From: Michelle van Raay
Sent: Monday, 1 August 2016 2:24 PM
To: Brianna Parkins
Subject: Re: Media Watch - Zoe Foster Blake
Re your specific email to me ;
1. As Zoe has made clear in her response , she is a Bonds Ambassador and has referred to
her obligations generally. Due to confidentiality pursuant to her agreement, we can't
expand further .
2. Because of her profile , Zoe often receives products as gifts with no commercial or other
obligations. As is the case with YouFoodz.
Best,
Michelle
On 31 Jul 2016, at 11:32 PM, Brianna Parkins wrote:
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for the response. So I once again can I confirm that while Zoe does not do individual
sponsored Instagram posts, she has financial agreements with companies like Bonds to post
about their brands on social media? Secondly, to completely clear up any confusion, did You
Foodz gift/send/etc Zoe any product ?
Cheers, Brianna
From: Michelle Van Raay
Sent: Saturday, 30 July 2016 3:46 PM
To: Brianna Parkins
Subject: FW: Media Watch - Zoe Foster Blake
Hi Brianna,
I have responses from Zoe Foster Blake below for you.
If you could please contact her via Profile Talent Management for any future requests.
Best wishes,
Michelle
Michelle van Raay
Talent Manager
Profile Talent Management
Hi Brianna,
I must say I I find it amusing this has come to me, when I go out of my way to NOT
do sponsored posts…! Anyway. I understand it’s a hot topic. Your answers below.
We’re looking into Instagram advertising for our next episode particularly as revenue
in traditional media ad space continues to drop. This article
http://www.mamamia.com.au/take-a-peek-inside-zoe-foster-blakes-fridge/ has been
doing the rounds and we have a couple of questions.
1. You say you don’t do sponsored posts but you do feature brands that you have a
commercial relationship with (Bonds, Expedia , Yoplait etc) on Instagram. Is that part
of your agreement with the companies?
A sponsored post is being paid for a specific post, on a specific product. You are
sent something, you photograph it, post it, tag it, and you are paid. I don’t do these.
If I like something, I will post about it. That’s my choice; I don’t expect to be paid for
that. I respect my followers, and take their trust and interest in my recommendations
very seriously.
2.
How much are you paid to post about brands and companies?
Let me be clear: I don’t do paid social media posts for brands and
companies. Very occasionally I agree to undertake an ambassador role for a
company. I’m currently an ambassador and travel writer for Expedia, my readers and
followers know this; it’s been years. I’m proud of this relationship, and whenever I
travel for them, I make that clear in the posts and blogs. I am currently a Bonds
ambassador, and it’s in my contract to post social media on this campaign, which I
do, and which I’m more than happy to, because it’s a great campaign. Yoplait was
over a year ago and as always, I made it very clear I was working with them as an
ambassador for their new range. Any posts I do as an ambassador are minimal,
relevant to my life and readers, and are one element of a larger campaign involving
TV, video, media, photoshoots etc etc. For the record, I am also an ambassador for
two charities, and yes, I make it clear in those posts, too.
3. Are you or your husband in any kind of brand ambassador/sponsored/
commercial relationship with YouFoodz?
No. I was not paid for my post, and I’m in no way sponsored or employed or an
ambassador for Youfoodz…. Surely I am allowed to enjoy a product, and
recommend it on my social media? How is it that I can recommend makeup, hair
products, books, albums, movies, clothing, restaurants etc I like all the time, but for
some reason packaged food made everyone wig out? I LOVE recommending stuff!
It’s what I do! I’m a fiend for recommendations! I even have a specific type of post
called ‘recommendation’ where I recommend stuff I like. And no, it’s not paid for,
before you ask, it’s just stuff I like, that I want to tell other people about.
4. Do you regularly receive requests from companies to feature products? Have
you noticed any increases over the years?
Yes, probably five a week come to me direct, and more via my management.
5. You feature regularly on Mamma Mia. In one of the posts, Yoplait features as a
brand partner. You had/have a commercial relationship with Yoplait. Do you work
with Mamma Mia jointly to produce sponsored content?
I have not worked for Mamamia since 2011 when I was their contributing beauty
editor. I do not work for them. I have no financial relationship with them. They take
content from my social media and create stories around it, like so many ’news’ sites
do. I have ZERO power or control over this, and let me be clear that I have
absolutely nothing to do with it. I have no idea how you’ve arrived at this Yoplait
juncture, but I did one campaign for them for a range, over a year ago, and that was
it.
6. Lastly, what do you think of sponsored posts? Are they a good way for writers to
supplement their income? Do they work etc?
What people choose to do with their social media following is entirely up to them. I’m
sure it’s a wonderful way to make money from a following you’ve built up with hard
work over the years, and there are a lot of people who do it really authentically and
well. I run a successful business; I don’t need to use social media for an income, so I
personally choose not to do sponsored posts. I adore my followers, I think of them as
friends; I take their trust in me seriously, and would never be frivolous with it.