Helping Each Other - Businesses & Blogging

I enjoy helping my readers promote their businesses :)

To coincide with this, if I purchase something or am gifted something, and I like it, I often blog about it. It's just part of my random nature and blog posting.

I try to indicate whether or not something has been sent for free in hopes of a review or if it's something I found, purchased and liked. If I ever send mixed signals, just comment or email and ask me! I'll always be honest with you all!

With the word "sponsor" being involved...that basically means both parties know what is going on. They are sponsoring me in a way, and I am sponsoring them. They are not telling me what to say. Those sponsoring are found on my right sidebar.

As for my sponsors and advertisers, right now, the majority of them I know on a personal level or have purchased from them. If someone contacts me, I try to research or make a judgement call whether or not it is a good fit for my blog. I do charge a small fee for some of buttons on my sidebar. This helps our family just as I hope advertising on my blog helps those who do so. Some also like to do trading, therefore, do not pay. If they have a product or service that I think would be useful, beneficial or nice to have, I think trading is great.

Everything that I say is my opinion and no amount of money or free merchandise will change what my opinion is :) Of course, I have run into issues where it wasn't something I wanted to post about or thought was a good fit, therefore, I didn't take the time to post about it at all.

If I like a company/store/service, and they have an affiliate program, I enjoy doing that as well. It's basically the same, except they pay no small fee to have their ad on my blog. They pay a small percentage for a sale.

I've gotten several comments and emails over the past few weeks about Whimsey & Co (no link because the shop is closed.) I posted some things I received from this Etsy shop here and here. A few things I ordered and a few of the things the shop owner, Amber, gifted to the Knox & Sloane once I placed and received my order. I spoke to her several times via email and she was always very nice. With that being said, it has been brought to my attention that many of you placed orders, paid and never received your merchandise. This has upset me greatly. I have emailed Amber several times and received a response, after my first email, that she had some unforeseen medical issues come up and was hoping to get everyone's items made and shipped out soon. That has been a few weeks and I'm not sure the status because I haven't received a reply on my most recent email. I do want to say I'm sorry on behalf of her. I recommended her shop based on my experience being a good one. Of course, I had no idea it's future closing. I've offered to help her in any way that I can in order for everyone to get their orders and hopefully I will hear back.

From the feedback I have gotten, all of my sponsors and advertisers have been very pleased with traffic they have received from my blog. I have also gotten positive feedback (besides the above) from people who have made purchases based on my opinion and sharing. Like I said, I really just want to help my readers, whether sharing a product I like or sharing their business. If you want to team up, just send me an email and I'd love to work with you :)

Look for some special twin treats later :)