Hi Mark, I’m glad to hear you found my article interesting. The problem is that brands and PRs have a finite marketing budget and they will use that in the most efficient way possible – across all the forms of marketing out there. Sponsored posts are actually quite a valuable marketing channel to brands, because they are not only getting an ‘advertorial’ but they are also getting a personal endorsement and a highly targeted audience who look up to the blogger in question and are highly likely to act on a recommendation. (In fact, an oft quoted statistic is that 84% of millennials don’t trust traditional ads >>> https://www.performancemarketingworld.com/article/1755646/84-millennials-dont-trust-traditional-advertising-%E2%80%93-sam-crocker-impactcom) But PRs and brand marketing departments are smart – they’ve figured out that there are many, many bloggers who will give them that kind of exposure for free, or ‘free product’ or a very low fee… meaning they can spend the majority of their marketing budget on other forms of advertising that it’s not possible to get for free – print ads, TV ads, display ads on websites, events etc. I don’t have any hard data, just a lot of anecdotal evidence from my experiences, the experiences of other bloggers, conversations with PRs etc. – and of course straightforward common sense that if a PR/brand has a finite budget and a choice between spending that on 200 bloggers who’ll work for ‘free product’ or 5 who expect to be paid appropriately, they nearly always go for Option A – even really big name brands. In fact, I’ve been told straight out by PRs representing huge brands that the ‘have no budget for this campaign’ – which of course is nonsense… of course they have a marketing budget, they just know that they can get some bloggers to work for free, so they choose to spend their marketing budget elsewhere! I hope that helps answer your question. Eb

Oh I 100% agree with all of this. The worst part is, what we offer as bloggers is really quite valuable… but PRs and brands (even big name brands!) know they can get away with paying peanuts (literally sometimes!) because so many bloggers are willing to work for free or a super low fee. We need to all stand together and say ‘no’ and then they will absolutely find the money!

You are welcome! It’s crazy isn’t it? Not so much that PRs and brands ask (if they think there’s a chance that they can get bloggers to work for free/gifts of course they are going to ask!) but the truly crazy thing is that bloggers accept! Eb 🙂

Thank you!! 🙂

Haha – yes I like your point about being paid in peanuts…literally! So true and so sad. And 20 quid??? For all that??? Aaaargh! Makes me cross. Though unfortunately many bloggers would take that and that’s why brands/PRs know they can get away with offering such low rates. Hope you enjoyed my tips!! Eb x

Thanks Sammie! Just go ahead and start asking for money when brands ask you to do collabs! The worst they can say is no. I am sure that if ever you couldn’t hit a deadline due to your health issues the brand would be understanding. So pleased to hear that blogging has really helped you! Eb x