This week on our “Blogger-Publicist” Marriage Series, we interview Kendra Kolb, VP of Marketing of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare. Leave a comment below to be considered for one of TWO Beauty Hampers worth $500 each!
Winners will be picked in a week.
1. What do you love about working with bloggers?
KK: Instant results and gratification! It is fantastic to send a pitch and see it posted the same week, or even the same day. Working with the bloggers is a great way to get coverage on a limited edition item or kit that may be sold out in 30-60 days time. We have also had a lot of support from bloggers on spontaneous sales that we may be running on our own website- promotions that are only active for a very short period of time.
2. How have bloggers helped your brand?
Wow- I could write pages on this. To sum it up, press begets press. Bloggers not only have the ability to hit consumers on a daily basis, but they also attract the attention of many beauty industry insiders, makeup artists, other bloggers and magazine editors alike. From a PR standpoint, there have been cases where we receive additional press requests from blog postings- which is a dream! We also have the ability to track consumer purchases directly from blog links, and the proof is in the numbers. Lucky’s blog once posted a sale we were doing and I almost fell off my chair when I saw the purchases that came in from their site at the end of the day.
3. In your honest opinion, how creative are bloggers and do you find they really know their subject matter?
Extremely creative. On a good blog, there is so much content required (especially for daily postings). You have to be creative in order to avoid making every product sound the same, and to keep the content fresh. As a publicist, it is a constant challenge to think of new story angles that haven’t been covered a million times before. I would imagine it is the same for bloggers. All the bloggers that we work with definitely know their subject matter. It is always possible to run across 1 or 2 who don’t seem to be 100% on top of their game, but that happens in every job. I find those are the bloggers who are more interested in free product vs. the love and passion of finding the best beauty products and sharing their knowledge.
4. What would you encourage them to do more of?
I love the idea of guest blogging. Erika Valente at MakeupBag.net has her 18 year-old daughter, Bree, write a guest column – that’s a fun way to bring a fresh perspective and widen your audience. I would also encourage bloggers do more giveaways. It’s a fantastic way to share products from your favorite brands with readers who may not have the luxury of trying new products so frequently. Giveaways, especially on Twitter, are mutually beneficial for both blogger and brand. I also enjoy reading expert or insider tips- creative home remedies or beauty short cuts (such as frozen green tea bags for dark circles- which is one of Dr. Gross’) I love “Meet the Pros” on Beauty Blitz. Total beauty does a really good job with this, too.
5. What would you advise them to do less of?
I love that all bloggers seem to have this never-ending obsession for finding the right beauty product and giving their personal account of the experience they had with it. It drives me crazy when I see a press release just cut and pasted or the posting looks like an advertisement written by the brand. That is never a good thing when you are trying to keep people interested.
Thank you Kendra! Remember, we are giving away TWO beauty hampers filled with products from Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare worth $500 each to people who leave comments below. Winners will be picked in a week. Good luck!!
From Amber:
Wow! That’s an awesome giveaway! Enter me, please!
From Kristina:
These products look great, I would love to try them out!
From Russell Turner:
My life would be bliss if I was to win a beauty hamper for my dream girlfriend!
From Regina S:
Great article and super giveaway!
From Natalia:
WOW!Awesome giveaways!I try before some of this products-love it.But its a lil pricy for me to buy.So i would love to win it!.
From faith24:
great giveaway, it is always nice to see bloggers get together with makeup or skincare specialists
From Jessica P:
Such a great giveaway!!! So very cool you got to do an interview with the VP of such a great skincare line!! I would have to say MD skincare makes some of my favorite products.
From Jody G:
Wow what a great giveaway and interview. Count me in I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
From Summer:
I would LOVE to win this giveaway. We are on a very strict budget so I cannot afford Dr. Gross products right now. Hopefully when things get better, I will be able to get better face products than what I have right now.
From Barbara S.:
I love blogs and have learned so much from them. I’m always hearing raves about Dr. Dennis Gross products and would definately love to try this line!
From Vicki Wurgler:
I’d love to win a beauty hamper!
From Jessica:
LOVE your acne products, I totally can’t live without em. Great giveaway, crossing my fingers!
From Hofken:
Thanks for all your great giveaways!
Cynthia.Richardson@azbar.org
From veedee:
Please count me in, thanks!
From Katie:
Awesome article and super giveaway! Please enter me!!
From Kit:
Interesting perspective – I agree that bloggers are one of the best new ways to get people interested in new products/services. It’s the new wave of “word-of-mouth” advertising. Excited to be entered into the giveaway as well!
From Valerie:
I’d love to try these products. I agree with his comment about the “cut and paste” ad. I’d skip it too. I like reading the review instead. Thanks!
From Lara:
I’m thinking about starting a blog myself, and this interview shed light on many important points that differentiate a good one from a great one. Thanks!
BTW, I hope the giveaway is open to international readers
From Eve:
Please enter me. I have heard great stuff about Dr. Gross’s products. But I have never tried them
From Kelsey:
I love the idea of guest blogging! It adds variety and interest to what I am reading. Do you ever send your blog url out to people you want to read it or just hope they run across it? Is there a proper way to send out your blogs url if you are going to or is that tacky?
From Charu Suri:
Kelsey- great question. Yes, there is definitely a way to send out the blog URL – it really should be for people who register on your blog. Randomly sending out your URL to people will be viewed as desperate and tacky – something you definitely want to avoid.
From Deanna G.:
Great interview & thanks for the giveaway! I’d love to win
From Rachael W:
I know how much beauty blogs influence my purchases, too much!
Thanks for the super sweet giveaway:)
From Deanna C.:
I love that Kendra Kolb encourages bloggers do more giveaways because it’s a great way to share favorite brand products with readers who may not have the luxury of trying new products often!
I so agree with Kendra!!!!
dcorpening14(at)gmail(dot)com
From Aisling:
What a nice compliment you received from Kendra Kolb! For your followers, too, the relationship between sponsors and bloggers is quite beneficial. We get to hear how “real people” feel about the products and have an opportunity to try them ourselves. Thanks.
From 1955nurse:
I recently started following several “Beauty blogs” and have learned alot about several different skin-care lines that I had not had the opportunity to try. I have been wanting to try Dr. Gross’ skin-care ever since I first learned of it in Allure – I would SOOO love to win this, I would share with my Dtr-in-law and Daughter. I’ve heard such great things about this line!
From Elisabeth:
Enter me please! Ive been totally wanting to try this stuff!
From Elyse:
Very interesting article! I rely heavily on reliable blogs for info on products. I’d love to try the Dennis Gross line!
From Halifax:
Wow, generous giveaway. Thanks!
From Addie:
What a fantastic giveaway! I loved the comment that Kendra Kolb made
about bloggers having to be creative in order to avoid making every product sound the same, and to keep the content fresh. A very good point, indeed.
From Lola:
This sounds great! I need better skincare as it is
From dag888888:
Enter me!
From Kurston:
Love this blog and would LOVE to be entered in the giveaway!
From samara:
Enter me plz. I love trying new skincare stuff.
From adrian:
Thanks for the chance!!
From Sherry B.:
I have wanted to try this line of products ever since I first heard of them! Now, since reading this article, I want to try them more than ever. Thank you so much for the chance to win them.
From Nina:
Wow, this is an amazing giveaway! My mom and I would certainly be happy if I won this!
From Konnie:
I’d love to participate!
From Laura:
stellar giveaway and sassy interview — what a perfect combination!