Sometimes I miss-I mean really miss-the rose-colored naiveté of the early days of blogging. Those days, when I believed that blogging was just writing great stories, adding a few pictures, and calling it highly creative day. As I have gone further down the rabbit hole, I have learned that the writing bit is just the beginning. There is so much more-the social media, the networking, the monetization-that sucks the joy out of blogging and turns it from a creative outlet into a j-o-b.
Many bloggers, me included, are willing to endure the plain old hard work side of the coin for the joy of the creative process. Most of us aren’t free spirited, earth lovers who are just doing it for the sake of the craft, though. Just like any other person who does a job, we want to be fairly compensated.
~Ah, the good old days~
Some of the payment from blogging is intangible, and truly those are some of the best parts of blogging. There is a personal satisfaction and great community to be found in the blogging world. Actual monetary payment comes in all forms (seriously, a company once asked to pay me in toilet paper), but the interminable grey area is the “free” media events, trips, and invitations.
These free offers are meant to be a form of payment from the PR representatives that offer them. The offers entice bloggers with fancy meals, swag bags, unique experiences, and red carpet flare in hopes that they will relate their experience positively to their hard-earned audience, thus promoting the brand. The idea here is that you (the blogger) get a bag of tchotskies and a nice breakfast, while they (the brand) get you to promote their product. It’s all supposed to be win-win.
Writing that reminds me again of the naiveté I had in the early days of receiving PR invites. Those days, when I believed that PR reps so admired my talent that they couldn’t wait to give me free stuff-and that it was really free with no strings attached.
In those days, I would get a PR invitation and get all ferklempt and squealy, as I accepted without a second thought. I was finally one of the cool kids. It took a few of these “free” events for me to realize that were strings attached, and there was no such thing as free. While my ego was certainly getting bigger every day, my bank account was actually taking a hit. That’s to say nothing of the time and energy I was pouring into each and every free event.
I suddenly felt hoodwinked, and if I am honest, embarrassed at my inexperience. I should have been smart enough to count the cost in both time and money, but I was too busy counting my Twitter followers with blogging stardom in my eyes to see things clearly.
So, now I am the sadder, but wiser blogger and I have learned to look at the cost/risk analysis and ROI like any good business person. Although, that is far less fun than the free spirited early days, I feel better knowing that I am standing up for my time and my talents by demanding that my effort is worth more than a roll of toilet paper. Don’t worry though; I still get a little squealy and starry-eyed when I find another invitation to a free event. Some things never change.
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Join me over the next few weeks as I try to demystify the PR/blogger relationship. I’ll be sharing some of my real life PR invitations-both the ones I accepted and the ones that weren’t a good fit-and talking about what those “free” offers really cost in terms of time and money.
I am starting to walk away from the "free" blogging opportunities more and more. I'm struggling with "giving up" certain free things just because the vain side of me feels special and noticed by receiving an invitation… HOWEVER, with a family of 4 children and homeschooling (and really, even if that wasn't my family situation), I just do not have the time or energy to arrange childcare, change my husband's work schedule, or miss out on "real life" just to skip off to an event that feeds you and expects a post about it. This is particularly true for events that I can't take my family to, or that happen during really inconvenient times…. or what about the events that are an hour and a half driving across the metroplex during rush hour? No thanks!
Don't get me wrong, there are still some "free" events that I truly value and will attend if it fits in my schedule – namely childrens' movie screenings or family events where they'll give free tickets (if they'll let my whole family come along!). If it is something that I wouldn't otherwise have an opportunity to take them to due to cost, or I can actually use it as a real-world learning experience, then I'm all for it. I'll say, though, that I must do it on MY terms now. My life will NOT revolve around blogging….even if it's my job, and especially if it's for free. 🙂
I was just invited on an "all expenses paid" trip to some small town on the other side of Australia. It would be nice if those expenses were more than a couple of free admissions to attractions that wern't even slightly interesting and included the $1000 flights I'd have to pay for to get there. What are these people thinking???
I'm really looking forward to this series. I've already started turning down things that aren't a good fit or just aren't worth my time. I still get excited when I see they want me, but the logical side seems to take over and make me turn them down.
I agree that bloggers who have something valuable to offer PR firms should be compensated for their time and talents. What do you recommend to the starry-eyed bloggers who are still waiting to be asked to the dance? Would you do anything differently if you could do it again?
I'm excited to read the rest of your series! At my stage of the game, free toilet paper sounds great! HA Looking forward to learning from your experiences.
Excited to see the rest of yoru posts. I'm probably still caught in the middle here. I am seeing the value in my time, but I also choose to still do some things for "free".
Thanks so much for posting this.It's refreshing to read an honest and open post about "the other side" of blogging. I've only been blogging for a year and have yet to see the invitations arrive in my inbox. I didn't get into it for the freebies and invites, but I'd seriously consider them if they came my way. This post – and your coming series – will help me keep my feet on the ground if and when the invites start. I'd be interested to read how your blog went from a creative outlet to a "job".