It's no secret that from time to time I'm sent 'free' products. Occasionally I'll receive skincare items, clothes, and even a gifted lunch here and there. The 'freebies' I'm sent often give me great content ideas and I love unboxing them on my Instagram stories too. While I don't accept every gift I'm offered, I have received an influx of PR packages recently which has caused my DM's to practically explode with questions.
Right now my inbox is flooded with a million queries about my blogger mail and that's understandable! So I'm going to let you guys in on the secret.
How I get PR products and everything else you've ever wanted to know about blogger mail...
What is blogger mail?
Blogger mail is a fun little name for products sent by businesses to influencers in the hope that their product will get coverage. For brands, this is a very inexpensive way to advertise which is why it's so popular at the moment. But a word of warning - starting a blog or an instagram account just for freebies won't get you far. Bloggers and brands can spot it a mile off and besides that it takes real dedication to post regular content and build up quality following.
How I get my PR packages
The majority of my press packages are from big brands or PR companies who usually contact me over email. To make everyone's life easier, and to make sure I don't miss out on opportunities, I ensure my email address is clear and visible on all my platforms. While some brands are happy to slide in the DM's I still find the majority like to do business over email and they will be much more likely to get in touch if your email address is easy to find.
From time to time I'll see that a brand I love is actively working with bloggers, and if I want a piece of that pie I'll email them first. I have secured a few goodies this way before but it's never guaranteed results. If this is a path you're considering taking just remember that while big companies often have a budget for gifting, it's not fair to ask smaller businesses for 'freebies'.
Do I get paid?
Occasionally I will receive a PR product and payment, this usually happens when a brand has specific requirements. Many bloggers and influencers will be happy to accept products on the understanding that they may or may not receive coverage, but this isn't always the case. If a brand expects coverage or gives guidance on the type of content they expect to be produced to promote the product I would encourage the recipient to discuss payment. There won't always be a monetary budget for this but brands have got to start understanding that as amazing as their new skincare launch is, we can't pay our bills with a fancy pot of moisturiser.
How to get on a brands PR list
There is no foolproof way to get a space on your favourite brands PR list, sometimes it's just down to luck! I do however have a couple of tips to help you on your way:
- Interact with the brands you love on social media and tag them in relevant content you create, they might just notice you.
- Check #BloggersRequire and #BloggersWanted hashtags on Twitter. Yes, these are often clogged up with other bloggers chatting shite, but PR teams often tweet about upcoming opportunities using the hashtags too!
- Keep in touch with PR's after you receive a product, let them know you've received it and when you are going to mention it. It's also helpful to send over your engagement stats if you mention the product on social media. Be nice to you PR and they will remember you fondly for future opportunities.
Beware of the scams!
Because gifting has become such a popular thing in the influencer world, scammers have picked up on it. Ever received a comment on your latest Instagram post that goes along the line of "Hey babe DM us for a collab!" Well, chances are it's a scam. They work by offering you a collaboration where you either buy the product and are later refunded after your post about it, or you pay the postage and are later refunded. The only problem here is that you will never get a refund. A legitimate company will never ask you to pay for any part of a press product.
I hope this has answered a few of the burning questions you all have about PR packages and freebies! I know that not everyone likes or even understands the influencer industry, but for so many of us who have spent hours creating content and building relationships with brands, these are just little perks of the job.
Still have a question about how to get free press products or anything else? Feel free to leave a comment below or drop me a message on any of my social media accounts!
In case you missed it, its Second Hand September! Which means that this month I have only bought second hand clothes to help reduce the impact of fast fashion on the environment. But I haven't restricted my shopping to charity shops and eBay, oh no, I've been looking for more innovative ways to shop second hand fashion!
A couple of months ago I happened upon a fairly new online venture - The Big Sister Swap. According to their website "Big Sister Swap is the world's only online personalised Swapping service, letting you send in your unwanted clothes and receive handpicked preloved clothes in return." Sounds pretty good right? So I put the service to the test...
How does Big Sister Swap work?
To swap your clothes you simply purchase a swap in their online store. You can choose between a starter swap, a 1 kg swap, a 2 kg, or a super swap. They even have a swap option for children's items, which is a great idea as kids are forever growing out of perfectly good clothes!
Once you have purchased your swap you will receive an email with the address to send your unwanted clothes and accessories to. Weigh them, wrap them up well and send them on their way to their new home. You will also be asked to complete a questionnaire about the types of goodies you want and the styles you like - this is the fun part. The questionnaire will give the Big Sister Swap team an idea of your taste but after that, it's up to them to supply the treats! After you've sent in your pre-loved items and finished the survey you just wait for your swap to arrive. This can sometimes take a while.
My experience with the Big Sister Swap...
I ordered the 1kg swap, as I thought this would give me a good selection of second hand goodies. There was also an offer on this type of swap as there often is so keep a look out for deals! After purchasing my swap I completed the questionnaire which I thought was pretty thorough. I was asked questions such as my dress size, my favourite prints, and which styles I liked the best. Near the end of the questionnaire, you are also asked if there are any items you don't want to receive and your Instagram account so the team can get a really good idea of what you like to wear.
A couple of weeks passed before my swap arrived, they say this happens occasionally as they need to source specific items and sizes. This didn't bother me however as I'd rather they take their time putting my haul together than whacking in any old item in my size.
On opening my Big Sister Swap package I was pleasantly surprised to see I had been sent 6 items:
- 1 vintage handmade dress
- 1 Monsoon dress
- 1 black floral dress
- 1 leopard print skirt
- 1 pair of Topshop Culottes
- 1 white jumper
Straight away I knew a few of the items weren't to my taste but that was the risk I took when I signed up for a blind swap service. I knew I had the option to return the unwanted clothes in exchange for other mystery items but in all honesty, I couldn't be bothered as it would probably be easier for me to just sell them on my own Depop. Would I have been happier exchanging them? Potentially, and if there was anything I thought was damaged or bad quality I would have, but the clothes were fine, I just didn't like all of them!
Out of the 6 second hand items I was sent by Big Sister Swap there are two that I will be keeping - the handmade dress and the culottes. Neither were items I would pick up myself but actually after I styled them up my way I quite like them. In all honesty, I thought the handmade dress was the ugliest thing I'd ever seen when it first came out of the package so I was surprised to find that I liked it once I tried it on.
Would I do a second hand swapping service again?
Even though not all of the clothes were to my taste I think this is something I would do again. Fashion is all about having fun and trying new things, and actually doing a swap like this was fun! Yes its a risk as you might end up with a haul of pre-loved clothes you hate, but you always have the option to send them back for more mystery items so you can't lose really!
Would you ever try a second hand swapping service like this?
*The items in this Body Shop haul were gifted in exchange for an Instagram post
Towards the end of August, I was sent a package full to the brim with The Body Shop goodies. The products, which were picked out by the Body Shop team, were all either hair care items or skin protection products containing SPF.
While I usually like to pick gifted items out myself, on this occasion it was nice to try out a selection chosen by someone else as it meant I received items I wouldn't necessarily go for.
So what did I receive in my Body Shop SPF & hair care haul...
Banana Truly Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner - This fruity flavoured hair care duo aims to moisturise and nourish dry locks leaving them super soft and adding a healthy shine. Both products are fused with organic banana puree which not only nourishes the hair but smells incredible too. I haven't tried either the of The Body Shop Banana Shampoos or Conditioners yet but I will definitely be doing a full review once I have.
The Banana Truly Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner retail £7.00 each for a 250ml product.
Banana Truly Nourishing Hair Mask - Like the Truleu Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner, the Banana hair mask also contains vitamin-rich banana puree. The Truly Nourishing hair mask, which works best with the products mentioned previously, aims to reduce frizziness and leave your hair looking naturally shiny.
The Banana Truly Nourishing Hair Mask retails at £12.40
Ginger Scalp Serum - The Body Shop Ginger Scalp Serum helps to soothe dry flaky scalps and rebalance scalps which produce too much oil. It's infused with a delicious smelling ginger essential oil and works best when used with the Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo & Conditioner.
The Ginger Scalp Serum retails at £15.00
Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence with SPF 50 - This Body Shop moisturising lotion aims to protect your skin against harmful UV rays and pollution. It claims to be The Body Shops best protection ever whilst also staying lightweight and suitable for sensitive skin. It is also one of the many Vegan products now available from the brand.
The Body Shop Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence retails at £22.00 for a 60ml product.
Skin Defence Multi-Protection Face Mist with SPF 30 - The Body Shop Face Mist is a lightweight product which protects your skin from pollution particles as well as UV rays. The Defence Mist which is to be used on clean skin before applying makeup forms a clear protective layer on the skin. The product is also enriched with Vitamin C and red algae extract to help leave your skin glowing
The Skin Defence Multi-Purpose Face Mist retails at £18.00
So those were the hair care and SPF protection products I was gifted from The Body shop last month. Don't forget to keep a lookout for my reviews of these products as and when I test them out!
Have you tried any of these products out before? I'd love to know what you think!
So you've seen #SecondHandSeptember trending and you want to get involved, but due to your busy lifestyle or the lingering threat of coronavirus you'd like to participate at home? Fear not as I've rounded up the best ways to take part in the Second Hand September challenge from the comfort of your sofa!
So what is #SecondHandSeptember?
Secondhand September is an initiative or challenge to only purchase pre-owned goods throughout the month of September in a bid to combat the growing problem of fast fashion.
I've decided to take part in this years Secondhand September as after reading some shocking statistics around fast fashion it makes sense to try and live more sustainably, and for any style lovers like myself, this means reducing the number of fast fashion pieces we buy.
Where can I buy second hand items online?
While nothing beats the thrill of mooching through a second hand shop filled with affordable treats, there are many places to pick up pre-loved goodies without stepping foot out your front door...
eBay
eBay is the original online auction site and one I have used for over 10 years now. Whether I'm buying or selling, eBay is my first port of call. I'll admit that you often have to trawl through a fair bit of shit before finding a hidden gem, but more often than not you'll find it at a bargain price. I also think eBay is one of the better sites when it comes to looking for specific items as it's search function is pretty damn good. If you're not already on the eBay hype, why not?!
Depop
Depop is an app that functions similarly to eBay however instead of auctioning items, the prices are set. Depop is mostly used by younger people are small businesses so I find that the prices are slightly higher on Depop than other reselling sites.
Big Sister Swap
Big Sister Swap is a second hand swapping service where you send off your preloved clothes and accessories to receive other used items of the same weight in return. Swaps start from £5 for up to 3 second hand items. I thought this was a fantastic idea which is why I purchased a Big Sister Swap myself, but you'll have to wait to that second hand haul!
Online charity shops
Charity shops have gone digital! From Cancer Research, to The British Heart Foundation, most high street charity shops will have some sort of online shop nowadays. Although some of them seem to increase the price of items being sold online, many charity shops actually use eBay to sell goods so it's still possible to snap up some second hand treats this September at a reasonable price!
Online vintage shops
Vintage shopping has been the in-thing for a while now so it's no surprise that online vintage shops are growing in popularity. While I don't think you can top rummaging around a vintage store, you can still get your second hand clothing fix online, and without that smell - you know what I mean.
There are tonnes of online vintage stores in the UK but some of the popular ones are; Cow, Beyond Retro, Brag, and Thrifted. Depop also features a lot of vintage fashion that will likely be more affordable than online vintages stores.
Selfridges
Selfridges selling second hand fashion? Since when? Selfridges have partnered with Oxfam to promote Second Hand September with a pop-up store in their Oxford Street branch, but you won't just find pre-loved items in their high street store, they are also selling second hand items online! The second hand fashion for sale on the Selfridges website is all designer, meaning most of it is still unaffordable for the masses however it's great to see a major brand getting on board with something like this.
So those are some of the best ways to get involved in #SecondHandSeptember without even leaving home!
You can also recycle your own clothes from home this September through eBay, Depop, and by requesting a collection bag from charities, though not all donations make it to your prefered charity this way so always read the small print!
Are you taking part in Second Hand September this month?
Over the years I've consumed tones of advice on how to grow my blog, but there's always one tip which seems to come up time after time - pick a niche. Now there are plenty of tips and tricks I'll happily listen to in the hope that my online presence grows however, this will never be one of them.
While I agree that by picking a niche and focussing on one area to write about, your blog may grow quicker, and yes it will probably help with SEO too, but I think it also hinders your creativity and limits your blog's potential. That's not to say you shouldn't pick a niche when starting a blog. If you have a passion for something in particular or you run your blog alongside your business it makes sense, but for budding bloggers just starting out, I don't think it helps to restrict yourself.
Why am I so against this advice? Well, there are a few reasons. The first reason I never took it onboard was simply that I have so many interests. Right at the start when I created my blog I knew I wanted to talk about fashion, and makeup, and travel tips, and anything else I found interesting. I simply didn't want to chain my blog to one subject.
Another reason I steered clear of picking a niche for my new creative venture was that I saw it as a hobby and not a revenue stream. Making money from my little space on the internet was not my priority. That's not to say blogs featuring various content can't be profitable, many bedroom bloggers have gone on to make millions from their diverse, multi-subject blogs. It is possible to be a successful lifestyle blogger while also covering a multitude of areas. Which brings me to my next point...
The problem with so many articles on growing your blog is that they suggest you cannot be a successful blogger without picking a niche. This is an issue because not only is it false, everyone's idea of success is different. To one blogger success might be achieved with a certain amount of monthly views, to another, it might be when their blog starts to generate income, it depends what each blogger is hoping to get out of creating their blog.
So what advice should you take when trying to grow your blog? While I'm no blogging expert, I've read a lot of blogging advice over the years and these are the tips which seem to pop up quite a lot:
- Use social media. Instagram, in particular, is one of the best platforms to get your creative content seen. You should also share your new blog posts on social media and engage with other creatives too.
- Get to grips with basic SEO. Yes, search engine optimisation can seem like a minefield for newbies but it's an important technical part of growing your blog.
- Leave meaningful comments on other blog posts and social media content. Generic 'nice post' comments may get you noticed but building relationships is much more important.
- If you don't already own a custom URL for your site it would be worth buying one as it makes your blog look more professional and can help build trust with your readers.
To conclude, there is tonnes of really great advice out there that may help budding bloggers to grow their platforms. Whatever you chose to do it's important to pick the advice that works for you and your blog, and if that means writing about a whole host of subjects then so be it. There are some things you'll need to do to grow your blog, but picking a niche isn't necessarily one of them.
