Have you heard the news? I hadn't, not until the ride home Tuesday night anyway. Basically, whenever a blogger gets something for free, and "reviews" it, we need to disclose that it was free. I put review in quotes because that is the problem. Are companies buying bloggers' love for the positive press? One free sample could turn into thousands of new customers, how can you argue with that logic? My favorite line of the articles I read today was the use of the term "clogger" = a blogger with rubbish opinions who blogs merely to get free stuff.
Don't get me wrong, I love free stuff and I look forward to the day when this blog stops digging a hole in my wallet. I'd love nothing more than for the ice cream companies to realize that sending me free samples is good publicity, even when I'm not so kind to their product.
I can be honest, there is the temptation to be a little gentler when someone sends you a free product. If you bash it too much, you're not going to get anymore. Take the Ice Cream of the Month Club. I did not pay for this service and if that wasn't clear, I'll try to make it more so in the future. I've got two kids and I can't justify spending $50 a month of four small containers of ice cream. However, my ice cream loving contact at Amazing Clubs has hooked me up and the monthly samples are greatly appreciated. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see he's hoping to increase his internet exposure, but at the same time, he risks a less-than-flattering review.
I will also admit that I hoped to be more in the loop by now. There are no other active frozen treat websites out there so I thought I'd be a shoe in for the place where companies want to announce new products. Well, not just announce, but sample. I don't really believe in talking about a product unless I can try it (though I may make an exception if it sounds really, really good).
Sure, there are other review sites that dabble in ice cream, but I'm doing my best to create a home that is well focused on that dessert we all love. I do get samples from time to time, but it really is just a small portion of what goes on here, and sample ice cream isn't cheap. Even when I buy what's on sale at Shaws or pick something up from "evil" Walmart, I'm still spending a fair amount of money to keep the blog going. Don't get me wrong, I'd still be buying ice cream without the blog, but my dessert budget would be a little more reasonable than it is right now.
I will never say no to free samples, in fact, I have a deep freezer in the basement waiting to be filled with tasty treats. However, until the day that happens (and you'll know it when it does), this blog will continue to be financed by my wallet.
OK, consider that the disclaimer, I'll have to copy part of it over to the About page to make it official, as well.
Stay tuned for more honest opinions!
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