{Prints: Be Still by Pen + Paint // Such a time as this – Red Letter Words}
Hey friends, I shared this post a few weeks ago over on the SNAP! blog, but I thought I’d share it here too in case you missed it. I often get asked when I sit down with other bloggers or in my Sowing Seeds Sessions about making money blogging and how to write for brands so I thought I’d share my 5 KNOWs for writing for brands authentically.
1. KNOW Your Niche
One of the biggest things I tell people is to know your blogs niche. What do you write about the most that gets your readers engaged in what you’re saying? Is it recipes? DIY? Home decor? Often times you hear people say, write about what you know and the readers will come + it’s so true. Does this mean that I’m telling you that your blog must fall into one category? Nope, absolutely not! My blog focuses on family, fashion, faith and community building so when I’m reaching out to a brand or a brand contacts me, I automatically know whether or not their product fits into my blog niche. Brands are beginning to shy away from working with any blogger that reaches to them + are looking to work with bloggers who know who they are and how that product will fit well with their readership. Be willing to ask yourself if you’re the right fit for the brand.
2. KNOW How to Get Creative
When you find a brand you really want to work with, it’s important to have a game plan. Don’t just reach out to the brand, introduce yourself, give them you stats and then ask for free product, go the extra mile. Give them a game plan. Be willing to spend a little time in the email mapping out how you would represent their brand in a real + authentic way and most importantly, why you believe your readers would also love their brand. While the brand, I’m sure, will be impressed by your stats, they will be even more impressed by your plan for how you’ll best showcase their brand. Don’t be afraid to get creative! Tell them how you would represent their brand in a unique and fun way.
Little Miss Momma via Pollinate Media on Pinterest
3. KNOW How to Set it Up
You’ve build that relationship with the brand you’ve been dying to work with, they’ve sent you product to share with your readers and now the ball is in your court to get that game plan and put it into action. Be detail oriented, make sure that the set up reflects who you are as a person + a blogger, but also reflects the brand in a way that will make your readers want to also own that product. Don’t just photograph the product on your floor or table, but show it in use. In fact, I highly recommend taking lots of pictures of that product and how you’re using it in your home to use in your post. If you can show your readers how that product fits into your every day life, then they are more likely to purchase it. If you’re able to create that call to action, you’re more likely to have the opportunity to work with that brand again in the future.
Your Homebased Mom via Pollinate Media on Pinterest
4. KNOW How to Tell a Story
When working with a brand I always recommend telling a story that brings the reader back to why the product is so great. I truly believe the biggest disservice you can do to a brand is to start your post with, “I got free product”, or “I was sent a $75 gift card to go shopping at…” What this does is it tells you’re reader, right from the beginning of your post, that you got the product for free, but they should go buy it. When you begin your post with a story or anecdote, then share pictures of the product in a creative way, giving honest feedback about the product and it’s uses, the reader is more likely to express a need or desire for the product in their home as well. What this also does is generate great content that the brand is more likely to share through their social media outlets as well.
Nook and Sea via Pollinate Media on Pinterest
5. Know How to Find Way to Work with Brands
There are many ways to begin working with brands, but here are just a few to get you started:
- Affiliate banner ads: Do more than just have these ads on your side bar. Share deals + promotions happening with your readers. When brands see that you’re generating an authentic buzz about them, it can open the door for you to work together in other ways.
- PR Agencies: Many times you can find the PR Agency contact for a brand via their website. PR Agencies serve as a buffer for the brand and they will often vet each email as it comes through to determine if you’re the right fit for the brand. This goes back to #2, be creative in your approach, go the extra mile and tell them how you plan to showcase that brand and why you’re readers will connect with that product as well.
- Blogging or Social Shopper Marketing Agencies: There are many agencies that exist to help pair brands with bloggers that will represent them in a truly authentic way. This is done through blogger campaign initiatives that are often tied into specific promotions that the brand is running. This is what we do at Pollinate Media + there are some other fantastic agencies that do this as well, providing lots of opportunities for bloggers to be exposed to great brands.
Whew! I know that was probably a lot for one day, but hopefully you’ve found this helpful as you reach out to work with brands on your blog. If you have any questions, please check out my Sowing Seeds Mentorship program, I’d love to help you brainstorm through this process.
Kim@ Oh, Sweet Joy! says
This is such great info! Question: what do you mean by/why do you think it is that brands are beginning to shy away from bloggers who reach out to them?
Alissa Circle says
Kim, great question! What I mean is that brands are being contacted so frequently with the purpose of a blogger getting free products that it becomes a lot of work for them to vet who will represent them in the most authentic way and whose just “blogging for free stuff.” I always suggest working to build a relationship with a brand first. Follow them on social media, interact with them, share pictures of their products you already own, etc. This will tell the brand that working with you could be a mutually beneficial relationship.
kim @ oh, sweet joy says
oh, totally. i thought you were saying it’s not worth it to reach out because they are shying away from working with bloggers in general and i got worried! haha
Laura says
This was such a great post. I feel like there is just so much information out there so thank you for narrowing it down! Can’t wait to focus on each of these specifically over the next few weeks!
Britni Newton Vigil says
When people ask me about writing sponsored posts I immediately ask if they have ever seen the reality show Food Network Star. One of the key points that they discuss over and over again is that when they are filming a segment they can’t just share a recipe, they have to share a personal story and bring it home for the viewers. I’m so glad that you include the “know how to tell a story” in your list because that’s always been my go-to approach for sponsored posts, people want to know how this works in your life and want to know more about you. Those posts always seem to do better for me. Thanks for these tips Alissa.
Cate @ Wild Ruffle says
These are such great tips! When I first had opportunities to work with brands, I was so tempted to take any and every offer that came my way. It means so much more to my readers if I only accept campaigns that I’d honestly be glad to share with them. And I love the suggestion to take photos that show the product in use. Hopefully it’ll give readers something to think about, and remember when they’re out shopping. 🙂
Atta Girl (@AttaGirlSays) says
So many great tips, Alissa. When reaching out to brands, it is about so much more than the numbers — though we should always use those to our advantage. I worked hard for my followers! 🙂
When pitching brands, I always try to include a very specific plan of action and also to focus on my strengths and what makes me different so that they’d be crazy not to work with me.
I might spend an hour on a pitch. It’s a lot of upfront work, but you have to do your homework when you’re selling yourself. I learned this lesson as a freelance writer pitching story ideas to editors and also in my career as a PR professional, pitching stories to reporters.
I think so many bloggers are afraid to pitch brands, but really there’s no harm in asking. The worst they can so is no. And quite often, they say yes!
Ellen Christian (@ellenblogs) says
Great post. I can always tell when a blog post is written from real life experience that the blogger stands behind vs a post that totally doesn’t fit their site or their focus.
Melissa says
I think knowing how to set it up is great advice. I know the purpose of sponsored posts is to sell the brand essentially but when I see posts that just have pictures of the actual product then i’m likely going to just skip right over it. I want to see something that doesn’t scream I got this for free and i’m blogging about it because i’m being paid too. Plus having it all set out nicely like the post you mentioned above makes for better visual appeal and we all know that is what draws us there is great pictures.
Kelley @Miss Information Blog says
I think I find it hard sometimes to transition from the “required disclosure” at the top of the post which pretty much says what you say not to say about I got this for free or am bring paid. Any suggestions on that, thanks for the great article I am wanting to reach out on a big project and was just rolling in my head how to make a total plan and proposal today
Kate Thompson Eschbach says
I appreciate you so much. Thank you for being so generous with all you have learned!
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama says
These are all great tips, Alissa! But I am a little confused about the disclosure part. Are we not legally required to be very clear & specific about receiving product/compensation from the get-go with a sponsored post? I know when I do a Pollinate post we are provided with a pre-worded disclosure statement that has to appear at the beginning of our posts. I would love some clarification on that part specifically. Thank you! 🙂