Thursday, October 8, 2009

Have I sold out already?

I'll just start off by saying - "how do you sell out on a blog?" If you've kept up with the news and have a vague interest in blogging, you may have heard the FTC latest ruling. In a nutshell, if you are getting paid to review a product and then blog about it, you MUST disclose that to your readers. Well, I only review stuff that I feel like reviewing. And if I get paid to do it, I'd be more than happy to share that with you. How cool is that? Free stuff, free opinions, and money on the side! Enter the complicated world of blogging.


So today, I've just discovered something new. If you are a blogger, get ready to roll your eyes and say "come ON." I've discovered blogging contests. I saw one that could win me a free Samsung fridge. What fascinates me, from a social media and marketing perspective, is the absolutely free promotion Samsung will get from this contest. The only blog requirements are that you share 3 tips for shortening the dinner preparation cycle. (They actually worded it to be more friendly to the mommy blogging world). So there is no mention of Samsung. Although you can tell from my writing, I've just naturally mentioned Samsung 3 times, um, make that 4.

As a follow-up, you have to tweet about it. And again, you don't have to endorse anything. You simply include the hashtag #SamsungAppliances. What's that? What's a hashtag? Just that little number symbol and the topic of interest. Think of it as a consistent filing system on Twitter so you can always find the information you need. Well, that you are interested in. Do we really need anything from Twitter? Anyway, Samsung will be all over the place because a bunch of bloggers want a free fridge.


Now here is my twist on it. I'm going to make my contest into your contest. I just bought a brand new refrigerator after Thanksgiving last year. And it's a nice one. It's a Kenmore Elite Stainless Steel 25.0 cu. ft. TRIO® Ice & Water Dispensing Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator ENERGY STAR®. Now that's a mouthful. I really like it. But I don't love it. The opening for the water filler on the door and relatively small and I can't fit all of my glasses in the opening. It's just annoying. Not annoying like - I've had it and I'm getting a new refrigerator. More like - I've had it and if I win a free refrigerator, I'll gladly GIVE MINE AWAY for someone else to enjoy and potentially get annoyed with.

So leave me a comment and if I win, so do you. Now on to the technicalities.


With Our Busy Schedules, What Are Your 3 Valid Tips for Getting Dinner Ready in a Flash?

1. Order out. I prefer delivery so I'm limited to Chinese, Thai, or lousy chain pizza. For pick-up, I go for pizza or calzones. And since I'm selling out, I'll put a plug in for my favorite pizza, Bella Italia.


2. Slow cooker. Seems logical, yet somehow I can't get this one to work for me. I have tons of slow cooker cookbooks but it seems like it so much work upfront to enjoy the satisfaction of a well-cooked meal. Plus I'm not really into big cuts of meat, which is what slow-cookers are for.



3. Plan ahead. This is a real tip. When I really feel like we never have anything to eat, I go through some cookbooks and find some recipes that look easy, will taste good, and don't take long to fix. Then I make a list of all of the ingredients I don't have in the house and buy them. THEN - and here's the trick - I make a list on the dry erase board in the kitchen with all of the recipe names I've picked out. Then, when I'm not ordering out, I know what I can possibly cook and not freak out when I have everything but ONE ingredient.

And that's it. I know. That was easy for me to enter and entertaining for you to read all at the same time. If you want to enter, I'll give you the link but I highly discourage it since it will reduce my chances of winning. And aren't you looking forward to my almost new discarded refrigerator?

5 comments:

  1. I am looking forward to your almost new, discarded refrigerator. I think it is interesting that bloggers are now being treated like journalists, without all the college and ethics training. Hope you are doing well Fadra, love your blog and that you are blogging.

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  2. Well darn it, I am in Cali..so in need of a gently used refridge LOL...

    I entered too!! I would offer mine but who the heck wants my piece of crap!

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  3. Wait, Gary. I went to college and I'm mostly ethical!!! Grissell - we'll split the shipping. As long as it's not more than the fridge is worth :)

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  4. I'll take your fridge and then give mine away!! :-)

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  5. What you did not mention my Vita Mix blender?? I think if you win a new fridge I might want to use the "old" one in the garage.

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