We are Independent Fashion Bloggers. We may blog professionally. We may blog as a hobby. We have built our influence and trust with our readers over time. Our skills have enabled us to grow our communities, and provide content for our readers to enjoy.
As fashion blogging has hit the mainstream, we fashion bloggers have been approached by a growing number of companies asking for all types of coverage and advice on how to navigate the new media. In many instances companies have enabled bloggers to provide content that they could not ordinarily cover on our own, and to which we are grateful. It has helped the medium grow and gain more credibility. However, there have also been a growing number of proposals from companies disguised as opportunities that do not add editorial value to our blogs, nor do they present any real benefit to us at all.
We understand the difference between editorial, news and promotional content. We do believe in helping our friends, our community, each other. However, we also recognize the difference between good will and companies profiting off our work.
We believe we should be fairly compensated for promotional work, for providing material to be sold by a third party, for sharing our knowledge to companies who will profit from that said knowledge.
We believe we should be fairly compensated if we are asked to do the following things:
- Asked to write a post that is clearly promotional, NOT editorial… even if our readers might benefit
- Asked to make specific endorsements to increase sales and/or for promotions with specific terms
- Asked to publish specific text or specific links in a post during a specific time frame
- Asked for anything that will be sold for money ie – photos for book
- Asked for expert in-depth opinion about products or services
- Asked for contacts, specialized lists of bloggers that might help a brand
The above items do not fall into the category of gifting products for potential editorial coverage. When a blogger is given something with the demand to post in a specific time frame, any coverage is no longer editorial but promotional.
We value our work, our talent, our time, and our influence.
We ask for fair compensation because we believe this will help establish the medium of blogging as a whole, establish credibility, and instill a sense of professionalism in our trade. Fair compensation will provide a greater service to companies, to our readers and to ourselves in the long run.
Thank you.
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If you would like a badge for your blog, the html code is below the badge.
Please RT this post to show solidarity.
There’s really nothing to say but BRAVO!
Amazing job as always – thanks for putting this manifesto out there for the community.
Retweeted!!! Thank you for putting it out there.
Yess!! Amazing. I’ve RT’d it and put the badge in my sidebar.
Bravo, Jennine! Thank you for continuing the pave the way for fashion bloggers and fighting for us as a community.
Bravo! I will defiantly putt the badge on my website.
I really appreciate what you are doing for the blogging community. It’s great that us bloggers are supporting each other in any way we can.
take care!
x pris
Well said. It’s important to put our foot down, especially now with the FTC regulations. Know your worth, bloggers!
I love this! Thank you for the manifesto!
I completely agree!! Great post!!
this is amazing, thank you. where would we be without you!?
Damn right! Companies need to understand and respect the work that goes into blogging!
I love this manifesto! I’ve retweeted and considered making a page on my blog specifically for it lol. I’m about to grab the badge as well
what a wonderful manifesto. that you for creating this.
retweeted. badged. xo. -Bella Q
I totally agree, tnx for posting this!
xx
I just added the badge and want to say a big thank you. Hopefully now people will know immediately that I’m not a push over!! and if they don’t they soon will……
Thanks Jennine,
This is fabulous, I’m adding the badge to my advertising page.
xx
I totally agree! Blogging its not easy and should take more seriously because we are the voice of the costumers..
Keren B
Wow! I agree to the fullest.
YES! Thank you! The only way it will get better in this regard for ALL of us, is if we all abide by this – thanks Jennine!
watch out!! here v bloggers proclaim our expertise n place in fashion.
the badge’s on mine blog n fan page on facebook http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Fashion-Blog-La-Mode-by-GV-Miao-an-Oriental-Perspective/277566999964?ref=ts
RESPECT!!!
Thank you for all you do for the fashion and style community.
Such a good article
thanks.
this is so true; unfortunately it doesn’t happen only to fashion blogs.
Absolutely. I think these guidelines are realistic and fair. Well done!
Hear, hear! Not only did I almost sprain my neck from nodding so vigorously to this, but I actually sent the link to this piece to someone who e-mailed me today: their e-mail address said that their name was ‘Sarah’ but they signed off as ‘Papia’, and she contacted me to inform me that she worked for a team of ”talented copywriters” who would be more than happy to write ”an informative article from a range of topics” for Frock & Roll in exchange for a permanent link to their website. Um, NO. I hope she/he/they/it enjoys the read as much as I did!
L O V E it!!!
Thanks for posting it! I´ll ad the banner to my blog and re-twit the article!!!
Yeiii! Let´s stand united fashion bloggers!
I totally agree. This also applies to movie bloggers.
If only… I’d be rich! … THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for writing this. I will be displaying it at Style Epiphany. Perfection.
Agreed!
Great article! Thank you so much for sharing!
I keep referring back to this to decide how to handle my advertisers. Thank you for this resource!
The HTML for that banner isn’t working for me. :/
This is a great piece which we should all take note of. Yay professional standards. Xxxc
So much needed and wonderfully inspirational. Thank you!
Brilliant, necessary and inspiring!! Thank you. xoxo
Great job! That’s a manifesto that I can stand up for.
Well said Jennine!
The little banner have an error in the code… is not closed and when I put it on my blog I had to finish it :]
Just found this, and it is awesome! I’d say it applies to all sorts of blogging, as well.
This is awesome!
I just put the badge onto my blog. However, the HTML code given does not work with Blogger apparently, but I tweaked it and all’s good. If anybody needs help putting it onto their blog (or maybe it’s just me?) don’t hesitate to ask.
Peace.
Great manifesto! Hope posting a badge on my blog will reduce the number of ‘attacks’ by brands trying to get in for free…
Thank you lovelies!
xox
The HTML code for the banner is not working!
This is great– well written and very important especially for the newer bloggers.
I couldn’t agree more. Thank you for posting this, Jennine.
This is awesome. I’ve just added the badge to my site. Thanks for posting! xoxo