Actual “Offers” I’ve Had From PRs for Sponsored Posts

I would like to start this post off by saying that I have been lucky enough to work with some lovely PR people who actually understand how blogging works and realise that we aren’t there to “serve” them.

I have worked with PR people and directly with brands who have made realistic offers and understand that the arrangement has to benefit both parties. And those people make trawling through the ridiculous offers, the insulting offers and the down right laughable offers pretty bearable.

But some of them really take the cake. It can get pretty disheartening getting unrealistic offer after unrealistic offer, and especially in the beginning, it can make you question your blog’s worth.

I have put together this post detailing some of the ridiculous offers I’ve had in the last couple of months to show that if you get these low ball requests, you are not alone! And also, if I’m honest, because some of them are that daft they are good for a laugh.

The Honest Approach

This one happened not long ago.

PR email: Asks for sponsored post with follow links for £25

What I want to say: Hahahahaha no

What I actually say: I’m sorry, unfortunately, that is well below my minimum package fee. (I give them the actual price).

This then goes back and forth for a while with them trying to persuade me to change my mind. I eventually get sick of this, and when they say they know other bloggers would do it for the ridiculously low fee, I can’t help but ask them why they don’t contact those bloggers instead.

Their response? Well, your DA and page views are higher.

The Chancer

This one starts off with a PR request for  a sponsored post. They offer a fee which is a fair bit lower than my usual fee, but they mention it’s for a charity.

I’m not completely heartless, so I ask them which charity (if it’s a charity I support, I will do posts a whole lot cheaper because I think it’s good to give something back). They get back to me and tell me the charity is a very well known fashion line that is by no stretch of the imagination a charity. Just wow.

The Downright Rude

This one was from one of those annoying SEO companies who think that by saying they are offering long term work, we’ll take their hand off for the bad fees – FYI long term work at the low rate just means they want to rip us off for longer.

PR email: Offers £15 to post a guest post which they include.

I have a quick read of said post just out of interest. It’s pretty bad to say the least.

My response: I give them the actual price and explain that I reserve the right to edit guest posts to improve SEO and fit my blog’s style better. This is my polite way of saying it sounds like a five year old wrote it and not in a cute way and there’s no way I’m posting that.

Their response: We don’t think your blog is worth that much. Please post by the end of the week for the £15.

My response: I don’t think this conversation is worth anymore of my time. Have a good day.

And Those Where Just The Pick of The Bunch

These are just some of the examples that have stuck with me for both comedy value and bare faced cheek. I get a fair few offers where they are so low I have to shake my head in wonder and curse at the fact that somewhere, there is probably a blogger who is willing to post for the low fee.

Let’s just assume for a moment that you get sent a guest post that’s really well written and informative and comes with great images.

Yes, it won’t take long to post and schedule some promo. But the brand isn’t paying for your time on an hour by hour basis. They are paying for access to a targeted audience. Don’t be fooled into accepting a low fee, or bullied into it.

Your blog, your choice. Know your worth and your blog’s worth and don’t be a fool. In no other industry would you be asked to work for free, so learn to say no. No blogger should be working for free. The PRs that are asking you to certainly don’t.

Have you had any particularly bad offers? Any that were that low they were laughable? How did you deal with them? Let me know in the comments 🙂

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