readers, i need your help here. i have been getting an increasing number of offers from restaurants over the past few months for comped meals in exchange for publicity on my blog. up until now, i have declined all offers.
let me explain why i have not accepted these offers. basically, the premise of this blog is that it is me writing about what i feel like, when i feel like, how i feel like. i do not want to feel in any way that my opinions are affected by getting things for free. in addition, i consider this blog to be a hobby and something i do for fun. i do not want any component of obligation or expectation to become a part of it. furthermore, i believe that my readers value my honesty and may not appreciate reading this blog as much if i were to be writing about places because they were giving me free things.
however, the increasing number of these offers and my current limited budget have caused me to think it may be time for me to revisit this topic. the bottom line right now, and for the next 3 years if i stick to my plan, is that i can't really go out to eat very often, especially to restaurants that are not super cheap. also, no matter what, i would always feel obligated to disclose when i was eating a meal that i did not pay for. so while i might not be getting a fully authentic restaurant experience, that would always be clearly stated.
additionally, as i said, i do this blog for fun. it could be fun to get some shit for free. and as anyone who reads this blog knows, i am not an expert in food at all and have zero formal training. for the official, presumably anonymous reviews, i am assuming people turn to polly campbell. my opinions on restaurants have never been objective and i have loved or written off places for reasons even dumber than that they comped my meal.
so what do you guys think? food bloggers, i know there are some of you out there who regularly partake of meals offered by restaurants, and others who would never even consider it. what are your reasons and what are the pros and cons? and readers, what do you think? how would you feel about me writing about places because they had given me a free meal? would i be enjoying an expected perk of food blogging or selling out?
i really don't know what i will do and would value your opinions as i try to mull this over. thanks guys!
25 comments:
It's funny--We just got our first offer today--the restaurant contacting us looks fun... but we find ourselves in a bit of a moral dilemma...so I'm glad you posted this.
DO IT! And take me! No, but seriously, as long as you disclose and are honest in the reviews about the meal, I see no reason not to do it, especially because you're po'. On the other hand, maybe you shouldn't because then you would be miserable and I could feel good that someone is more miserable than me :)
Do it! I don't think there's anything to feel weird about as long as you disclose it. Especially since you're trying to watch your spending; you deserve the perk.
Depends on the situation. Always disclose, obviously. Do not promise that the review will be good. If they expect that, (and, since I know which offer you're talking about, it sounds as if they are trying to buy your review. That is not cool) run away. Far, far away.
Soft openings, menu previews (not just you and a friend, but a group... Oceanaire and Summit were good examples of that on my blog) and blogger events are far more kosher (in my mind) than "Hey, please eat on us for free", because you're not getting a real service experience. I try to treat any blogger meals I get as "previews", but don't consider them as a normal dining experience, because they're not.
I also tend to only work with established PR firms in the area.
I guess it boils down to: do what you're comfortable with, be open about it with your readers, and if they insist or even imply that you write a positive review, kick them in the shins on your way out the door.
I personally would not take any free meals in return for a review. Like you, I do this for fun (and my love of food)and the opportunity to just be me. If there was some form of comp in the picture, I might feel constrained in the type of language I use or comparisons I might make. Basically, we would refrain from doing what the readers want.
Besides, you would hate yourself in the morning :>
Hound
I think I need to start writing more about food and less about prisons.
thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts! i am still trying to figure out what i will do but your opinions have really helped me.
sorry i'm so late to the game, but here's my take.
start a special "feature" in your blog. call it something clever and/or alliterative (free food friday, chomp and comp, eat the rich, etc.). don't guarantee a favorable writeup. this should be a "buyer beware" kind of deal. and don't do too many (1 or 2 a month).
also, you might want to do something to maintain the integrity of your experience, ie, "sure, i'll take your free food, but i want to be able to reveal my identity at the end of the meal in order to get it comped so that i don't get any sort of special treatment." own it.
we'll talk more soon.
I think Sidd's ideas are good. Secret reveals are always fun, and won't compromise the integrity of your experience. As long as you're straight up about it, I won't be offended (and will still be reading!)
You could refer them to me,I like free chit.
I would totally roll around and wallow in it.
I would go for it! As long as you disclose the free-ness in your blog post, it's all good. I'm sure you wouldn't let it cloud your judgement or make you pull your punches. Like you said, you're writing this for fun, and free food is certainly fun. And take me and Beth along for encouraging you!
I agree with Julie - it depends on the situation, but for me personally I do not accept free meal invitations because I like the anonymity and do not want - nor do I expect - preferential treatment. I want my experience to be the same as that of my readers.
As for soft openings and menu previews, I'm all for those and have attended several. However, I usually don't blog about the restaurant until I've had a chance to visit it again as a paying customer. Soft openings are a learning experience for staff and I think it is unfair to judge a restaurant while they are in the process of training or working out the kinks in the kitchen.
I would stick to blogger events and previews. Don't take this the wrong way, but you can be very negative in your reviews. That will be a huge issue for the restaurants. Even if they don't say anything, the expectation is there. Perhaps you should put ads on this site. I don't know if you would make any money but it might fund a few happy hour coverage pieces.
I say don't do it. Nothing in life is free.
Or at least if you do, bring 10 of your closest friends.
Large, I think that it could compromise your integrity. Having that said, I am happy to go with you and write a guest blog (as I have no integrity to lose).
late on this but better late than never.
I wouldn't do it because once again you're doing this for fun and I think it'll take the fun out of food blogging if the restaurant is expecting you with their finest servers and food. Also when restaurants offer free meals, I always feel that they are expecting a positive review and free advertising from your visit. Now I am all for scratching each others backs here and there (you get free food and they get free publicity from your blog) but the expectations are hard to beat. I don't know any restaurant/PR company that doesn't want a positive review about their place on the internet, so the better they can make the experience for you while you're there (planned), the better it is for them in the long run.
And after making a decision, if you decide to get comped meals, give me a buzz. I am all about free- without reviews and such.
The solution is to follow Occam's evil twin's razor who said that the complicated solution is often the correct one.
1) Find 12-15 people with money. This is your food review team.
2) Inform the restaurants that you will accept the meal and disclose that in the review, but other reviewers (from THE TEAM) will also come in at other times (and maybe already have). The restaurant will not know who they are and they will pay for their meals like everyone else. They will also write their own reviews (or give you their notes).
3) After 2-3 team members have eaten, put together the review.
This allows you to (1) Get the meal, (2) Feel good about writing the review (nobody has to know who didn't like it), (3) Sample more menu items, (4) Have a more comprehensive review which enhances credibility and raises your already impressive rock star status, (5) Increase blog traffic which will (6) Give you the option of advertising on the blog thereby making money so you won't have to deal with the free meal issue anymore.
I think you should totally do it! Think of it this way: it's good for your blog--you'll have so many more places to write about that you otherwise couldn't. Plus, accepting their offer in no way obligates you to not be truthful. If you went on a bad date, you wouldn't gush about how nice it was and continue to go on a second date just because he paid for your meal on the first--and you wouldn't have to gush about a restaurant or encourage people to go on a "second date" just because the restaurant bought you a meal.
Do it but be fair. That's all.
Sorry I took so long to read this, but I agree with sidd finch. In fact, "First Friday Free Food Day" has a nice ring to it. Make sure you set up your conditions in advance though...
I think Sidd has great advise too. But if you feel it's going to take the fun out of doing your blog, then I suggest to keep declining the invites. Beth is right, nothing in this world is free.
I say give it shot and if you feel too guilty being honest the next day then don't do it again.
wow, i think we have set a comment record here!
thank you to everyone for your advice and opinions. i have finally come to a sort of conclusion for now. i think i will stick to avoiding free meals, other than the previews and blogger events that a couple of you mentioned (julie, VO). while for example free food friday is a fun idea, i don't want to feel stuck to doing anything.
the purpose of this blog for me is just to enjoy myself and write, or not write, whatever i want, and even the possibility of expectations or restrictions is not something i want to deal with.
again, i really appreciate all of you taking the time to share your thoughts. you all really helped me.
i'm a little late on this, but i say do it and continue to write honest reviews.
if that means you get a free meal from somewhere and you write a negative review because it wasn't a good meal experience, so be it. you aren't morally obligated to do anything more than write about the free meal you received. the restaurant certainly isn't going to represent that you have an any sort of obligation to write a dishonest review.
disclose in the review that you received a free meal and let your readers decide whether they think you're being influenced or not (knowing you, i'm sure they won't). and if you write some negative reviews about free meals you received and you stop receiving free meals as a result, so what? PROBLEM SOLVED!
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
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