We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned or linked to in this post, including Amazon Affiliate links.

I reached out to some amazing bloggers that I am happy to have as friends on your behalf. I asked them, “What is the one thing you wish someone had told you when you started working with PR?” and boy did they deliver! From post worthy comments to some of the best one lines of advice, here is what those who have “made it” have to tell you as you start this journey:

Brands need you!… you don’t need brands!

Don’t be afraid to ask for a giveaway when you are doing a review. Keep it simple “My policy is only to do a review if I do an associated giveaway. Would you be able to provide one for a giveaway?”

Remember-your time is worthwhile-you should only do things that give value to you and your blog.

Its ok to not like a product- brands that do social media right, appreciate your honesty and try to use your feedback on improving their product… and if they don’t have that outlook with their reviewers, eh- Who needs them?

Your readers come back to your site because of the content you write about, if its not relative- its ok to say no. There will be plenty, and I mean PLENTY of relative pitches coming your way. Don’t get side tracked

Do not agree to review a product and then drop the ball. When you do, it not only makes you look bad- it makes the entire blogging community look like sample-whores.. which we are not.

More advice coming next week. What do you think? Agree with the above? Have some advice of your own? Speak out in the comments!