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Beth Sandland

How to Pitch to PRs for Brand Collaborations

03/18/2018 · BLOGGING TIPS, LIFESTYLE

 

This post is the first in a series of ‘how to’ blogging tips. I promised to start it back in January, but better late than never hey! I want to share my experiences and the knowledge I’ve learnt from them in a free, accessible and honest way. Posts will be coming out monthly and will cover everything from pitching to payments and invoices, to improving your traffic. If you’ve got any particular topic requests then feel free to DM me on Instagram!

 

How to Pitch to PRs for Blogging Brand Collaborations, How to work with brands, how to make an income from blogging, how to monetise your blog, pink ASOS Cardigan, topshop mom jeans, topshop straw bag

 

So you’ve decided that you want to start reaching out to brands and PRs, either with the goal of being added to outreach lists or even in an attempt to begin (or further) the monetisation of your blog and social platforms. Now what?

Let me start by saying there is absolutely nothing shameful about pitching, in fact it’s pretty much essential if you want to get yourself out there. In any industry you are expected to have ideas, to share them and perhaps most importantly to prove why you are worth it and I do not understand anybody who thinks blogging is any different, or belittles anyone for doing so. Equally, as Chloe Plumstead recently wrote very eloquently, there is nothing wrong with wanting to make blogging your career and striving to build an income off of the back of it.

The below information is an amalgamation of my own experiences and of things I’ve learnt through chatting to PR agencies and brand marketing consultants. I get asked a lot about how to ‘get ads’ or be added to mailing lists; now, the majority of the work I do lands in my inbox but early on I dedicated a lot of time to reaching out and making myself heard. Building those relationships was absolutely crucial to where I am today, and to where I hope to be in the future too.

 

FIRST AND FOREMOST: HAVE AN IDEA

Most PRs are inundated with emails from bloggers who all want to be considered, so a vague blanket email with a link to your blog and your Instagram handle just isn’t going to cut it. If you are reaching out to a brand then you need to know why. If the answer is simply ‘to get free stuff’ then close that laptop and reconsider. All collaborations; paid or gifted, must be mutually beneficial. There has got to be something in it for the brand and simply the chance to appear on a random bloggers Instagram story isn’t really enough.

Before you even start typing out that email, workout what it is you have to offer. What can you bring to the table? Do you have a specific reason for reaching out to that particular brand? If they were to send you the product you’re after, what will you do with it and how will it benefit them?

Usually when I reach out to a PR it’s because I’ve seen a specific product that I think my followers will be interested in, or because I have an idea for a post that would be the perfect fit for their client.

 

How to Pitch to PRs for Blogging Brand Collaborations, How to work with brands, how to make an income from blogging, how to monetise your blog, pink ASOS Cardigan, topshop mom jeans, topshop straw bag

 

HOW TO FIND THE CONTACTS TO PITCH TO

Google is your new best friend. It helps to have an idea of whether or not that brand works with bloggers first, but regardless of whether you’ve seen them collaborating with others or not, it’s always worth a shot. It is amazing how much you can find with a quick Google search: something along the lines of “[insert brand name] PR/press office]” should do it. Some brands even have a press email address under the contact section of their consumer site.

Very occasionally I’ve come across PR contacts on Instagram, usually where someone has tagged a particular individual in a post to thank them for it and I’ve spied a little ‘PR for X’ in their bio. Be a bit careful with this: I would not recommend simply messaging someone on their personal Instagram account, even if they have advertised their job title. Instead, be savvy and Google the name or figure out the company email address formatting.

Finding PR companies (who may work with multiple relevant clients) is even easier but for goodness sake please do your research. By all means Google ‘Fashion PR Companies’ or whatever you think is relevant but don’t just then bombard all the results with a copy and paste email and hope for the best. Research exactly who their clients are and as above, decide why you would be right for them.

What not to do: do not ask people that you barely even know to share their contacts with you. It’s a little rude, it makes people uncomfortable and it steps over data protection boundaries too! 

 

KNOW YOUR WORTH AND BACK IT UP WITH STATS

Knowing your worth goes both ways: don’t undersell yourself, but don’t feel entitled either. I can’t stress enough that mutual benefit is at the forefront of each and every collaboration, whether it’s a full on three month paid campaign deal or a gifted release. There has got to be something in it for the brand and so there is no point going in all guns a blazing and expecting that you’ll get a new lipstick out of it purely for the effort.

I wrote about this extensively in a previous blog post, but I feel quite strongly about stressing that you are not automatically entitled to gifts or to payment just because you own a domain and a few thousand Instagram followers. Your worth is defined by your reach and the engagement of that reach, not by how long you spend on a post. Quality content should be a given so at the forefront of everything is numbers. I know that a lot of people get quite testy about this, but you have got to understand that for brands, sending a blogger a freebie is a business decision, not just a kind act.

How many people are going to actually see it? How many of those are likely to go and buy it? How many people now have the brand or the product on their radar that didn’t before? Consider all of the above in relation to your own audience. Trying never hurts but don’t be disappointed by rejection either because it’s very unlikely to be personal.

If you have decided that you would be an asset to the brand and that they are right for your audience then prove it. Pretty media kits are fine but they are no substitute for cold, hard stats. Research and share your demographic and be willing to send screenshots of your social insights and your blog dashboard. Prove exactly why you are worth investing in. 

 

How to Pitch to PRs for Blogging Brand Collaborations, How to work with brands, how to make an income from blogging, how to monetise your blog, pink ASOS Cardigan, topshop mom jeans, topshop straw bag

 

CAN YOU PITCH AND GET PAID?

This was something I struggled to get my head around for while. My first paid collaboration was with a brand who I had worked with on a purely gifting basis for about six months, and honestly I hadn’t ever expected anything more. I was so thrilled that not only did they want to send me free things (I hope that novelty never wears off) but that they actually wanted to pay me. What! I had no idea what I was doing and looking back, the figure I accepted and the terms I agreed to were ridiculous, but it’s all a learning curve.

Once I was actually regularly getting paid for my content I tried to figure out how I could be the one to instigate communication with a brand or an agency, and make it clear that I’m worth paying too. Actually, it turned out to be really simple. In amongst my email (we’ll get on to how to lay that out shortly) detailing my ideas, my following demographic and reach and why I would be great for the brand, I added a really simple line:

“I’d love the opportunity to discuss my ideas and rates with you at your convenience.”

 

HOW TO WRITE A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL

The lovely Rhianna Olivia included a fab section on her post on the same topic which clearly showed how she lays out a pitch to a brand and I’d highly recommend reading it and drafting some emails using that template as a starting point; you’ll soon find your way. There’s no use me re-writing what Rhianna demonstrated so well, so instead I’m just going to add a few tips:

  • Try your hardest to find a first name. It isn’t always possible, but it really shows you’ve done your research. If you can’t find a specific contact then I tend to go with a “Good morning/afternoon,”
  • Demonstrate that you know the brand really well or that you know what the PR company is up to by mentioning something relevant; a new launch or client perhaps? Research.
  • If you’re going to copy and paste, for the love of god please be savvy about it. I nearly wrote, ‘don’t copy and paste’ but honestly that’s probably a bit unrealistic and most of the PR’s I know do it themselves. By all means have a template, just please make sure you tailor each email as specifically as possible to the person you are writing to. Name dropping the wrong company is a sure fire way to end up in the trash folder.
  • If a PR company you’re interested in building a relationship with works with multiple relevant brands then your email may not be quite as specific as if you were addressing one particular brand. That doesn’t mean you can’t still show why you’d be great: talk about their clients and reference your interest clearly, e.g. “I noticed that you run the blogger outreach for Rimmel; I’ve been buying their Scandal Eyes mascara for years and I featured it in this post on my favourite beauty products.”

 

How to Pitch to PRs for Blogging Brand Collaborations, How to work with brands, how to make an income from blogging, how to monetise your blog, pink ASOS Cardigan, topshop mom jeans, topshop straw bag

 

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

This has two meanings: firstly, know who is consuming your content. How old are they? Where do they live? What kind of brands do they tend to favour? What kind of posts do they engage the most with? Are they high street or high end consumers on the whole? Knowing your audience inside out will allow you to clearly demonstrate why they are the right audience for the brand too.

Secondly, know what they want from you. Don’t just pitch to any old company who you’ve seen send out blogger mail; workout whether this is a brand or a product your followers will actually be interested in. If it isn’t then hoping for gifts anyway because you fancy a new protein shake even though your followers are not following you for fitness advice is just silly. It removes the all important mutual benefit and you risk damaging your authenticity with your audience, which I would argue is the most important thing of all.

 

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

Understand that it doesn’t just happen over night. At worst, what you’ve done by sending a pitch is you’ve put yourself on their radar. They may not think you’re relevant now, but you might be in a years time or for a campaign of a different purpose. Equally, if your email is successful it’s unlikely that the opportunities are just going to start flooding in: the PR will want to watch closely what it is you do with that gift that you just told her was perfect to show your audience and how genuine your claims were. 

 

How to Pitch to PRs for Blogging Brand Collaborations, How to work with brands, how to make an income from blogging, how to monetise your blog, pink ASOS Cardigan, topshop mom jeans, topshop straw bag

 

I hope that was helpful! The next topic will be on setting your rates and how I’ve calculated what to charge, if you don’t want to miss it then consider subscribing at the bottom of this page or in the sidebar.

 

Photography by Kaye Ford

 

 

Posted In: BLOGGING TIPS, LIFESTYLE · Tagged: blogging tips, how to monetise your blog, how to work with brands

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Comments

  1. Diana says

    03/18/2018 at 11:31

    This is so helpful! I am nowhere near pitching brands yet (I am just starting to get more serious with my blog), but I love being prepared for possible outcomes! Thanks, Beth!

    xx,
    http://www.thedecemberdame.com

    Reply
  2. jess says

    03/18/2018 at 12:21

    This was such a helpful post, its so refreshing to see bloggers talk about pitching ideas to brands. xx

    Reply
  3. Lisa Santos says

    03/18/2018 at 17:12

    Wonderful post and very helpful too!!

    Blog: The Lisa’s World | Instagram | Twitter

    Reply
  4. Kirby Small says

    03/18/2018 at 18:24

    Ah beth I found this post so helpful. I’m going to save this for a few months time when I can focus on my blog a little bit more. Thank you for always saying it exactly how it is, you’ve got a lot to give to this industry and I’m excited to see where you go Xxx

    Reply
  5. Lucy says

    03/18/2018 at 18:27

    Such an interesting read, I haven’t started reaching out to PR’s but it’s something I want to do this year. Thanks for the tips!

    Reply
  6. Amy | Amy Jane & Baby says

    03/18/2018 at 18:52

    Beth, this was so useful! Thank you for sharing your tips, I found them so helpful.

    Amy | Amy Jane & Baby

    X

    Reply
  7. Yella Hawk says

    03/18/2018 at 19:31

    I absolutely love this post as it gives so much insight when it’s often rather difficult to get genuine and detailed information on topics like this. I can’t wait for your next post of this series! xxx

    Yella
    http://www.yellahawk.com

    Reply
  8. Marya says

    03/19/2018 at 05:32

    Wow this will be super helpful once I get more into blogging as I just started my journey super excited!! Will be looking forward to more of these blog post!!

    Reply
  9. Sophie says

    03/19/2018 at 16:00

    This was great Beth and I love the sound of the whole series, so looking forward to your next one too! I haven’t pitched to any brands yet, but I do have a couple of ideas for potential things I’d like to do so at some point, if I can kick the nervousness, it is something I’d like to try. I’ll have to return to this post (and also Rhianna’s, which was v.helpful too) xx

    Sophie | Sophar So Good

    Reply
  10. Koz says

    03/26/2018 at 20:03

    This was really insightful and we’ll detailed. This post is already bookmarked for reference purpose.
    http://www.kozdiaries.wordpress.com

    Reply
  11. Ana says

    04/24/2018 at 16:09

    This is by far one of the most helpful blog posts I’ve ever read. I really want to start working with brands because I know that that will help me grow my engagement but also because I know my followers are really interested in the brands I would love to work with. Another tip I would give to micro influencers is not to say yes to everything just because the brand is offering you something, you always should think what are you offering your readers in return for what the brand is offering you? based on this principle I’ve said no to many brands, and I have never worked with a brand before but I am not in a hurry, hard work does pay off and I know that one day I will be able to work with a few amazing brands that I love and that I want to build strong relationships with!

    Reply
  12. Emma says

    04/30/2018 at 09:04

    Very useful post Beth, some great ideas! I can’t wait to start to reach out to PR’s 🙂

    Reply
  13. Greatness Reinvented says

    04/30/2018 at 16:44

    Great results there. We will be trying some of these techniques.

    GR |https://www.thegreat.uk

    Reply
  14. Lozza says

    05/16/2018 at 16:34

    This is so helpful!! Thanks girl! 😊 xo

    Reply
  15. Aleeha says

    05/27/2018 at 16:47

    This post was super helpful, thank you! I’m looking forward to the rest of the posts in this series!
    Aleeha xXx
    https://www.halesaaw.co.uk/

    Reply
  16. Katrina || KS Loves says

    06/24/2018 at 22:20

    Came here from Nic’s Healthy Life and boy I was not disappointed. Pinning this to my Pinterest so I can refer to it later. Great content, honey xo

    Reply
  17. Claire says

    07/02/2018 at 20:38

    A super helpful and insightful post for new bloggers like myself. Thank you for sharing Beth. x

    Reply
  18. Maria says

    07/05/2018 at 01:21

    Thanks for such a useful post, I’m so rubbish at reaching out to brands! I can’t wait to read what you write about rates! *nosey* x

    Reply
  19. Maria says

    07/05/2018 at 01:22

    Oh oops, I just realised that this was posted already in March – checking out the rates post now! x

    Reply
  20. Holly says

    07/10/2018 at 13:58

    This is so incredibly helpful. Thank you!

    https://www.thimblesandspoons.com/

    Reply
  21. Kelle Salle says

    08/02/2018 at 13:04

    This is such an interesting read.
    I’ve been blogging for about 7 months now and I’ve been reaching out to brands and have been lucky to collaborate with a few but I now understand that as a creative, you need to be flexible with your approach at times.
    Kelle – http://www.itskellesspace.com

    Reply
  22. Abi Howard says

    09/09/2018 at 15:49

    This is really helpful and I hope that one day I’ll be in the position to consider pitching to brands and monetizing. One question, at what point did you decide / realise that your audience and engagement was significant enough that companies would gift items and pay you for collabs?

    https://whatabigailsays.co.uk/

    Reply
  23. Debora Tentis says

    09/29/2018 at 15:46

    Hei! Glad to discover you through Blogosphere magazine! I’m a new fan of you, I already read a few posts from you! Love your blog and your content!
    Debora – https://www.deboratentis.com

    Reply
  24. Debora Tentis says

    09/29/2018 at 17:46

    Thank you for these useful tips! You inspired me and I mention your post over my blog here: https://www.deboratentis.com/blogging-best-posts-of-the-month-september-2018/

    Reply
  25. Lisa says

    10/18/2018 at 01:44

    I do want to start this someday and your blog gives a lot of good pointers for how to start! I don’t believe we have the numbers yet to start asking companies but look forward to continuing to grow! Thanks for the advice

    Lisa | letsgosomewheremckinney.com

    Reply

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I am a multi-award winning blogger, photographer and writer from London. I’ve travelled to over 38 countries, lived out of a backpack for a year and love to scuba dive! This site is a destination for all things travel, lifestyle and my successful online book club.

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Serves: 4
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With less than 2 weeks until the final trimester I thought I’d try and document weekly, as much for me to look back on. This photo is already a week old and I seem to be growing by the day!
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What’s the crack this week?...
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😴 Sleepy AF: A new wave of exhaustion has hit. It makes sense - babies generally double their weight between 24-28 wks. I’ve started going to bed earlier/falling asleep at 9pm in front of Bridgerton.
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🤧 Pelvic floor: Sneezing brings ALL the fear!
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🐙 Movement: I saw my belly move from the outside like a scene from Alien for the first time. At bed time it feels like a small octopus is doing the Macarena in my uterus. It’s still the most magical feeling in the world.
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👶🏼 Prep: The pram arrived this week! We ordered it in a brilliant Silver Cross sale. I was feeling a bit flat about the loss of that ‘pram shopping with my bump’ experience due to lockdown but putting it together made me happy - it’s so beautiful! And so surreal - we own a pram!
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📖 Reading: The Positive Birth Book by @milli.hill. It puts across all options in a clear, non-judgey, humorous way and has made me think of things I’d never heard of. It’s also the first time I’ve understood what a birth plan might physically look/read like.
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🧘🏼‍♀️ Hypnobirthing: I’ve started to feel more nervous about the birth (not the actual act or the pain, rather fears I won’t share as don’t want to project) but we’re starting hypnobirthing online next week which I’m looking forward to!
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👯‍♀️ Following: @birth_ed, @takingcarababies, @mixing.up.motherhood are accounts that are bringing joy/invaluable info.
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#26weeks #rainbowbaby🌈 #secondtrimester #pregnancyafterloss
I loved being a pregnant bride. Often a baby is a I loved being a pregnant bride. Often a baby is a reason to delay or speed up a wedding (lots assumed that was the case for us, but it wasn’t!) and is generally seen as perhaps spoiling things a little. It’s totally fine if you do feel that way, but for us it made it extra magical. It felt totally right to have our little bub between us as we exchanged vows and I was happy to embrace the bump in my dress. I still chose exactly the look and fit I wanted and wore the sparkly heels and in a way, I found trying dresses on much lower pressure as I wasn’t worrying about my figure. Perhaps the biggest difference was staying sober and the fact that we had a tiny wedding with a fancy lunch rather than a party probably made this a lot easier. I raised a toast with our four guests but beyond that, I didn’t have any inclination to drink anyway. Bonus - a great nights sleep and no hangover! 🥂👰🏻
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Photographer: @victoriasomersethowphotography
Dress: ASOS
Box fresh kicks ready to explore [from the bedroom Box fresh kicks ready to explore [from the bedroom to the kitchen, to the loo...aaand repeat]...at least they’ll stay clean 🥴☕️
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Type into browser: https://rstyle.me/cz-n/ewjdwzcbq2x (junior size 🤑 if under a UK 5.5)
AD: Pregnancy has given me a lot of time to reflec AD: Pregnancy has given me a lot of time to reflect on my relationship with alcohol over the last year. 🍸 I flitted between giving it up when pregnant or for fertility purposes, then using it as an emotional crutch in loss which made me more anxious and restless. This time - now 6 months pregnant - I haven’t had a drink since August and have been really pleasantly surprised by how little I’ve missed it, even over the festive season. I’m not into vilifying booze; I enjoy a couple of drinks and even the feeling of lowered inhibitions and being tipsy. But I know that even post-pregnancy and the other-side of the hazy newborn/breastfeeding days, I’ll try and maintain a far more positive relationship with alcohol which for me, looks like indulging lightly and occasionally.
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Having access to brilliant alcohol-free alternatives makes this significantly easier. My favourite gin distillers, Salcombe Gin, are behind the @NewLondonLight; a 0% spirit that doesn’t compromise on taste. So whether you’re pregnant, doing Dry January or simply attempting to live lighter, you can still enjoy a Sunday evening tipple. How do you feel about the alcohol free movement?
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Get 20% off with code ‘NLL20Beth’ 🍊 #NewLondonLight #LiveLightNLL #NLL
Top 5 Books I read in 2020 ☕️ ~
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Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens: totally captivating, unusual and enchanting. I literally devoured this one!
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Queenie, Candice Carty-Williams: as well as being laugh out loud funny, Queenie is also an education. A must read on what it’s like to be a young black woman growing up in London. Also tackles mental health really well!
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The Flatshare, Beth O’Leary: I recommend this to anyone who just really needs a hug from a genuinely enjoyable book. It’s warm and lovely but offers depth well beyond your usual chick lit too.
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Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi: this novel is such a triumph! Spanning over 300 years from pre-colonial Ghana to present day USA, each chapter follows a new character in the lineage of two sisters. One sold to slavery, the other married to an English coloniser. It’s sweepingly powerful and incredibly well written. I could’ve read an entire book on each character!
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A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman: Ove was the very first book I read in 2020 and it stuck with me throughout the year. At its most basic, it’s the story of a cantankerous old man. Delve a little deeper and it’s funny, heartbreaking and incredibly heartwarming. I just love Ove!
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Hit the ‘save’ button to come back to this list when you’re in need of a good read! What were your books of the year? 📚
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PS. If more reading, less scrolling is one of your 2021 goals too then don’t forget you can come and join us at @bethsbookclub_ 😎
2 0 2 1: the year of you 🕊🤍
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Happy new year saucepots! We had an ultra rock n’ roll night (read our books in bed then watched the midnight fireworks - that was a nice surprise! - on a phone before falling promptly to sleep...) and today is all about a long walk, a longer bath, books and tea. And obviously starting a new diary because isn’t fresh stationary the best thing about a new year?!
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Are you setting New Years’ resolutions? I prefer a bit of reflection and mindset shifting. This year it’s all about setting firm positive boundaries, protecting my energy and saying no to things/people that don’t serve that. I like the new year, not for the ‘new me’ noise but rather as a chance to let go and embrace a fresh beginning again. ⚡️☕️
As far as NYE outfits go, I’m not mad about this As far as NYE outfits go, I’m not mad about this one...🐻🥂 I hope you’re all well and excited to bid farewell to 2020. I know the clock striking midnight doesn’t fundamentally change anything but I’m hopeful that we can look forward with more optimism. I always find the turn of the year really emotionally complex. I’m not even going to attempt to unpack this last one other than to rejoice that even amongst the lowest of lows there have been highs. My beloved Nan won’t see the new year, which is hard to contemplate. I also married my best friend. This time last year I was miserable on the sofa, a day after surgery for our first miscarriage and wishing I could press pause on life. Tonight I’m still on the sofa, but full and at peace rather than empty and grieving, looking forward. For us, 2021 will see the birth of our little cub so it’s one that I’m welcoming with open arms. So much can change in a year and I hope you can seek comfort in that. However you’re feeling tonight, I’ll raise my alco-free bubbles to you because you did it: you made it through one of the toughest years in history. Brighter days are coming ☀️💓
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