Current Events > 22 year old social influencer tries for a free hotel room, owner shuts her down

(+) Yeah! (+)

Also I love how his scathing email begins with the fact that she didn't even have the professionalism to direct an email to him by name, something that actual reviewers and somebody with even half a brain knows enough to do. It was a generic boilerplate email she probably sent to dozens of places that weekend.
---

This is the Yelp episode of South Park now done in reality.
---

Is this a well known hotel? Idk if 70k followers is really that much exposure depending on a lot of things. Both sides could have been a bit more professional in all of this
---

Fairest of nexts
---

Teddytalks posted...

LethalAffinity posted...

I fucking hate Instagram. It's a den of narcissism.

Get a life.

Same goes for everybody in this topic. The hotel owner got an attitude problem, as does the owner and shouldn't have posted the exchange like that. Her point is valid, and he was right to say no, but he took it way to far. This is clearly a generational gap where people can't understand that being important and known is a value in and of itself, no matter the method, something you guys will never understand from this generation. It like you guys actively hate the younger generation not for the stuff they do, because you are aprt of it but don't fit in at all.

Who the hell is she even?

If she died right now, who would care outside of her immediate friends and family? On a personal level, not "It's a shame someone died". You speak of her importance, but what makes her more relevant than you or me? Or anyone on this site for that matter...

It's not a generation gap. I'm in my 20s and I think shes a whiny little brat for complaining about not getting free shit she did nothing to deserve.

Perhaps you were raised to believe that begging, outside of dire situations, was respectable. The same cannot be said for the most of us.
---

Umbreon posted...

It's not a generation gap. I'm in my 20s and I think shes a whiny little brat for complaining about not getting free s*** she did nothing to deserve.

Building a following that can be monetized isn't worth anything in your eyes?

Because that's exactly what she's done and it's the same business model as news websites and blogs.

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

Umbreon posted...

It's not a generation gap. I'm in my 20s and I think shes a whiny little brat for complaining about not getting free s*** she did nothing to deserve.

Building a following that can be monetized isn't worth anything in your eyes?

Because that's exactly what she's done and it's the same business model as news websites and blogs.

Having a lot of followers on Instagram doesn't necessarily translate into people actually giving the hotel money. If it did, why not give a free room to anyone with thousands of "friends" on Facebook?
---

Umbreon posted...

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

Umbreon posted...

It's not a generation gap. I'm in my 20s and I think shes a whiny little brat for complaining about not getting free s*** she did nothing to deserve.

Building a following that can be monetized isn't worth anything in your eyes?

Because that's exactly what she's done and it's the same business model as news websites and blogs.

Having a lot of followers on Instagram doesn't necessarily translate into people actually giving the hotel money. If it did, why not give a free room to anyone with thousands of "friends" on Facebook?

bruh I run a marketing agency, I know what I'm talking about lmao

I do influencer campaigns all the damn time.

People acting like building a social audience shouldn't be worth anything are out of their minds.

Let's assume there's absolutely zero revenue gain from this deal. In fact, they lose a bit of money on a room and labor costs. Consider that part of the marketing budget every year. Account for it.

Content distribution is all algorithmic now. Even just interacting with other profiles in that capacity can improve your own post's organic reach. Buying sponsored posts and timing them strategically with campaigns brings in crazy results.

So if I tell all my FB friends to give business to a hotel and to tell all their friends to do the same, I would be worthy of a free room?

I'm sure some of my friends has several hundred people added. What's the magic number of people following your internet profile until you are 'worthy" of free room and board?

Course this is ignoring her giving out a super generic email, indicating she didn't really care who responded. So what are the chances she really makes an effort in "selling" the hotel to her followers who likely don't care in the first place?

There is value in social media, but it depends on the people involved. Her actions demonstrates that her value was pretty low.
---

Umbreon posted...

So if I tell all my FB friends to give business to a hotel and to tell all their friends to do the same, I would be worthy of a free room?

I'm sure some of my friends has several hundred people added. What's the magic number of people following your internet profile until you are 'worthy" of free room and board?

Course this is ignoring her giving out a super generic email, indicating she didn't really care who responded. So what are the chances she really makes an effort in "selling" the hotel to her followers who likely don't care in the first place?

There is value in social media, but it depends on the people involved. Her actions demonstrates that her value was pretty low.

If you have any means of showing expected engagement or CTR, yeah why not? You're going to be paid a hell of a lot less though because it's smaller scale. That's always been how it works.

There's companies that have networks of influencers on the smaller scale so you can pay like 10k people with 5000 followers and the total reach adds up. There's no magic number when sponsorships can happen, it's all about the person charging and their ability to sell.

This chick was amateur as fuck with her cold outreach email game but I just wanted to make a point in saying that there's nothing wrong with influencer marketing. It's fair game and very valuable to business owners. I've made it happen and seen the results first hand. I've even taught workshops on how to do it.

Yeah the only new thing about this kinda stuff is the social media aspect.

Celebrities and travel agents are the kinda people who often receive free accommodation. It's considered publicity.
---

shockthemonkey posted...

Guys, are you replying seriously to someone named fucking yoloswag?

Who by the way has admitted he is a troll in a topic about trolling...
---

Dustin1280 posted...

shockthemonkey posted...

Guys, are you replying seriously to someone named fucking yoloswag?

Who by the way has admitted he is a troll in a topic about trolling...

so what

"I hope this email finds you well."

I would have probably stopped reading the email there.
---

The concept itself is fine. Trading exposure for free things isn't anything new. She just needs to know her own worth, be more tactful in the way she contacts, and not be a prissy entitled bitch about it. Spamming a generic email, playing herself up as some big name despite being rock bottom in importance, and then getting all whiny about it is not the way to go.

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

Umbreon posted...

It's not a generation gap. I'm in my 20s and I think shes a whiny little brat for complaining about not getting free s*** she did nothing to deserve.

Building a following that can be monetized isn't worth anything in your eyes?

Because that's exactly what she's done and it's the same business model as news websites and blogs.

It's not worth getting free shit. If she has money from it, she can pay like a normal person.
---

Asking for a 1 day free stay is still within the realm of reason.

But 5 days? Phuc da bich aay lmao
---

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

Umbreon posted...

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

Umbreon posted...

It's not a generation gap. I'm in my 20s and I think shes a whiny little brat for complaining about not getting free s*** she did nothing to deserve.

Building a following that can be monetized isn't worth anything in your eyes?

Because that's exactly what she's done and it's the same business model as news websites and blogs.

Having a lot of followers on Instagram doesn't necessarily translate into people actually giving the hotel money. If it did, why not give a free room to anyone with thousands of "friends" on Facebook?

bruh I run a marketing agency, I know what I'm talking about lmao

I do influencer campaigns all the damn time.

People acting like building a social audience shouldn't be worth anything are out of their minds.

Let's assume there's absolutely zero revenue gain from this deal. In fact, they lose a bit of money on a room and labor costs. Consider that part of the marketing budget every year. Account for it.

Content distribution is all algorithmic now. Even just interacting with other profiles in that capacity can improve your own post's organic reach. Buying sponsored posts and timing them strategically with campaigns brings in crazy results.

Exactly. I used to be in IM and SEO back in the 2000s myself.

I'm surprised to see all the angry posts after my OP.

Anyone that is calling her out on using this tactic has pretty much outed themselves as someone who doesn't know how this stuff works, therefore their opinion on it is irrelevant.

I love how people are saying they know her worth, without even understanding anything about how marketing works nowadays.

Definitely more like what @Teddytalks said.
---

DoctorVader posted...

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

Umbreon posted...

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

Umbreon posted...

It's not a generation gap. I'm in my 20s and I think shes a whiny little brat for complaining about not getting free s*** she did nothing to deserve.

Building a following that can be monetized isn't worth anything in your eyes?

Because that's exactly what she's done and it's the same business model as news websites and blogs.

Having a lot of followers on Instagram doesn't necessarily translate into people actually giving the hotel money. If it did, why not give a free room to anyone with thousands of "friends" on Facebook?

bruh I run a marketing agency, I know what I'm talking about lmao

I do influencer campaigns all the damn time.

People acting like building a social audience shouldn't be worth anything are out of their minds.

Let's assume there's absolutely zero revenue gain from this deal. In fact, they lose a bit of money on a room and labor costs. Consider that part of the marketing budget every year. Account for it.

Content distribution is all algorithmic now. Even just interacting with other profiles in that capacity can improve your own post's organic reach. Buying sponsored posts and timing them strategically with campaigns brings in crazy results.

Exactly. I used to be in IM and SEO back in the 2000s myself.

I'm surprised to see all the angry posts after my OP.

Anyone that is calling her out on using this tactic has pretty much outed themselves as someone who doesn't know how this stuff works, therefore their opinion on it is irrelevant.

I love how people are saying they know her worth, without even understanding anything about how marketing works nowadays.

Definitely more like what @Teddytalks said.

She sent a mass message to a bunch of hotels to try to get a free stay. Regardless of how much she is worth this is a arrogant/entitled move.

She also CLEARLY didn't research the hotels she sent a mass message to because this one is KNOWN for trolling people...

So yeah, I stand by my statements on this person in particular at least...
---

Dustin1280 posted...

She sent a mass message to a bunch of hotels to try to get a free stay. Regardless of how much she is worth this is a arrogant/entitled move.

This was already explained by me and others. That's pretty much how you do it. You don't sit around writing individual letters. Yes, she should have at least addressed the person, and not everything she did was perfect.

And it's been explained why she asked for a free stay. Again, it wasn't just some random person going "you think I can just get a free stay at your hotel for the heck of it?". That's where it would be wrong. This wasn't.

Dustin1280 posted...

She also CLEARLY didn't research the hotels she sent a mass message to because this one is KNOWN for trolling people...

Um, research what? Is there some statistic saying 1 out of x hotels is a troll hotel? People don't go in thinking businesses are trolls. It's an exception, not a rule. They shouldn't really have to research if they're a troll and you'd have to be looking harder than regular reviews to identify it. This is just a hotel. Not some big time, world renowned spot.
---

If you can get a freebie why not go for it? Do people here never ask if they can get upgraded for free on a long flight?
---

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

bruh I run a marketing agency, I know what I'm talking about lmao

Given that literally anybody could start "a marketing agency" today, that's a weaksauce defense even before we get into the fact that you're a new account making an anonymous claim.

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

I do influencer campaigns all the damn time.

People acting like building a social audience shouldn't be worth anything are out of their minds.

Let's assume there's absolutely zero revenue gain from this deal. In fact, they lose a bit of money on a room and labor costs. Consider that part of the marketing budget every year. Account for it.

Content distribution is all algorithmic now. Even just interacting with other profiles in that capacity can improve your own post's organic reach. Buying sponsored posts and timing them strategically with campaigns brings in crazy results.

"Influencing" people who aren't going to buy your product is a waste of time and, more importantly, a waste of money given that she was trying to book Valentine's which is one of the few times of the year hotels tend to reach capacity. As such, that would have meant turning away a paying customer.

More importantly, if you think her value proposition was good, you probably shouldn't be involved in influencer marketing in any professional capacity.

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

This chick was amateur as fuck with her cold outreach email game but I just wanted to make a point in saying that there's nothing wrong with influencer marketing. It's fair game and very valuable to business owners. I've made it happen and seen the results first hand. I've even taught workshops on how to do it.

While influencer marketing can have value, just because somebody has a large following doesn't necessarily mean they're bringing much value. That largely depends on their audience. And keep in mind that IG is a platform with users who have followers in the millions or, in the case of the top guys, over a hundred million.
---

Hexenherz posted...

I just gave the hotel 5 stars for this because why not.

What is wrong with people that they think "social influencer" is a "profession" and that they are entitled free things for that?

More like "social influenza" am i right lol

Social Affluenza
---

She looks fuckin gross
---

Zeus posted...

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...
bruh I run a marketing agency, I know what I'm talking about lmao

Given that literally anybody could start "a marketing agency" today, that's a weaksauce defense even before we get into the fact that you're a new account making an anonymous claim.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ctwtn/

I work with startups that have closed their seed round and need guidance towards series A metrics but aight keep hating.

Zeus posted...

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...
I do influencer campaigns all the damn time.

People acting like building a social audience shouldn't be worth anything are out of their minds.

Let's assume there's absolutely zero revenue gain from this deal. In fact, they lose a bit of money on a room and labor costs. Consider that part of the marketing budget every year. Account for it.

Content distribution is all algorithmic now. Even just interacting with other profiles in that capacity can improve your own post's organic reach. Buying sponsored posts and timing them strategically with campaigns brings in crazy results.

"Influencing" people who aren't going to buy your product is a waste of time and, more importantly, a waste of money given that she was trying to book Valentine's which is one of the few times of the year hotels tend to reach capacity. As such, that would have meant turning away a paying customer.

More importantly, if you think her value proposition was good, you probably shouldn't be involved in influencer marketing in any professional capacity.

I'm not even defending her, I'm defending the value of influencer marketing.

In previous posts I said she's amateur af.

Zeus posted...

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...
This chick was amateur as f*** with her cold outreach email game but I just wanted to make a point in saying that there's nothing wrong with influencer marketing. It's fair game and very valuable to business owners. I've made it happen and seen the results first hand. I've even taught workshops on how to do it.

While influencer marketing can have value, just because somebody has a large following doesn't necessarily mean they're bringing much value. That largely depends on their audience. And keep in mind that IG is a platform with users who have followers in the millions or, in the case of the top guys, over a hundred million.

IG is the platform I've specialized in the past 3 years, the algo can be manipulated with influencers in the 50k-100k range. It's all about how exactly you use influencers. I'm one of the top viewed Medium writers on social media and Instagram. Had a few articles perform well on the main growth hacking publication. I think we're on the same page for the most part but you sound out of your element.

DoctorVader posted...

This was already explained by me and others. That's pretty much how you do it. You don't sit around writing individual letters. Yes, she should have at least addressed the person, and not everything she did was perfect.

And it's been explained why she asked for a free stay. Again, it wasn't just some random person going "you think I can just get a free stay at your hotel for the heck of it?". That's where it would be wrong. This wasn't.

Pretty much everything she did was sloppy and amateurish. If you're going to "work as an influencer" (her words), you should at least make it look like you're approaching it as a real job. (And, of course, her handling was anything but professional -- even a bit pathetic, since she was calling out a minor age gap and playing the gender card.)

And no, that doesn't involve re-writing a note each time, but there are some smaller elements you can personalize (beyond just the name) which might make an owner or manager more receptive to the idea.

DoctorVader posted...

And it's been explained why she asked for a free stay.

Because she didn't want to pay money and thought she could get away with it because some hotels are willing to do that. Which isn't necessarily a knock on her because if you can get something for free, there's not much point paying for it.

DoctorVader posted...

Um, research what? Is there some statistic saying 1 out of x hotels is a troll hotel? People don't go in thinking businesses are trolls. It's an exception, not a rule. They shouldn't really have to research if they're a troll and you'd have to be looking harder than regular reviews to identify it. This is just a hotel. Not some big time, world renowned spot.

If you're making a serious value proposition, you tend to do at least a *little* research about the company you're sending a pitch to. Granted, given that it's a popular weekend, it's automatically going to be a harder sell. And, in general, unless she was going off an email directory, odds are she already spent at least *some* time looking at the place so she could have spent a few more minutes.

As for their sense of humor, you can basically find that by checking their Facebook page (and probably their IG as well). As a social media influencer, she might consider using social media to read a little about a place.

That said, if she's not making serious inquiries -- and is just trying to see if she find someplace to stay for free (ie, offering no value) -- then it's not really a concern.

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

I work with startups that have closed their seed round and need guidance towards series A metrics but aight keep hating.

Background you might have mentioned beforehand that would have clarified your remark and lent greater credibility to your claim. And questioning isn't the same thing as "hating" nor is pointing out that there are *countless* fly-by-night digital marketers out there whose only real qualification is being able to cash a client's check. I'm pleased to learn that you're neither a liar nor a fraud.

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

IG is the platform I've specialized in the past 3 years, the algo can be manipulated with influencers in the 50k-100k range. It's all about how exactly you use influencers. I'm one of the top viewed Medium writers on social media and Instagram. Had a few articles perform well on the main growth hacking publication.

That's not really what I meant. I'm talking about value rather than just increasing a following. For instance, an influencer with a following consisting of wealthy travelers is pretty damn valuable. However, in her case, she likely has a lot of followers who are either unlikely to afford the services or use their vacation to travel there.
---

I don't see how people can side with the Hotel here, S/he was Jerk for no reason. Just say know we don't do deals like that. BAM all done. Being mean to her and then putting her stuff out there was uncalled for. BTW: I came into this topic ready to complain about the blogger.
---

Her message was fine. The hotel's response to her was antagonistic and frankly kind of pathetic. I didn't bother reading past that
---

I can't help but notice in her email to the hotel she begs for "free accomodation"

But in her youtube video addressing the issue she claims she asked for a "discounted or complimentary stay"

Now, it's small stuff, but one of those clearly sounds much less demanding and slightly more reasonable than the other. I wonder if the more reasonable version is the one she mailed the hotel in question or the one she is feeding her "social media influencees"

Hmmm....

Also in the video she basically says that she and her boyfriend wanted to visit Dublin so let's see if we can get a free hotel stay in exchange for some youtube vids or whatever. Like, there's no work aspect in the trip. She literally wanted to go on a holiday and was hoping she could get a free hotel stay if she like, made a 3 min youtube vid in her hotel room or whatever.

Zeus posted...

Pretty much everything she did was sloppy and amateurish. If you're going to "work as an influencer" (her words), you should at least make it look like you're approaching it as a real job. (And, of course, her handling was anything but professional -- even a bit pathetic, since she was calling out a minor age gap and playing the gender card.)

And no, that doesn't involve re-writing a note each time, but there are some smaller elements you can personalize (beyond just the name) which might make an owner or manager more receptive to the idea.

I said it wasn't perfect and it wasn't. But it wasn't sloppy and amateurish, not till after the whole thing blew up. You're reading way too much into something that's really standardized. She laid out all the facts and made an offer, and any normal business would have given her a standard response to a yes or no.

Zeus posted...

Because she didn't want to pay money and thought she could get away with it because some hotels are willing to do that. Which isn't necessarily a knock on her because if you can get something for free, there's not much point paying for it.

She's monetizing herself just like anyone does with skills or a following, etc.

Zeus posted...

If you're making a serious value proposition, you tend to do at least a *little* research about the company you're sending a pitch to. Granted, given that it's a popular weekend, it's automatically going to be a harder sell. And, in general, unless she was going off an email directory, odds are she already spent at least *some* time looking at the place so she could have spent a few more minutes.

As for their sense of humor, you can basically find that by checking their Facebook page (and probably their IG as well). As a social media influencer, she might consider using social media to read a little about a place.

That said, if she's not making serious inquiries -- and is just trying to see if she find someplace to stay for free (ie, offering no value) -- then it's not really a concern.

Again, you're thinking way too much into it. You don't sit and put this much work to what is basically cold calling. She probably throws 10 and 2 bite. That's all she probably ever needs at any point, so it doesn't require fucking pinpoint effort.

She gives these people exposure in return because 80k is still valuable. Some companies pay millions for that type of shit. It goes in the marketing budget. I totally get where you're trying to come from, but you're looking at it from a micro viewpoint.

There's tons of people on this site with subscribers in the hundreds or low thousands and they get free consoles and games from Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and the game publishers. All for free in exchange for one measley review.
---

I would laugh in someone's face if they told me they were a social influencer.
---

cjsdowg posted...

I don't see how people can side with the Hotel here, S/he was Jerk for no reason. Just say know we don't do deals like that. BAM all done. Being mean to her and then putting her stuff out there was uncalled for. BTW: I came into this topic ready to complain about the blogger.

The hotel never named the blogger, she did that to herself.
---

gmanthebest posted...

cjsdowg posted...

I don't see how people can side with the Hotel here, S/he was Jerk for no reason. Just say know we don't do deals like that. BAM all done. Being mean to her and then putting her stuff out there was uncalled for. BTW: I came into this topic ready to complain about the blogger.

The hotel never named the blogger, she did that to herself.

The hotel totally did name her cause the attempted blackout ofher information is seethrough. Accoident or not they did

She insisted she was within her rights to ask for a free stay, saying: "I feel disgusting having to say this. As a 22-year-old girl who's running her own business from her home, I don't feel like I did anything wrong."

She added: "These were all 30 years plus people internet bullying a 22-year-old girl who is just trying to run her own business and raise awareness of what appeared to be a stunning Dublin hotel."

This is my biggest issue with the whole thing. This woman proudly admits that she runs her own business and is sophisticated enough that her opinions and recommendations should be taken seriously as an influencer, but then when criticized she immediately pulls the victim card and describes herself as a 22-year-old-girl.

Sorry, you dont get to have it both ways.
---

The Admiral posted...

This is my biggest issue with the whole thing. This woman proudly admits that she runs her own business and is sophisticated enough that her opinions and recommendations should be taken seriously as an influencer, but then when criticized she immediately pulls the victim card and describes herself as a 22-year-old-girl.

Sorry, you dont get to have it both ways.

Women (some) only want empowerment when it's to their advantage.
---

Outright asking for free stuff is a bad look
---

Until this topic, I didn't realize there were people whose only job was ... visiting places and advertising it on their social media?

XxKrazyChaosxX posted...

"I hope this email finds you well."

I would have probably stopped reading the email there.

Yeah that was a very stupid intro.
---

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

What do you mean? It's not always that black and white.

It depends on the business' priorities and the influencer's experience with closing deals. Social media followers and average engagement is usually what you look for when paying influencers but like...SEO juice is incredibly valuable too. Trading accommodation for backlinks is an ethical approach many take.

I mean I was asking because using your total number of followers as your opening in a cold call seems to not be very useful information on its own and I don't know how much information it is standard to divulge
---

Balrog0 posted...

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

What do you mean? It's not always that black and white.

It depends on the business' priorities and the influencer's experience with closing deals. Social media followers and average engagement is usually what you look for when paying influencers but like...SEO juice is incredibly valuable too. Trading accommodation for backlinks is an ethical approach many take.

I mean I was asking because using your total number of followers as your opening in a cold call seems to not be very useful information on its own and I don't know how much information it is standard to divulge

I'm not defending this chick in particular, but the effectiveness of inlfuencer marketing.

She's a fucking amateur, I've said it multiple times ITT.

NibeIungsnarf posted...

Also in the video she basically says that she and her boyfriend wanted to visit Dublin so let's see if we can get a free hotel stay in exchange for some youtube vids or whatever. Like, there's no work aspect in the trip. She literally wanted to go on a holiday and was hoping she could get a free hotel stay if she like, made a 3 min youtube vid in her hotel room or whatever.

Pretty much. Everything about her screamed "scum!" and she was trying to do this on Valentines when they have real, paying customers.

DoctorVader posted...

Again, you're thinking way too much into it. You don't sit and put this much work to what is basically cold calling. She probably throws 10 and 2 bite. That's all she probably ever needs at any point, so it doesn't require fucking pinpoint effort.

And that's what separates an effective pitch from an ineffective one. If she shot that note to a hundred places, she'd be lucky to get one bite. It looks like poorly written spam that doesn't offer any real incentive to the business because it is poorly written spam that doesn't offer any real incentive to the business. And keep in mind that businesses tend to a lot of messages from "influencers" nowadays making similar pitches.

DoctorVader posted...

She gives these people exposure in return because 80k is still valuable. Some companies pay millions for that type of shit. It goes in the marketing budget. I totally get where you're trying to come from, but you're looking at it from a micro viewpoint.

Again, numbers don't necessarily mean anything when there's no real potential for paying customers. And keep in mind that her 78k where a *fraction* might be interested, qualified leads was being matched against hotel's 32k who already were interested in the business. Not to mention that the business had 186k between their Facebook pages and, I might add, Facebook tends to skew older (ie, more money).

That's not to say that influencers never produce value -- because they certainly do for some industries -- just that this one probably wouldn't.

The Admiral posted...

She insisted she was within her rights to ask for a free stay, saying: "I feel disgusting having to say this. As a 22-year-old girl who's running her own business from her home, I don't feel like I did anything wrong."

She added: "These were all 30 years plus people internet bullying a 22-year-old girl who is just trying to run her own business and raise awareness of what appeared to be a stunning Dublin hotel."

This is my biggest issue with the whole thing. This woman proudly admits that she runs her own business and is sophisticated enough that her opinions and recommendations should be taken seriously as an influencer, but then when criticized she immediately pulls the victim card and describes herself as a 22-year-old-girl.

Sorry, you dont get to have it both ways.

And it's doubly stupid because her freak-out and comments like that (and again, 22 is an adult and 22 vs 30+ isn't a huge gap) completely undermine any credibility she might have had. She outed herself not only as the author of the pitch, but as a whiny, spoiled brat who businesses shouldn't take seriously.

Balrog0 posted...

I mean I was asking because using your total number of followers as your opening in a cold call seems to not be very useful information on its own and I don't know how much information it is standard to divulge

A following is the value that an influencer brings to the table, so information about the number and the demographics are fairly pertinent. It's no different than a publication listing its circulation to a potential advertiser.
---

Her email read as if she was giving him a blessing from Sudan.
---

Zeus posted...

And that's what separates an effective pitch from an ineffective one. If she shot that note to a hundred places, she'd be lucky to get one bite. It looks like poorly written spam that doesn't offer any real incentive to the business because it is poorly written spam that doesn't offer any real incentive to the business. And keep in mind that businesses tend to a lot of messages from "influencers" nowadays making similar pitches.

No this is just wrong please stop making things up. It's obvious you have little to no experience with IM and are just acting like you know it all. Once again, it doesn't need to be professionally at all.

She would have gotten the same response whether it was 100% professional and the best pitch in the world or what you see here. You can't sit here taking about how they're trolls and try to make it look like anything else she said would have changed the outcome.

Zeus posted...

Again, numbers don't necessarily mean anything when there's no real potential for paying customers. And keep in mind that her 78k where a *fraction* might be interested&qualified leads was being matched against hotel's 32k who already were interested in the business. Not to mention that the business had 186k between their Facebook pages and, I might add, Facebook tends to skew older (ie, more money).

That's not to say that influencers never produce value -- because they certainly do for some industries -- just that this one probably wouldn't.

This once again shows you're speaking out your ass, and don't have a good understanding of IM or even marketing in general.

Exposure is exposure and it's valuable to most companies. You don't need effective pitches nowadays because companies have already set aside budgets for these things and it's basically depending on your following. Most companies already have followings that are 10-100 times individuals. No fucking shit. Yet they are still catered too.

You can simply say "hey, can I get a free review Nintendo Switch, here is my YouTube link. 3000 followers"

That's an actual pitch a guy on the Switch board made and got the Switch and a free copy of BotW 3 weeks early for review and to keep. Literally, the dude can't even write above a 3rd grade level (people probably know who I'm talking about).

So please stop trying to act like a know it all based off shit from traditional marketing in the 80s.
---

tag
---

DoctorVader posted...

No this is just wrong please stop making things up. It's obvious you have little to no experience with IM and are just acting like you know it all. Once again, it doesn't need to be professionally at all.

Right, because IM is apparently unlike any other form of marketing or selling and operates by a completely different set of rules which excuse amateurish, ineffective pitch letters like that.

Frankly, the worst insult you could give to IM is to claim that she's typical of the practice since you'd make out all IMers to be clueless hucksters who have no clue what they're doing but, following others' examples, are trying to sponge the system. It would make all of them look pretty awful. (Granted, given that a large chunk of them are likely kids who stumbled into a moderate following (or used bots) and often have no education or skills to be speak of, she's probably not alone.)

DoctorVader posted...

She would have gotten the same response whether it was 100% professional and the best pitch in the world or what you see here. You can't sit here taking about how they're trolls and try to make it look like anything else she said would have changed the outcome.

In this case doing research would have saved her the embarrassment. Again, unless she's just going off an email database (which is unlikely given her other unprofessionalism) she would have looked at the info and got an idea what the people are like.

DoctorVader posted...

This once again shows you're speaking out your ass, and don't have a good understanding of IM or even marketing in general.

Exposure is exposure and it's valuable to most companies. You don't need effective pitches nowadays because companies have already set aside budgets for these things and it's basically depending on your following. Most companies already have followings that are 10-100 times individuals. No fucking shit. Yet they are still catered too.

lol, just lol. That's pretty much the valueless marketing argument in a nutshell -- "We don't need to prove results! We got you unmeasurable exposure! Can you put a price on at least some of our followers -- whose demographics we don't even know -- seeing your content?"

And sure, the pure exposure argument works for some industries where your service isn't specifically region-locked and it's a product with a wide appeal. It could work with a soft drink or a fashion object, but this is a local, single-location establishment and it's not even in an area known for partying, etc, which would presumably appeal more to her followers.

DoctorVader posted...

You can simply say "hey, can I get a free review Nintendo Switch, here is my YouTube link. 3000 followers"

That's an actual pitch a guy on the Switch board made and got the Switch and a free copy of BotW 3 weeks early for review and to keep. Literally, the dude can't even write above a 3rd grade level (people probably know who I'm talking about).

Because apparently a small hotel with limited space for bookings (especially during a holiday) is *exactly* like a multinational major entertainment company which has *always* sent out review copies, even long before social media was a thing.

DoctorVader posted...

So please stop trying to act like a know it all based off shit from traditional marketing in the 80s.

Says the guy making a big deal over a practice that gaming companies have been doing since the 80s and pretending that it's a brand new thing then saying that hotels should give away valuable holiday bookings for free to anybody with an IG.
---

@Zeus posted...

Zeus vomit

Oh shut the fuck up. It's clear you have no idea what you're talking about and now you're just repeating the same exact things me and others already dismantled several times and in fact making up bullshit understandings of things I never said.

I've explained everything you just spewed several times but you keep coming back from a new angle hoping you're making sense now. You're not.

You're basically saying it looks unprofessional to you and you're right. Your jealousy and bitterness is really showing right now.

Please show me your credentials. Otherwise, go smoke a blunt and stop getting mad at young chicks getting free shit with like effort.

Zeus posted...

Says the guy making a big deal over a practice that gaming companies have been doing since the 80s and pretending that it's a brand new thing then saying that hotels should give away valuable holiday bookings for free to anybody with an IG.

This is not what I said or impled at all. Please stop making yourself more and more foolish.
---

---

yoloyoloswagEMP posted...

chrono625 posted...

masticatingman posted...

Did anybody here automatically siding with the hotel actually bother to read the post with the emails? She was professional and polite in how she broached the subject and the response email was snarky and full of it from the start.

Being polite doesn't make it any less insulting or embarrassing to the hotel.

"Hey, I'm sure you could definitely benefit from me staying at your hotel for free!!! Let me and I'll give you a single shout out to my 75k followers. Half of which probably couldn't fucking care anyway. Look what I did for universal studios."

No, sorry. Bloggers, yelpers and social media darlings are all entitled ass hats who are trying to make people believe they are more important than what they truly are. Even worse are the ones who throw tantrums and will downvote an establishment to oblivion just because.

lmao why are people like this

why do you sit at the red herring buffet?
---