Request for Item to feature in blog....worth it?

[PurelyChicDesigns]

I received a message from someone with legitimate blogs and facebook/twitter traffic showing interest in featuring the item below on her blog.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/243315448/montessori-matching-game-laminated

While she did not come right out and ask for the item for 'free', the wording gave me the distinct impression that she expected I would send her the item for free.

My question is this: Do I send it to her for free in hopes that I will see a great review in a few weeks....or is she just trying to scam me for free product? Have any of you experienced this sort of situation? Please, any advice is great! Thank you in advance!

[WilliamsGiftshop]

Serious bloggers who feature your items never ever ask for products for free!
Don't fall for it.

You want to get positive feedback from your paying customers. Not try to 'buy' it by giving away your products.

[TheTangledCat]

I wouldn't say she is trying to scam you...but she certainly does want the product for free.

I did give away one or two of my items (from my other shop) a few years ago...but never saw any increased traffic/sales. It's just not worth the bother.

I always reply to similar requests with the following: Thanks for your interest. I would love your review and welcome your purchase! I don't, however, give away my work.

[Archaeopterknits]

I had a very similar request. She picked out a specific item and said she'd need it sent to her for an honest review but never used the word free. I spent a couple days thinking about it and ended up turning it down. I just didn't feel comfortable with the situation.

[fishcouple]

I had one who asked me to send her the item (beautiful hair clip) for review and I turned her down.

Also, about winter/early spring time this year, I was contacted by an on-line magazine writer who wanted to write a feature article about using pinwheels to replace candies as favors. She asked me to take a picture with a toddler holding my rainbow pinwheels. I wanted to find a sunny day and had asked my friend's kid to be my model but somehow the weather was all snow so I felt it didn't fit for a spring scene. Time also passed by... so I missed the chance. However, I did see some traffic came from that site for quite a while, even though I couldn't find the article about my pinwheels.

Hope this helps! ;-)

[SageNThymeDesigns]

When I first started on Etsy I had a ton of people asking for free stuff, I did some and passed on others. I'm not sure if any of it actually turned into anything special for me. Photographers (or mommies with a camera and a facebook page) often ask to 'trade'. Had some really bad experiences and one that was phenomenal and gave me photo's that have translated into hundreds or thousands of dollars in sales.

If it's not a burden for you and you have a good gut feeling, why not? If you feel icky about it, pass!

[RaquelManuela]

I had "Both Sides of the Sun" feature my cards on their blog: http://www.bothsidesofthesun.com/?p=326

I loved the pictures they took with my product. I think that it was worth while for me. My traffic went up when the blog post went up. I constantly get hits from that post. My advice is to research the blog. Does your product fit in the blog and the other way around? What's their traffic like?

Yes, there are a lot of opportunities to collaborate with bloggers and not spend a dime. I am constantly looking for the right sellers to feature on my blog: www.raquelmanuela.com.

Let me know if you would like to collaborate. :)

[fishcouple]

Oh, talk about the photographers.... I had two photographers who took professional baby pictures actually placed custom orders from me. They actually "paid" for the items.

One of the photographers was willing to provide me with the picture. I checked her facebook, it was amazing to see my work in her beautiful photo! Since the picture show the little kids so I asked if I am allowed to use that picture. she said she will ask their mom and if not, she will provide me another one, I have yet to contact her.

The other photographer was ordering for her son's 1st birthday. It was a custom order and she did pay for it too!

I felt so lucky to have them as my clients. :)

[TwistedKnickersInc]

If the demographics of her followers match your target market, then sending her a $20 item is not very much to spend on advertising.
However that is the highest priced item in your shop, and it doesn't really reflect your main product, bookmarks.
I am sure you will get a nice review of your product, but the people going to your shop to see the memory cards may not stay long with only one product of that type to look at.
If you want to be in the blog, I would offer to send a bookmark, and state that it is of the same quality as the memory card game.

[PurelyChicDesigns]

Well, I offered her an additional 5% off if she would like to purchase it for review...so I am guessing I will not hear from that customer again. We will see I suppose! Thank you all for your advice and insight!

[PurelyChicDesigns]

And I never heard back, so that is that lol