What I'm about to tell you is taboo among bloggers. The biggest kept secret about working with brands that no one ever talks about. It's time we talk about this very important topic because you're doing it all wrong. Why Bloggers Should Stop Working For Free.
On any given day I open my email and there are at least 10 pitch emails staring me in the face from brands asking me to promote their product or service. What's the big problem with these emails? They always tell me what they want, what I should write, how I should promote what they're offering, but guess what? They never mention anything about me, about my blog, why they want to work with me and why it would benefit me to write for them promoting them for FREE. I dread opening these emails and even put it off as long as possible because I hate asking for what I really want even though I know I am worth more than they're offering.
The Pitch
Recently, I had someone contact me asking if I would write a post about XYZ then link back to their site and talk about how it would benefit my readers. The person sent me links to other bloggers who had written for them as examples. When I clicked the links, I saw gorgeous photography with exquisitely written posts. It infuriated me that not a single one of those bloggers were sponsored for their work. They did all that work for FREE.
Now don't get me wrong. I do not expect a paycheck or freebie every time I write something. What I do expect, is a small return for the amount of time I put into the project and quality of work I do. Incentives like a social media shout out, adding my recipe to their website to encourage traffic back to my site or a cross promotion are all acceptable. Instead pitch emails offer none of these things.
Ask for what you want
Brands want as much free work as they can get. This is due, in part, to blogging still being this mythical hobby much less a real, respective job with an income. How many times has someone said to you "you have a blog? oh that's cute!" Then you feel frustrated because they don't realize how much work blogging is and how you're pouring your heart, sweat and tears into it. That comment shows how undervalued influencers are and it's not just your friends, its brands too. The difference is brands are businesses. They're on a mission to make as much money as possible which means rewarding bloggers as little as possible so they can make more profit.
But here's the kink. Social media is on steroids these days. Brands need influencers to sell. Without them, they are just another fish in the sea. They need influencers to market their product or service to set themselves apart from the other fish.
What does that mean for you?
Don't be scared to ask for what you deserve and you shouldn't undervalue yourself. I know it's hard not to feel a twinge of excitement when you receive an email or call about a project. You immediately want to jump at the chance to work with anyone and everyone who wants to work with you.
When you start blogging, I recommend you do free work because frankly, your work will be rough. Doing it for free, gives you the opportunity to improve your work and have examples of it for future projects. As you grow and become more amazing (which you will), you need to shift your focus to viewing pitched work as a collaboration. That doesn't have to mean a paycheck, but there should be a win in it somewhere for you. Never assume a brand will not compensate you. You will be surprised who is willing to play in the sandbox with you.
Why I no longer do product reviews
Product reviews are boring, time consuming to research and none of my readers want to hear about a product unless it's authentically weaved into my life. No one wants to pay for them either because every blogger is doing them for free. If someone wants to send me something, I tell them upfront it doesn't necessarily mean I'll write about it. Nine times out of ten, they still send me the product.
How to gracefully decline a project
Anytime I have responded to a brand this way, I've always received a cordial "I understand" response back.
How to tactfully ask for what you want
When I respond to brands this way, it opens up the gate to begin discussing compensation or other ways they can promote you in return for the work they're proposing. Remember everything is negotiable.
Would I work at Target for free?
My friend Gigi made a bold statement at Fit Bloggin' "none of you will ever work for free again." The look on the blogger faces in the room was priceless. But Gigi is right. The more bloggers continue to undervalue themselves, the harder it becomes for any blogger to have their work valued as more than "cute."
Every healthy living blogger promotes self-worth so why I ask, are you lowering your standards and undervaluing your monetary worth when it comes to your work? Stop underestimating yourself and the work you do. The next time you consider doing a project for free ask yourself this "would I work at Target for free?"
I appreciate this post. I feel the same way about product reviews. After doing about five of them, I'm so over it. I would rather just write about the stuff I love to write about vs the free stuff I got in the mail. Thank you for writing this!
I'm the same way. I completely dread product reviews. I'd rather apply it to my lifestyle somehow. That feels more natural to me.
Hi Megan! Amen! I love this! You are so right -- that as bloggers, we have to value ourselves to get brands to pay for our services. They need us! Great topic! 🙂
Thanks friend! I know you of all people are on board with this.
great post! those sample emails are great and very helpful. thanks for sharing!
Of course Rachel!
I love your blogging-related posts! I learn so much from you. This post was particularly interesting to me because I have always wondered how this works.
I'm so glad it's helpful to you Anita! I'm never sure if what I'm saying makes sense to anyone other than me. Hehe!
Preach, girl! Love love love this so so much!
Yeah!!! Glad you loved it lady. xoxo
Thanks!!! I am very new to blogging and this advice is very helpful. I am pretty neutral right now with my thoughts, but I am sure it will coming. Have a great day
bakingrunner.blogspot.com
You will form an opinion quickly!
Yes! One of the problems is that, when you're a new blogger, and suddenly people want to send you free stuff it's so exciting that you rarely say no. There comes a point though when it finally hits you how much work you've been doing virtually for free. This post is very helpful for bloggers who are ready to start being fairly compensated for their time and hard work.
That being said, I still have a few brands that I work with in exchange for project, but only ones that I love and that I feel the value of the product (usually shoes or fitness wear 🙂 ) is fair compensation.
I'm the same Debbie. It really depends on the project & who they are. I do believe the more bloggers begin to expect compensation of some form in return for their work that the standard will change. Blogging isn't a cute hobby, it's work.
Very well said, lady. I think it's important to do some work for free when you're first building up your blog and portfolio, but you reach a point where you have enough influence and followers that you deserve to get paid for the time and effort you put in. It drives me crazy to see so many brands that try to guilt a blogger into doing work for free or just working for product. Like I can't even tell you how many times I've declined a review and the brand has shot back with something like "we're just a small start up company and don't have the budget for it." Okay, you're a small company, what do you think I am?!
this is true. I've been on both sides, being a social media manager before. It can be tricky. But it's all about VALUING each other. Well said megan.
It certainly a balancing act. I think more companies need to hire bloggers to handle their social media so they could maneuver this area better and be more successful.
Oh yes, the old I'm a small company line. I get a lot of those. They really irk me too! If it's a product I absolutely love, then I will consider helping them out, but in general I just pass. It's too much work and if they don't respect that then we shouldn't be working together. Like you said, we're small businesses too. Why should we be treated different? I think too many brands still perceive blogs as a hobby not as a business.
I have bookmarked this, Megan. I don't get tons of requests from brands, but when I do now I run into the problem that I'm not in the US anymore and their service isn't available in Europe. I always have to laugh that they still want me to review their site or service and write about it to my American readers knowing it's of no benefit to me. Blogging is really hard work and we shouldn't be afraid to ask for what we're worth. Great tips and advice. I am really tired of that, "oh your blog is so cute" sentiment. It's sweet, but I'm not 11. Haha!
I get a lot of requests for things that have nothing to do with my blog and people still want me to promote them. It's frustrating. I honestly think a lot of companies lack employees who understand the world of blogging and can negotiate from that angle.
Great post - I'm still a newbie blogger so I do some free reviews, but I totally understand where you're coming from !
I think it's totally justifiable when you're new & getting your feet wet.
Great post Megan! I really like the template emails too. I am really bad at wording things so it was great to see someone else do it. Cuts the stress.
Feel free to steal them proudly!
This is exactly how I feel. I am so annoyed when people expect me to work for hours for nothing. Everyone is entitled to do what they want, but it's not for me. I'm ok with a fair trade of product (something good) if it's something I really want/need, but even that should really involve compensation for my time. My suggestion is create a media kit and stick to it.
That's a good point. I've responded with my media kit as well. I only wish brands would realize that they're approach is all wrong.
I find a balance between free and paid work. For me, there has to be an ROI that is consistent with the work that I am putting in--I will guest post for free if I think that the opportunity for new readers is worth it, or I might do a review for free if I want to create a relationship with a company. But I am becoming increasingly more choosy with how I go about it, and if I dedicate an entire post to something, it is because I really am interested whatever it is.
This is exactly how I am. In fact, I've landed many opportunities via fostering a relationship then moving into the business side of it.
i completely agree with this post! i no longer do free product reviews!
Good for you Rachel! Bloggers united!
You know I absolutely love this! Preach on. But seriously, the practical advice for how to communicate with companies is extremely helpful to many of us!
I'm glad you think so. I know that is something I've always felt other posts lacked & wondered how to do until I figured it out for myself.