As I mentioned last week, I got a lot of swag at the BlogHer Conference and during its associated parties. After the conference, I contracted that energy-sapping, need-to-get-my-life-back-in-order, oh-my-gosh-I-have-so-much-to-do BlogHebola.
I have photos of the swag bags laid out on my living room floor. I have intentions to post little "quick reviews" of some of the products using notes on Flickr. But for a good majority of the products, I don't yet have an opinion because I haven't gotten a chance to use them. This doesn't mean I won't post about them, just that I wasn't able to post about them right after the conference.
A meaningful review is unrushed and genuine.
PR officials may frown at this: they wanted instant buzz! But the ripples can be so much more powerful.
Example One:
At Blogher, via SV Moms, I received an adorable diaper cake from Sweet Pea Cakes. I will be giving it to a (non-blogger) friend who is due in a few months. I am convinced that nearly every baby shower I go to in the future will include me carrying a diaper cake to the mother-to-be. They are adorable and a perfect gift. Although I haven't posted about it other than these few sentences, my non-blogging friends are going to learn about this product. And most importantly, I am using my own money to procure these cakes: I have become a Sweet Pea customer.
Example Two:
Spliggle loves the Parking Pal I received in the SV Moms swag bag. He puts the magnet all over our van. While he doesn't use it for its intended purpose, it is there in the parking lot of preschool, gymnastics, soccer, and other kid-friendly activities. It is visible, and doubly-so as Splig makes grand gestures of placing it on the van. No doubt some folks have thought "What is that?" and gone up to take a closer look. I have become advertising for the product because I am using it.
Example Three:
I was one of the lucky ones who got to eat lunch while Rocco DiSpirito talked about Bertolli pasta sauce and how to "dress up" convenience foods to be healthful and delicious as well as quick. Sure I've bought Bertolli since then - I mean, c'mon, Rocco touched me!
Example Four:
I'm still buying Oops wine, which was featured both in Chicago's BlogHer '07 and in this year's cocktail party. I've brought the wine to gatherings; the name is a great conversation starter. Of course the story that goes with it is even better: I accidentally knocked into one of the Oops signs while drinking their wine last year -- um, oops! Even my mom - who gives Napa Valley wine tours - was intrigued by Oops.
Example Five:
Well, if you read the blog yesterday, you read the entry "Her Room is My Room Too." This success was a face-to-face meeting which led me to recognize the value in my swag bag. Since ordering the initial free panty from Her Room, I've now ordered many more in that particular style (a brand that I hadn't heard of before getting the free one) plus have gotten some "foundation garments" to suck in the tummy that thankfully because of my recent dieting and exercise is becoming a bit less bulgy on its own. (Still, every gal needs a good "cincher.")
One free panty led to a drawer-full of underwear -- good move, Her Room!
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Up next week: two companies whose initial generosity has made me think of them when I was ready to purchase products different than those I had reviewed.
