A few months ago, a well-known company that rhymes with “Jilliams Ponoma” contacted me, asking if I were interested in writing a blog post about wedding registry “do’s and don’t’s.”
I was pretty excited about this opportunity since Belle Brita is a fairly new blog. I’ve also wanted to write about wedding registries from a minimalistic and anti-consumerism perspective, so the topic was perfect. I emailed the representative back and asked for more information on this collaboration.
The reply immediately raised a few red flags for me. While I haven’t worked with brands (yet) on this blog, I do communicate daily with clients through my day job. I know when someone is trying to get me to work for free. Below is the main part of her response to my inquiry for more information.
Whether you choose to create a picture board, include a bulleted list, or even share a registry etiquette story – you have total creative freedom! With all the in’s and out’s of planning a wedding, many people tend to forget the basic guidelines of determining what they want versus what they need. Including any tips you’ve picked up, from either buying from a registry or putting one together, will do the trick!
Considering that we are only reaching out to a select group of bloggers, I would prefer if you didn’t disclose any of my personal information within your post as to not encourage others to contact me to participate. Our social team may feature some of their favorites on social, so let me know as soon as your post goes live on your blog. Be sure to qualify your post by mentioning Williams-Sonoma, and we also have a great wedding registry resource page that would be great to highlight in your post as well for those seeking inspiration for planning their own big day. I look forward to seeing what you come up with!
Like I said, I haven’t done any sponsored writing at Belle Brita yet. I reached out to some trustworthy and wise online friends for how to proceed. The best tip I received was to respond as though I DO have experience working with sponsors and to give my usual rates. I even low-balled her knowing what I earn with Enchanted Conversation and what Cynexis Media pays our freelance copywriters. I wrote back with this.
My normal rate for writing branded content is $20. This guarantees a minimum of 500 words, three no-follow links of your choice, and four keywords of your choice. I usually write much more than 500 words, at no additional charge. You can also choose the date of publication. All of December is available except for December 3.
My preferred method of payment is paypal, which is linked to this email address.
Let me know your preferred publication date and your links/keywords.
Guess how my contact at “Jilliams Ponoma” responded. I’ll give you a hint. She didn’t counter-offer with a lower rate.
Thank you for taking the time to get back to me. We are simply looking to spark the conversation and inspire a community that is seeking fun and useful information. For this initiative we are not currently looking to engage in sponsorship opportunities, but our social team is on the lookout for really great posts and may share a few of their favorites. If this is a deal breaker for you, I completely understand. If we have something in the future that aligns with what you are looking for, I will be sure to reach back out.
As a creative person who does creative work, I am all-too-familiar with the concept of people asking you to do work for free in exchange for “promotion.” While most of the time this is pretty unfair to the creative, sometimes it can be an advantageous arrangement.
However, I knew I couldn’t settle for the vague promise that their social team “may” share a “few” of their favorites. I had no idea how many bloggers they had contacted with this concept, nor how many posts they wanted to share via their social networks.
But as a reputable company with a considerable following on social media, I had to give it one last shot. Like I said, normally it’s not a great deal to do free work for promotion. But for just a few social media shares to my blog, from a company THAT popular, I would totally be willing to compromise.
I would be willing to waive my fee in exchange for a certain number of guaranteed social shares. However, I am not able to write branded content on the vague premise that your social team “may” share a “few” of their favorites. If you can offer some guaranteed social shares, spread out via Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest, then I would still be interested in collaboration. Otherwise, this won’t work out. I don’t work for nothing.
I guess she saw the writing on the wall at this point, since she stopped emailing me.
While I was disappointed not to have a chance to collaborate with a well-known and established company, I did NOT lose an opportunity. I maintained my integrity and self-worth against a large company trying to get free advertising.
I have invested a fair amount of money into this blog for my domain name, my hosting, and advertisements on other blogs. I have invested even more time into this blog, not just writing posts regularly, but creating compelling graphics and images, networking with other bloggers, reading how-to articles, and promoting my blog.
I’m willing to do this because I love to write. Because I want to share the advice no one was giving when I was single. Because I have a talent for explaining complicated feminist concepts in easy-to-understand language. Because I have thoughts I want to share with the world.
For the moment, my only payment is page views, comments, and social media shares. For the moment, that’s all the payment I need, because it’s a positive response to my message to the world.
But I don’t work for free.
I will NOT share someone else’s message without just compensation. (Even then, that message must align with my own values).
And you shouldn’t either.
I don’t know how many bloggers “Jilliams Ponoma” managed to scam into writing free advertising, but I’m happy not to be one of them.
Bloggers, remember your worth.
Don’t work for nothing.
EDIT 02/06/2015: I’ve received a lot of feedback since writing this post, including information from other bloggers that this is a common practice for Williams Sonoma (y’all did figure out the company, good job!). I shared my post to their Facebook page and received this response through the contact form on my website.
Huh. “Increased transparency.” I guess that’s a start, since some bloggers were obviously lured in by the promises of social shares that may or may not have happened. But I was never confused about their intent. A representative from Williams Sonoma asked me to write branded content and to link to their website without offering me any compensation for my writing. That’s pretty transparent and blatantly disrespectful of writers.
I replied, but I never received a response to my inquiry.
To hear about another blogger’s experiences, check out Kelly’s post “Dozens of Recipes from Williams-Sonoma Smoothie Week.” Skip past the recipe section and you’ll find her correspondence with Williams Sonoma over the same issue.
I will be interested to see whether or not they offer future bloggers compensation. Stay tuned!
This exact same company reached out to me with the exact same proposal and I gave them the same response that you did. It’s a very cheeky thing to do. Sometimes I DO work with a company for free, but that is on a very, very select basis and it’s usually because I value the connection because I am a huge fan and I am guaranteed a social media mention or it is beneficial to our on-going working relationship. Otherwise, you’re devaluing your own work.
I just think it’s absurd that a company of that size is trying to squeeze free work out of bloggers. They have the marketing budget to run a genuine campaign with bloggers.
I’m curious now how they picked bloggers to contact, since you don’t live in the US AND you don’t blog about weddings or marriage. I wonder if they just emailed everyone, hoping to trick a few people into doing their dirty work.
Ha. It was random. But I’ve gotten some bizarre ones before. Like from a blinds company in Michigan.
This same company reached out to me. I don’t even think I responded to them. The fact that they “may” share my post (I already have a post on wedding registries) is silly. I have a feeling other bloggers get sucked in a lot with these fake promises. And it’s sad. We don’t work for free and companies need to understand that.
I’m just glad I have experience in other realms of my life that I didn’t blindly go with it. Like I receive free books in exchange for my book reviews, and as I mentioned, I can also recognize the wishy-washy wording of clients trying to get “extras” out of me for free.
Ah, good for you for responding with your rates and such! I usually don’t respond to the randoms since their content usually doesn’t fit with whatever my niche is. But then I think I should have some stock response ready, just in case replies like that ever make them realize they can’t/shouldn’t dupe bloggers into working for free.
I would definitely think in advance of replying to companies who could fit your blog, since eventually one of them will contact you. In my growing list of blog ideas, I do plan on writing a blog series on wedding planning from a feminist perspective, which is why this inquiry caught my attention. I’ve also received spammy requests that want to pay for follow links on my blog, which is black hat SEO. NOPE. I ignore them too.
Good for you! Take the compliment that the selected you (even if they selected many, there are many, many more that they did not select), but stand true to your principles.
It’s definitely nice they noticed my blog, but I’m very disappointed in their ethics.
Good on you!! I am constantly amazed at the total ignorance of businesses out there who think bloggers will just write and advertise their products for free! Stick to your guns and show them how valuable you are! Thanks for linking up this week 🙂
Like, I would even understand if it was some small Ohio-based business who was just getting started in digital marketing and asked for free writing. But a HUGE company with a gorgeous blog and Pinterest page, and clearly a good marketing budget? Ridiculous!
Ugh. That sucks. But good for you standing your ground! I’ve had a single sponsorship thus far on my blog with a certain search engine that may or may not rhyme with “Sing” that did not go super well. It has kind of turned me off of the whole sponsored post thing. Good luck in the future!
Ugh, that’s too bad. I feel like it can be so hit or miss. I’d love to make money with my blog one day, but without selling my soul along the way. I know there are ways to do it, and I’ve been really impressed at how some bloggers write their sponsored content. I’m just not sure how to do it as a newbie blogger.
I completely understand! I am in the same boat you are, a newer blogger without any sponsored posts yet, but I would like to head down that road. I was contacted with almost the same type of situation from a career improvement site, asking me write about my experience straight out of college and share my advice to young women. There was no compensation, just a maybe that they would be sharing their favorite posts that featured a plug for the company. While I was flattered at first, I turned it down. Our time will come!
How disappointing! We actually registered with a company whose name ALSO rhymes with Jillians Pomona – what are the chances? I had a horrible, TERRIBLE experience. I’ve been wanting to write a blog post reviewing our registries but it did cross my mind that I might be burning a sponsorship bridge — although I couldn’t in good conscience recommend their registry, they do carry some products I truly love. But forget that! I shall publicly review with impunity.
I totally thought I’d replied to this, to the point that I wonder if Disqus ate my comment.
But YES, you should review their services. Someone else in the comments chimed in with the same terrible experience using their registry.
I saw that! Makes me feel even more justified in reviewing them.
I’m pretty selective about what I choose to put on my own site – we have an extremely specific audience and a social justice-oriented mission statement, so we have to be picky because of that. I’ve turned down a pretty well-paying sponsored post – which the company offered to provide – because it didn’t match our mission.
At the same time, it’s important that a company not try to take advantage of a blogger by asking them to write for free. I can’t ask any of the writers on my staff to write a post for a company that isn’t planning to pay us at all. I do, however, accept guest articles from companies that they provide, even if they aren’t paid, if the company and the content fits our site. What are your opinions on “guest pieces” from companies that fit your blog, even if they aren’t paid?
Hey, Feliza, I can’t believe I forgot to reply to you! This comment section blew up, right when I was busy IRL, and I guess I missed a few.
I currently don’t have any paid policies in place with my blog, aside from using the occasional affiliate link. A company would have to provide a truly awesome piece of unique content in order for me to share it to my blog free of charge. And I’d probably only accept that sort of thing from non-profits or local businesses.
Fantastic perspective. I love how you countered and stood your ground. While there are times and places for helping out someone, when a business is contacting another business, just compensation must be part of the conversation.
Amen Brita!!
I get about 1 of these emails a week. I’m absolutely shocked at how bold these companies are. I’m really gobsmacked that so many professional businesses think it is okay and even appropriate to ask a blogger to promote their brand for nothing in exchange. It’s rude and very cheeky in my opinion.
I always responded with a polite, no thank you. I’ve got a great rapport with my friends/readers and I’m not going to ruin that trust by throwing content up about any old product or brand.
Cheap companies! Sheesh.
V
Life+1
Thank you so much for writing this! That is so great that you stood your ground. I have gotten some weird ones like this that expect me to write for free and have nothing to do with my blog!
I have heard about this particular company approaching many bloggers lately. Honestly, I get so many of these emails from different companies that I have stopped responding to most of them. I know they are just fishing for bloggers that they can take advantage of. We all have value, no matter how new, or how small our blog may be! Thanks for linking up with us this week at the Best of the Blogosphere link up! 🙂
Good good for you! Sadly there are so many companies that will contact you wanting you to share for free, or maybe they will share on their sites, or they want you to use a follow-link (which is against google policy). I think the more of us that stand up for what is right, then companies will get the picture. Thanks for linking up with the Bestoftheblogosphere.
Yeah, I”m just glad I work for a web design company, so I know about follow/no-follow links from working with our SEO team. I’ve noticed a lot of bloggers who don’t realize this, unfortunately.
what? what is a follow link? please do a post about this!!
I got a similar email from the same company—they wanted to me not just write a post, but come up with a recipe for them and then share it on my blog and social media. I did what you did and gave her my rates. Then, when she said, “no,” I promptly deleted her email. It’s a shame that such a large company is completely low-balling bloggers and taking advantage of them. Keep standing your ground, and if you are interested in doing some sponsored posts, let me know and I can tell you where I find the ones I write (that actually pay!)
Apparently they do this a lot. I’ve always thought of them as a fairly reputable company, but I’ve heard from a large number of bloggers in the last week who have similar stories.
I’m definitely interested in sponsored posts, but I don’t think I have enough monthly page views yet to attract brands.
I’ve been blogging a few years and get this all the time. I cut straight to the chase now and ask what their budget is. Saves time. Like you say, what we do is creative, and if we are writing about, I don’t know, shipping or packaging or other random topic then that need even higher levels of creativity! Each piece takes time, thought and research and they are just trying for a freebie – unfair! I will happily share a good consumer experience or product if i feel like it, but that’s my choice, no deadlines, no link words etc.
Thanks for sharing this! I am new to blogging, and while I haven’t gotten emails like this, I know how to spot someone who wants my work for free.
I just saw your post – I got the same initial e-mail, did push back, and then saw that they’d been soliciting bloggers for the exact same “not your typical smoothie week” for months. I e-mailed over 50 bloggers to see if they’d received any social media sharing from it (when I asked if I would, I never got even a first reply back from the company) and the entire thing resulted in the company doing one pinterest board of smoothie recipes today, to acknowledge some of the over 100 bloggers who did this campaign for them. I compiled a list of smoothie recipes from the campaign and all the correspondence from the company here: http://www.iamrunningthis.com/dozens-of-recipes-from-williams-sonoma-smoothie-week/
Thanks for writing your post – I love seeing bloggers remind each other of our worth, and that we should be asking questions and know in advance what we’ll receive before we promote a company.
I was married nine months ago and as a matter of fact I had registered with a company that rhymes with “Jilliams Ponoma” and had the WORST experience with them. So much so that I changed my registry to another retailer a few months before our wedding. I will admit though that I am rather shocked to hear that a company as successful as they are would expect bloggers to just GIVE them their hard work.
My blog just turned one today and I haven’t dealt with any sponsorships yet although I would love to. I just don’t know where to begin. lol I will definitely be on my toes from now on as I do not work for free either. You did such a professional job at responding to her emails. Way to go for sticking to what you believe in. I don’t mind doing the charitable thing every once in awhile for a good cause but definitely not for a rich company just to get richer.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Much love,
Lysa xx
This is a great point. My blog is also relatively new and being naive, I would have probably thought of it as great exposure. But you are right, we shouldn’t be scammed into writing for a company or about a product without being compensated accordingly (and even then, it should be an honest account!). I am so glad I spotted this post at #friidayfeatureslinkyparty !
Like I said, when your blog is new, sometimes writing just for exposure can be worth it. Just make sure you’re getting some sort of guaranteed exposure, like social shares. I’m always happy to help fellow newbies! Thanks for commenting!
Your article resonates with many bloggers and the position that they take in not doing free advertising!
Companies have discovered that bloggers have a huge impact good and bad on their products, so making sure you stand up for what you believe is right for you, your time and blog, is commendable!!! Good job. I am sharing your post with others as it is so informative!!!
Thanks for sharing on Friday Feature this week, please also watch for my The Oh My Heartsie Girls WW each week.
Have a great day!!
Karren
xx
Thanks so much for hosting Friday Feature. I’ll be back!
I’m glad you found my post informative. I think newbie bloggers are especially vulnerable to these predatory practices, so I hope I can help a few of them stand up for themselves!
I worked for free. That is, I wrote an eBay guide, Amazon reviews, and a Wikipedia article as well as created a Pinterest board for a small doll company. Unasked. Those links appear on the first page of a Google search for that product. Why did I do it? I was unemployed, and I wanted to test my skills. Will I promote another company without some kind of endorsement/acknowledgment publicly? No.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Now I’m going to share it.
You did free work, but you were also learning something. Now you know what you’re capable of doing, AND you know how valuable those skills are!
They aren’t the only ones that do this. I’ve been contacted by a number of *big* companies over the years who you KNOW have a marketing budget and could afford to sponsor a post. It is insulting when they want us to do for FREE what other companies pay us good money to do. It is also an insult to the companies that DID pay, if you turn around and then do something for another company for free…. Great article, thank you for sharing!
I had a very similar experience with Board Booster. I’m very pleased I maintained my integrity and chose not to work for free. Go YOU!
Good job! I’m glad to hear it!
I just got queried (again) for a work-for-free post from something called “WeWork” and I used this as a guide to help frame my responses! This is like one of my favorite posts by you Brita. THANK YOU AGAIN. I’ve bookmarked it so I can come back each time I get an e-mail along these lines.
This is definitely a great topic of conversation. This frustrates me so much that companies (as successful as WS) are attempting to take advantage of bloggers. It’s really a shame. I’m so glad you’ve written about this so that writers understand what they are getting themselves into when they work for free!
Thanks so much for sharing!
I get emails like this all the time from companies, and I don’t even respond. I’m not going to write a post for them just for a few possible shares on social media! No. If I am going to do a sponsored post, I want to get $$ or a free product out of it!
Am so glad someone finally put a stop to free brand placements on YT and other digital space, how this lowers their earning potential when they get into the real world. It’s a shame what some teenage vloggers are doing because they will soon be in the workforce, mostly working in digital, and have to compete with the trend they started, those who do the same but for free.
Thank you for sharing on Painted Teacup! I was glad to read about your (unfortunate) experience. Way to go, standing up for yourself! You set a great example!
Brita, great post! I have been discouraged to find how much people devalue services. As an entrepreneur, it has made me reorient my services to those people expect to pay for, because I don’t have time to somehow “be nice” and explain my boundaries. Posting my prices on my blog was the smartest thing I ever did, in terms of preserving my sanity!
I love this and I love that you laid it all out there. When I first started working with brands I got caught up in these types of free work a lot, and now I’ve learned to spot them and quickly respond with something like “This sounds like an exciting project that I would love to work with you on – here are my rates.”
Loved this! Thank you for sharing this as I’m sure a lot of us have and will run into this. With big brands reaching out to you to “collaborate” its seems easy to get sucked in and not realize that no matter how big the brand, they should offer to pay you for your work… especially if they want to use this. Saving this for future reference!!!
It’s frustrating how often this happens. I probably get these sorts of emails 1-2 times per month. I don’t mind doing an unpaid collaboration if I’m receiving free product, but the companies who just want to “spark a conversation” about a topic that happens to include their brand? Hell to the no.
Even a small brand with a limited marketing budget can offer something in return. I did a post last year about a company that I genuinely admired, and they offered a $30 gift card as a prize for a giveaway. Each blogger needs to make that choice on a case-by-case basis, what they’ll accept as compensation for their work. But nothing? Not even guaranteed social shares? Nope nope nope.
Thanks so much for sharing this Belle! This happens to me all the time.
It’s so degrading sometimes!
– The Fabulous Foodie
http://www.thefabulousfoodielondon.com