I have a very good relationship with several PR firms. We contact each other when something comes up that may be of interest to the other and we both offer something to each other. That offering usually goes something like this: PR firm offers to give me a product for free to review or, usually, I request that the product be offered to one of my readers via a giveaway. I, in turn, have a boost in traffic (and therefore BlogHer Ad revenue) when I host a giveaway. I win because of the boost in traffic; my readers win because they may win a product; the PR firm wins because they have cheap advertising for their product.
That model works. I’d like to make it work a little more efficiently sometimes, but, for the most part, it’s just fine.
What does not work is the number of PR people who send me unsolicited e-mail requesting I post information about their product because I am a mommy blogger who reaches their audience. It’s clear in these e-mails that I am one of hundreds being contacted and it’s unlikely the PR person has actually read anything not on my front page and therefore has no real idea who my audience is.
Here’s what I want to say to all of the PR people blindly contacting any blogger (mommy or otherwise) to slap up a press release for your product: DON’T.
Don’t expect me to do something for you and receive nothing.
This is my space. My blog, my reputation, and my say. If my audience is your target, buy an ad on my blog to promote your product. I did not start my blog as a clearing house for your press releases. If you want me to say something for you, you need to offer me something in return that will make it worth my while and my readers’.
I just needed to get that off my chest.
As you were.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
You go girl!
(ahem – I speak as an ex-P.R.O.)
Well said. I know that there’s a lot of talk out there about how Mommy Bloggers are being taken advantage of, but if I choose to review a product, and receive the product free–that’s a benefit. If I choose to experience the boost in traffic you described by providing a giveaway, that’s a benefit.
Posting about a free website or service or something along those lines with no profit to me (only to the PR firm), is sort of taking advantage of me.
Also, I’m sure that you do the same, but if I receive an unsolicited inquiry, I don’t feel obligated to respond with a “no.”
This made me smile. The first time I got one of those bulk-sent press releases, I must have read it 5 times, looking for the part that said, “We’d like to send you X to try / give away / etc.” And it just wasn’t there. They really thought I’d just duplicate their press release on my blog and give them lots of free publicity.
I have no problem promoting items I already use and appreciate — even if the company hasn’t sent me anything. But yes, the expectation that I’ll publicize anything, just because I’m a mommy blogger? Please.
You totally captured my emotions in one single post.
I’ve been swamped by silly requests that don’t even come close to my reader’s desires or needs. HATE IT.
Thank you.
Well, I’m glad to know I’m not the only one suddenly getting inundated with these e-mails lately. They’re getting worse; just today I’ve gotten e-mails that have NOTHING to do with mommyblogging.
Also, note to PR professionals: my name is right there on my blog. Use it. But let’s don’t kid one another: don’t pretend like you really read my blog.
It’s nice that you looked over the about page and maybe the posts on the homepage, but if you’re going to say you read my blog and then pitch a product my child couldn’t use for ten years, try again.
Heh. I gotta wonder if you got the same solicitation I got today. I got one for an infant product. It was addressed to Ms. Yup, a blank space where my name should have been. Nice.
I sent them back a similar note to your post. I mean, I haven’t had an infant in 16 years, I have NO interest in infant products, especially pretty lame ones, and if you don’t know my name, or the ages of my kids, then I really don’t want to be bothered with a stupid pitch.
There’s this wonderful little key on my keyboard that I often use when I find spam like that in my inbox [Delete].
Hmm… Is it wrong that I’m over here hoping I can be in your situation someday?
Amen and amen, Chili. I hate that they think that we’ll fall for it every time. I only review those things that I WANT to review. I’ll only advertise the things I WANT to advertise. And I ain’t doing it for free.
Just because we’re mommies doesn’t mean that we’ve left our negotiation skills or compensation packages back at the office. We certainly deserve something for our time and our words.
Even with my very little traffic, I get those emails. This is how I KNOW they haven’t read my blog. (Otherwise, they would send them to a blog with a bigger audience.)It feels like an invasion.
YOU GO!
The purpose of my blog is solely to keep in touch with family and friends who are far away so this is not a problem that I have encountered. But, I DO so appreciate that you aren’t filling your blog willy-nilly with random stuff that isn’t appealing to your audience. I love the give-away offerings that you have made and thank you for putting thought into having give-aways that are appropriate for your readers. Thanks!
A-freaking-Men!!
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I know I have been getting a surge of emails as well. I thought it was funny when I was offered breastfeeding products the other day. It is obvious, even just this past week that I have a 7 year old + an older daughter.
As always, spectacularly well said.
A couple of weeks ago I had a great conversation with a woman at a PR firm who was trying to get a handle on how to introduce blog advertising to their clients. She asked me what kind of information I like to receive from PR people, and I *wish* I’d been able to reference this post. Because I would have just read it to her on the phone.
Also, re: product reviews – it finally dawned on me about a year and a half ago that as nice as it is to receive, say, a free box of Swiffers in the mail, that box of Swiffers is not worth the hour it would take me to write a review. Because then I’m essentially giving away that hour of my life – as well as my blog traffic – for a whopping $3.49.
And I have nothing against Swiffers, by the way. I think they’re an absolutely lovely product.
I have SOME THOUGHTS on this topic, if you can’t tell.