To think that this 'influencer' should pay me for my work, not ask for freebies?

[Megatron]

I'm a bit flummoxed. I have a side business (cookies) which ticks along nicely in normal circumstances, although it's going ok during lockdown, luckily.

I had a message from someone this morning saying that it is her mum's birthday soon and can I make her two dozen cookies and deliver them to her this weekend. She lives about 30 miles away from me and 'as payment' she is willing to 'put photos on my insta page and say how great they are. I have a large following and this would be good business for you'. Now, I don't know how these things work, but I think she's absolutely taking the piss? Her 'large following' is less than 500 people and even aside from that, I don't want to work for free then do a 60 mile round trip to deliver (I normally only deliver within 5 mile radius, it's just a tiny sideline for me). I'm not some big shot looking for tonnes of business, I just like enough for a bit extra. They're also quite detailed cookies and each one takes a while to decorate - she clearly thinks they look ok but not enough to actually pay me for them.

Am I hopelessly out of date and this is just how it's done or is she absolutely taking the piss. What the fuck even is an 'influencer' anyway?

There's loads of articles out there about CF influencers. She's chancing her arm, tell her where to go.

Yes she’s taking the piss, even if I Did this it would have to be for someone with a hell of a lot more followers than that! Forget about it, you are entitled to say thanks but no thanks.

Haha. With 500 followers, she's not an influencer. She might be trying to become one, but she's got a LOOOOONG way to go.

Absolutely say no. Flat no. She pays or nothing. She's 100% taking the piss.

YANBU. I think a lot of this happens nowadays. It seems to be from people who don't even have big followings! The real influencers with massive followings usually get contacted by brands and offered free stuff to promote it, not the other way round.

I am afraid that she is taking the p... These so-called influencers think highly of themselves but few others do. Do not give her your services for nothing. Same terms as everyone else. She is a massive CF to suggest that you make a 60 mile round trip for no payment. Refuse.

Lol 500 followers she's absolutely taking the Michael! Tell her to jog on.

Cheeky cow! I'd completely ignore the request.

Yes if you've got a big following people do receive freebies or get invited to events in exchange for a post, but even better in these tumultuous times, influencers are buying products from small businesses and doing a post to support them.

I may be wrong but I think this is how people become ‘influencers’, by begging companies for free stuff. Eventually if they build up enough of a following they’ll just automatically be sent free stuff but to begin with I think most of them start off as beggars. I really wouldn’t have the cheek to do it.

Just ignore her. You are doing OK without any 'influence' from her.

Somebody has less than 500 followers and she calls herself an influencer 😀??? She's probably messaged loads of people looking for freebies and if she only gets one 'win', she probably feels she's doing OK.

Just ignore the request.

She is absolutely taking the piss. These influencers think they have much more influence than they actually have. You'd be better off sending half a dozen to the person who runs your local facebook community page!

Oh my god yes, Thanks but No thanks! Tell her to do one. 60 mile round trip? Cheekiness in the extreme.

My across the street neighbour is an "influencer" and from my desk I can see him filming his Tik Toks and Insta stories in his living room. Very entertaining

She is taking the piss, 500 followers on Instagram is nothing. They could just be people she has followed following back. I set up an account 2 years ago, have posted two pictures in all that time yet seem to have 275 followers. I don't interact with anyone. If it was someone with a following of 10,000 plus it would perhaps be worth while. But she is a CF.

She's not even an influencer... I have 450 followers and that's just a personal account? She's taking the piss. Maybe if she had 20k.

Just another way of people thinking artists should work for free.

I'd be inclined to answer her that "sorry, my terms and conditions are that a deposit of X is required with the order (as I need to purchase ingredients) and the balance of the payment (which is Y amount) is due when you collect the cookies. Do you still want to order 24 cookies at Z per cookie, a total of £(whatever 24Z is)? I would need to know by 3pm tomorrow, in order to be able to include them in my work schedule for this week, I'm sure you understand how much time and effort that bespoke items like my cookies take to produce."

I have seen stuff about influencers before who are simply out to get as much free stuff as they can in return for "publicity" to their followers....otherwise known as CFs

My dog has more followers than that!

Bloody hell, I have 512 followers so I have more than she does!!!!

Cheeky fucker alert - she’s trying it on plus also she would have to declare that they were gifted and it was an ad which always makes me a bit suspect

She’s hardly Kim Kardashian is she?
Cheeky cow

Fucking hell. I've got more followers than her from largely posting about gardening and cooking shows - and I block porn bots and people/organisations I don't like. Got in the papers a couple of times with particularly snappy replies.

I'm not an influencer at all, I'm just another voice shouting into the void.

Tell her to knob off.

I'm a writer and there's a saying we all know: "Writers die of exposure." Also works for artists and other creatives.

Your work is worth something. Don't sell yourself short!

500 followers!? That’s nothing! I’d say an ‘influencer’ has to be £50k + followers?
What a CF.

Check out @angesdesucre on Instagram. She makes amazing cakes and is constantly being asked by reality tv stars for free cakes and her responses are amazing 😂

I sent a message back saying thank you for her interest but I would need to charge my normal rate and I could either send the cookies special delivery or she can collect. She's read it but not responded yet. It makes me feel shit - like the time and effort put into these cookies is nothing. I would never ask for something for nothing!

Let’s be honest, 500 followers is not an influencer!

Tell her you'll do it when she hits 500k, out of 500 people maybe 5 will click the link to your store aand probably none will buy, this could be beneficial if she actually had any kind of follower base, but a lot of people are CF looking for freebies online.

Oh god.

CF influencers.

They are everywhere!! Claiming they have millions of followers and they will advertise for you so really you’re getting the better deal

Do not give her any freebies