This is NOT a sponsored post...

As a lot of people know, I blogshop. A LOT.
And I put in a lot of consideration before I even spend $20 on a facial mask.
Before buying, I would do a lot of research before clicking on that 'Confirm Purchase' button.
And I have to tell you, don't believe everything you see online.
Especially for items that are highly raved and featured on bloggers' social media.

For example, Snail White. It's quite difficult to find a legit review.
If you google 'snail white review', a lot of big blogs like Yutaki, Donna, Rachel Wong etc etc.
But BE CAREFUL. Because these aren't reviews, they are advertorials.
In case you don't know, advertorials = advertisements + editorial.
Which simply means that they are advertisements.
And as everyone knows, people get paid to do them.
And if you're paid, you HAVE to write a good article on it.
I'm not saying that it's not credible, because there are products which are good and use a lot of celebrity endorsements and advertisements.
But just be careful. Because what you're reading, is what those product companies want you to read.

Think about it, if I (a company) give you (a blogger/opinion leader) my product or service for free, I would expect you to write good stuff about it, right?
It's impossible for me to give you my product, and want you to write bad things about it.
I mean, it's completely up to you to write bad things, if you really feel strongly about it.
BUT if you do so, then in future, I, or any other companies, will be afraid to approach you because I'm obviously not getting the results that I want - which is good advertisement.

So, so long as you see the words AD, ADVERTORIAL, SPONSORED REVIEW, they typically mean that what you're reading is what the companies want the bloggers to write.
Another hint (I think) to look out for is 'Quote ___ for ___% off'.
What better way for companies to find out if their advertisement/PR efforts are successful?
By calculating how many customers actually quote this certain blogger, I will be able to evaluate if he/she had been helpful with the advertising and if this method actually worked.
Also, there are many (sneaky) bloggers who don't state that those are advertorials (which are by right, unethical). But do look out for repeated words/content in these 'reviews'. Most of the time, they are given a template to just copy & paste, and change a few words. But most of the content are usually still the same. Or that the keywords and key messages are the same.

Yes, these are things that I learn as a PR student.

This is one thing that makes me so annoyed. Because people keep getting lured and 'tricked' into.
For example, Z was so tempted to get Snail White because he kept seeing these bloggers talk about them.
But what he doesn't understand when I tried to explain to him is that they are merely ads and so they are paid to rave about it.
I've not used Snail White because as mentioned earlier, I do a lot of research before buying something (especially if the item is like so expensive loh?! excuse me, I'm only a student who's still receiving pocket money from her mum hor.)
I have 2 friends who use(d) Snail White and when I asked them how it was, they said beginning it was quite good, but after a while, it was only so-so, and that it was overrated.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE BLOGGERS WERE PAID TO PUSH THE PRODUCTS.
Only after telling Z this, then he stopped saying he wanted to get the product.

And just a few days ago, Z told me he wanted to try some tea thing to lose weight, and I told him the same thing because I noticed a lot of bloggers posting about it and posing with it.
But he was skeptical (as usual) until I told him of a review that said that it did not really help her, and gave her side effects instead.

So, there you go.

If the bloggers are not being paid, they would state it in their posts really clearly that they are not being paid or that the post is not sponsored.
Also, if they are not being sponsored/paid etc, chances are that they wouldn't even feature or dedicate a post to the product.
Why would you want to give a brand publicity when you're not being paid?
Especially if you're a really famous blogger, you would be losing a lot of advertising $$$!!!
That's why in shows/films, you see the labels on canned drinks being covered, or strategically positioned so that you can't see the brand, or the labels on bottles being torn out.
If you keep seeing a particular brand being featured, it's because the brand sponsors or pays the producers to do it. This is product placement.

Once again, I don't mean that these products aren't good/ethical/helpful etc etc.
I just want to emphasise that, do not believe everything you see on the media.
Because, money makes the world go rouuuuuuuuund!