Picture this: you’re a hard-working individual dedicated to your craft, and you’re consistently putting in those hours in a bid to make ends meet. One day, you get a request from a potential client, who’s putting forth the following proposal: coach her in the ways of your craft, and in return, you’ll get a promotional package that comes in the form of:
- Instagram shout-outs
- Instagram features
- More Instagram shout-outs
Oh and that’s not the end, because you’ve gotta do more than just train them to the best of their abilities.
You have to fork out a tidy sum of $3,000 in advance too.
Now, if you thought that the individual above could only exist in stories, you’re wrong. For the aforementioned scenario didn’t happen to some fairytale character…
But an actual real-life individual.
Meet Daphne Maia Loo. A former media officer at Powerlifting Singapore, she’s now working as a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach at Strength Avenue.
But this isn’t an article about her coaching prowess, impressive as it may be.
Rather, it’s an article depicting how a lifestyle blogger made a rather, for lack of a better word, controversial offer to this hard-working individual, or her organisation.
Wait, what happened?
On 18 March, Daphne posted a rather controversial personal recount on her Facebook page.
In the post, Daphne entailed how a “Lifestyle influencer” had approached her, requesting for a free personal trainer who, get this, gotta pay her to train her.
Lest you can’t read, the transcript’s as follows:
“This evening, we received an email from an someone who was looking for a Personal Trainer.
Let me correct that. I mean, a “Lifestyle Influencer” was looking for a FREE Personal Trainer who would PAY HER to get trained.
I want to say that as a Personal Trainer, I am deeply offended that someone would approach a professional whom she believes can do a job well, but refuse to pay for their services.
As a former Social Media Manager and Marketing Manager, I am highly amused that this is how low influencers will go to get free products and services from companies.
Advertisements
I’m also deeply concerned, being part of a small gym, a small business made up of 3 Trainers who do our best every single day for our clients. We keep hustling, doing what we do best, so that people learn and train safely, while achieving their fitness goals. I’m also concerned because someone out there is going to read this proposal and feel desperate enough to take it up. Because the fitness industry is tough; it’s really tough to survive in it.
Yet, there are people out there who prey on us, and want us to help them achieve their successes and Instagram moments, by asking us to give our services for free.
“Yes, but…” I hear you say, “but she’s giving you exposure!”
Well henny, Exposure ain’t gonna pay the bills we have nor feed the families we have. And don’t forget, she’s asking to be paid as well, for the exposure.
Which comes to my final point: Stop being shit, folks. PLEASE PAY THE PEOPLE WHOSE SERVICES YOU NEED.”
Advertisements
Meanwhile, the attached screenshots are as follows:
Netizens react
Suffice it to say, the post swiftly went viral (which explains the existence of this article), and Netizens began throwing flak on the lifestyle blogger in question.
One, however, tried to objectively access the situation, and even then he ruled it in Daphne’s favour.
But one interesting comment has got to be this:
And that leads us to…
A message from the blogger herself
In the wake of the recent ‘negativity’, the lifestyle blogger in question, Serene Martin, has told her side of the story. And according to her, Daphne’s account was nothing but a “selectively misrepresented” version of the email Serene had sent.
Advertisements
You can read her full account down below:
It has to be noted that while Serene has her fair share of supporters, the top comment on her post happens to be this one:
But as can be seen from the angry emoji on the comment, not all 42 Netizens supported the statement.
But anyways, long story cut short, here’s what she has defended:
Advertisements
- It was a proposal sent to various gyms as a “social media marketing proposal”
- It wasn’t to request for “free personal training sessions”
- Most gyms either requested for more info or politely stated that they are not interested
- She then posted images of people mocking her online
Anyways, is that how a social media proposal looks like? If so, we’ve been doing all wrong. No wonder gym doesn’t engage us lah.
Read Also:
- 17YO Who Died in Tampines Accident Was a Promising Student; Dad Works in Police Coast Guard
- Trailer of Deadpool & Wolverine Dropped; Movie to be Released on 25 July
- 80 Earthquakes Hit Taiwan All Night, Swaying Buildings; No Casualties Reported Yet
- Names & Email Addresses of Parents & Staff from 127 MOE Schools Leaked After App Managing Students’ Devices Hacked
- 8 Highlights That Happened During Star Awards 2024 That You Might’ve Missed
Advertisements
