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I thought I’d share a few tips that can help you spot scam emails. Being that the Holidays will be upon us soon many scammers are taking advantage of this. This means many content creators may be sent emails that claim to be from big brands. I’ve shared about these in the past. You can check out those posts below. […]
use these tips to spot scam emails Continue reading
I’ve been seeing a lot of scam emails lately and I figured I’d share these 5 tips on how to spot a scam. 1. Email addresses Always check the sender’s email address. If the email is from a brand the email should end in @brandname.com For example, our Life with Pal emails are @lifewithpal.com If the email comes from a
5 ways to spot a scam email Continue reading
I saw something from my friend Laurie from Laurie’s faves on Instagram. She shared that a platform she’s using had brands request raw/unedited User Generated Content (UGC). I won’t mention the platforms because I don’t use them. I’ve mentioned Laurie in a past post you can read that here. But her post got me thinking about this. It also made
Should brands be allowed to request unedited/raw UGC content? Continue reading
It appears the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) passed a new ruling last week. They will be cracking down on fake reviews. From what I understood this will also include AI-created reviews. I assume this may also include fake followers, likes, etc. This ruling is a step in the right direction I don’t know what took the FTC so long to
The FTC has a new ruling that may affect content creators Continue reading
Did you know that Elementor Pro now offers a link in bio widget? The video below shares about the widgets and what they look like. There are 7 widgets in total. They are pre-designed and offer easy customization. I created a Link in bio for our Pal’s links page using the Minimalist widget. The widgets allow you to change color,
elementor Link in bio intro (video) Continue reading
There are a few options for creating a link in bio. Some may be free or require a bit more tech-savvy means. Here are a few ways to create a link in bio. Free options There are several free options out there . These may fit your budget well because they offer limited customization options but can give you a
Link in bio options Continue reading
I think it’s always nice when brands take the time to comment on the content you create. It doesn’t matter if it’s a photo or an affiliate post. For me, it can be something as simple as “Thanks for sharing.” Is enough. It’s nice to be noticed As content creators, we work so hard to gain engagement with others. It’s
It’s nice when brands comment on content Continue reading
I’ve encountered a few content creators sharing their thoughts about other creators selling their PR products. If a brand is willing and kind enough to send you an unsolicited PR box that’s exciting. It’s also something very encouraging. Why is selling PR frowned upon? I think it’s frowned upon because if a brand sends you an item(s) for free they
Pal’s PSA: don’t sell your PR Continue reading
I came across a post today from a content creator I follow. She shared that one of her reels was being used for ads on Facebook by a company without her permission. This seems to be more and more common now. Granted she had interacted with the brand and been gifted some items by them. But she never allowed them
As a content creator, you have to advocate for yourself Continue reading
I recently started to dabble with AI-generated images. I figured it would be worth a try and fun to see what the generator would come up. So far it’s been hit or miss. Some are spot on while others are a bit off. Granted you type your image idea into a text box so spelling is important. AI images are
AI image creation is fun but at times it’s not accurate Continue reading
Why aren’t brands willing to pay content creators for their cotent. Not all of us want to become affilates. Read more
Why aren’t brands paying content creators for content? Continue reading
Why is there so mcuh division in the beauty community? I’ve seen so much anger in the beauty community lately.
Why is there so much division in the beauty community? Continue reading
I’ve noticed over the years of being a content creator that you deal with a lot of spam. From emails to messages/DM’s or even contact form spam if you have a website. I’ve been dealing a lot with the latter as of late. I’ll get more into that in a little bit. If you’re running your website solo (like I
As a content creator, you deal with a lot of spam Continue reading
I was contacted recently by a dummy account that claimed to represent a PR agency. I always find these types of Instagram direct messages funny. I know they may be fake or at least a ploy to get you to visit the actual brand. I’m not saying PR agencies don’t reach out to content creators. It’s just the way these
Beware of PR Agencies contacting you on social media Continue reading
This post contains cited sources from the following:DMCA.com I use the free service for copyright violations. I have also cited CleanTalk.org anti-spam and security. I also listed an article from Intego I was just browsing my Contact Pal notices and came across a rather familiar scam. It scared me for a second but as I read it I knew it
If you’re a blogger Or content creator watch out for this new scam Continue reading
I thought I’d make a compilation of a few scam collaboration emails I’ve had over the past week or so. I know these seem silly but it’s worth sharing. So many people are getting into content creation that it’s hard to keep track of what’s real and what’s not. There are always things to consider prior to replying to the
The scam collaboration emails keep on coming Continue reading
I just found out that one of the sites that had stolen my content appears to be offline. I don’t know if Statloveov.live was taken down because of several complaints from other people or if the scammers ran their course and opted to move on to a new site. You can read my previous posts by visiting the link below.
A new twist to my content was the stolen story Continue reading
Last week I shared that I had found one of my photos being sold via another website without my permission. Well, I thought I’d give you all an update. As of yet, the issues haven’t been resolved but I have some key info about the sites. They are as I suspected originally shady fake e-commerce sites. You can read my
An update about my content that was stolen and posted to another site Continue reading
Over the weekend I happened to Google Life With Pal because I was looking for one of our social platform handles. During the course of my search, I found something very surprising. I found one of my photos for sale via two websites.
my content was stolen and put up for sale Continue reading
Levi’s vector image source Vectorseek. Over the weekend I had a new collab request email. The email was sent to my old Reviews and Savings Pal email address. I still get a number of emails there asking for content creation or collaborations or even reviews. But this one was a bit different. It claimed to be from Levi’s.
A new collab request featuring Levi’s is hitting creators’ inboxes Continue reading
Last week I had a brand reach out to me on social media. They asked if I would test and review a product. It was a basic we’ll give you a free product in exchange for your Amazon review.
Why are brands Ghosting creators when they ask for payment? Continue reading
I know it can be a daunting task to find a new mic. Especially if you aren’t sure of what features you want or even a price point. As we know with some tech you get with you pay for. Budget mics may only go so far. Or even if you have a webcam your built-in mic may not be
Looking for a new Mic? Check out the Blue Yeti Continue reading
As a content creator, you may be sent many emails. Some may ask you to create content for a commission fee. Some of these requests are typical. Others may not be. Today I had an email that showcases the latter.
Please don’t accept these types of content creation requests Continue reading
I thought I’d share a few useful tips on how not to get scammed. It doesn’t matter if you are a content creator or a regular user of the internet. It’s always good to try to stay safe online.
Useful tips for not getting scammed Continue reading
Over the past few days, I’ve seen a rise in social media profiles that are using other creators’ or platform users’ content. The profiles aren’t even giving the person credit they are just posting the picture as their own. Granted this isn’t anything new but with there is an uptick of this. I’ve seen this with two different accounts via
Is your content being stolen? Continue reading
It doesn’t matter what type of content creation you make be it video, written, or photos. Sometimes you will be bombarded by questions. This is true across all platforms from content creators, product reviewers, and testers. All you can do is your best to answer the questions.
As a content creator, you may be asked a lot of questions Continue reading
The new trend or should I say a growing trend on social media is User Generated Content (UGC). Granted this isn’t anything new but some brands are using this to their advantage. Some are even posting user-created content to their social media platforms or even on their websites without consulting the creators or crediting them.
Know your worth UGC may not be for everyone Continue reading
Being a content creator I tend to have a lot of emails offering me partnerships for my Youtube channel or even general affiliate or promotional advertising offers. These are all great but I’ve come to find that most are scams. How can this be? If you check the email addresses and read the emails you might find some red flags.
Don’t fall for this Youtube partnership email scam Continue reading
Let’s face it looking for a job is tough. It’s even tougher if you’ve had a gap in your resume or work history. I thought I’d share some things I’ve come accross when applying for a job.
Things I’ve experienced when applying for a job Continue reading
If you own a business and are looking to ship via USPS you can request a free mailing kit sample. I had one arrive over the weekend and it includes a few different sizes of flat-rate Priority mail boxes. You can learn more by visiting the link below: https://www.usps.com/business/business-shipping.htm
If you own a business you can request a free shipping kit from USPS Continue reading
Did you know you can order select shipping supplies for free from the United States Post office? I did and they come in handy.
You can order USPS shipping supplies for free Continue reading
There seem to be a few different types of Collaboration or Content Creation emails going around lately. I recently shared one that claimed to be the fashion brand, Fashion Nova. That being said I’m always a bit wary of these types of requests because many come from companies I’m not familiar with. Or they are from overseas companies. Some may
Content creation and Collab email scams Continue reading
This morning I happened to see an interesting post on Instagram. Someone thought that it was in poor taste for a blogger to ask followers for money. Now I don’t know the extent of the request nor do I feel it’s my place to judge that person. But that being said it got me thinking about the topic of money
Content creators: Is asking for money from followers a bad idea? Continue reading
All sources cited in the video Cloudflare and Merriam Webster were found via a Google search. Some of the major hazards can be the following: Threatening to be sued or having a lawsuit filed against you. This may not always be the case but it can happen if a person, company, brand, or organization feels the information you created or
Content Creator Hazards Continue reading
A video post sharing my content creator alert for some email partnership notices I’ve been receiving lately. These emails are usually sent to a business email address if it’s listed. You may be sent some promising and exciting offers from some major tech brands. Here’s the thing I think most of them are fake. Is it a scam? I would
Alert to all content creators (video) Continue reading
Many people who are in the influencer or content creator sector would love to be sent free PR boxes or test out sample products. But there is a right way to go about it. I’ve had a few people who have reached out to me in the past and they’ve gone about it the wrong way. I’ll share more about
Tips on contacting brands Continue reading
All information shared in this post is public record and was found via an online search. Red Flag emoji source Being contacted by influencer marketing agencies isn’t something new for me. But I had a recent DM for a new company I hadn’t heard of before. Being that the DM was from a third-party account. It got me thinking. When
Don’t forget to research Influencer Marketing Agencies Continue reading
flag icon source I understand brands want to have people share their content. But there are a few red flags to watch out for when it comes to brand tactics. By all means, I’m willing to work with brands, But you really need to do your research and ask as many questions as possible before you agree to any promos
Promotions & collabs: Watch out for these brand tactics Continue reading
As a content creator I have a number of random collaboration requests. I’m all for collaboration effors or even other types of post sharing options. But I draw the line at companies that spam. For this post I thougt I’d point out a few red flags to look out for when you are emailed by a company or brand skeeing
This is no way for a company to request a collaboration Continue reading
We all know someone who is crafty be it they are a DIYer or they may have a side hustle they use to make extra money. Some of these gifts may be interchangeable for those who are handy too.
Gift Ideas for Crafty people Continue reading
intro: 0:00 what you’ll need: 2:19 skincare gifts: 2:45 makeup gifts 3:42 haircare gifts 4:38 Final thoughts: 5:32 Let’s face it we may have products or duplicates that we can gift to others. So I thought of the idea of creating a gift basket, box, or even a bag. The container choice is up to you. But i put together
Gift ideas beauty items video Continue reading
header image provided by Pixabay Let’s face it many of us are participating in more virtual meetings these days. And like it or not we might end up with a less then optimal video and audio feed. I think we’ve all attended or viewed a meeting where you can’t make out what the person is saying. Or their video feed
Easy upgrades for better videos Continue reading
image source by Pixabay thumbnail image source pixabay intro: 0:00 Email scams: 0:48 Package delivery scams: 2:31 Marketing Scams:3:59 Other tips: 7:16 Scams are everywhere these days. I thought I’d point out a few red flags that may help you spot a scam. It doesn’t matter if it’s an email claiming to be PayPal or Amazon. You need to know
Watch out for scams (vlog) Continue reading
I recently was sent another Paypal scam email. Again these aren’t new but the one I was sent may cause worry for someone. So I thought I’d share about it.
Another Paypal Scam Alert:Fake sales receipt Continue reading
thumbnail image source pixabay.com intro: 0:00 after filing a complaint: 1:41 FBI IC3 link www.ic3.gov Other tips: 3:01 Final thoughts: 5:28 I thought I’d share a few other things you can do if you feel that a company may be a scam or is using images from other websites. This mainly pertains to marketing sites. As I mentioned in my
A follow up to filing a complaint (video) Continue reading
thumbnail header source pixabay.com Just an FYI this is for information purposes only. I am not an expert in this but thought these resources should be shared. intro: 0:00 Filing a complaint contacting directly: 0:55 Online options: 1:21 State help: 2:05 BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU (BBB) 3:07 Federal Trade Commission (FTC): 5:27 Other Resources: 6:54 USA.gov , econsumer.gov and Consumer Financial
Info on how to file a complaint (vlog) Continue reading
header and thumbnail intro image source by Pixabay Update 8/31/2020: Since I created the video I had to remove the blog post. intro:0:00 what i dealt with:1:04 lawsuit types: 4:33 types listed: defamation, slander, liable, copyright or plagiarism resources: 5:50 Final thoughts: 7:21 intro image source pixabay.com I thought I’d give you guys some info on an experience I had
Important info for Content Creators (vlog) Continue reading
Header and video thumbnail image source by Pixabay Intro:0:00 Coupons.com: 0:57 Retail me not: 2:44 Final Thoughts: 4:21 I thought I’d talk about two sites I like that can also help you save money. Coupons paper or digital is always a great way to save. it’s even better when you can use various ones in on the transaction. We are
Coupon Sites Saving Money (video) Continue reading
I’ve been having bouts of acne lately. Well it’s more like maskne to be honest. I know many of use may be dealing with this especially lately. If you have to wear a mask for an extended period of time you may have noticed a few blemishes popping up (forgive the pun). I thought I’d share a few treatment options
maskne got you down? Here are some treatment options Continue reading
video thumbnail image source Pixabay.com Intro:0:00 Rakuten (formerly Ebates): 1:41 Top Cash Back3:31 Ibotta 4:40 Fetch rewards 5:26 final thoughts: 6:34 Since I was sharing about ways to save money last week. i thought I’d share more options. Cashback sites or apps can be very helpful when it comes to saving while you shop. I use a few of these
Cash Back Sites and Apps (video) Continue reading
header image provided by Pixabay I think we have all faced times where we may have to file a complaint. These complaints may vary from general customer services issue to something more major like fraud. I thought I’d share a few tips that may be helpful when this issue arises.
Need to file a Complaint? Here are some resources Continue reading
header image provided by Pixabay I shared a blog post two months back about a social media marketing company. Well said company was upset with me and my post. Last Friday I was sent a simple email demanding that my post be removed from my website. They also threatened to sue me if it wasn’t removed within 24 hours.
I was threatened to be sued. Here’s what i learned Continue reading
header and thumbnail image source pexels.com I thought I’d give you all a quick tutorial on how to remove or block a user on a Facebook page you manage. I’ve done this for my blog’s Facebook page because I was wondering if the profile may have been fake. This only works for Facebook pages you are an admin of. I’m
How to ban or remove a user on Facebook (video) Continue reading
header image provided by Pixabay Intro: 0:00 Free Editors: 2:45 Paid Editors: 5:38 photo compressor io: 7:24 Since last week I shared about backgrounds and lighting I thought this week I’d talk about photos. Granted I am not the best photographer but if you will be sharing photos for product reviews you should know a few easy tips and tricks.
Let’s talk about photo editing (vlog) Continue reading
header image provided by Pixabay I know that writing a product review can be a bit stressful for some people. At other times you may just not have an idea of where to start. I’ve been product reviewing for a number of years. Nearly 16 years of reviewing on my own. I’ve been writing reviews for my blog for 7
Need help writing a Product review? Here’s a worksheet that might help Continue reading
Intro: 00:00 Flatlay backgrounds intro: 2:30 Cloth: 2:52 Craft paper: 4:23 cutting mats: 5:54 shelf paper: 7:26 Hanging backgrounds intro: 8:24 curtain: 9:33 sheet: 10:02 Final thoughts: 11:09 I thought I’d finish off this week’s theme by talking about backgrounds for photos or videos. Backgrounds are something that can help or possibly hinder a photo or video. You can use
Let’s talk about backgrounds (video) Continue reading
I shared a post via Instagram a while back sharing about a product I’d won. Well, I thought I’d give you all a more thorough review of the HPUSUN softbox lighting kit.
HPUSN Softbox Lighting Kit: under $100 softbox lighting kit Continue reading
header image provided by Pixabay Being a product reviewer and tester I tend to have a few packages deliveries through out the month. That being said they can sometimes be a surprise. If you’re like me you can lose track of what item is arriving when along with from where it’s coming from. Well, I found out you can sign
Need to keep track of packages? Here are some ways to do it for free Continue reading
header image provided by Pixabay Being a product reviewer I tend to have a lot of emails or occasional direct messages via social media. Most times I check out the requests and either reply if I see i need to or just spam them.. Being that it’s a mixed bag my day to day requests vary. I usually remind most
not all amazon sellers abide by the rules Continue reading
Image source by Pexels humbnail image source pexels.com I thought I’d share my insight on how to spot fake accounts or profiles via social media. I’m going to be talking about Instagram and Facebook. There seems to be a rise in fake accounts or profiles lately. Today’s video will focus on Instagram. Instagram: some profiles will send random messages or
How to spot fake profiles or accounts 1 vlog (video) Continue reading
header image provided by Pexels I’m not a great expert on lighting but I thought I’d share this post. These are things I’ve learned over the years. You might not have to break the bank when it comes to improving your lighting for photos or videos.
Lighting tips and ideas Continue reading
thumbnail image provided by pixabay.com I recently found out that one of my videos was being displayed on another website. Like many of you would think I wasn’t very happy about it. I contacted the website and my video has been removed but I thought I’d share how you can handle this issue as well. If you have an issue
How to deal with video usage without permission (video) Continue reading
thumbnail image from https://pixabay.com/ I thought I’d share this with you all. I’d been contacted by this company before but this time I did a little digging. You can read more about it via my blog post listed below. https://www.lifewithpal.com/… I mentioned this company (Name not shared) via this video post https://youtu.be/JCbTNGPMlsE I thought I’d alert you all just to
Possible Influencer scam Continue reading
header image provided by Pixabay So I had another email from a company I talked about in a video I posted a few weeks back. This morning I did a little digging and found out that it could be a possible scam. If you’re a blogger or vlogger or have a noticeable online presence you may be contacted by influencer
This may be too good to be true Continue reading
I recently came across a large shower caddy when I was at Target. Since it was on clearance I bought it. I don’t have a lot of storage space in my bathroom for it but I figured I’d find another use for it. I liked that it had a large storage capacity along with some smaller storage slots. I also
Shower Caddies: They just aren’t for the shower Continue reading
Most of you must be thinking what kind of end of season tips does a portable AC unit need? Well, you still have to make sure it’s clean before putting it away for the year. I thought I’d share this info. As you all may or may not know I was sent a wonderful gift this year. Thanks to Try
End of season care for Hisense 200 sq ft 115 Volt Portable Air Conditioner Continue reading
header image source Pixabay I’ve had IGTV for a few months now I use it periodically and like how easy it is to upload a video fairly quickly (depends on your internet speed). I also like that IGTV allows you to upload a video over a minute long too. So that’s a plus for people who want to share their
I uploaded an IGTV video using Instagram desktop. Here’s what I learned Continue reading
Now that I have a workspace for myself. I was looking for a way to keep organized. I was also looking for hooks that I could use without having to make holes in the wall. You may be asking why? I don’t have drywall in my workspace so I’d basically be putting a nail into insulation so it wouldn’t really
VELCRO BRAND® HANGABLES®: Makes hanging items a breeze Continue reading
a video sharing a possibly new type of banking email scam. This again has to deal with transferring funds to an online account. I thought I’d share this just to alert everyone. As usual, don’t reply to these emails and if you can report them to the banking institution that is listed in the email. This one happened to be
Banking Scam Email (video) Continue reading
header image source pixabay Ebates has a new name. This change happened recently but I thought i’d still share the info for those of you who may not have noticed. Or for those who aren’t familiar with Ebates. Ebates is now Rakuten I’ve been a member for a few months now. It can be very helpful when it comes to
Ebates is now Rakuten Continue reading
