I recently did a Periscope for #NovemberScopers about blog tips. I was in the parking lot at work so I only had a few minutes. I gave a quick tip on how to get started with sponsored posts and I could not believe how many people reached out to me that day! I got emails and tweets from bloggers who wanted to know more… so many, in fact, that I decided to write a post about it.
So there I was… ready to take on paid sponsored posts, but I had one BIG problem. I had no sponsored posts on my blog. Why would companies pay me, if I didn’t have any proof showing the types of posts I would write? I figured the best way to actually get a few was to email companies myself and offer the review for free, in exchange for the product.
Here’s a few tips:
Choose companies that fit your brand: If you are a craft/parenting blogger… you may not want to reach out to a beauty company to try and get that $200 face cream you have been lusting after. Reach out to companies who make products that will fit seamlessly into your blog. You can start branching out once you get a few sponsored posts under your belt.
Email the RIGHT person: Don’t email customer service and expect to hear back. Most companies have a media/press/PR contact on their webpage. Email them. Try to Google past press releases from the company and you may even find a direct name & email on the header. Send them a twitter message asking for a contact.
Have a pitch: Sell yourself to the company. Keep your email quick & to the point, but be sure to tell the company how you would showcase their product.
Instead, try something like this: “Hi.. I am a full-time working mom with a sweet 7 year old son & a spunky 2 year old daughter. I have been blogging for (time) and my posts showcasing my kids favorite toys tend to do really well with my readers. I know my kids would love your new whatever-it-is & I could write an amazing post about (explain the awesome way you will craft your post to promote their product). I would be willing to write the review free of charge, in exchange for (product).
The second letter gives the company a visual of what you would do with the product. (the age of your kids, the idea for the blog post.. etc) I wrote each company a specific letter explaining how I would create the post.
I emailed 5 companies and every single one of them was happy to collaborate. I put those first few posts on my “Work with Me” page, and before I knew it I was getting emails from companies asking for reviews. I set a low rate and got started. After a few months, I bumped up my rate. (I have continued to raise rates based on my pageviews and social media reach)
To this day, a majority of my sponsored posts are through companies (or PR companies) that contact me directly. I also use Collective Bias, Influence Central and Bloggin’ Mamas for paid posts.
If you want to start getting paid for your posts you have to start somewhere. Why not contact companies yourself and get the ball rolling? Have more questions? You can ALWAYS email me at WorkingMomMagic@gmail.com.
This is so awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing! I've been wanting to pitch to companies but I'm so nervous so I always find an excuse not to.
You totally should! The worst they can say is no and they will never fault you for asking! 😉
Thanks sooo much for sharing. I'm wanting to start getting some sponsored posts as well, and these tips are AMAZING!!!
It is a great way to get started! I know brands would love to work with you!
This is awesome Lauren! I just recently starting doing this as well and have reached out to a number of companies! My philosophy is why wait for them to come to you? What are the chances that the exact company you want to work with will reach out? I'm happy to do a blog review for product over $75-$100 (depending on how much I like it), otherwise I charge – that seems to be my rule of thumb for now. I've had a lot of success with PR companies! If they like you – they'll continue to set you up with brands they work with who they believe are a good fit for your brand!
Yes, I don't do reviews for free anymore, but in the beginning this was a good way for me to get started and show potential brands what I can bring to the table! 🙂
These are fantastic tips! I hadn't thought about contacting businesses myself, I've mainly been using sites where you sign up for product reviews! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
You really should! Many companies are thrilled to hear from bloggers, esp if you are already pitching an entire post to them! Sending you a free product or two doesn't really cost them anything and then you can build up your reviews to start charging 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing! I was just planning on trying to reach out to a specific company, so I'm glad I read this first.
I am glad you found it helpful! I still reach out to brands that I really want to work with, I am not a very patient person… if I want something I usually go for it! 😉
I love these tips! Pinning for later ♥
Thank you! 🙂
Great post! I need to reach out to more companies .What's the worst they could say? Thank you .
Yes I think a lot of bloggers tend to wait for companies to contact them, but if you have a specific niche you should reach out to the brands that fit you best.. there are a lot of bloggers out there, you can't always wait for companies to find you 😉
YEP! i've been doing this for years, so important. You never get what you don't ask for! I always tell peeps to make a list of everything they can't live without, and then contact those brands!
yes, I think for us newsies it is more obvious.. but many people on my scope were surprised. 🙂
I made my first pitch tonight. Your scope was amazing and this post is exactly what I needed. I'm bookmarking this so I can come back to it for motivation. Thank you, Lauren!
That is awesome Jules!! Companies would be super lucky to work with you!
Awesome awesome tips Lauren! Pinned, bookmarked, and studying! I totally would have made the mistake of saying "Hi I'm a new blogger!" I swear its the things you don't think of!
I am so glad you found it helpful Erin! I have been obsessing over all your amazing food pics for your holiday fix 😉
Thanks for this post! We really need to find somewhere to start and we are picky so reaching out seems like a great path to take.
Yes,esp if you are trying to stay in line with your niche… you need to contact companies. There are a lot of blogs out there, you cant expect them all to find you! 😉 (but they will be thrilled when they do!!)
This is EXCELLENT advice. Pinned & stumbled.
Thank you so much Alana!! 🙂
This is awesome!! Thank house much for this!
You are welcome! I hope it helped! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us. Such great advice! I am really new at blogging and any tips are greatly appreciated.
Welcome to the blogging world! This is a great way to get companies to notice you! 🙂
Wow this is so helpful!! I've had only one sponsored post in a year of blogging. I ve had many collabs for free products.. But I wanna see the money ! Thanks again for sharing! Happy thanksgiving!
You are going to have to reach a point where you say no to freebies only. Know your worth… your blog is fabulous and brands should be paying for a place there. 🙂
I was really nervous about my first pitch, but they said yes! There's some really great advice here!
Great advice! I will definitely be pinning this for later, your pitching advice is bang on!
Great tips, Lauren! I've started getting a lot of pitches from companies this year — this morning I had like 3! — but I need to do a better job about reaching out to companies that I want to work with.
This is very timely! I am reaching out to a few companies today. I will use several of your tips!
I needed this post! I love it – thank you!
xo
Krista
http://www.hundredblog.com
Thank you so much for sharing this girlie! I absolutely love it, and am so glad I came here to read your post!
I had to bookmark your post! Love it! Thank you so much for sharing and the great tips.
Great tips! I have never approached anyone for sponsored posts so I love that you shared your strategy. It was very encouraging and useful.
I've been toying with the thought of sponsored posts so I was stoked when I came across this post! It's super informational and helpful. I'm pinning it now for future reference. Thank You for sharing!
Yes! I remember being so scared to write that first email and was so surprised to get an enthusiastic yes back! I mean seriously the worst that can happen is they say no! Now I recommend even asking for compensation if it's a product without that high of a value unless it's something you really really want!
I haven't had much luck in cold call e-mails I will have to keep trying!
Really excellent post! Pinning for later 🙂
such great tips! thanks so much! just wondering if you need a certain amount of traffic and followers to get sponsored posts?
http://www.footnotesandfinds.com
Awesome tips! I've been trying to figure out how to break into sponsored posts for awhile…good to know I can reach out to brands directly!
Thank you for sharing with us at #mommymeetupmondays!!
This is excellent advice! I have had good luck recently reaching out to companies who I knew I would like to work with. It takes guts to start but once you hear "yes" a couple times it gets easier 😉
Thank you for these resourceful tips, Lauren! Too sweet not to tweet!
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This is excellent advice! I have had good luck recently reaching out to companies who I knew I would like to work with. It takes guts to start but once you hear “yes” a couple times it gets easier