![\"Pinkoddy](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/four_pounds.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIf you have money coming in then you are a Sole Trader<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The first FACT <\/b>you need to know is, that whether it is working with brands who are covering your costs, run adverts, sponsored content, or sponsorship for an event \u2013 then if you have any money coming in (even if it is ALL going back out again) \u2013 then you are a sole trader: Unless the person paying you is paying tax and National Insurance contributions on it. So you must declare yourself as Self-Employed. You can do it online here http:\/\/www.hmrc.gov.uk\/selfemployed\/register-selfemp.htm<\/a><\/p>\n If you wish to verify this information please do call the Self-Assessment Helpline: 0300 200 3310<\/b>.<\/p>\n When you register at the end of that tax year (the following April) you have until the October do a tax return by paper or January to do it online. So make sure you keep copies of incoming (invoices\/paypal etc) and outgoing (receipts \u2013 paper\/e-mail etc). If you are really organised you can work out what your income and outgoings are every month. I label my receipts by writing on the back what event they were for.<\/p>\n Disclosure \u2013 it\u2019s the Law! But Google isn\u2019t<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The second FACT <\/b>is that LEGALLY<\/b> if you receive payment of any kind (product or money) then you must DISCLOSE<\/b>. Whether you use follow or no-follow, is a matter of choice to you as whether you upset Google and risk losing your page rank. What this means is when a Google search is made, depending on your page rank<\/i> how high up in the search listings you will come. If you already write about say \u2018Pinkoddy\u2019 \u2013 and no-one else is writing about \u2018Pinkoddy\u2019 \u2013 then you will come out on top anyway \u2013 so does it matter (may be someone could answer this – if stripped of page rank does it not appear in the listings at all?) But if you are writing about Children then it could make a huge difference (especially if you\u2019ve made to the first page). NB: if you write about \u2018Pinkoddy\u2019 and your post isn\u2019t relvant so people go back to google to look for relevant stuff about \u2018Pinkoddy\u2019 you will get what is called a high bounce back rate.<\/p>\n For more information on these issues please look at information by MummyBarrow<\/a><\/p>\n Is my worth measured by the financial value\/payment?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n I read this post Blogsploitation<\/a>\u00a0and then there was a discussion on twitter,<\/p>\n Sian<\/a> said that, she considered that accepting \u00a34 a week for a link was better than reviewing a \u00a32 soft drink \u2013 as you\u2019d only be worth half as much to the brand.<\/strong><\/p>\n This got me thinking; I can understand how if bloggers are asked to put a \u201cfollow link\u201d into their blogs for a small amount of payment,\u00a0then their blogs are possibly not being valued, and that the SEO may not care how well the blogger writes, or the content of the blog, as they have set deadlines and budgets. This comparison, I feel, only works if both examples use follow links too \u2013 because the review item isn\u2019t a \u201crisk\u201d in terms of Google. That in agreement with the blog article we were discussing (above), I do agree that whilst people feel that they are only able to be paid \u00a34 for a link then it does run the risk of undervaluing bloggers time\/effort and expertise. This is because follow links are to be picked up by the Google bots and not on the quality of social media sharing, etc. That these follow links may as well be \u201csold\u201d for as cheap as possible \u2013 so why pay someone say \u00a3100 for one when you can get away with selling it for \u00a34? This may not be the case with all SEO though and I feel we shouldn\u2019t tar them all with the same brush \u2013 and sometimes if you help them out with the smaller projects they will respect you and remember you next time.<\/b><\/p>\n But PRs could be impressed with your work on smaller projects and consider you in the future.<\/p>\n “I reviewed and returned a tablet and laptop: Just got commissioned to write something for them for \u00a3250. They valued me! I also did some Moshi monster stuff for free for 77pr who then sent me a Wii u for Nintendo who were another client of theirs. I reviewed some \u00a31 liquid margarine and ended up getting loads from that PR including Playtex bras etc. I could go on. It\u2019s all about the relationships for me.” \u2013 TiredMummyofTwo<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Why do we accept Sponsored Content\/Reviews & Why do we accept different rates?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Is the amount you receive in money or product your worth though? People blog for all manner of different reasons, but most that I know, don\u2019t set out to do it to make money from it. One of the reasons I started mine was because I couldn\u2019t justify going out to work because my family commitments\/the cost of childcare prevented me (mainly because I feel that one of the parents of my son with special needs need to be available if the situation arises \u2013 I don\u2019t care if you disagree with this, this is how it is for us). Originally meant as a way to keep my mind ticking over, it started to evolve. I started to write things to try to help others, before moving onto sponsored content\/reviews that benefited my family which otherwise would not have had, it also gives me the opportunity to support my family?<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cCinema tickets don’t cost much but provide exclusive opportunities.” \u2013 Alice<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Does blogging this way help empower women \u2013 to help with the work\/home balance? I can understand bloggers accepting whatever \u00a3\u00a3s they can get to help pay the bills\/put food on the table etc \u2013 so again why should they think of everyone else? Surely they are going to put their families first? But would they accept so little if they knew they could get more without risking losing the opportunity?<\/p>\n \u201cYou may review an item for fun, or because you are interested in it; these could end up being a big source of traffic too\u201d \u2013 MummyBarrow<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n I do agree that we should be talking about what kind of rates we are all getting as some SEOs do lie, telling us \u201cthere is no budget\u201d \u201cthis is the highest I can go\u201d \u2013 when if we speak to each other, then actually they can afford to go higher, they are just undervaluing you and trying to pay as little as possible. But without talking we fear we will lose that opportunity so best not to push\/upset them. But it\u2019s not just SEOs\/Pr companies being dishonest and here is a great bit of advice in this post here http:\/\/scissorspaperrock.co.uk\/general-stuff\/rantyfriday-sometimes-bloggers-lie-too<\/a> is about us forming better relationships and being honest \u2013 telling bloggers to make sure that they are clear whether you want no-follow from the off-set.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cMedia packs are really tricky things – they are finely tuned to the individual\u2019s skills and outreach, \u201c Mammasaurus<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n It really is your blog so do what you like with it, personally I try to build relationships and only work with people I trust.<\/p>\n \u201cThings to consider are: is it something that you’re happy to be associated with, is it a pr that you’re happy with, do you want to spend your time doing it and it is something that fits with you, your life and\/or your blog.\u201d.\u00a0 \u2013 Liz Weston<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Building Relationships<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n “I charge more nowadays than I used to for 2 reasons: 1) My readership is bigger and more targeted than it used to be, so it is worth more to a brand than it was when I had a smaller audience. Which is why it’s difficult for all of us to get\u00a0paid the same amount. At the end of the day if they desperately want a particular blogger they’ll pay her more than someone they like but can afford to lose. And 2) I get so many requests these days (and I’m doing paid work too) that I can’t afford to spend my working hours doing a review unless a) it’s paying well enough or b) it fits my blog perfectly or c) it’s something I really really want. Some people\u00a0say that new bloggers should expect as much as more established bloggers, but I disagree, it has taken me time to get to the point I’m at. Unless you are a niche blogger, in which case they’re totally right. ” – ActuallyMummy<\/a><\/p>\n We need to be confident in who we are and what we are doing. Do you have a community or an audience \u2013 (Communities talk to each other when you are not there \u2013 this is more influential). It is then about the value of the community and not the size. It\u2019s no good having an audience of 10,000 if no-one is actually listening. How attractive is that audience to Brands? If you are talking to everyone with new babies but want to review computer games the Brand is going to be less interested. Can you influence people to retweet\/share\/engage in content? Are you honest? Do people trust you \u2013 so you are more likely to influence? Do you have a low bounce rate? Do people spend a lot of time on your site? Do you have a unique selling point?<\/p>\n \u201cI find that when you work with a brand and get to know them they think of you first for projects and get in touch\u201d. \u2013 ACupCakeMum<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Blogging for Good<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Some people do blog for good \u2013 or to help others in their situation (e.g. DownSideUp), or find answers to help with their situation, or help charities, such as, Team Honk \u2013 this then in turn may, and has, lead to further opportunities because they have built up a relationship.<\/p>\n What about Companies with products not worth a lot<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n What happens to those small companies, ones who have products not worth a lot? Are we no good as bloggers to them? Or should they be paying is lots of money to review their \u00a32 soft drink? What if they are new or small \u2013 should we not give them a helping hand?<\/p>\n I reviewed the Write to Read App<\/a> and actually discovered that it was a very useful tool for my son!<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve agreed to do things for a lot less if it was a new company or a small business to help them start out – because it’s a nice thing to do – encouraging people – and yes if they are success then maybe your loyalty will be rewarded too! Equally if it’s something I really like or care about then I would do it for a lot less\u201d \u2013 Keynko<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n I did reviews\/giveaways for local businesses because I wanted to show them how important social media was, whilst helping support my local community. Buying local is a very important issue to me. I feel this is how I\u2019d measure my worth, by being supportive, rather than n \u00a3\u00a3s as I feel that we have become too fixated by money https:\/\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/2013\/02\/20\/are-we-really-that-fixated-about-money\/<\/a>. I think it also illustrates to Brands\/PR\/SEOs looking at my blog what my reviews are like \u2013 to make sure we \u2018fit\u2019 together.<\/p>\n “I reviewed a couple of fabric pens for that\u00a0cost of about a fiver 2 and a half years ago. I’ve since reviewed a massive range of their products, built a brilliant relationship with them, appeared in their newsletters and craft magazine features and they have sponsored me the past 2 years running to attend an event” \u2013 Me and My Shadow<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n But also I know when to say no to posts, if the product has no interest to me then I\u2019m not going to review it. If I wouldn\u2019t endorse if without being given it for free then I will not endorse it just because it is free. If I have agreed to review something and not been happy, I will go back to the PR Company \u2013 the message I keep getting back from Brands is they prefer honest criticism as long as you go through them and not posting it straight out on social media\/your blog. Again I can see how attractive a loans company offering \u00a3100 for a prewritten post with a follow link can be for someone who needs the money.<\/p>\n Blagging \u2013 Don\u2019t be afraid to accept Products\/Payment <\/span><\/p>\n When thinking about a price to accept for sponsored content\/review we could ask ourselves some questions\u2013 was the post written in free time for fun? Or have you had to put things off\/work to deadlines\/stay up late? Has the product cost anything to review (have you had to travel to London (for example), stay overnight in a Hotel)? Will you have made a loss? What kind of loss are you willing to make? And for what kind of product\/service\/event? Why do you want to review it?<\/p>\n \u201cGo with what you’re happy with…I’ve reviewed cheap as chips stuff & it hasn’t done me any harm\u201d \u2013 The Crazy Kitchen<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Don\u2019t be afraid to approach Brands you love \u2013 your enthusiasm for their product\/service will be beneficial to them. Don\u2019t worry about being called a \u201cBlagger\u201d either \u2013 sticks and stones and all that. As long as you know your worth \u2013 work hard \u2013 ADVERTISING<\/b> \u2013 for the Brand you are not blagging, you are providing them with an important service \u2013 so never need feel bad for accepting\/ asking for payment.<\/p>\n In conclusion, it’s your blog, and only you know your worth and that of your blog – just remember that it is not necessarily measured in \u00a3\u00a3\u00a3s and do what is right for you.<\/p>\n “At the end of the day, if it’s something you’re happy with reviewing or being part of, you should do it – it’s your blog, your presence and your decision! Don’t worry about other people” \u00a0– Liz Weston<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Kind thanks to the many people who have helped me compile this post – it is not a Sponsored post.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/a>