One of the saddest truths that I realized this year as a blogger was the fact that I was abused by persons who were hiding behind the name PR, a.k.a Public Relations, as in BAD PR.
I am a person who blogs and helps PR practitioners not for freebies, perks, invites, nor to earn money and gain popularity. I blog because I am happy with what I do. I help promote brands as long as I tried and tested them and because it adheres to what I represent as a blogger. Touching lives, meeting new friends, and being trusted by companies that somehow I can inspire and can be a person of good influence are bonuses for the time and effort that I give when I write and post my articles. These are the things that I consider my greatest compensation and fulfillment.
Being an active blogger starting 2013, I can attest that I am very blessed to have met GOOD PRs whom I've become friends with not because I gain something from them but due to the loyalty, trust, confidence, and most of all, the respect that they are giving me. It is very pleasing to work with them because they treat me the way I deserve to be treated. I also do the same in return.
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| Courtesy: butterflyeffect-blog.seesaa.net |
I am not writing this to harm anyone, drag the name of someone, nor to hurt other people's feelings. I believe in the golden rule. According to Confucius: "What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others." I live with this mantra that's why I am very nice, friendly, and very professional to everyone because I expect to be treated the same way.
I experienced being ditched/deserted by PR practitioners who were working for both local and imported brands. I chose to keep quiet, let them pass, and forget about them. But there was this feeling of the need to expose this to warn new bloggers and of course, to send my message to all PR practitioners that they should treat bloggers with decency. It happened to me eight times but the following were the worst ones. I still receive numerous emails about collaboration but I learned my lesson. I should choose wisely and never give my personal information comfortably to someone this year.
1 The Kitchen Appliance PR
This guy sent me an email asking me if I could help his company spread the word about their latest campaign by writing for them. He didn't even mention that I would be compensated for that. It was okay for me, I didn't even bother to ask about what I would get from doing that as long as they send me any of their products for review. I told him, "How I could I write about a product that I haven't tried and tested yet? You should send me any of your products for review so that I could give justice to what I should put on my article. My readers deserve to get the right information from me. Otherwise, I can give you a space where your article can serve as my guest post." Then he told me that the company was not into that set-up yet but still he got my personal profile and my mailing address. He assured me that once they were ready for that, he could immediately send me the product for review. As nice as I wanted to be, I gave all the details that he needed. That was May last year and until now, I haven't heard from him. I let it pass because I was the one who refused to do the collaboration.
2 The Sports Apparel PR
The invite of this USA based sports apparel PR guy was to join the company's latest campaign. Basically, what I would write about was in line with the campaign's slogan. There I was, accepting the challenge in exchange of my write-up being shared to the company's social media sites and vice versa. After I did the conditions that were agreed upon, the PR guy didn't do his.
3 The Health Site PR
What happened between me and the Sports Apparel PR guy also happened between me and this USA based Health Site PR. Do I need to say more?
4 The Filipino Food PR
This PR guy sent me a private message on Facebook last July, asking if I could try their unconventional Filipino products in exchange of a product review. I quickly said yes thinking that this would be the best opportunity to help a budding local online business. After giving my personal profile and mailing address, he promised to send me the products immediately. After 10 days, he sent me a message again stating that the products weren't sent yet. The suppliers of the raw materials were hit by the typhoon. I told him that it was okay and he could take his time, no pressure at all. On December 13, I sent a personal message to him because I experienced having problems with my parcel being stolen although returned to me but in dilapidated condition. I was so worried that the parcel from him might be stolen too so I asked him if he was able to send it. This was his response in verbatim: "Hi there! Unfortunately i no longer work with ___. Hopefully you do receive your package. Warm regards." Oh no! I waited, wasted my time, and got worried for nothing!
Here was my response to him. I would also like to extend this to all PR practitioners out there who are always tagging bloggers for collaboration:
Dear _________,
Oh, I see. I am waiting for it so that I can do a review to help the company in the best that I can. I think (Name of Company) have no intentions anymore of pushing it through.
I courteously give time answering personal messages and emails. I think it is proper that I should have been informed about it immediately in the first place so that I am not being left hanging. I have nothing against anyone, _______. Next time, I will appreciate it very much if you are honest and straightforward in telling me about it. I follow proper ethics and have word of honor because when I say yes, I do my best to deliver, even if I am not paid for doing a review. I am a type of blogger who is not after freebies. I blog because I love doing it.
Oh, I see. I am waiting for it so that I can do a review to help the company in the best that I can. I think (Name of Company) have no intentions anymore of pushing it through.
I courteously give time answering personal messages and emails. I think it is proper that I should have been informed about it immediately in the first place so that I am not being left hanging. I have nothing against anyone, _______. Next time, I will appreciate it very much if you are honest and straightforward in telling me about it. I follow proper ethics and have word of honor because when I say yes, I do my best to deliver, even if I am not paid for doing a review. I am a type of blogger who is not after freebies. I blog because I love doing it.
I
feel that courtesy should be extended to all bloggers since they invest
time and you should practice proper decorum and adhere to professional
ethics.
Happy new year and best regards!
SJ
SJ
One more thing, I would like to speak on behalf of my fellow bloggers. We understand that being a PR Practitioner is not easy especially if your superiors are pressuring you to meet deadlines and look for bloggers who can help you increase your brand's online presence. But please be courteous in dealing with us. We expect your commitment because we guarantee that we do the same. If you promise something, it is your responsibility to live up to your word. If not, it is a reflection of your character. It is true, that we have colleagues who are just after freebies. There are bad apples in the blogosphere but most of us are not. Thank you!
10 comments
Well said. I've only encountered two tasteless PR agents in 2013. One was asking me to add their link, it was free, I wouldn't have minded until I was asked to submit my blog first for approval. Ahm...no.
ReplyDeleteAnother was this PR who asked me to ask other bloggers, but didn't seem to know what he was doing. That was a really bad experience for me because I've given a shoutout and submitted a list of bloggers who signed up. Buti na lang the bloggers were understanding enough not to castigate me for that PR's failure.
Thanks, May! Sometimes I feel that I should charge it to experience na lang. But if I don't speak up or write about what's happening, it won't end. :(
DeleteThank you for sharing about your experiences with PR practitioners. I have learned a lot from your post and would take them into consideration whenever an opportunity comes my way. As a blogger who is just starting to take my site to the next level, I could get excited at every promising email that I see in my inbox. Starting today, I will exercise good judgement in accepting invites and offers. Praying about these things will surely help a lot :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Well said, Arge! I was also like you before. I know the feeling! The offers are very tempting, right? This year, I will exercise good judgement in dealing with PRs too. It's so sad that
Deleteit's happening. Marami pang bloggers na kilala ko with not so good experience din. I learned my lesson the hard way, dear.
I do admire you for sharing these bits. Kudos! We might come up with case studies to develop some blogger relations guidelines to help genuine PR practitioners :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christian! I hope that this article serves as an eye opener to all PR practitioners and my co-bloggers as well. To achieve a good working relationship, both parties must work together with decency and commitment. :)
DeleteThanks SJ for sharing this! :) I only had one experience so far. My ESP was working then when I received the PR's email and decided not to push through with her project. I hope my gut instinct will still work next time. And I also don't like giving out personal information for our own security.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Kat, and you're welcome! Yes, it will still work this year! Always follow your instinct! :)
DeleteSad to hear that SJ. I may not know paano nagwo work yung PR sa Blogger pero isa lang ang alam ko dyan, RESPECT. Hope wag na maulit sayo yun at sa iba pang mga bloggers diba?
ReplyDeleteMore power to your blog SJ! God bless. =)
The sad truth is it happens to most bloggers. I heard stories na mas malala pa sa nangyari sa akin. I hope that someday this will end. Thanks, Mary Joy!
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
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