Bloggers love conferences, for lots of reasons. But let’s be honest a big reason is for the free stuff. Man oh man, do I ever love free stuff too. But … and there’s a big BUT. A lot of the time the free stuff just isn’t for me.
It is okay to politely decline certain gift bags, or trade out your items for things you want, donate them, or not visit a booth altogether. I really think that bloggers and online influencers need to remember what they stand for online.
For example, yesterday one of the booth’s was giving away a year of free groceries. Hello I’m a broke student I could really use free groceries. To enter into the draw you had to take a picture of yourself behind a hotdog poster cut out and tweet the photo. I stared at the cut out, stared it down. I wanted free groceries. I needed free groceries. But could I tweet a picture of me as a hot dog and give a “shout out” to the brand. No not really. Not because they’re a horrible brand, just because they’re a brand that myself, and presumably my online friends wouldn’t be interested in.
I know in the grand scheme of things it might not seem like a big deal. But with all the free stuff rolling around for bloggers these days, there’s lots to choose from. And I will choose to graciously accept items that I would be happy to spend money on. And I’ll accept items that my online friends might want to know more about.
So here – a picture of me in a cardboard cut out car. Look I’m driving! Is that scary 
Here is a list of the things that I’m really excited to have brought home in my gift bags:
- a cook book and olive oil from Christine Cushing
- 3 editions of Marketing Magazine
- A Sobeys giftcard and magazine
- Life Choices organic mac and cheese
- Adult Essentials multi-vitamins
And I heard a rumor that I won a Town Shoes gift card after I left the party last night. Hope I’m right 
On to day 2 of the conference. Today is all about the sessions so I hope I REALLY learn a lot!
I think you made the right decision with the hot dog! Your sticking up for what you believe in and that is very important!
I spy a Megan!!
Thank you for choosing to stand up for who you are as a blogger! It’s great that you’re reflecting your online “brand” through the products you choose to endorse
I like hearing about a blogger that will not “sell out” for free stuff. Sometimes there’s so much being promoted/given away to bloggers, I wonder if some just get caught up in it. I find the health living/foodie blog community pretty good too though, they seem to have a sense of what they want to stand for as bloggers.
I am very impressed with your ablility to stick to your standards……..well done
I’m glad to see that you are supporting a good brand of automobiles.
Good for you for not supporting something you don’t necessarily believe in. It’s not an easy thing to do when there’s free stuff waived in your face!
That’s so true – most of my reviews are positive, but that’s because I only choose to review things that I think I, and my readers, will enjoy!