Do you trust bloggers?

I realise that the title of this post may seem a little odd, given that I myself fall into the blogger category, but I have seen a few things recently which really got me thinking about disclosure and honesty within the blogging community. Before I get into this post I want to draw your attention to this youtube channel which I first saw featured on ‘Cherry Sue, Doin’ the do’. The channel has two ‘Advise or ad?’ videos which feature different youtube gurus talking about the same product. While I appreciate the fact that there is only so much you can say about a perfume or facemask. The girls have oddly similar points, and at times come off a little scripted, which makes me question whether or not these were sponsored posts like the channel suggests. I have no problem with sponsored posts, I understand that blogging or vlogging is some peoples only source of income.  I don’t however understand people failing to disclose sponsored posts. It's misleading to viewers, and makes me doubt not only the bloggers in question but the brands involved too. In effect, I lose all trust in them.

While I know many of you will separate the blogging and youtube world, I have recently questioned the integrity of my fellow bloggers too. A post that got me thinking about this trust within the blogging world was this one which discussed the hype sounding a new eyeliner which seemed to be every bloggers 'must have'. As an outsider it seemed to me that, before the eyeliner in question was released and only in the hands of people who had been sent the product, everyone seemed to love it. It was only when it went to general release and people spent their own money on it that the cracks began to show. As Hayley pointed out in her post I understand that many want to please, but there comes a point in your blogging life were you need to know where you loyalties lie. As a blogger you won’t like every product which pops through your post box, and have to choose between benefiting the brand or your readers. Readers who put their trust in you.

I know that it is sometimes hard to give a negative review on a brand you love, especially if that brand has taken the time to send you their latest product launch. But in such cases, lying, or exaggerating the truth to please a brand shouldn't be the answer. It just makes me lose faith in certain members of community altogether. At this point I feel its important to point out that I do not distrust every positive review on this particular eyeliner, and a can guarantee there will be some bloggers who genuinely loved it. There is however a huge gap in terms of percentage between the general public and bloggers which sadly makes me question these reviews.

Although the misleading reviews don't end with bloggers trying to please brands, and recently I noticed on twitter that another trust issue many had was bloggers not disclosing samples. Again, I have no problem with PR samples, In fact I myself feature them. Like many I just wish there was a little more honesty surrounding them, don’t understand why some people have such an issue with disclaiming items which were gifted to them. I myself am more likely to trust a blogger who has disclaimed that they have received an item for review, than one who hasn't mentioned it at all.  Of course with this issue its hard to point the finger at individual bloggers, because you don't know what they've brought with their own money. Although I have lost count of the amount of times I have seen products which haven’t even hit the shelves yet reviewed on blogs undisclosed. I will point out that in certain countries there is no law on blogger disclosure but personally I, like the majority of bloggers, choose to maintain honesty with my readers and am more trusting of other bloggers who act in the same way.

All of these points leads me to the question, Do you still trust bloggers? Despite this post, for the most part I do. I think if I didn't, I wouldn't still be here after three years. I know most of these facts apply to a extremely small percentage of bloggers. I have however learned to be wary and toughly research before parting with my money!  I guess what I’m trying to say is it’s easy to get carried away in the blogging world, but as a blogger it’s important to remember that there are real life people behind each and every view which look you as an honest source of information. Not a brands advertisement, potentially wasting their hard earned money on a crappy product you recommended. I'm sorry if you found this post a little negative, I just really wanted to get my thoughts on the issue out there and hear what you guys have to say on the matter.