How not to work with bloggers

I don’t blog for money, I do it for the craic and it’s a way for me to expand on 140 characters sometimes.  However, as a blogger we’re sometimes asked to review products, attend events or try things out with our kids with the hope that we’ll blog about it.  It’s a great way for companies to advertise and we get to try out a lot of cool things that we may otherwise not get to.

In this case, I was sent a recipe and asked to do some baking with my daughter.  This isn’t the first time I’ve been asked to don an apron and get into the kitchen.  I normally don’t mind because I don’t bake enough with Madame and this makes me get in the kitchen and it’s usually fun.  The last time I was asked to review a recipe, I was sent everything I’d need.

This time I was sent a recipe, that calls for 7 ingredients and they only sent one of the ingredients with a retail value of 98p.  Yup, you heard me right….a whopping 98p.  However, the recipe calls for self-raising flour, honey, sultanas, butter, salt and milk.  I have a couple of these things in the house but would have to go out and buy the rest. It wouldn’t break the bank but can’t help thinking this is incredibly cheeky.  Plus, it will take me about an hour to make it, clean up the mess afterwards and don’t forget the time to write up the review.  Sorry, but my time is worth more than a quid.

This isn’t the first time this has happened, I’ve been sent toys where the batteries needed, cost more than the toy itself, asked to travel at my own expense and blatantly asked to do things out of the goodness of my heart which doesn’t include charities or companies that I’m passionate about.

I wouldn’t go so far as to name the PR company, as it would be unprofessional and this particular one isn’t unique in this practice, but I think it’s time that PRs/Companies stop insulting us by asking us to work for nothing.

Heck, I managed to get a £xxx coat off my hubby and it took a lot less time, effort and at least I got a bit of foreplay before being screwed!  ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author: mediocremum

A slightly older mum of one, who drinks far too much red wine and has an unhealthy obsession with her slow cooker. During the day she's an ICT Trainer, Social Media/Online Marketing consultant and does a bit of public speaking. Full Profile on Google+

14 thoughts on “How not to work with bloggers”

  1. I do not think that this is cheeky at all. I think that your points are well made. Loved your last comment too – very funny!!!

  2. Oh very well said. I review for free too, but it’s essential for me to consider the product/ place to be something that is HonieHouse friendly and/or something I’m passionate about. That’s not a lot to ask in return for free publicity and the attempts we make to share this information : giving up time we seldom have spare, reviewing, writing, posting, retweeting and all with carefully used writing techniques and well earned follows to promote their product.

    If you value your product, then value it’s promotion – give credit to the promotor – Not an invitiation to overestimate your importance and underestimate the power at the bloggers fingertips.

    Their loss – you have a great blog :o

  3.  I have to admit I’ve had some very pushy PR companies after me for a while now.  I agree that it is simply a corporate strategy to get *real* people t test and review products.  I don’t mind that .. but what I do mind is when they are trying to dictate what you write in your review or mention of the product even before you’ve got it or been to the event!  and what’s more you can be assured the PR company are being paid handsomely !   I have so far refused all requests to review anything .. !

  4. What nerve. I write unbiased reviews for free on http://www.reallykidfriendly.com but I always make sure I have a chat with the business first about whether or not it’s genuinely good for my audience, and also whether the product (which I would expect to keep) or the event (a show or whatever) is worth the time I’ll spend researching and writing about it. 
    So far only 1 company has really taken the **** so I guess I’ve been lucky!

    I think part of the problem is they don’t understand either our role or our limitations. They’ve forgotten that most of us do this in our “spare” time, and without much in the way of financial return if any.
    They think they’ve struck gold – before they would have paid for a focus group and advertising… now they send stuff to a few bloggers with the promise of traffic / kudos and consider it a free online focus group with free advertising to a highly targeted loyal audience. It’s no wonder they keep doing it!!! We just have to figure out how to get all UK bloggers on board saying what we expect from them in return. Any ideas??

    1. I totally agree with the final paragraph. 

      I work as a music online PR and  I always try and stress to blogs and websites I have a relationship with how important it is for them their audiences to be interested in what I’m promoting. I think (I hope!) I do it well as I see both sides of the conversation as I am a blogger, too, and I reckon it’s a learning process on the side of PRs.

  5. Very well said. I’m getting very tired of being asked to take the time to write a blog post advertising a company or their campaign (non-charity) for nothing, then pestered with three of four emails asking why I haven’t replied to emails 2,3 and 4. Because I’m trying to earn a living and simply don’t have time to reply to endless emails when I’m working. *sigh* I could go on.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *