Hey guys! This is one of those posts that I am writing because there have been so many questions about it and hopefully I can explain it better in long-form than in comments on social media. Welcome to How To Use LIKEtoKNOW.it 🙂
Okay – so first of all, many of you on Instagram have been asking about why all these fashion posts? It’s funny to me because I have ALWAYS talked about fashion to some degree. In fact, three out of the first ten posts EVER on Bower Power were fashion related (yes, I created a fashion moodboard inspired by Reese Witherspoon and I stand by that decision.) In our younger days, both Jeremy & I worked in retail and retail management and we love shopping….which is weird to say but if there is something that we as a couple love to do…it’s go clothing shopping together. So it definitely is funny that you guys think this is new…it’s not. The thing that IS new is the fact that now I can save time and energy by using a website called LIKEtoKNOW.it
If you are new to LIKEtoKNOW.it you probably are a little confused. If you have seen it on Instagram commentary….you may already use it, or you may still be a little confused. I am here to help explain why I chose it and why I will continue to use it and how you can use it too.
First – what is it? It’s a website where you can look up all the items (or similar items) in a room, a picture, an outfit or even in a display and link those photos to a social media photo. The tag for those particular items in created in their app and then you embed that tag in your photo so they are linked together – the picture with the items listed. When you LIKE a photo that has a LIKEtoKNOW.it tag then those items can be sent to you via email if you need more info or want to shop.
How does this help Katie Bower? Well first of all….it saves me a boatload of time. I have four little boys and I am TERRIBLE about keeping up with social media questions. Sometimes days will go by and I miss questions or statements and for the most part, I have some amazing readers who help answer them for me. But in general, I feel like this is a passing of the baton. I can make the information available so that the answers to questions like “where did you buy that?” and “how much did it cost?” and “what are the dimensions on that?” become instantly available to you. All you would need to do is like the social media image. If you don’t like the idea of signing up…I have a couple other solutions for you too. Wait for that in a bit 🙂
It also helps me because I get a small commission on the purchase of the items. If you like a photo, click on a link or even put something in your cart….I do not get any affiliate commission. And most of the time, I don’t shop at really fancy places….I have an obvious handbag and boot fixation….but other than that, I simply shop at places that fit my aesthetic. You may like my style…you may like my bag so much that you click that heart and get the email with the links and you purchase it without thinking twice. Your price does not go up to cover my affiliate commission. It doesn’t cost you anything to use my link. I want to clarify that because it can feel yucky if you think you are paying more. The affiliate gets paid by the store….same as if I was a mall perfume cowboy. (I miss FRIENDS!) I get paid a small percentage on purchases made through the link (i.e…..the item costs $50….I get paid $2) which I appreciate so very much. Every little bit helps, ya know? It’s sort of like a tip for bringing you a bag. And I want to be very transparent with you….because I would never recommend something I don’t actually buy myself. And there is no requirement to purchase through my link. If you do, I would obviously love the ‘tip’ but I love the clean and easy way to share this stuff either way.
So how do you sign up? Well first you can go to the site and see this link for signups. You will need to link your Instagram account to it. There is usually a pop-up video for new visitors that will walk you through the process.
Once you are signed in (I’m signed in here as BOWERPOWERBLOG)….you can adjust your settings.
I recommend going to this section and selecting ASAP for the My Likes emails. This means that when you like something on IG that has a ltkit tag, then you will immediately get an email sent to you with the info on that particular picture.
After you are signed up, all you have to do is start liking photos that you want info about (make sure they have the #liketkit tag on the bottom of the text) and the items that particular Instagrammer linked to will be sent to your inbox. Simple as that.
The email looks like this….
That’s Cassie at Hi Sugarplum and her fun new dining room. I liked her photo on Instagram and then checked my gmail for all the links.
So what if you are really opposed to signing up? What if you just want the direct links? Well, I created two ways for you to get the answers to your questions. First is in the sidebar of the blog. I created a section that is called SHOP THE FEED in the sidebar and you can directly click on any of the six photos listed (they are the most recent instagram snaps that had info associated with it) and you will be taken to a page with the info.
It will look like this…..(note that you can click on the individual items on the right to be taken to their official listing at the stores where you can look up any and all information.). If I wear something in the photo that is no longer available, I usually try to find a similar item so you can still shop….
The other way to shop is to click in the Navigation bar where it says SHOP THE FEED….this will take you to a page where there are my most recent 16 linked photos….click on any of those for more info. Simple as that.
If you have any questions…I don’t know if I have all the answers but I’d love to hear them. I know that sometimes folks have said WHY DON’t YOU JUST TELL ME WHERE SOMETHING IS FROM….and the answer to that is….because I AM. By providing the LIKEtoKNOW.it link, I am allowing you to have that info even if I want to talk about something like the feel of the sweater or the fit of the jeans. Not only am I providing info on one thing….but everything that I can list in that photo. Some people find it annoying to wait for the email….I know I did at the beginning…but now I find it to be a huge timesaver on both the consumer end and the blogger end…especially since I switched the settings to immediate emails.
Hope this helps you guys and happy shopping!
Wait. So do you and Jeremy read comments on IG and actually laugh at people who are bothered or question your intent with the “fashion” posts? That seems unbelievably patronizing.
I’m not bothered with questions. Not at all. Ask away. Just incredibly busy DIYing, watching kids, creating content, and sometimes I don’t have time to answer…so this is my solution to that situation.
xo – kb
Thanks for taking the time to explain like it know it. I have seen it everywhere but not taken the time to see what it is. Now that I know, I might actually sign up. Because I want all of your clothes.
Thanks for explaining how this works! I see it all of the time and really didn’t want to do more research on it 🙂
Thanks for letting me know it’s not just for clothes!
Aww thank you!
xo – kb
Definitely not. I can post a photo of a room and provide direct links that way too.
xo – kb
I have to admit.. I hate like to know it. It’s confusing and annoying. That said, I totally get where you are coming from and think that if someone purchases something because of YOU, you should benefit. I have to admit the fashion posts aren’t why I follow you though so it is a bit much. Totally take my feedback with a grain of salt, but it does seem (even if it isn’t) more prevalent on your feed.
I appreciate your feedback. I try to use it sparingly….I actually post more frequently since I started using it because I can provide that info to friends so it is encouraging to me. Once I get some of these rooms done, I can list the sources for items decor-wise which will be nice too 🙂
xo – kb
I think some people are just turned off by the commission. Some people have a very strict definition of blogging as something done just for the love of your hobby. They would rather see you leave a possible revenue stream off the table, because making money from it means it’s no longer a genuine hobby. I personally don’t agree, blogs and even just instagrammers can be content creators and curators and they deserve to get paid for their work just as much as any other worker. Maybe the like to know it interface isn’t 100% perfect, but it would probably be cost prohibitive for a lot of bloggers to develop their own “shop my feed” type of applications themselves. It makes sense to use a third party app.
I don’t have a problem paying a commission if a blogger tells me about a product I didn’t know about. It is work to take the pics, link etc and like you said, if you sold perfume to someone you would make $. And I appreciate that you are only trying to sell what you actually buy. I just don’t like how the blogger link is embedded in your cookies for 30 days. So if I clicked on the link for a pair of $10 socks from Amazon the blogger makes a commission. Cool no problem with that. I do have a problem that if I go back within 30 days and buy a $1,000 TV from Amazon the blogger also make a commission off of that. That is the shady part to me because I’ve never seen a blogger disclose that, only disclose they are making a commission on the product linked. The perfume sales person doesn’t make a commission on everything you purchase at that store for 30 days.
Am I correct that it works like that?
I get it. Fashion posts = more affiliate money. Most home bloggers go that way in the long run because fashion posts are quicker to put together than DIY ones AND make them more money, so it’s a no-brainer. But it IS new to your readers. I’ve been following for YEARS (and love you, btw!) and am a little confused by the sudden influx of fashion posts. But like I said, I get it and don’t fault you for it. I just skip right over them because I don’t see you as a fashion blogger and I get that content elsewhere. Glad to see you addressing it in this post though!
I agree – thanks for explaining this!
This was helpful. I see this a lot and have always wondered how it worked. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for your post on this. I have seen it before but never bothered to check what it is.
I also admire your patience with people who obviously read your blog and check your instagram, read a post like this you had all the best intentions with and then call you patronizing.
keep up the good work!
I love LikeToKnow! I bought a purse this week off of (in two colors – ha!). I find it an incredible time saver. I don’t like to go to the mall and browse for hours. I love seeing what my IGers are wearing and LOVE that I can click and buy something without having to ask you “where did you get that purse?!” And who cares that you are a DIYer?! I would much rather you, a blog I follow and support, get a tiny kick back than say my local Macy’s store. <3
I completely understand. I do not think most cookies last that long though. Amazon cookies last 24 hours….which makes sense to me…if I clicked on a link to socks and since I was on Amazon and saw a great deal on a TV, then I do think that the person should get a commission. It’s driving traffic. And what do I really care? I mean…it’s not like I am personally paying commission! I would rather give it to a person than a big website like Yahoo. But that’s just my opinion…I would rather benefit the small business owner but I totally get it if you would rather see a disclosure.
xo – kb
They are faster to some degree…but they are shorter lived. It’s kinda like sharing crafts vs. true DIY renovations. Most folks steer clear of that hard core stuff anyway….but I like it all, so I like talking about it all. It’s nice to me that I get to post things on Instagram and have more pics of myself…since I know that a lot of moms don’t take pictures of themselves. This is like a nice little reminder that even if I’m not 100% happy with the way I look, I should document me just as much as I do my home 🙂
xo – kb
Not an affiliate-link question, just a general shopping questions: Do you do a lot of clothes shopping in person, or is it mostly online? I only have one kid, and I basically never tried on clothes until he started kindergarten — I can’t even imagine trying to wrangle multiple kids and fitting rooms. I just gave up and mostly bought stuff online, with just a few things in person (but without trying it on). And since I’m too lazy to deal with returns, that’s a lot of years’ worth of ill-fitting/unflattering clothing.
Just curious — I’m always fascinated to hear how other moms handle stuff like this. I feel a little intimidated when I see a mom of 4 who looks totally put together all the time, when I’m just happy if I can find something clean and not-too-wrinkled to throw on.
I do both. I like to think that I know how most things will fit before I order…I know where things generally fit me and how. The things I like to order online are longer tunics (which generally don’t look bad as long as they are long enough), stretchy jeans (which I do order online but I read the reviews) and maybe anything with forgiving lines….the rest I do in person. As for the boys, I do a game in the dressing room with Smarties….and it helps me get to try stuff on. But yeah…it’s always a little chaotic 🙂
xo – kb
I do not agree with this at all. I don’t mind if you get a commission on a product that you introduced me to. I do have a problem with you getting a commission on a product that you didn’t introduce me to. Just because you introduced me to a product that is on Amazon and I happen to find something else that I like on Amazon while I’m there does not mean you deserve that commission. I think there is a certain link you can use for Amazon where the cookies will last up to 90 days instead of just 24 hours. I also think there are some websites out there where cookie last 30 days. That means that if I bought something within those 30 days since you introduced me to a certain product then you get commission for the other things that I bought. Things that you didn’t introduce me to. That is not right and it’s not fair. Not many people know about how affiliate linking works. I didn’t know about it until a couple of months ago. It’s a little shady no matter how you want to try and spin it.
Katie, I’ve been a reader for years, and I’ve also followed you on Instagram for a while. The occasional fashion posts are fine, but I follow you for DIY, not fashion. If you’re shifting focuses, that’s cool–do you, girl!–but at least communicate that with your readers/followers.
Katie, I’m a suuuuper long term follower and have loved you for years. And I am totally cool with the fashion links and such, even though that isn’t what interests me personally.
BUT, the reason I don’t visit the blog much anymore is because of the terribly annoying ads that pop up and the automatic videos that begin to play when I open the page. It’s incredibly frustrating to have to scroll through the sidebar to find the ad that is playing the audio and try to figure out how to close it. Sometimes I never do figure out which one it is so I just leave without reading. There is also a moving pop-up ad across the bottom of the screen now that has no “X,” so it can’t be closed at all, I presume?
You put many hours into building content here and you should absolutely be paid well for that. What you create is valuable. BUT the reading experience is GREATLY diminished by those two things. It makes the site feel very busy and terribly frustrating to maneuver.
Anyway, I hope you take the criticism with the love that it is sent along with. I love your content and have fallen in love with your family over the years, but I have only a little time in the evening to enjoy reading blogs and those super annoying ads just don’t make it fun here anymore. Please consider eliminating them!
<3
Have you considered reading in a reader or by email? Both of those options don’t have the sidebar ads. Just a thought that it could help 🙂
xo – kb
I’m not shifting focus…I still blog about DIY/life/photography for the vast majority of my posts. I think I do maybe two fashion related posts a month?
xo – kb
Oh I am not trying to ‘spin’ anything…just a different view. If I was the brand or company, I would pay for acquisition of customer costs…this is one way to do that. It doesn’t make the blogger shady because the company uses cookies and decides to pay for other items. You can say that you have a problem with a blogger getting a commission on a product that you didn’t introduce them to….but in the eyes of the company and most bloggers….you did walk them through the front door. Does that make sense? If not…that’s cool, we can agree to disagree. As for the other cookies – mine are the standard 24 hours and nothing will be put in your cart. I can’t speak for anyone else. If it bothers you, just clear your browser cookies. It’s no biggie either way.
xo – kb
I guess we will have to agree to disagree.
I’m sorry, I have to disagree. Everyone uses Amazon and many other sites. No one needs to be walked through the front door or “introduced” to Amazon. That whole thing stinks to high heaven and is shady. I wont be clicking on any links anymore. I also agree with the ridiculous amount of fashion posts on here, its not genuine and is starting to show some greed. I mean would you really consider yourself a fashion icon??
Hi, long time reader……I also find LikeToKnowIt cumbersome & annoying…..I’ve tried to give it a chance after this post but I just cant’. To me….it takes away from the reading aspect. I have a few blogs I subscribe to and they have stopped using it for this reason…
Well…at least you tried! ha!
xo – kb
No of course I don’t consider myself a fashion icon. But I don’t follow buy things that fashion icons wear…I wear stuff that other moms recommend. I completely understand that you don’t like the affiliate links…just don’t click. It doesn’t burn my muffin to agree to disagree. But I gotta tell you that saying that I am greedy hurts my feelings and it isn’t fair. It isn’t taking over the blog….it is posted on Instagram and I get lots of great feedback and now I am not genuine and greedy? That’s not only untrue but in my opinion, it’s unkind 🙁
xo – kb