I recently received the attached email (names blurred out to protect those concerned)
In it, I am told I can get a free licence for a product if I add a link to my blog.
While it's nice that somebody thinks my blog has a value, this is definitely not the way to get me to endorse a product.
I know nothing about this product and I'm certainly not going to endorse something without having found it useful myself.
I use a rather excellent piece of
Screen Capture Software called
LittleSnapper, which makes it easy to grab and organise images, blur out text, etc. I used it making the image for this post.
If you want me to endorse your product, here's the steps I would recommend.
1. Convince me why
I would find the product useful.
2. Give me access/the ability to try it out.
3. Wait a while, and ask me if I found it useful.
4. If I did, ask me if I would consider writing about it.
If I find something of value, I may well choose to share that.
And you may be able to increase the likelihood of me writing about it with some reward - if we're already at step 4 - ie I've decided I like it and am open to sharing my experience.
But the reward has to be of value. A license for something I've not used is not a reward. And this email gives me no incentive to care about the product.