Smashing The Stigma: Why I Only Work With Brands I Stand Behind

Hi guys — happy FRIDAY! I talk about the do’s and don’ts and in’s and out’s of working with brands as a blogger here on my blog often because it’s something that so many people have questions about, from both an inside and outside perspective. There’s a negative stigma, specifically by people who don’t work in social media, that bloggers/influencers will work with anyone just to make money and gain followers, morals aside. Though some people do have bad motives, not everyone does. Today I’m smashing that stigma by explaining why I only work with brands I stand behind and how I choose who I’m going to work with from a business perspective.

How often to bloggers get approached by brands? If your work is great, all the time. We get to pick and choose the ones we want to work with, so the brands you see sprinkled across our blogs and social media were hand selected by us. A majority of us don’t work with just anybody that asks, we do our research, learn about the company and try their products/services before ever sharing them and making recommendations. Some may say it’s one of the most honest forms of marketing there is — trying something yourself, then referring it to friends. If you’re wondering why brands are always working with bloggers, that’s why. It’s due to the trust and legitimacy they’ve built with their following.

With this being said, please note I can’t speak for everyone. We all run our blogging businesses differently and entrepreneurship allows us to create our own rules and do things however we choose, but I hope this post provides you with some behind-the-curtain insight.

I don’t say or do things I don’t agree with just to make money.
This is probably the biggest misconception in this industry. I never, ever do this. Blogging is a business, and making sure our morals and value are in check is a huge component for our reputation. I’ve seen some bloggers include a disclosure page on their blog stating this, but I always include an “all opinions are my own” statement at the bottom of sponsored posts or posts that include an item I was gifted. In my case, that statement is always true. I already make a full-time income from my day job, but even if I didn’t, I would never work with brands I don’t respect and stand behind just to make some cash. Think about it this way: would you let your platform that you’ve worked so hard to build be tainted by bad brands? Of course not! I’m sure there are people that run their businesses this way, but it’s unethical.

There’s a process for deciding whether I’m going to work with a brand or not.
When it comes to deciding if I’m going to work with a particular brand or not, I take the time to hear them out on what their message is, their objective, the quality of products and services they provide, how they represent themselves online and if their overall business model aligns with mine. This usually takes place in several email exchanges involving me listening to them, asking questions and doing a bit of research on my own too. The decision-making process is more complex and well-thought out then people realize, I think. People may pick apart the brands you choose to represent just to be judgmental and harsh, but don’t let it affect you. Do what feels right for you and your own personal brand.

I genuinely enjoy working with brands regardless if or how much I’m getting paid.
I love what I do. Money and free things aside, I love giving back to my favorite brands in my own voice. Helping them grow their reach and increase sales all comes with the territory, and I truly see so much value in blogger/influencer marketing. I’m always honored when asked to be apart of that team that someone has envisioned and worked so hard to not only get off the ground, but also maintain. Coming from a small-business owner family (a mom-and-pop video store, house flipping and a real estate firm), I know all brands, small or large, support families in some capacity. As someone who’s food was put on the table thanks (in part) to small-business income, it runs in my blood. Small businesses are my favorite to promote because I know exactly who is benefiting from the marketing and I’m able to feel even closer to the brand throughout the collaboration, and beyond.

__________

I hope this post provided you with some insight into the business side of blogging and social media, and I’d be happy to further discuss or answer any questions you may have. Thanks so much for being here and have a great weekend! I’ve got some super fun collaborations coming up, one of which is in a realm I’ve never done before that I can’t wait to share!