This is a question I get asked constantly! "How did you start working with sponsors?" It's a huge topic and really important to make sure you're ready to take on sponsorships! If you know you are, then let's go..!
You can start anytime you want. You don't need to have a certain number of readers or daily page views. But you will need to have an organized plan.
1. Do your stats research: You'll need to figure out your stats! You can sign up for Google Analytics or if you use Blogger, you can track your stats through the stats tab. You'll want to know: monthly page views, daily unique visitors and readers/subscribers/followers. Jot these down.. you'll need them soon.
2. Figure out sizes: What sizes do you want on your blog? Make sure the width will fit perfectly into your right sidebar. Make sure all of your sizes have the same width.
3. Create a sponsor page or post: You'll need to create a place where you can put down your sponsorship details, ad sizes and stats! You can link to it on your blog so that companies can easily find information if they want to sponsor you.
4. Create a spreadsheet or notebook: You'll need a way to track sponsors! You'll need to make sure you remember the name of the person you're working with, what size they ordered, how much they paid, and when their ad starts and stops!
5. Reach out! Pick some of your favorite companies and contact them! A simple email will do! Just explain yourself, what your blog is about, why you want to work with them, some of your stats, rates and see if they'd be interested!
2. Don't let companies haggle you. If your blog is about personal style and fashion, and a bar stool company wants to do a link exchange, let's just say.. they are probably only looking to benefit themselves and not you. Only do a link exchange if you'll receive an equal amount of traffic from them as they will from you.
3. Only accept sponsors that you are passionate about! You don't want to have a blog about baking and promote tools on your blog! Your readers will be put off and confused and probably not return.
Affiliate programs: You can sign up for an affiliate program to make a certain percentage based on sales. Let's say you sell $2,000 worth for a company and make a 10% commission, you just earned yourself $200! Affiliate programs are wonderful if you know you can be a good sales person for that company.
Tip: If you know you might not be able to sell anything for a company but can provide clicks, go with sponsorship. If you know you are able to sell items for a company, an affiliate program might be the better option!
Tip: When your sponsors term is ending, follow up with them! Shoot them a quick email reminding them that their sponsorship will be expiring, ask them if they'd like to renew, maybe offer a discount as an incentive to continue? If they say no, ask why and you could learn a lot! They might say, "Because you didn't promote us enough, we didn't receive enough clicks," etc… and it can help you learn how to be a better blogger. For the next sponsorship, you might learn to do a few extra tricks!
1) Do a feature on your blog with some of your favorite products or a "wish list" and include some sponsored items that you love! (Remember: if you are only working with sponsors you are passionate about, this will be SO easy)
2) Give them a shout out on Twitter or Facebook!
3) Inform your readers of a really good sale they are having or a promotion that will be expiring soon.
4) If you love one of your sponsor's clothing articles, wear it on the blog and link to their website! Your readers will trust the company if they see you wearing one of their items and you really do love it.
5) Don't ever give praise to an item if you hate it, but don't entirely dog on it either. Readers won't want to read awful, snarky reviews… just be honest, but kind. Say you receive a dress from a sponsor and it's poor quality… just explain it without being rude!
C/O items means "courtesy of". It means the company sent the blogger the item for "free" or in trade for ad space to promote the product! You are legally required to announce that something was given to you, so make sure… if you receive an item for free, you say it is courtesy of or given to you by the company.
It's up to you, completely! There are no rules! If a company asks if you want to trade a month's worth of ad space for $100 worth of clothing… that's up to you to decide. If you like the clothing, feel it's mutually beneficial to both of you, then go for it! If you want only cash, make sure you say that up front so that sponsors aren't confused. If you want a check instead of Paypal, be very clear. Typically, bloggers use Paypal to request money from sponsors. Once the payment is fulfilled, you can add the blog to your sidebar and start promoting!
And note: Don't feel bad if a sponsor stops sponsoring! Don't take it personally! Most of the time companies are trying out new bloggers constantly to try and create a widespread range across the blogosphere! Don't ever get mad at a sponsor and call them out online. You'll ruin some great relationships and your readers might not trust your input! Be a professional!
