Blogger & PR/Brand Events

I have been blogging for 2 years now - so have come to a point where I have seen some of the best and worst parts of it. I love the engagement, the improvement, seeing people love your content is SO rewarding.

I love being given the opportunity to work with brands, already loving a brand and them contacting you asking if you would like to try out some more from them, or being given an opportunity to try a brand you haven't used before - it is definitely an incredible experience.

Unfortunately the relationship between bloggers and PR can be pretty crap, we seem to have expectations from each other and lack of understanding - well for some of us anyways. Brand relationships can be incredible, but you need to be strong and know your worth - especially when it comes to your blog and PR expectations, I have found this most at Events.



So a brand invites you to an event, totally up to you if you go - but there is usually an incentive like a goodie bag, but what is expected from this goodie bag? A post? Social Media Coverage? Hopefully the PR/Brand has made this clear to you, but sometimes they don't.

First up is to ask what the expectations are if they haven't made this clear already. If its just to attend -fantastic! There is no pressure, you go along, have a fab time - put it on instastories or snapchat because you are having such a good time - and taadaa, its win win, the PR is happy, and so are you - no pressure and both parties are happy!

The issues arise when they are expecting more from you. If you are expected to write a full post, links, get your photo taken, add comments, anything that feels *worky* you need to make the decision if you are happy to work for free. The key thing you need to take into consideration here is you are giving them free advertising - would they be working their job with no pay? Probably not. If you are feeling like you have to stay for hours, or take a lot of photos for a post and write it all up - this is something they should be paying you for - and you have every right to ask for this, or leave the event.

Unfortunately some brands don't understand how much time and effort we need to put into a post - HOURS, it should never be just expected - ever.

I find when posts are not expected, and they just want you to have a fun time - I am more likely to post about it - because I have enjoyed myself, it hasn't been worky - it's been fun! (Like my Kiehl's Post)

So basically my rule is - If it feels like work, you should be treated like an employee - AKA Paid. 

I hear so many people talk about how Lucky we are, and I totally understand that - we are incredibly lucky to be given the opportunity - but, that should never take away from the amount of work we put into our blogs, and if you are taking time out of your schedule to go to events, you should be getting something productive from it.