Alternatively titled: The Ugly Truth about Pitches
Lately I have been getting numerous emails from random public relations firms. I am talking 3-4 a day. I am convinced I ended up on someone’s “list” and am now considered fair game to the ‘pitch artists’.
What I am experiencing is nothing new. I have read about this onslaught before. Basically since social media began making waves in public influence, public relations agencies have been pitching to bloggers. Admittedly, their tactics have improved. They now typically include a sentence about your most recent blog post and use your correct name.
But the goal has not changed.
In my opinion, they are seeking you out to use you. They want your twitter followers, your facebook fans, and your blog readers.
And they want it for free.
Check out this site, which actively helps PR companies pitch. Even if you haven’t received a pitch yet, mostly likely you will. Its just a matter of time.*
An example of what I am getting:
Hi Manda,
We’re currently working with xxxxxx promoting their video for a new line of producs; you can watch the video here: videolink . The products on show are ideal for people with a passion for food but no time for cleaning, and we feel i am baker would be the perfect place to reach our audience.
If you would be interested in featuring the video on your site please get back to us and we can sort something out.
*******
So I responded to this company:
Hi xxx
Thank you so much for the kind words!
I like your product (already use it!) and would be happy to feature your video on my site. My normal fee for that is $x. Please let me know if I can provide you any further details!
*******
I received this back:
Hi Amanda,
Unfortunately we do not have any remaining budget for this campaign.
We’ll keep you in mind for future endeavors.
*******
Even my 3 year old knows that she doesnt want to do somethin for nothin, as evidenced by the fact I recently had to bribe her to pick up her princess shoes.
Here is one way I describe it: (usually to people who are not bloggers)
Its like going into a car dealership and saying, “I have a radio I think would be great in your car. Can you install my radio in your car, advertise about my radio for me, make sure the radio is on all the time, and get all your existing customers more interested in my radio? Oh, and this would be for free, since I am letting you use my radio.”
Just because a company contacts you and says, “We think your site is a great fit for our brand. Please tweet, facebook, google +, blog, and pin our newest product and we will then consider you for future endeavors,” doesn’t mean you need to do what they ask!
You have worth. Negotiate with them! Dont accept the first offer as the final offer.
I dont know about you, but I was completely flattered the first time I got a pitch. I was willing to do whatever they asked and then some.
I think they are banking on that. Like, literally.
And in my experience, they actually do have a budget. They just dont want to spend it where they dont have too. Why pay when some bloggers are willing to do it for free, just to build a “relationship”?
WHAT PR AGENCIES NEED TO KNOW
Doing a blog post takes work.
Tweeting about a company that we do not know affects our twitter relationships.
Sharing a company on facebook affects our reputation.
Pinterest is still fairly new, but if a blogger has followers, their pins have value.
If a blogger chooses to work hard to promote your client and put their reputation on the line then they deserve compensation.
WHAT BLOGGERS NEED TO KNOW
Your social media package (your blog, facebook, twitter, pinterest, google +, etc) has value.
Monetary value.
No matter what size your blog is, I encourage you to place a value on certain functions.
It is my opinion that you are the best judge of what that value is. For instance, say JimBob has 1,000 fans on facebook. JimBob shares daily on facebook and typically has at least 50% (if not more) of his fans interacting with him. Susie Q has 10,000 fans on FB. She doesnt have as much interaction and on average only 10% of her fans comment, like, and share.
(twitter, blog readers, pinterst followers, etc. are all interchangeable with facebook in that paragraph)
Please observe my very technical and high end graph.
Even though SusieQ has more fans, JimBob would probably run a more successful campaign. Sadly, most PR agencies are not taking the time to determine this. You need to be the one to tell them!
You know your fanbase, you know the interaction, you know your klout. Base your fees on that, not on what someone else is charging.
In my best Norma Rae voice I want to say,
“Do not sell yourself short! Have a fee and prepared statement in mind! Take a stand against abuse of social media power!”
Or, ahhhh, something like that.
Did you know companies exist with the sole purpose of telling PR reps how to pitch to bloggers? It is my hope that we, as bloggers, can challenge them. Force them to pay bloggers an appropriate sum for our time, our influence, and our hard work!
ALL bloggers. Even if you feel you have a small audience, you have a voice. I just hope they can respect that.
#justsayin
*There is nothing wrong with getting a pitch! My next post will be on how to discern if a company is right for you and how to make sure they keep coming back for more. 
Disclaimer: I have been contacted by companies I love and admittedly, I will work for them for free. If I already use their product, have previously promoted their product, and think others can benefit from using their products, I am excited to share that through all social media avenues. Sometimes, for me, its not about what I can gain from it, but how can I help others by sharing.
LOVE this post… so helpful for people who have questions like this. Let’s speak at a conf together! I advise on this all the time
You do?!? Of course you do. I have just recently been getting the mass pitches… so never really thought that much about it. I should have consulted you first!! If you have a post about it feel free to share the link so folks can get a PRO’s perspective!
Companies DO have money. Everyone needs to know that. I hate that many set out to use bloggers (as you mentioned) to pimp their product for free. Another little piece of advice… whatever they offer you, don’t be afraid to ask for more. You’re worth it!
YES! Well said. I hope every blogger reads this!!!
Thanks! You both just boosted my confidence. I could babble on and on…but I’ll stop there. Great post Amy, thanks for taking the time to say it like it is. I just wanna hug ya ; )
THANK YOU AMANDA for writing this! This week I received 4 different PR “offers” and my reaction was “Um… this is great for you but exactly WHAT is great about this for me”? That of course wasn’t disclosed. I am so glad that I am not the only one who gets these things and I completely agree with you. It has to be a two way street – that bloggers get something out of it as well – but I definitely agree that bloggers MUST be compensated for their work!!!
Well said. To add to that people would be surprised if they just ask for their worth at how many companies will actually pay you for your work. I find that if a company pitches me and I come back with a proposal for XYZ, they respect me more and I have gotten paid work from it. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
GREAT post and a timely reminder. There seems to be a new trend here (in Australia) where bloggers are being sent media releases to promote products – with the implication that you either blog without trialing the product, or the blogger has to actually go and buy the product! I can’t hit delete fast enough for most of those!
I think we all need to hold back on these. Sometimes I do stuff for products that I like, but I have been asked for some really outrageous things. My favorite was 10 recipes with multiple photos, in exchange for their product. Really. No.
I’d rather just work for myself.
This is incredibly helpful for new bloggers like me – thanks so much for posting.
From a slightly different perspective, I think this kind of work from HUUUUUGE national brands hinders the efforts of tiny small businesses [like my little bake shop!] from getting attention from bloggers. They HAVE tons of advertising [and plenty of sales!], we’d like a TINY bit.
Such great advice. I might have been spoiled by the first offer I received…and the 2nd; both of some significant value so when I get press releases assuming I’ll write a post or the requisite pitch to Ms Creative Culinary I do much of what you do. Typically when my response indicates that I would be happy to discuss a post after sampling their product and offering my rates I can assume the conversation is over and I won’t hear back from them.
In some cases I will do a post with product only, particularly if the brand who wants to engage carries a brand of alcohol I regularly use; those cocktail posts get pricey for me! But the ones that kill me are those that want me to write a post, give me the script, dictate what to write AND…assume I will go buy the product to do so. At some point they’ve just become comical but in a larger sense they are not because if you or I say no, then they will go feed in other waters where many of bloggers still get that rush from being asked.
Your writing this post helps…until we all band together and find a way to have a common response to these insults to our time and ability, it won’t change. Bravo!
I found your post very helpful, being a new blogger myself. I haven’t received any solicitations and I probably would have difficulty putting a price on my posts. Although, I do include the brands I use and like in my posts with no compensation from the companies because I think it contributes to the value contained in the post. Thanks for sharing.
its so sad (but also so amusing) how many emails i get a day to “edie” or “elsie” or “elisa”…anything but elise. i used to politely decline and say that i wasnt interested, but i have stopped replying altogether now. it may be rude, but i really dont even feel like they deserve the two minutes of my time it takes to write back. delete!
What a fantastic post. I’m still such a newbie still with my blogging but I hope to one day have enough content of worth that I might get these emails. You know what I’ll do then? Refer them to this post
xx
Have I told you lately that I love you?
GREAT post…
GREAT GREAT post – xxoo
Love you too!
Thanks so very much for this great post. I am such a newbie that I didn’t even know that this happens…..lol Great information. Yes, even my small little 2 month blog is work something.
Exactly!
It is really getting very annoying and frustrating for me that I am also blogging and always expected to advertise for something or somebody for free. Nothing in this world is free right?
This is really a great post, a timely reminder to all the PRs and bloggers alike too.
Thank you for putting these in words and speaking up for the blogging community!
Great post! I hate quoting at the best of times so putting a price on my blog/posts/tweets/updates would be so hard! I’m sharing this on ALL my social media outlets. Hopefully we can educate all bloggers!
Thank you Emily!
Thank you for this post, I received my first such email along these lines today and truly didn’t know how to respond until a friend sent me this.
Man, I’m a loser! No PR pitches here…however, if you’d like me to do one for your up and coming cookbook…I might just pay YOU to let me!
That does NOT mean you are a loser Londa! You are fantastic and thoughtful and generous and wonderful. I am glad those PR folks have not caught on to your awesomeness yet!
I dont want anyone taking advantage of you.
Love this post! Thank you so much for saying what every blogger/ writer/ social media addict has been thinking. Every time we tweet, blog or Facebook a product we increase a companies profits. We need to stop giving these companies free marketing and advertising for zero return. Our words are powerful and they have worth.
Exactly! Well said!
thanks for the post! valuable information to remind myself of daily for sure!
What a great post – thanks for this.
It is important to let bloggers know that we have the power to pick and choose what we put on our blogs, Facebook pages & Twitter feeds and it is more important for us to realise that what we choose impacts on our reputations. It all comes down to how we want our readers to percieve us – easily bought for a bag of pasta or discerning consumers who want to share something we value ourselves?
It is up to each of us to put a value on what we do, rather than let PR’s and marketers use us to add value to their own work.
Well said – a great post!
M y great bugbear is badly targetted PR pitches. My blog is an offshoot of the magazine I publish for people who like to enter competitions. My readers pay for the magazine and therefore if a PR has a competition to promote, I am happy to give them free publicity – it’s all part of the service to my readers. A page on my blog explains exactly what I will promote. And yet every week I get one or two pitches asking me to promote – still for free – a promotion that has no competition involved. Only yesterday I finally replied oto one, in exasperation, “Have you actually READ my blog at all?”.
Amazing! Learned so much. Seriously only a blogger would know how much time, effort and love we put in each and every post. It sure does have value… lots of value!
I loved this post more than you can imagine. I am a newbie and dream about the day when I will start getting all these mails, I now know where to come back to and what to do! Thanks a lot!!
Thanks for sharing this. Some times it is hard to put a value on yourself but I do not like working for free.
PR pitches? I have been contacted by big restaurants, magazines and cookbook authors asking for my photographs or recipes and on being asked for money they apologize that they do not have that “budget”. I mean seriously, how big of an idiot do you think I am?
This is a simple yest powerful post which I am sure many can benefit from. Thanks for sharing!
So well said! As a newish blogger myself, it’s something i would be totally clueless about! Thanks for bringing this up!! I wouldn’t work for free… Unless le creuset wants to send me a pot or two…
Thanks so much for all this common sense. I’ve been getting quite a few pitches and a few months ago I did agree to do one and was given nothing for my efforts and that was my mistake for not setting my terms. They then asked me to do another ‘job’ for them for nothing except a pathetic giveaway to my readers. I emailed them and told them I would do it for x and haven’t heard from them since (that was months ago). I’m constantly being asked to do things for no money and I feel like asking them if they expect their plumber not to invoice them after they do work for him. From now one, I’ll be taking your advice and emailing them my fees, if only for my self-worth xx
Thank you for writing this post…..I’m still relatively new to the blogging world, but as my site grows I’ m getting more and more of inquires like these. Some are a good fit and the trade off is fair enough, but I never thought to set a price for my time above what there trade might be.
Cut and dry!
Some are just completely irrelevant and would most likely send a confusing message to my readers…..I like your steadfast approach
The only problem I see with accepting payment for blog space is that, depending on your own policy, you have to declare that content as a paid advertisement and that might be more detrimental to your brand than a quick post with no strings attached.
I have a strict disclaimer policy for my own blog – any kind of freebie is noted in a separate section at the start of a blog post – and I prefer to retain absolute editorial control over anything that I hit the ‘publish’ button on. With no money involved, I feel free to write that I liked a product but thought it expensive (or other criticism), my readers (hopefully) feel I’m being upfront and honest and the PR/company gets something out of it too.
Paid advertisements (even if you don’t disclose them) put you into the realm of ‘influencer’ rather than ‘advocate/ambassador’. Which is fine if that’s the route you choose but that might not be appropriate for all bloggers.
Great point Alex! Bloggers do need to protect themselves and know their obligations in terms of payments and reporting.
You KNOW this kind of post is RIGHT UP MY ALLEY! No one should underestimate their value.
Thank you, Amanda, for really taking the time to show us how to navigate these waters.
Amen sister!! Thanks for writing this post!!
Very interesting post Amanda and a good reminder (no matter what your business). Don’t sell yourself, or your worth short! If we don’t value what we do, how can we expect anyone else to?
Thanks so much for your input in this!! It was a great post!
Love this!! Yes, so very true and I hope many read this! ♥
Thanks so much for this great information. I appreciate fellow bloggers sharing information to help others grow. I now know what to look for when a pitch comes through.
I haven’t had anyone *pitch* to me per se, but I have had someone contact me to use my photographs for free. (She wanted to use it on packaging.) I’m very glad she asked first and didn’t just rip it off like so many other companies have done to bloggers, but just because you’re honest doesn’t mean I will give away my work for free. She’s not giving her product away free! Is it possible to be immensely flattered and rather insulted at the same time?
Two thumbs up. Great post. The ugly truth shown in the smartest ways. Thanks for sharing!
Hi – I follow and enjoy your blog. For my job, I am a PR person. I have to say, while your social media package absolutely does have value and you should be respected and you should NEVER receive a pitch email with the wrong name on it, not every PR person is “out to get you,” has a massive budget, or is just looking for freebie endorsements from you!! I just want you to know, some PR people are *actually* trying to be helpful and connect good products with people who might benefit from them. I am sure you have seen some horrendous pitches and I am sorry that is the case (it is an embarrassment to the industry). But I just had to throw my two cents in to the mix, if nothing else, to stand up for the good PR folks out there
Thanks.
I am thankful you are sharing your 2 cents Caroline! I agree with you… the folks that take time to know that my site is a good fit for their product are the people that I enjoy working with. They work hard and make valuable connections. I think I am wiling to go above and beyond for people like that!
I am sorry I made a blanket statement that all PR folks are out to get you. Thats not right. It has been my experience lately, but I know that thats only a handful of people. Thanks so much for setting the record straight.
Thanks so much for your response, and happy blogging! I am still working on my rose cake skills
You said everything there was to be said Amanda. Companies indeed have money but they are just trying to promote themselves for free.
When I started my little blog and received my first pitch I did a happy dance ” wow, you want ME to talk about your product! WOW WOW WOW! haha little did I know.
My last pitch was about a book and when I requested also a check to cover the cost of the ingredients and my time to photograph they replied saying that receiving the book for free is considered payment. Really???
So wonderful of you to speak to these issues. Someone needs to be vocal about it and you did a beautiful job. It is frustrating in this blogging world, to see how many abuses occur. Whether it is having content scraped, or these silly pitches. We have worth and no one else will respect that if we don’t. What a great informative post to help bloggers understand.
I absolutely love this post and wish more people knew and understood this too!! I always tell the Mr that in the beginning I’d probably jump at any opportunity without thinking. Now I always think, how is this beneficial to me? I’ve responded with such… how their pitch isn’t anywhere near mutually beneficial and it needs to be for me to work with them (depending on the product of course, just as you said). We all have brands and reasons we’ll bend a bit.
Well done indeed! Thank you for addressing a pertinent issue so effectively. Beautifully worded and a very ‘head nodding’ one. Bravo!!
Well said! I remember my first year of blogging the excitement at the first PR pitches, but as time (lots of time, along with lots of effort) passed, you quickly realize that you spend hours of your own time and dollars from your own wallet to support others. Such a good reminder to remember to value yourself and your time, above all else.
god!! this is such an eye opener!!…..you are so right…i get so many pitches, I will be more forthright from now on!!
http://sushmita-smile.blogspot.in/
I love this post. I saw it tweeted by Utterly Scrummy. It is so good. I don’t get many pitches but I do turn them all down. If I haven’t bought their product then there is a reason for it, although if Kitchen Aid ever got in touch….!
Great post Amanda.
Pru
Nicely said! I needed to hear that, thanks.
You know, I’ve thought these same things to myself on many occasions. I get several PR requests a week, some from people who I don’t even think read my blog. Why in the world would a company contact me to write about or review a product that has nothing to do with my blog theme? Makes zero sense to me.
I have yet to take any of these offers up… and unless a company, like you said comes along that you or 1) already use their product 2) love them, I probably never will. And why? Because
I. Have. Value!
And if they can’t see that… then they aren’t worth my time.
Great post! I feel like these thoughts run through my head most morning when going through emails. My favorite these days are the ones that start… “Dear lovefromtheoven”. Wait, I have a name, and it’s very easy to find on my site. And even if you don’t want to look for it, maybe put some spaces in my site name so that it looks marginally less form letter-ish. I am always far more open when I can tell someone has actually looked at my site for more then 2 seconds (or at all!). That said, I have worked with some great PR companies that have been fabulous, and do take the time to do things right. Bloggers put a tremendous amount of time and effort (and heart and soul) into what they do, and need to value themselves and what they do.
Amanda, thank you so much for posting this. I’ve found it hard to respond to certain companies saying that I can’t help them out unless I am paid, and saying it with poise and grace. I will blog, FB, Tweet, and share companies and products I personally love and use. I will be more than happy to try new products, but would appreciate being compensated for doing so. Each of our posts are VALUABLE and we can lose/gain readers any second.. even if we type the wrong word! Thank you so much for writing this, I’m going to reference it the next time I feel stuck in a situation like this!
Thanks you for this post!! I don’t get very many pitches like that, however, I have never used one unless it was a benefit to me. I’ve yet to be paid though and am at a point where I have enough of an influence that I don’t need to work for free. Thank you for getting us thinking!!
Well said! You are absolutely right, we should never sell ourselves short. Thank you for posting this Amanda!
Great Post!
I am glad to see this knowledge shared! Actually now I even feel guilty for not mentioning it on my blog earlier. =I Seriously, its annoying to get messages like that, when knowing that others, those who would jump for it, are getting them too. Redently I got a message from a famos alcohol company in India. Saying that they would like me to cook in their upcoming event in Goa. I tried to explain the same as you did. Their answer was that their are others willing to do it for free, the whole promotion etc, if I dont want.
what am great post!! Someday’s I feel like I’m preaching to the choir when I tell food bloggers the same thing.
I love your offer of a box of macaroni for your time!! It would really be funny if it wasn’t true!
Thanks again for such a well written timely post!
Dennis
I have seen you sharing your wisdom with others… you do a great job!
Thank you SO much for this post, Amanda! I’ve been approached by several companies lately about promoting new products and things for them. At first, I was just so flattered they wanted to use me–ME!!–that I said yes. It wasn’t until later I realized “why did I even say yes? I don’t even really like their product or services and don’t use it.” I felt like I sold myself short, but also my readers. It was a bad feeling, lemme tell ya. Then other companies–ones I actually enjoyed–came along and while I was compensated with products and that’s awesome, I’m glad I read this post so I know I’m not the only one out there stuck in this situation of “should I or shouldn’t I” in terms of companies who could just be using me. Thank you!
Wow – another great post Amanda. Thanks for keeping your finger on the pulse of topics all bloggers and all of us thinking about starting a blog need to know.
Your many posts outside the realm of baking are always timely, needed and appreciated. I always find something relevant, inspiring or thought provoking each time I visit your site.
I initially started out stopping by here for the cakes and sweets, but I keep coming back for that and more.
Keep up the good work!
-Erica F
Nicest. Comment. Ever. Thank you sweet Erica!
I really appreciate this post. I just made the leap into blogging full-time and now making an income from working with brands is really important to me. I wish reps would recognize just how much work it takes to develop a recipe or promote something via social media and the value that we provide in doing these services. It’s really demoralizing as a professional when someone thinks that the hours you spend on a recipe, the hours you spend taking & editing photos, and all the time spent promoting your post is worth a free can of broth (or whatever).
GREAT article, girlfriend! Just slap a great big “L” for LOSER across my forehead, though, because I only DREAM about getting pitches from companies! I have this inner burning desire to get one or two… just so that I can professionally let them know how much bang they can get for their buck with my talent
Thank you so much for this post! I think a lot of newer bloggers can be afraid to turn down these “opportunities,” but you are so right about it affecting our integrity!
Great post. This is an area I do not know much about and am very interested in learning more. Completely agree that there is value in social media build up that bloggers have and that by giving up all these promotions for free it hurts all bloggers as a whole. Staying tuned for more posts related to this!
wow… Beautiful, & so informative. Thank you for taking the time to condense the advice so concisely!
Love your statement “Your social media package (your blog, facebook, twitter, pinterest, google +, etc) has value.” Am gonna mark it in red letters and paste it on my ‘About’ page! Thanks for such thoughtful post, Amanda.
As a new blogger this is really great info. Thanks so much for sharing. You’ve given me some things to think about and I look forward to your next post on the subject.
well said. I cannot agree more that we need to put a value to our content!! If bloggers constantly give away their airspace for free (unstrategically), then it devalues what we’re all doing here.
Thanks for discussing this!
Thanks for the advice! Now I’ll be prepared if I ever receive any PR requests again. I did one one time and it was a ‘meh’ experience.
Thank you for sharing. I´m blogger too and I know the problem. Unfortunately many bloggers don´t know their value and advertise their product for free (or they get a box of tea or so). I will share this post.
You are so right and I’m sending you a virtual hug for saying this out loud. Great read!
Amanda, this is such a great post. Thanks for sharing.
I got an email yesterday asking if I would promote a “women’s sexual enhancement drug” on my blog!!!! I did not even bother responding, but I was shocked.
GREAT article and advice! I’m 110% in favor of knowing your value and handling your blog like a business. We are offering a professional service! Kudos!
love your post and you’re right, every blogger has worth even if they have a small audience..our time, influence and work is time and money! i never thought about providing a statement or baseline fee to do the promoting work companies want…so thank you for this boost!
I’m going to play devils advocate here for just a second, just because I think it’s important for bloggers to look at it from both sides of the coin.
I’m with you and get frustrated with the lack of understanding from occasional brands that my blog is my work and livelihood. I have been so blessed to work with a lot of brands who “get it” and who do value me. I have something to offer and what I have to offer is valuable.However… on the flip side…
How many bloggers do we know who have pitched companies asking for product for free in return for the same type of coverage? It’d be like us walking into Williams Sonoma and saying “Oh I have this awesome blog and I really need a Blendtec so you should just give it to me for free.” Bloggers do that via pitches all the time. I guess I’m just saying that as a blogger, we need to make sure the message we are sending to brands is consistent. If we won’t do something for free we should also not reach out and ask for something for free. I’m rambling, but just a thought
I appreciate what you’re saying here, but a company is not going to give me a free product in exchange for exposure unless it makes good business sense for them to do so. I think what Amanda is pointing out is that we as bloggers need to evaluate, as individuals and on a case-by-case basis, whether featuring a product makes good business sense for us.
I rarely even respond to cold requests, but I have on several occasions asked a company whose product I already own, use, and like (and have paid for myself), to sponsor a giveaway of the product. I view this a service to my readers, since I already know it is a great product. It is also good for me in that it drives traffic to my blog, and, if the product is listed on Amazon and I link to it, I see a spike in my Amazon associate commissions. I don’t feel it compromises my integrity, and it’s a win-win-win.
Very well written and great advise, especially for brand new bloggers still wet behind ears like me!!
Thank you for this post Amanda. I am very very new to blogging and I found this post so helpful. I appreciate your honesty about all issues related to blogging. You are truly an inspiration to me and I appreciate any advice and thoughts that you have to share.
Thank you for prompting an interesting discussion. I’m thinking part of this issue regards educating the PR companies and blog sponsors (while we also educate ourselves on the options)…and you’re bringing that to everyone’s attention with this post. Good job!
Awesome information! Thanks for empowering us bloggers! XO, Aimee
Thank you so much for this honest and helpful post! As an newer blogger, I’m always glad to have posts like these that offer so much information and encouragement!
I am so glad that you decided to talk about this! This is AWESOME! And a good reminder that everyone has value!
Very helpful and informative post…thanks so much for sharing!
So true!! We are all valuable and so is our potential to reach customers. Otherwise, they would not be contacting us.
give or take a million dollars… loved it!
I think this is brilliant advice. I’ve been offered payment for sponsored posts but only once have I been asked to blog for nothing about a product I’d never heard of. In the nicest way possible I told them to get lost.
Thanks for this great post Amanda. I was recently approached by a local magazine asking if I would like to feature my recipes (and multiple images) in their recipe section – for free of course! As it is a popular magazine and could result in some decent exposure I considered it but before agreeing I negotiated for them to do an interview feature on me and my work and said that in return I would provide recipes and images for three issues and reassess after that based on other commitments. They agreed within minutes which goes to show, as you say, that they can almost always offer more than they indicate initially. If they really can’t pay and you still want to work with them then there are usually other ways they can compensate you for your time so that it’s more of a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Thank you Amanda. This adds yet another reason why I really love your blog. I’m still such a small fish in the big sea, but it is good to be informed. Dana
Great info! This is perfect timing for me as I have been wondering if I’m also on some never ending spam list of pitches! ha. Thanks so much for sharing.
Love it, and so true. People are trying to get recognition for their hard work! It’s a strong reminder never to lose sight of why you are blogging in the first place!
This is excellent, thank you. Shared with my very valuable Twitter folks
I don’t have a whole lot of opinion on this subject myself as I don’t really do this sort of blogging, but when I tripped across this blog post on Twitter, I immediately thought of another post I saw recently from a woman I met at BlogHer this year who’s more versed with things from the PR side of the the coin: http://thisaisforapple.wordpress.com/2012/08/22/brands-and-blogging-more-blogher12-take-home-value/
I think she gives some really good insight on how PR campaigns work from their perspective (bloggers aren’t treated any different than any other news media outlet) and gives some good advice for how to upsell to a PR campaign in order to potentially get paid for what you’re writing.
Amen Amen Amen sista. super article and insight. jen
I had to pin this I thought it was so powerful and well written. Thank you for shedding light on this issue. I have a blog tips linky party if you’re interested in sharing there. I think that by educating one another in this way we create a savvy blogging culture…. and that can only be to our benefit.
<3 Christina
I was approached to develop recipes for a HUGE corporation – and they wanted it free of charge – I wonder what these companies think? great post
Hi Amanda – thanks for writing this post. I’m pretty new to blogging and am shocked by how much people expect for free. It’s frustrating that there will always be bloggers excited to work for free, but it’s encouraging to see articles like this that are helping everyone become more aware of their value.
EXCELLENT Amanda!!! Sharing across the web now. I agree and encounter daily the same issues you speak of here.
Thank you for sharing this helpful info. and good advice, especially for us new bloggers.
Amanda this is a GREAT ins-and-outs of pitches. They can be aggressive, aloof, carsalesman-ish, and everything in between. Thanks for clearing up the chaos.
You are a true gem, so glad you wrote this. I love it!
What a fantastic post Amanda! I love this….a lot! At least they responded back to you saying they didn’t have the $$, most just never respond. It’s an interesting moment when you go from “Will work for free” to “My mortgage company doesn’t like payment in the form of a free spatula”. It’s a bit scary, in fact to hit Send on that first email back to a PR firm saying “I have worth…and it’s $$”. Thank you for talking about this…you did a fantastic job of laying it out in terms everyone can understand. Especially the chart.
xo!
Heather
Thank you for this. It is very helpful as I am deciding on some of these for my blog now!
Yes Yes YES!
I am so tired of emails asking for my services for NOTHING in exchange. I usually just ignore the emails, but lately I’ve been replying. How do you handle when a company pitches to you, say, a hot dog maker and you run a dessert-only blog? How do you handle pitches that are so left field? Do you follow up with a catty email? Kidding.
Thanks for always tackling the tough issues, Amanda!
I am not sure how I missed this post last week. Loved it, and you are so right. Now that I have PR people starting to float through as my blog expands… I don’t know where to start with “This is my fee…” I’m honestly not sure how to gauge what my time is worth.
This is fabulous. I started responding to people about my pricing options awhile back and almost NO ONE responds. Also, you can get off the list. The ICANN Spam Act states that these companies cannot add you to their mailing list without your permission. I asked a few of them how I got on their lists and told them about ICANN and how they were violating it. I was immediately given the name of the database where I was listed and was able to get myself removed.
Great post, Amanda. I shall pin it to my forehead. Right now. xoxo
I really, really appreciated this post, Amanda! It gives me the courage to represent myself the way that I should. Thank you for the advice!
I just read this post and it opened up my eyes. I said yes to a woman promoting a cooking class and I didn’t want to tell her no (even though I was doing it for free). I then asked her if I could take a class and blog about it and she said no! I have to say, after blogging for almost 2 years, I am still learning so much.
Thank you for posting this!
Just wanted to offer a belated thank you for this post! I saved it back when you first posted it, and just referred back in an effort to draft a tactful response to a company that wanted me to promote their product for nothing. Thanks so much for writing this
Awesome post – thank you!
xo, Becky
“Pitches” the #2 reason I don’t blog! #1 Reason, I overthink everthing I write and as a result NOTHING would ever get posted!
May God continue to fill your heart with such astounding disernment!
this post came to my attention at just the right time. Over the weekend I was working with a pr firm who represented a company that wanted to take out a text ad. I mentioned my ridiculously rate of $10/month figuring they would pick up at least 3 months (last time I made that a requirement) – so they got back to me that they would like to do one month – for a whopping $10 (minus the paypal fee) – I got to thinking and it is not worth doing ANYTHING for less than $10 so I told them so in a nice way and they came up to 3 months/$25 but now I have to jump through all sorts of hoops since the link can only appear on the homepage not subsequent pages. Not even worth it for $25 I’m afraid. Hope you are doing well my friend
Girl… you are wise and priceless. I think that company was beyond foolish to not offer you MORE! You are fabulous.
I really like your post but don’t forget that big companys will offer good money only to big ‘blogs’. When you start you will not get that $100+ in the mail to write a blog post, buy the ingredients, take a picture and talk about the products on your blog, Facebook, twitter etc. etc.
Many companys will send you a free box of goodies to try and might offer you a giveaway. That’s about it. I am talking about companys in Canada for your information, cannot speak about US.
Also it would be nice to actually know how much to charge instead of saying that we should not work for free. That would be a bit more useful for everyone. When you are starting a blog and want exposure you may want to work for almost free. It’s a business and it takes time and effort to build a business and good relationship with PRs. You need to invest time and it might be profitable some day. Just a few can quit their full time paying job to get a living out of it.
Thanks for letting me commenting on your post.
YES YES YES!!!!! Everyone who has ever even thought about working with a blog needs to read this!!! As a wedding blogger, I’m having to deal with the exact same thing- and I’m getting SO fed up about it. Straight up telling me that I don’t deserve to make a living via my business- how dare they?! Sometimes I just want to reply with “Do YOU work for free?”
Thanks for this!
I was trying not to laugh out loud during this entire post! As of yesterday I went from full-time PR girl to full-time blogging [and bar tending to support my habit]! With every pitch I was forced to send to bloggers I thought this exact thing, which is why I decided to discontinue my line of work and go with a route that I am INFINITELY happier with. Thanks for this great information.
This is a GREAT reminder and I am beginning to get this more and more. What would you recommend charging for something like promoting a product? I appreciate your feedback!
Bree
There are so many variables Bree… it just depends on you!