Dear Link Builders, Please Read This Before You Email Me Again
Hi there,
If you’ve landed on this post because I just sent you a link in response to your email offering me $20 for a blog post when I’ve clearly stated my rate is $120 — welcome! Sit down, stay a while. Let’s chat.
Actually, no — scratch that. Let me save us both some time.
I’ve been blogging professionally for years. I’ve built an audience, a reputation, and a site that ranks. That didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen by accident. I’ve worked hard to earn the trust of my readers, and I won’t risk that by stuffing my content with bargain-bin backlinks to your client’s new “AI-powered VPN crypto CBD gambling site” for the price of a takeaway coffee. I also understand SEO. Google what to wear to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party; recipe for a kidney bean chocolate cake; or how to make a pie with leftover turkey and ham and you’ll find me on the front page of Google. Not by accident either. So I know why you’ve emailed me and what you’re trying to achieve for your client.
Let me address a few things I hear on repeat, week in, week out:
“My budget is $<insert derisory amount>.”
Cool. Mine isn’t. You’re welcome to circle back when your budget grows up. My budget for buying a new car is $6,000 do you think this strategy will work with the guys I ask about buying a Mercedes G-Wagon from?
“But we’ll have multiple orders!”
Yes. So do the other ten people in my inbox this week. Funny how they all have Gmail accounts, no website, no agency, and somehow, every one of them is representing “many clients.” You must be exhausted.
“Can you offer a discount?”
Sure! I can take your $20 and write 1/6th of a sentence. Your pick.
Look, I get it. You’re trying to do your job. But so am I. And my job involves valuing my work, my time, and my audience.
You approached me remember, not the other way around. Why is your budget suddenly my problem?
So if you want a genuine collaboration — a proper post with well-written content that actually reaches real readers — then you’re in the right place. And you want your post on a website with history, credibility on Google, decent metrics and a healthy readership, I am here. After all, you approached (and indeed found me) for a reason
But if you’re here to haggle, lowball, or push the “we’ll pay you more later” fairytale… please just bookmark this post and stop wasting both our time.
All the best,
A Very Tired Blogger