A Stand Against Hosting Random Giveaways

I have quit most reviews and giveaways. I still work with BlogHer for books and some reviews and a few other trusted companies, but said that in 2011, I wasn't working with unsolicited reviews or giveaways. Best decision I've made in awhile. Less stress for me. More real stuff in my blog. Everyone wins.

Family Section Editor Jenna Hatfield (@FireMom ( http://twitter.com/FireMom )) blogs at Stop, Drop and Blog ( http://stopdropandblog.com ) and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land ( http://thechroniclesofmunchkinland.com ). She is a freelance writer and photographer.

I get offers from companies wanting me to do giveaways for things that I haven't even heard of (and have nothing to do at all with my interests or the content of my blog), and that always bugs me. There have been a couple times that I've actually written back and specifically said that I wasn't going to host a giveaway for something I've never used/seen because that doesn't seem fair to my readers.

Like others have said, how does that even make sense? A blogger basically recommending a product they've never used just for the sake of hosting a giveaway? Um, no.

I like the idea of sticking to giveaways that are either paid (I also have them on a separate blog so my readers aren't bombarded with what are technically "sponsored" posts) and/or are for things that I can actually stand behind (handmade, etc.).

I know there are many bloggers out there who are excited to get/offer any freebie they can get, but I don't find that very genuine at all. It also makes me realize how many companies tend to take advantage of bloggers who don't know any better!

...and the greatest of these is love | yourwishcake.com

blogging hosting giveaways is a lot of work. It depends on how I feel about the product as to whether or not I feel like hosting a giveaway.

If you have solid content, you don't need to bribe readers with freebies. Good for you for speaking out on this!

-Kerri is the author of Real Hartford ( http://www.realhartford.org )

Roni has captured perfectly why I don't do giveaways, and a few months ago I stopped accepting products and cookbooks to review as well, because truly, aren't those "reviews" usually just unpaid ads for the product?

Kalyn Denny Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://www.kalynskitchen.com )

100% in support of this.

Lucretia (aka GeekMommy) Raising a child in a digital world, still a digital girl