Is this normal?

[Kanalah]

Sorry for all the posts recently.

Anyways, so since I know some of you guys are on Etsy, I thought I'd ask here first.

Is it normal to get a message like:

"Hey I saw your etsy shop and it's got really cute stuff on it. I have a blog with 500 readers and if you'll send me something for free I'll advertise for you."

That's basically the bulk of it, although longer and with more flowery language.

It's got my scam radar up for some reason.

Normally I'd jump on something like this, but it seems like it's worded like a fancy form letter. I have a feeling everyone on Etsy got this letter.

[MaggieTheCat]

Well, did they give you a link to their supposed blog? I've never heard of a scam like that, but I don't have an Etsy shop either and I wouldn't put it past some people to do something like that. Maybe you could post this question on one of the Etsy forums and see what other sellers think. I'd be interested to hear what you find out in the end.

[Kanalah]

There was a link included..it's just a mom talking about her kiddos blog.

No links at all, no posts or tags about things/products/stores she likes.

It's even a new blog too, only a month old. It's just making me think of high-tech begging.

I get people at shows sometimes, not haggling, but out-and-out begging...telling me some big sob story about something and that everything would just be better if they could have *this quilt* (of course something expensive and awesome).

Of course I am a sucker for a sad story, but in the past few years hubby has been stopping me from giving everything away.

I just have a new habit now - Just before Christmas, I drive down to the homeless shelter and drop off all the quilts that didn't sell for the year. At least then I know they'll go to a good home.

[MaggieTheCat]

Yeah, definitely sounds fishy if it's a new blog and it doesn't seem to have any followers. If you really want to give it a try, find a relatively inexpensive piece that you wouldn't mind losing and offer to sell it to her half-price or something, instead of out and out giving it to her. I would probably just tell her no, myself.

[surreal20]

I just have a new habit now - Just before Christmas, I drive down to the homeless shelter and drop off all the quilts that didn't sell for the year. At least then I know they'll go to a good home.

that's the best thing you could ever do for a homeless person, besides take them into your own home lol

I'd just delete the message and if you get another one, bring it up to the ppl who run etsy. You shouldn't be giving anything out for free. Besides, if you were to give something to this person, what's to say that wont turn around and try to sell it themselves. Make a 100% profit bc they didn't have to do ANYTHING to get the item to sell in the first place.

While you are a very kind hearted person, and i adore that in people, don't forget to look out for yourself too. I'm sure there are many things you have done and still do for the unfortunate people out there. Don't allow yourself to end up like that.

Only you have the power to keep you or break you where you stand.

[zombiequeen]

It's fishy. I got an email like that once, person looked at my blog and wanted me to send them a dragon and they would advertise it, but their blog was fashion and had like...three followers. Now I would love to send a giveaway package to a big blog or something, or even feature someone like that on mine...but it comes down to whether their blog suits what you make, and whether they have a crowd of people that would be interested in what you have.

And, I love you for donating those quilts to the homeless. You make everyone's day when you do that.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

It's got my scam radar up for some reason.

.

Yeah, and the reason ought to be pretty obvious.

"Something for free"? Sumbitch doesn't even know what you're selling.

Send him a used odor eater. See what he's willing to put out for that.

If he did have a blog with five hundred readers, and it was a legit business proposal, wouldn't he send something to convince you he was legit? Would he not try to convince you that his readers are your target demographic? Would he not send you some traffic statistics?

Guy is full of shit and trying to see how much of a mark you are.

[csquared]

Selling blog space is the latest money maker on the internet. The FTC is looking into regulations.

In short...
That popular blog by the Mom raising five kids on a shoe string budget, sharing her secrets for getting stains out her kids clothes and feeding her family for under $5.00... Is probably a fake and is being paid be the people who's products she (if it is a she) is promoting.

In all fairness, they are not all fake, most are not. Just the same, a lot of bloggers are selling advertising.

Is it a valid offer? Yes.
Will this "advertising" be worth it? Probably not. You are not likely to sell enough to cover the costs.

Make a counter offer. Mention my products in your blog. Anyone who orders and mentions your blog will get "something" off ($5.00, 2%, something small, as I don't know your prices or profit margins). After I have sold X (enough to cover your costs) to your readers, I will give you Y.

Then sit back and wait for him to laugh at you and tell you how foolish you are. "You OBVIOUSLY don't know how this works."

Now go look at the stats/views on some of the posts on this site. More people will read this post than will read her blog. Send something to Raps.

Also... It is great that you give the extra quilts to the shelter.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I'm actually swapping blog space with another blog that is similar to mine.

I have a button on their site that leads to my site and they have one on mine for theirs. No money changes hands, but both of us are benefitting.

I need to ask them if they're doing an advertising blast this week because I am noticing the traffic from their site has tripled. Which rocks.

Advertising with Project Wonderful is great, too, because you don't have to pay for anything but clicks. Which means if an advertising placement is not working for you, it does not cost you anything.

[zombiequeen]

A lot of the bigger blogs I follow have button space you can purchase on their blog, and they do a feature of you, maybe a giveaway if you send them a package, and if you send them free stuff, a product review. However, these are blogs with over 500 followers, at least. One I read has over 3000.

Some of the smaller ones I read have featured pages (I do this too) where someone guest posts on your blog, and you have your buttons on each other's pages. Great way to share followers.