It’s never just “a simple mention.”

I am proud that my blog is sponsor-free, and has been sponsor-free throughout its existence. I can afford to pay the hosting fees and domain name costs associated with this blog out of pocket, without worrying if I have enough advertising click-throughs to make it to another posting day.

And if someone happens to purchase one of my photographs after reading my blog, I count that as their enjoyment of my work rather than any sort of hard-sell to create a stable income.

That being said, I do receive solicitations from companies who want to offer a stipend or a check if I just do one eensy-weensy little mention of their product in my blog.

Case in point.

Yesterday, I received this unsolicited email from a “Marie Lee” of a company called “Crowdfluence.” I’ll post it here.

“Hi Chuck, cheers to the light finally returning & all the new shots it’s unlocking for you!

Are you open to a paid blog collaboration (that isn’t a guest or sponsorship offer) with a popular consumer brand? Our client is a major website featuring brands like Adorama, KEH Camera, & Etsy, and just wants a simple mention of a specific product or brand of your choice (that you’d mention regardless, like a camera lens or vintage film stock you recommend) in an existing or upcoming post you’re already working on.

This only takes a few minutes, and we’re quick on payments. Let me know, and I’d love to send over more details and blogger examples.

Warmly,

Marie Lee
Account Manager | Crowdfluence

My work schedule and time zone may be different than yours. Please don’t feel obliged to reply to this email outside of your normal working hours. “

Well now, that seems like a simple ask. All I do is let them tell me what company they want mentioned in my blog, I mention them, and the money starts rolling in. That just sounds too good to be true!

Oh, good. This blog’s sarcasm filter is still active.

Companies like this wouldn’t just contact you out of the blue and offer to pay you for this kind of social influencing. They’ll want your banking information – you know, so that the payments can go directly into your account. Meanwhile, they’re draining every penny out of your bank account and taking it to their home offices in some foreign country where your funds – and contact with them after you discover your bank account is empty – are untraceable.

This blog link from the Federal Trade Commission has more information on these types of scams.

Here’s another red flag. Why would this company reach out to me in the first place for just a simple product mention? What can that hurt?

Well, that “simple product mention” may be a way to gimmick search engine optimization and boost a product’s recognition – and, in return, advertising traffic to that original advertising company. And they’ll make the lion’s share of profits from that mention, with barely a crumb tossed your way. In other words, you’re not a wheel in the car, you’re the tire tread.

And I’m sorry, but I refuse to exist as a tire tread.

So, Crowdfluence, thanks for your unsolicited email contact. I’m sure you’ll make a ton of crust with your social media influencing collabs.

But this setup seems more shady than a forest.

So I’ll pass, thanks.