The Blogger Pledge
Sep 15, 2011 Blogging
So I’ve had an interesting few months. I saw a couple of opportunities blow up in my face, I let a few more slip through my fingers, and I completely messed up at least one. I did not plan well for the summer, especially August, and ended up missing a couple of big deadlines.
On the other hand, lots of great opportunities have come my way recently that I’ve managed not to mess up, and I’ve been getting more and more steady, long-term work.
There’s a lot that both sides – bloggers and those who hire us – can do to make this a more mutually beneficial relationship, but all I can control is my side of it. So, here’s my pledge. Some of these I already do consistently, some of them I kinda do, some of them I really need to work on. Two or three are in there specifically because a bunch of YOU aren’t doing them, and I’m passive-aggressive like that. But they are all the foundation on which I can build a better career.
The Blogger Pledge
Raise your right hand, put your left hand on a pile of contracts, travel receipts, and rejected proposals, and repeat after me:
- I will not miss a deadline, ever again. It makes me look incredibly unprofessional, and reflects badly on all of the other bloggers who are working hard and fulfilling their commitments.
- I will not be late. If I say that I’m going to be somewhere at a certain time, I will plan ahead to make that happen. There are worse things than standing outside for fifteen minutes because I’m early.
- I will show up. If I say I will attend something, I will be there. Sure, emergencies do happen and canceling is sometimes unavoidable. But “I don’t feel like going anymore” is not an acceptable excuse for wasting a spot that could’ve gone to someone else. Which leads to…
- I will seriously consider saying no before I say yes to anything. It’s nice to be included in things, and I always worry that if I don’t attend something, it will end up being the greatest event in the history of PR. But unless I genuinely want to be involved, I will say no, and leave the spot for someone who will appreciate it more.
- I will be generous. The internet is a big place, and sharing an opportunity will not dilute that opportunity for me. In fact, helping to make other bloggers more successful and influential will help convince the people with the money to make more opportunities. However…
- I will remember that I’m not in kindergarten. I do not have to bring enough for everybody. I do not have to include everyone. I do not have to associate with people who bring me down.
- I will not waste time being jealous. Well, not more than a few seconds, anyway. Instead, I will ask myself if that other blogger is really doing something that I would want to do, or if I’m simply jealous of the attention, which is petty.
- I will read every word of everything I sign. Even if someone is literally standing behind me breathing down my neck, I will read – and understand – every word before signing.
- I will stop and think before signing a non-disclosure agreement. The more specific and lengthy the NDA, the more I’ve ended up getting screwed, and then couldn’t even talk about it and warn others. Unless I can be comfortable with what I’m signing, unless changes can be made that protect my right to express myself about my own experiences, I will not sign and will be prepared to lose the opportunity.
- I will make sure I understand the scope of my involvement in a project before saying yes, and that I have it in writing. While I pride myself on being flexible and understand that things change on the fly, it is my responsibility to make sure that if I give my time to something, I will be rewarded with at least a certain level of involvement and promotion to make it worth my while. If the other party can’t promise that, I should run the other way.
- I will not undervalue myself. I know what my time is worth, and when I work for less I end up hating myself for it.
- I will not help promote things – or bloggers – I don’t believe in. Pay or no pay, my opinion is my most valuable asset. And if I use it to promote people or things I’m not enthusiastic about, my worth gets watered down.
- I will keep my goals in mind, always. If I don’t know where I want to end up, I won’t know which path to take. Just because “everybody” is doing something doesn’t mean that it is right for me.
Originally posted on Behind the Screen. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 0. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
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Tags: Blogging, professionalism
OH GOSH how I wish I would have had this list in front of me recently- but I guess you live and you learn- and each experience you have makes you that much tougher and smarter– at this rate I should be a FREAKIN GENIUS!!! Thank you for this!
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Amy Reply:
September 16th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
@Melissa Chapman, Yeah, and I needed to not be so optimistic that things would work out this week. Lesson learned.
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[...] Selfish Mom: The Blogger Pledge [...]
I’m printing this out and putting it over my desk right now.
Carolyn (temysmom)´s last [type] ..Follow Me Over to Monica’s Blog
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Amy Reply:
September 16th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
@Carolyn (temysmom),
I may print out the bullet points & put them in my wallet, for the next time I’m about to do something I shouldn’t. Then I can whip them out and repeat the pledge.
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You’ve inspired me to publicly rejoin the brand/blogger convo, if to refer people to your blog to read this. Great job!
kim/reluctant renovator´s last [type] ..I Shot a Deer This Morning
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Amy Reply:
September 16th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
@kim/reluctant renovator, Thank you. And you should NEVER leave the brand/blogger convo, you’re so good at it!
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Honey,
This is outstanding!! These are certainly things that we all need to hear, read, repeat, etc. I certainly need to do better on some of those myself. And I am about to share this with the world!!
Kris
Kris Cain´s last [type] ..Looking for Missoni? Try eBay!
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You should have to sign this before you start blogging
Glamamom´s last [type] ..NYFW: WALTER SPRING 2012 FASHION PRESENTATION
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Amy Reply:
September 16th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
@Glamamom, Well if we’re making up requirements, I also want bloggers to have to take a grammar test!
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If I get this tattooed anywhere, I will so give you street cred. Nicely said.
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Amy Reply:
September 16th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
@Rock and Roll Mama, That’s a lot of ink!
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Oh this is so good I’m stumbling it and taping it to my computer screen. I have already learned the hard way more than once.
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You basically just wrote a speech I have to give in October – word for freakin word. You said what I say all the time AND you live it (I know, I’ve hired you) – you are a true pro – and always a pleasure to work with.
linda´s last [type] ..Yes, I die a little every time I look at this
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Amy Reply:
September 18th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
@linda, OK Linda, for that awesome comment, I give you permission to just steal the speech. Your work is done.
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Amy – fab list (of course it is – why else would I be commenting?).
I am with you on do not promote what you do not believe in — I am trying to hold true to that standard in all that I do, but especially blogging.
As for the NDA’s – I have also learned that if they are full of spelling and grammar mistakes – do not sign it either! Rachel
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