Got an email from a company wanting to do give-aways on this blog. Unfortunately, I had to say "No." And ja, it does hurt to say No to something that you suspect could be of benefit to you. But I had to.
Their products look to be very high quality. But, I had to consider what the decision would mean for me and the site.
Here are some of the issues I had to consider:
1. Do the products fit in with my blog chatter?
In a distant way. It wouldn't be a stretch to talk about them, but I'd probably feel like I'm off-topic in some way.
2. Are my readers looking for these products and services when they visit Storypot?
LOL. It just struck me that I'm not quite sure why you come back to visit this site. What I mean is, I love it that you do (THANK YOU), but what was it about this blog that made you make time everyday to visit with me, no matter how busy you are? Anyhoo, re these products on offer, you I kno w for sure you don't come for anything related to them, but you would have enjoyed them.
3. Do I have a big enough traffic to make the exercise worthwhile for the client?
The general traffic would justify the venture. But the offer was pretty specific for certain locations, and I don't really want to have to put more effort to attract people from those locations. If they were visiting the blog in large numbers already, it would have made it easier for me to consider saying YES.
4. Why not take the products anyway? They're the ones who offered, and it's an easy way to get good quality stuff I can use without having to pay for it.
Because decisions like that always come back to bite you on the butt. The company's marketing people are not fools. They will want to see results for their generosity, and they would not be thrilled if it turned out I took their products and can't give them the exposure in the numbers and locations that make good business sense. And I'd rather not have to manage irate advertisers, thanks!
5. Would I be open to doing product give-aways on this site, if all the elements were in place?
Definitely. Now if Mica or some other gardening company asked me to talk up their gardening tools, plants etc, or local or bookstores like Kalahari and Exclusive Books, or even international ebook publishers asked me to talk up their new releases, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
It wouldn't be a stretch in terms of my usual chatter, and I buy a lot of stuff from Mica and spend hours in my garden every week. And for the books, I also have a big enough list of avid readers (through READ SA) and blogging space on Book SA to justify the venture. Actually, such offers would make my current blogging easier, because I'd have access to fresh content in the topics I already write about. So all I'd have to do is to keep doing what I'm doing.
So what do you think? Is your site /blog close to that stage where you start attracting advertisers and marketing people, and if so, what would get you to say YES?
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