everyone, but from personal experience: not all bloggers are in it for the FREE STUFF. I started this blog long before ever introducing a 'review copy' policy. I blog because I'm a shopper, I needed a place to document great finds. I'm kind if disappointed that bloggers have been getting a bad rap lately as having a sense of entitlement.
With all that said, I thought Bloggers Appreciation week was a good idea. Bloggers need feedback from their readers & from designers, and because a little encouragement goes a long way. <3
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