Restaurant Shows How To Shut Down Influencers Begging For Free Food For Exposure

You’ve probably already heard about the influencers who expect businesses to give them free stuff in exchange for “exposure”. And you’ve probably already heard about the way managers reject them too. This restaurant in Greece, however, has come up with a counteroffer to such requests that I bet you still don’t know about.

The idea is simple: the influencer pays for their meal but the restaurant — after serving them — donates food of equal value to people in need as well. Afterward, both parties can tag each other on social media, celebrating the great deed they just did, and feel good about themselves having made the world a little bit better.

But the problem is that influencers don’t wanna do it. Not a single one has agreed to it. And the restaurant proposes this to dozens of them every single year. Which kinda says something about their values, doesn’t it?

The public probably wouldn’t have even known about it if it wasn’t for one of the family members who own the restaurant. Recently, they posted screenshots of a conversation they had with one of these influencers on reddit, and it blew up.

A family who own a restaurant in Greece often get messages with influencers asking for food in exchange for exposure

Image credits: UnBassador

So they came up with a wholesome counteroffer that benefits those who need the food most

Image credits: UnBassador

Arianna O’Dell, founder at Airlink Design would probably applaud this move. She thinks that unless influencers can show the return on a business’ investment, they’re throwing money in a black hole. “As a marketer, I’m happy to explore new mediums and campaigns to increase awareness about my products and store. The problem with many “influencers” is they have no insight into their reach or predicted conversions,” O’Dell wrote on Inc. “I ask influencers who email me how many people they reach and about the success of the past campaigns. I’m usually met with crickets. You wouldn’t throw $50 into a black hole–and you shouldn’t do the same with influencers.”

O’Dell believes that if someone is begging for freebies, chances are, they are not an influencer. “Influencers can be great additions to a marketing campaign if it’s relevant. If you’re selling a baby product, a mommy blog with 1 million subscribers could help you drive sales. If you’re a selling lipstick, a teenage girl with 200 followers might not drive any results,” she said, adding that she has found that most people asking her for free products were simply looking for free stuff and not offering any business value.

The opinion is only reinforced by influencers’ lack of attempts to work with this restaurant.