Rolemommy

PR 365...Blog Sponsorship Tips

Question: How do you approach a company for blog conference sponsorship? What is it that they are looking for in return? Do they want me to paint my body with their logo and parade it around, or is putting a link on my blog good enough? I'd love to get involved with companies in this way, but just not sure how to do it. Thanks:)

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Amanda aka Dumb Mom
www.parentingbydummies.blogspot.com
twitter: @thenagainphoto

Blog Conference Sponsorship is a hot topic - primarily because brands want to reach bloggers and bloggers want to attend conferences but don't necessarily have the funds to get them there. So how do you find a way to reach a brand that has the funds to cover the costs for your trip and provide them with value in return?

Here are some of my tried and true tips:

1. Contact brands that have reached out to you in the past - If you have already been contacted by specific brands looking to reach out to bloggers regarding their products or services, then be direct and ask them if they'd consider sponsoring you for a conference. The contact will then ask you what you can do in return for them. Make sure you have a solid response or follow up with a proposal. Here are some things that you can offer.
* Post a blog regarding the product or service on your site and offer a giveaway.
* Share the link on Twitter and Facebook and ask to re-tweet.
* Use Whrrl on site at the conference to capture you interacting with the product/service.
* If the brand plans to attend the conference, arrange a small gathering of blogger friends to meet them.
* Offer original content for the brand's website.

2. Identify brands you would be interested in working with. Don't just approach anyone and ask if they'll sponsor you at a conference. You want to feel good about the product you're representing. If you cannot relate to what they're offering or if you have never interacted with the product before, you're better off moving on and finding a more suitable sponsor. You need to make a list of the products and services you would naturally endorse and then pursue the members of that list that are active in social media.

3. Make Sure Your Pitch Has Multi-Platform Appeal If your blog doesn't have a significant amount of monthly uniques but you also contribute to iVillage, AOL Parentdish, Yahoo or your local newspaper, you are incredibly appealing to a brand. If you have a significant following on Twitter, then share those stats as well. And if you've ever appeared on television or in print, then make sure the brand knows that they could potentially utilize you as a media spokesperson. Please be aware that while you cannot promise the brand that they'll receive a placement on one of the other sites you contribute to, they should be aware of your influence as a blogger and freelance writer. If you haven't started contributing other sites, make it a point to get your name and your work out there stat!

4. Reach out to smaller companies or websites rather than major Fortune 500 brands - You will find there are tons of entrepreneurial sites run by women who would love to sponsor a blogger at a conference. Stay on top of Twitter posts as the conference gets closer and search for opportunities to win a sponsorship. Mabel's Labels did it last year at BlogHer Chicago and this year, one of my favorite sites and friends, Kim at Mom in the City posted this link on Twitter regarding a Blissdom ticket giveaway.

5. Do not and I repeat...DO NOT be a shameless shill for a brand. No you do not have to tatoo a brand's name on your pregnant belly or paper the hallway of your hotel with their media or promotional material. Instead, take the high road. Be strategic about how you promote the brand among friends and bloggers. Personally, as a spokesperson for Swiffer, I find myself praising the brand on many levels - not just for their product's fabulous cleaning powers (okay shameless plug) but for having faith in me by supporting the See Mom Run book tour.

Click here if you missed our tips from yesterday about raising exposure for your business.

Posted in: PR 365 on 12/30/2009