Local Mom Bloggers

Interesting email i received today!

A local mom wrote:Good afternoon,

I would love to promote Looking Glass Painting through my blog.

If you are interested in providing your service to review in exchange for a blog post, please let me know at your earliest convenience.

Also if you would be interested in offering something to giveaway or a promotion on the post that would be fabulous as well!

She then provided links to her website blog, twitter, and facebook page.

She blogs about local businesses, community events and organized groups, links to articles, blogs and websites, product recalls, product and service reviews, and helpful tips and suggestions related to kids, parenting and families.  
I checked out her links and they are all highly active with posts every day.

Website: Active, lots of quality posts for parents, and over 800+ people signed up to her newsletter to be alerts on new posts.

Twitter: Active, 1500+ followers and over 6000 tweets

Facebook: Active, 750+ likes, 8 notes and more.

Looks pretty sweet if you ask me. Practically free advertising DIRECTLY into the heart of the demographic I want to reach. She already blogged about a jungle-jim bus!

Isn't that the coolest thing you ever saw! And it's in my city?! So got to get their contact info for my clients.

I can't believe I didn't think about contacting on of these mom bloggers myself and offer this exchange! I think I'm going to jump on this, and wanted to share it with you guys, and also get your thoughts. Also to share this fantastic idea, so maybe you guys could approach local mom bloggers in your city about a deal like this.

Has anyone here tried this before? Please share your experience.

P.S. You got to hand it to this woman.... this is a REALLY smart way to get free stuff.

sounds great - I would ask to be the only face painter. what are you going to offer for the giveaway? Maybe 2nd hr free for the 1st three people that mention the blog when they book?

Yeah I was thinking something like that. Maybe 2 painters for thr price of one for the first few people. As Aryn usually drives me and picks me up anyway. :p

Anyone else got ideas for an offer?

I just read another person post about this (different country). EXACT same letter. I would google this to make sure that it's not some type of scam. Some people were saying that it's a new thing where people sign up, and then try to get services etc for free. The company they sign up through makes it look like they have lots of followers etc.

I'm only mentioning because the request is EXACTLY the same (even with the giveaway etc).

If it isn't a scam.... fantastic!!

I haven't been on FPF in ages, but a fellow fp linked me to this thread

I got the exact same email, though obviously with my company name. I am declining but I think it's safe to say that she is likely emailing as many entertainers as possible in order to get as many free parties as possible.

I know you mentioned it being "practically free advertising" - but it's not. It'll cost you your materials, travel (gas, wear and tear), and most importantly, your time, especially if it's the weekend. Not to mention that in her blog, she actually says (though there's a strikethrough) that she is a cheapskate (entry on April 8, 2014) - not my target market anyway!

It's different to give a sample of an actual material product, or a free class at a studio you are already going to be running said class at anyway. Even the jungle gym bus - while it would take the time away from a paid party - uses equipment that does not have to be replaced, as our kits do. It's not working for free; it's working at a loss.

The numbers/followers etc are great - but they may not all be local! They may be friends who have no kids. They may only be on there for the free giveaways.

Your work is good - I would think you are busy as it is. I just know that I myself like to look at all sides of things - both the pros and the cons - so here is the other side

GASP!!! thank you code girl!!!!

See this is why I post on here! I will investigate immediately! I'll start by messaging the facebook page of the site and get a response.

Kristal you make an excellent point. Though if it's real I still think it would be worth it, as an advertising exchange can be a form of trade. However you are right, I have no way of knowing if her followers are even real, or local, or such. 

All excellent points, I'm going to investigate this to see if it's real or not.

Thank you face paint forum!!!! *kisses computer screen*

I messaged her FB page with this:

Message wrote:"Hello!
My name is Ilea, and I am a local face painter in Vancouver. I recently received an email from -email address- requesting service in exchange for a blog post. It said

"Good afternoon,
I would love to promote Looking Glass Painting through my blog.
If you are interested in providing your service to review in exchange for a blog post, please let me know at your earliest convenience.
Also if you would be interested in offering something to giveaway or a promotion on the post that would be fabulous as well! "

Did you send me this email? I ask because I am aware of internet scams where people pretend to be local bloggers in order to get free stuff in this fashion.

If this is you emailing me, then great! I would love to talk to you and come to an arrangement.

If this is not you emailing me, then I'm glad I can make you aware that your blog, twitter and facebook account links are being used by some one (or a company) pretending to be you in order to get free stuff. Might be something interesting to blog about!

Thanks for reading I look forward to your reply.

-Ilea
www.LookingGlassPainting.com
www.facebook.com/LookingGlassPainting"

We'll see what happens.

Bah!

I got a FB reponse back from her page!

Mom Blogger wrote:Hi Ilea 
Thanks for your message.
Yes, this was from me I can appreciate your concern. I'd love to promote you through my blog, so if this interests you, please feel free to contact me again. Cheers, Kelly Krol

uhhhh now what????

Personally, with your volume I would just invite her to bring her kids to one of your public events. You can paint them for a discount (or free) and she should get a good idea of your work from that. A private party would be too much time, energy, supplies and money to give away for free.

Just my gut reaction.

That is exactly what I offered her. Said that I am not able to give her a party in exchange for a review, but she would be welcome to come to a public event - and I told her when my next one was.

She said thank you and that was it. It feels like a lop-sided trade in her favour.

I don't work for free

You guys are right. I don't work for free either, however I do accept trade if there is something I want.

Even if it's not all local moms following her I can link to the review on my website, and facebook page. I was always taught in business never to under estimate the power of customer reviews (both positive and negative).

However, I'm still going to draw up a contract, and require a $50 deposit. That will cover travel, supply, and if she cancels. Her party is in August so I'm also asking her to attend one of our up coming events. I said this to her

Me wrote:Only thing is we were hoping for a posting earlier in the season as it would generate more business, early in the season rather then later in the season with your party being in the middle of August. So Aryn and I thought perhaps you would like to come see us in action at one of the many events we face paint at! You could blog about the event and mention our face painting was there, and then later in August have the full review of our services from entertaining at your party. What do you think?

I'm highly suspect of this, now that i know this is something many mom bloggers are doing to get free stuff. Also you don't know what the quality of their review is really going to be. So no I'm not doing it for free or with out a deposit and contract. But I'm not opposed to a discount in exchange for a review, which would be good advertising. Still want to meet her first and make sure she really is the woman in the picture.

I totally believe that she is real. My understanding is that there is a company or something that sets up members with blogs, facebook and twitter with "followers" and then the members ask local business for free good and services for reviews.

I hope I'm wrong and that this is awesome and I'm just being a negative nelly

t

No word back from this person after offering her to come by one of the market of mall gigs we have.

Smells like fish to me.

It’s still a good idea for us to seek out local bloggers with a large following - so thanks for the information!

yes it is still a good idea, even if nothing came of this lead.