My Site, My Rules

I was about to write a post about self-esteem and feeling good but that's going to be postponed while I vent about an advertiser/PRFAIL.

I think it's going around but I've been receiving a few advertiser requests recently including requests to be "guest writers" on my site, embedding links, link exchanges etc. Currently I have minimal advertising on my site. The few that I do have are through Project Wonderful and I've been using the money mainly for things like donations. The links I have on my site are sites that I go to almost every day or that I shop with frequently. I almost always reject a request to swap links. I have done product reviews but those are always positioned as such to maintain transparency.

But I am open to working with companies if the fit is right. I have had sites ask if I wanted to review or try their products but it wasn't a good fit so I politely told them no and why. I don't write this site to generate a ton of money. I write it because it is my hobby, I have fun with it and I love the people I connect with. I spend a lot of time on the site trying to do as good a job as possible to educate and entertain. My new position this year was if a company asked for a link exchange or other request, I told them when was and was not available on my site in the way of advertising opportunities.

So when a company contacts I expect them to be respectful of the years of work I've put into this site. Why else would they be interested in advertising on here. I also expect them to be respectful of me as a person and to act professionally in their communication with me.

However, I just went through a very curt exchange of emails with company representative.

Their first email to me was:

I've been trying to promote a /// site by writing articles and putting up links.

I was wondering if you would be open to having me write a guest blog entry or have a link on one of your pages as a referral to my site. Even turning a word or two in one of your blog posts into a link to my site would helpful.

Let me know how we can make this work.
Thanks.

Seems okay so far. A bit assuming there at the end. I responded with the following information:

Thank you for your interest. Site links are a part of the right hand navigation . This navigation is consistent on all pages of the site. The pricing structure of the site is as follows:

Monthly - $xx
Six months - $xxx
One year - $xxx

A sponsored post or embedded link is something that I would need to review and approve the proposed content prior to agreement. The cost for this is the same for each scenario and is $xxx.

If there is other information you need or if you are interested in a different opportunity, please let me know. I am happy to work with you in a way that will achieve your goals.

I created rates which I felt were fair and consistent with other similar sites but gave breaks based on longer term agreements. Here's the response I got back:


Sorry, your sites only a PR2, it's not worth that much. If you have another site let me know.

Thanks anyway for your time.

Now I may be "small-time" (not sure if that PR is accurate but whatevs) but wow, did I feel insulted. There was no negotiation, just a quick kick to the curb. I had not even had an opportunity to check them out to see if they were someone I wanted to work with.

As I stated above, I'm not getting rich off this site. I'm not trying to. But I'm not going to subject my readers to sites and companies that don't make any sense either. I'm not going to put link to companies I wouldn't shop with. I want to work with great companies. I want bring great sites and products to the attention of everyone. And that's not going to happen with rude and unprofessional behaviour.

Feeling Crushed

Lily's Smile via Flickr by Laurent Orseau

In this day and age relationships can be tricky, especially when we are talking about work-related relationships. Sexual harassment and hostile work environments are beyond bad. It's my hope that no one has to go through that, no matter their age, gender, race, religion or orientation.

But I also think some harmless mutually accepted flirting can be fun... and good for your work life.

Think about it. You spend a whole lot of time at work, hopefully with people you like and respect. You've got men and women, stress and silliness. People who have common interests and common stories. You are bound to develop a crush.

I fully admit that I fall into crushes all the time. In fact, I can't think of a job or a time that I've been at that I haven't had a crush... or two. I'm not talking desperate silent crushes. I get crushes on people that I think are cute, smart, witty, nerdy, cocky, obnoxious, you name it. And I'm not great about keeping it secret either.

I openly admire them. I make oblique flirty comments. I bat my eyes and am very happy to see them. In fact, if I work with you, I may have a crush on you RIGHT NOW!

So why is this good for work?

Well, it makes it a whole lot easier to go to the office. I look forward to spending time with these people. And I work in a pretty high stress field with lots of deadlines. A bit of flirty fun makes getting through crap much more bearable.


Crushes get you happy. There's a bounce in your step. You want to look your best and your brightest. You shimmer and shine. You feel great and you make the other person feel great too.

I fully endorse crushing.

Get on it!

This message brought to you via the fact that I got to spend lots o'time with one my my major crushes last week. Le sigh!

Eeeewwww!!!

Does Keith Richards in the new Louis Vuitton ads remind you of anyone????



Namely our new Joker in The Dark Knight?



He's probably about as wacked out and bat-s**t crazy, right?



Not exactly shoes or fashion, but Keith is kind of leathery so... maybe it is related.

Livin' the Glamorous Life

I may have mentioned that I work in Marketing/Advertising and have for a number of years. I've worked for agencies and businesses of all sizes from really small start ups (me and my boss being the office) to huge (hint, hint: Orlando, FL). But all in all, there is one consistent thing - this is not a glamorous business.

I know shows and movies like Mad Men and What Women Want (heck, even Thirtysomethings) makes it look like it's all wheels and deals and travel and eating out and cool.



But, yeah, it's really not. While I've traveled to a few fun places like Las Vegas, New York and San Francisco, generally I've gone to places like East Liverpool, Ohio, Farmville, VA and Green Bay, WI. And let me tell you, I've stayed in some really crummy hotels. Places where you need to bring your own sheets and pillows.

This past weekend, I was at a shoot for my client. While on the surface it sounded great (we were sponsoring a major reality TV show, so we were there for part of the filming) in reality I was staying two days in a really really really small town in a crummy Super 8 Motel.



This place was so bad I was genuinely worried about getting attacked by bedbugs. And I totally wore socks and shoes the whole time. I even went out and bought a towel and pillow to use.



Oh yeah, the food wasn't great either. I think the highlight was the breakfast buffet at the local Shoney's and that's not saying much.



For some reason I deluded myself into thinking that I would need a pair of heels on this trip (well, you never know!) but since I was standing around in dirt for 3 days I pretty much wore a t-shirt, jeans and a pair of sneakers.



This is pretty much what I was doing the whole time.

So, like we tell our interns, Advertising is not a lot of fun and it certainly isn't glamorous!

I'm glad to be home!