Spill the Beans: The PR Secrets Tag

Back in October of last year, the wonderful Jasmine from Thoughts With Jasmine, created a brand new tag post for us bloggers to get our teeth stuck into. I’ve done more or less every tag under the sun over the years of having this blog but they’re not really something I do anymore but… I absolutely loved the sound of this one that Jas has created because it’s something I’ve learnt a lot about, feel passionate about and want to help encourage people to be more transparent about because it’s certainly a topic that I’ve found a lot of bloggers are still incredibly cagey about.

And that would be working with brands and PR’s, making money and sponsored posts. Ugh. Seriously guys, we’re in 2019, everyone knows that bloggers get paid for certain posts, WHAT is the big deal? Do you make a fuss every time Nicole Scherzinger graces your TV with yet another yogurt advert? Didn’t think so.

I’ve always been open about working with brands and where I find blogging opportunities. I’ve done various posts about it in the past (like this one, this one and this one) and I plan to do another one sometime soon with very specific links to places where you can find blogging opportunities. There’s more than enough to go around my friends! So thank you to Jas for the tag in this! Enjoy my answers and if you’d like to have a go, consider yourself tagged!

Do you remember the first brand you worked with? When, how and what was it?

I’m pushing my luck trying to remember here but I believe it was this sponsored post with Quorn back in 2016! They got in touch with me via email.

How do you get the majority of your PR opportunities?

To be honest, I probably get most of them from applying to things and putting myself out there. Of course there are always some that approach me through email but I put myself out there a lot, so that’s how I get them!

Are there any brands you work with on a repeat basis? How did that happen?

Not brands but there are a few PR agencies that I’ve worked with multiple times. Building up a good relationship with PR’s is really useful for this reason and it usually happens by working with them once and building a good, friendly, mutually beneficial rapport which will allow the conversation to flow more easily and it’s much easier to contact each other going forward with any other opportunities.

Who has been your favourite brand to work with and why?

Oh, so many! Some stand out brands would have to be bakerdays (because they’re so amazing with their blogger outreach and their cakes are just banging), Jewellery Box (for the same reason and they have such a gorgeous range of pieces) and xylondon (who I worked with 3 times last year and their PR lady is just wonderful and always so appreciative of the posts!)

Who has been your least favourite brand to work with? What did they do? (Give a vague description but naming isn’t needed)

Apart from a PR company who hasn’t paid me since August, I honestly haven’t had a particularly awful experience with any brand and I’m incredibly grateful for that. Although there has been little things like a brand telling me the day after I’d scheduled my post and spend over 7 hours making their product that they were closing and wouldn’t require a review anymore (face palm).

Has there been anything big that you’ve perhaps reluctantly turned down because you knew it wasn’t right for you?

Big, no. However, there’s been plenty of emails from people asking if they could work with me for no budget that I’ve quite rightly turned down.

What’s your favourite kind of PR to receive? (e.g. food, beauty, fashion)

Tough question! I love reviewing anything food-related. I love food as it is so being sent food is a dream. I also love receiving gift type items, which would fit well in gift guides.

What would be your dream brand collaboration?

Disney, hands down!

I’d love to hear your answers to these questions! If you’d like to have a go yourself on your own blog, please link back to my post so I can check it out!