As a blogger, there's no better feeling than when a brand you love reaches out to you asking to collaborate with them. Especially a brand which you already love and you already use their products religiously. As much as I love blogging collabs, sometimes I don't enjoy them as much as I should. Hear me out!
As I said, it's so exciting when a brand reaches out to me, admires my work and wants to work with me. But sometimes, I don't know why, it makes me nervous as well. When I see the other bloggers a particular brand has already worked with, I get a classic case of imposter syndrome. Also, I start to question myself and even the brand.
"Why do they want to work with me?"
"What if I let the brand down?"
"What if I can't deliver what the brand needs?"
"What if the blog/social media post doesn't get good engagement?"
So many questions doubting myself, and even the brand. I may sound like I'm turning a positive experience into a negative one, but I honestly can't help these thoughts going around my head! I do need to think more positively from this perspective. I should just take that collab email landing in my inbox as a brilliant thing rather than worry about it.
But hey, I do have a few reasons why I enjoy and sometimes don't enjoy blogging collabs:
1) Coping with the pressure
For me personally, blogging collabs invite a bit of pressure for me. I always question and worry about letting the blog down with my creativity and content. That's where the feeling of pressure comes into play. The majority of the time, I do enjoy being able to think more outside the box when it comes to creativity and blogging collaborations. But sometimes, I put pressure on myself to REALLY think about it, too much in fact.
2) Feeling proud a brand has chosen to work with me
It really is such a proud moment when a brand reaches out. The hard work of all the writing, publishing, copywriting, photography and making sure I copy and paste my gtag in my HTML code is worth it. I know brands choose plenty of other bloggers to work with as well, but being in that special group is a nice feeling. It feels like they trust me to produce and create content on their behalf and showcase their brand and their products.
3) Working with dream brands
It's an even better feeling when the brand you have been dreaming about working with for so long reaches out to you! I've worked with a few brands now, some I've loved working with, some I never want to work with again (obviously I put it more nicely when I email them).
4) Having to say no to collabs
When it comes to brand collaborations as a blogger, I need to be firm. I won't let a brand walk all over me. In the past, I have really struggled to say no, I never wanted to let anybody down and have always tried to appease the brand/PR company rather than do what I feel is best. But in the blogging world, you cannot be a pushover, something I have definitely learned over the years.
I'd love to know your thoughts on this, am I being too pessimistic in your eyes? I like to think I'm a realist anyway, but this post may not show I'm being a realist to some.
I used to say yes to everything too, but now I am much more selective and I know my worth!
ReplyDeleteCorinne x
https://skinnedcartree.com
It's good that you are selective when it comes to collaborations and I'm glad to hear that you know your worth! x
DeleteGreat post Lucy! Saying no can be difficult, but it's so important. It's also something I've learned over the years. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIt's so important to say no when a collab doesn't suit you!
DeleteWhen I first started I used to say yes to everything but I'm so much better at saying no now unless it's the perfect fit for a collab!
ReplyDeleteAmy x
callmeamy.co.uk
I was the same Amy, I used to say yes to everything, now I'm a lot better at saying no! x
DeleteGood food for thought Lucy.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading Jodie!
DeleteOooh. I'd love to hear more about who you wouldn't work with again. Haha! But I'm the same. I used to say yes to literally everything. Now I'm much more selective. I always consider my time too, especially now I've got the girls. Is the money / gift really worth my time. If the answer's no, then it's a straight up no thank you. Great post Lucy! I might take inspo from this and create something similar. There's lots of things I like and don't like about blogging! Haha. X
ReplyDeleteHaha I'll save that kind of post for another day!
DeleteI can completely understand why you are more selective with which brands you choose to collaborate with, especially as you have your girls and need to be more selective with your time.
I cannot wait to read what things you don't like about blogging! x
I totally agree with everything you’ve put in this blog post. I think sometimes brands feel like they have power over us
ReplyDeleteThank you Jack! I agree, some brands like to have a superiority over us when it comes to collaborations!
DeleteWe get some wonderful opportunities as bloggers but I feel imposter syndrome when I see how others represent them.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Jamie, I always feel that sense of imposter syndrome when collaborating with brands sometimes!
DeleteI actually had one of my favourite big brands reach out to work with me and I am so excited. However, I do get the pressure element, there is for enormous pressure to deliver. But I also think for me, it is great learning experience. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am sure others would agree with some of these points too.
ReplyDeleteLauren - bournemouthgirl.com
That is brilliant Lauren, it's so exciting when that happens!
DeleteThere is that element of pressure to deliver for brands, there's that slight feeling of what if I fail.
Can totally relate to these! Like nowadays they want 67,000 followers for you to review a bar of soap. It has its ups and downs. xx
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! It definitely has its ups and downs! xx
DeleteI get this! I love collaborating with brands, but the pressure is REAL :D I'm always scared that they won't like the content and I'm letting them down. At the same time, I still wanna deliver my audience/readers great content that doesn't feel too commercialized... the struggle is real for sure! But it's also super fun, especially working with brands you've liked for a long time.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Krissi of the marquise diamond
https://www.themarquisediamond.de/
Yeah that's exactly how I feel too Krissi!
DeleteIt's important to make your content not look too commercialised!
I definitely feel the pressure when it comes to blogging collabs because I want to do as best as I can with the post and also I want the post to do well with engagement so the brand can see that they made the right decision in working with me. I had to learn to say no too especially when the brand offers practically nothing in return.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I don't think you are being too pessimistic, I find that working with brands come with pressure for sure and some ask things that are over the top!
ReplyDeleteThis was such a good post to read - being a blogger is lots of highs and lows and wow the deadlines while also working full time and the juggle is reaaal!
ReplyDeleteRosie
I definitely feel the pressure. Whether that be with having too many, or none, posting on time and making sure they're good enough, it's hard work x
ReplyDeleteGreat post! It's important to learn to say no. We are often afraid to say no to people.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, when I had a blog post using products from a brand in a recipe that I did the company hardly helped me promote the post on their own social media, it even did not get a mention on their website, so I have been a bit cautious since, hopefully I will get some more opportunities again :)
ReplyDeleteNic | Nic's Adventures
I used to say yes to all collaboration offers, but now I'm a lot more selective. It is stressful! There's more pressure to craft the perfect blog post for the brand, while also staying true to your blog and your voice. Great post.
ReplyDeleteKim - chimmyville.co.uk