Blog Giveaways...

[SweetNSnappyDesigns]

Do you do them? Someone contacting me about a giveaway and I'm on the fence about it. Any experiences?

Thanks!

Athena

[PiecesofMeCardsnMore]

Nope, I don't do them. I've only heard of a few success stories regarding blog giveaways. I was contacted once about a review and giveaway. She wanted me to send two items - one for her to review and one to give away (she keeps the item she reviews). I asked what her blog stats were - number of followers, weekly views, etc. It was lower than my blog, and mine doesn't get very much traffic! I politely said no. I'm not into giving my stuff away for free like that. I hate to be a skeptic but I think some of them are just looking for freebies.

[JustForGiggles]

I am so DONE with people putting up a blog and expecting freebies! I'd rather pay $50 for ad space on a reputable blog or e-zine than give away a $50 product because someone asked to 'review' it. If they'd like a review, they're more than welcome to buy or check out my feedback.

I asked the last blogger who reached out for a free product if she'd like to donate to the Wanda Needs More Funds fund. hahaha!!! I won't tell you what she wrote back. It was NOT Etsy-appropriate! I got a laugh out of it, though ;~)

[Former_Member]

It depends I guess, The people that ask me to send stuff directly to them I say no thanks. If I am sending ti to the winner thats another thing. I have done that before and enjoyed it. Got lots of veiws from it to.

[SweetNSnappyDesigns]

Thanks! You guys have confirmed my skepticism about this. She asked for one item (worth approx $60) for the giveaway and offered to give a review of it as well. However, on her blog it says that if you send an item for a giveaway WITHOUT getting a review, you have to pay a fee. So I'd have to give away a $60 items plus pay on top of it? Or giveaway $120 worth of prints to get the review. No thanks!

[DecalInnovations]

I have heard that it can work but I think in general, those that are soliciting for giveaways/reviews are just out to get free products.

I thought it was awesome that people were contacting me when we first started out. I was a little hesitant about sending products but then was contacted by someone who had a youtube channel in our exact target market with a huge following. SCORE! until I watched the video with our "review". They had contacted 10 different etsy shops in the same category to get pretty much the same free stuff. We have still gotten sales from it but it was really upsetting to see that they did that. ThenI looked back at their old videos and they had done the same thing about a year earlier and found etsy shops to send them a bunch of custom painted TOMS.