17 replies to this topic

[merryn]

I'm not sure how much of a fishing scam this is (I'm starting to feel like I have a target on my back the last few weeks, but I got an email asking if I would be interested in giving products to someone to review on their blog. What do you all think? Here's the email:

Hello,
My name is Hope Lyman.
I have a blog devoted to reviews of different family-friendly products. I contacted you to see if you would be interested in sponsoring a review or review and giveaway on my blog. I would love to do a review with something like a Shower Gel and a Sugar Scrub. Usually the company sends me one of their products to review and then, if they wish to do a giveaway also, offer a second product (or gift certificate for a certain amount) for a prize. To enter any drawing I require the person to visit the website of the sponsor and come back and leave a comment on something they saw that they liked, thus sending prospective customers to your site. (Whether just a review or a review and giveaway, I always link back to the company's website, though). If you would be interested in participating in a review and giveaway like this please contact me either by email or phone.
(727) 389-1975.
The blog I host reviews/giveaways on is http://hopescafe.blogspot.com
Thank you for your consideration,
Hope Lyman

[soapdog]

I got that one, too. I just ignored it Because it's not worth the risk.

[lauramw71]

Hmmm... I went to her blog and it does look legit. She also has 236 followers. I dunno.. This might be worth looking into further? It looks like she writes up some pretty good reviews of the product. That's a hard one to call... Since she has so many followers, she might direct some people to your site... Let us know what you decide!

[Babs]

The blog looks legit...what a nifty way to get free products. She's got a good thing going for herself. If you think this is something you'd like to give a shot at, you could follow her on twitter and see what is said from other followers and also contact someone she has blogged about before.

Babs

[StinkyDancer]

Many bloggers I know pay full price for the product so they can see packaging and other product details. You could offer a discount to try to weed out the scam artists. There are some always looking for something for nothing lately.
I have heard of that blog she might be ok. But float her a discount and see what she says.

[merryn]

I sent several inquiries to companies that she has reviewed their products and we will see. Hey, if a few bucks of products brings me in more sales I would be open to trying it - at least once. I've spent more money on other marketing that doesn't work - and you never know.

I'll keep you all posted on how this goes.

[Diane B. Sr.]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I would do it. I looked at her site and what a good way to get your name out there. This is going to cost you so little. Who knows where this might lead you. I would do it in a heart beat.

Diane B. Sr.

[lauramw71]

The blog looks legit...what a nifty way to get free products. She's got a good thing going for herself. If you think this is something you'd like to give a shot at, you could follow her on twitter and see what is said from other followers and also contact someone she has blogged about before.

Babs

Aint that the truth!!! HAHAHA Why didn't I think of that dangit!

[Kimberly Stepp]

Hey Merryn!

Did you ever decide to send in a product for review? I was recently contacted by a blogger in my area. I sent her a full size product, because I believe that people should use it more than once to give an accurate review. Not only does she have followers on her blog, but also, she has hundreds of twitter followers and is a "in style" writer for a local newspaper and magazine. I agree with Diane...nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Has anyone else done something similar?

[Robyn]

I have had many beauty bloggers and/or you-tube reviewers contact me, asking me if they could review my products. None of them outright asked me for free products, but I assume that's where it was headed. I always respond kindly with something to the effect of, "Thank you so much for your interest. You are more than welcome to purchase any of my products and review them on your site. I always include generous free samples with every order. I also offer sample trial packs for purchase....yadda yadda yadda." Something like that. I am usually contacted via convo on Etsy and every single person who has contacted me has zero feedback and is not a shop owner and does not appear to have made any purchases (with that account) in the past (or at least has not left or received feedback). Unfortunately I am a bit leery of that, so I just give my usual response above and all the people have responded very nicely, but none of them have purchased anything from me...at least not under that buyer account. If they are reviewing my products, I don't know about it.

[Nenna]

I'm horrible. I just pretend I never got them. Every one I've gotten has been someone looking for free products and usually they're not local. I get convos on Etsy all the time for this stuff. I tend to respond on Etsy with something along the lines of "As a small business, we cannot absorb the cost of offering free products for review, but if you'd like to purchase items you're interested in reviewing, I can offer them at wholesale prices for you". Since I never get responses to that, I assume they just want free stuff.

I'm not saying all of them are freeloaders. It just seems the ones I get are

[Soap Baby]

Recently I asked for volunteers to try a few samples from a hair board that I belong to. Last week I received this email, I've chopped it because it is long...

________________________________________________________________________________
__

We will post your company’s logo and a link to your web site on our group’s web site. You can see the link we have for current sponsors at www.xxxxxxxxxxxxx.com
We will place your name and logo on all of the flyers that we distribute to advertise our natural hair events.
Our monthly email communications with members will detail your sponsorship of our group.
We are willing to allocate time for you or your representative to give presentations during our meetings. Imagine the sales opportunities from being able to give a presentation while showing the members your products as examples.
We are willing to consider any other promotional ideas that you may suggest in the future.


In return, we are asking that you sponsor our group by:

Supplying samples to distribute to our members
Offer free or discounted services to our members
Give discounts/coupons on products to our members
Making a small donation of just $10 a month.
We would like you to agree to sponsor our group for a period of six months in order to give us time to work together. After that six month period, if we both agree that the partnership program is working successfully we would ask that you continue this successful partnership.
I look forward to talking with you and answering any questions that you might have.
________________________________________________________________________________
___


Now I have my one thoughts on it but I would love to hear others.

SB

[Sara]

SoapBaby, my first gut reaction is "Contract." Agree, but I'd have it tied up in a contract first. Chances are, if they're legit, they'll sign. If not, they won't, and you won't be out more than a little time.

I got an email through my site late last week from a lady wanting to review my products on YouTube. I told her I'd be HAPPY to let her review my products - after she purchased them. Then I added a note on my "contact us" page that basically said I'm not interested in gmail-based offers for SEO (search engine optimization) services (especially since I have a Twitter friend a few hours away who does that stuff); I will not take orders for large shipments to Asian using stolen credit cards; and if you want to review my products on your blog or YouTube channel, then you can - after purchasing them.

I'm hoping that this will cut down on some of the spam I'm getting.

~Sara

[Soap Baby]

SoapBaby, my first gut reaction is "Contract." Agree, but I'd have it tied up in a contract first. Chances are, if they're legit, they'll sign. If not, they won't, and you won't be out more than a little time.

I got an email through my site late last week from a lady wanting to review my products on YouTube. I told her I'd be HAPPY to let her review my products - after she purchased them. Then I added a note on my "contact us" page that basically said I'm not interested in gmail-based offers for SEO (search engine optimization) services (especially since I have a Twitter friend a few hours away who does that stuff); I will not take orders for large shipments to Asian using stolen credit cards; and if you want to review my products on your blog or YouTube channel, then you can - after purchasing them.

I'm hoping that this will cut down on some of the spam I'm getting.

~Sara

Contract was my 1st thought. Also, the group currently has 47 members so (in my mind) providing various samples for all the members, for 6 months, is kind of off putting. Even in making I guess I could see providing a sample to the site owner for review and then 'sponsoring' their group or what I see as paying for a banner. I know that you have to invest money in your business but I also have to make sure that it will be lucrative and beneficial for my business in the long run.

[andylou]

I recently opened my online shop and within 3 days I've received 5 messages requesting samples and full size products. My thoughts are:
1. If these people are legit and have high traffic in their blog sites/youtube channels, they would be in demand and wouldn't need to go around to ask people for free products.
2. It's really easy to set up a blog and get 47 (or even a hundred) followers. if they had around 100,000 followers maybe I'd think about it.
3. Also doing the math, only a tiny percentage of their 40 something followers will view the site and much less would translate into a sale.
4. I've read in forums (including this one) that giveaways rarely do anything to help sales.
5. If the person contacting me was from a popular magazine, site or network, then maybe I might consider it. But again these popular writers/bloggers are too busy getting products from bigger companies.

How do I deal with these people? I ignore them. or maybe when I'm feeling a bit nice, I'd say something like "We currently aren't doing giveaways for blogs. When we do, we'll sure to contact you."

[Kimberly Stepp]

It all depends on how you look at it. I find it ironic that many people in this business are willing to giveaway free product samples that are likely not to amount to many sales, yet many are afraid of stepping out on faith and taking a little chance at a product review that has the potential to reach a broader client base. In the long-run, those free samples cost WAY more than 1 or 2 full-sized products!

The media journalist/style writer who reviewed my product was not only legit, but also, gave a great review and has sparked interest about my products in her blog followers. And...it has resulted in sales of my products. So, for supplying her with a complimentary body polish and $4.50 in shipping, I have made gross profits well above and beyond my actual costs.

The important part is to research the people or organizations who are contacting you about your products. While the actual reviews of this type should be few and far between, you shouldn't approach all of them as "scams" or people begging for "free product".

Just my humble opinion...

[taojonz]

There is a site called Blogspot.com and they are in the business of hooking bloggers up with artists/product makers. It's legit, but the burden to check out each blog to see if it's worth your time is completely up to you. I wouldn't bother unless they have thousands of followers...you can end up sending out lots of samples, and yes you do get a spot on someone's blog..but unless they have a ferocious following it won't amount to much.

(voice of experience here)

[CandleGoddess]

Are there legitimate bloggers/reviewers out there? Sure! But not a whole lot of them. There are far too many more scammers out there that want free products. I'm not willing to take that chance. I would rather pursue legitimate avenues and leave the risk-taking for the folks with money to burn. (I'm not one of them. LOL)