Working with brands - new bloggers beware

Working with brands is one of the most exciting things about blogging. It means that the effort you are putting in is being recognised and that is such an amazing feeling. For me personally working with brands is more about the content and less about the gifts (obviously everyone loves gifts but it's a small part) If you are receiving sneak peaks into new launches and discount codes this is so much more important for gaining a following.

There is however a sinister side to working with brands, especially for new bloggers who can easily get caught up in the excitement of it. I have been writing this blog for just over six months now and have already encountered a fair chunk of the dark side.

That moment the first ever email pops into your inbox from a brand, saying they love your blog and want you to be a <insert shaddy brand name>girl and you get the head rush, OH MA GAWD I am going to work with a brand... and then you read the fine print. They want to offer you a 10% discount off of the product and you have to decide within the next 24 hours, and the shipping will cost more than usual but it's because they want you to get it quickly so you can write your post. And in return for your post they will add you to their bloggers page, which is basically a list of 20,000 links, and they MIGHT retweet your post on social media. Erm.... na. But lots of girls do it, and these brands are getting away with it. I see these brands using the blogging community to basically get more sales, they probably haven't even seen your blog and certainly won't bother reading the post you spend your time creating. To them you are just another sale.

I have even had one company say to me "I know you probably get products for free from other brands but this is our way of checking your commitment and in the future we might be able to work with you again." You are reaching out to me to write for you yet you want to check my commitment? Erm.....na. The worst one is when you actually really like the product. A company contacted me recently with an amazing item that would have been completely inline with the direction I am steering my blog. However, they could only offer me a £10 discount at this time and the item wasn't cheap. Blogging is not my full time job, I have a mortgage to pay, I am in the middle of a house move and it is just after Christmas I can not be buying things just because I like them. Obviously I don't expect to get everything for free so I replied to say at this moment in time I was not in a financial position to be purchasing items just to review on my blog however I hope to keep in touch for the future. Did I get a response? Erm......na.

Now I realise this has turned into a little bit of a rant and to be honest I am not sure if that was what I set out to achieve (if you have made it this far you deserve a cuppa). But what I want to say to any new bloggers out there is know your worth. The right collaboration will come. Don't jump at the first opportunity and don't feel nervous to politely decline. Your blog is going to be amazing and being true to yourself and knowing your value is only going to help it become whatever you want it to be.

And now I could use a drink myself....

Happy Friday