Turn a Product Review into a Sponsored Post
Have you ever agreed to do a product review only to learn later that you should have charged the company for the creation of the post? In this case study, learn how two bloggers managed to Turn a Product Review into a Sponsored Post.
Oftentimes bloggers will agree to write a product review in exchange for product. While this may seem like a good idea in the beginning, it often backfires for the blogger.
Sustaining a blog is serious business, and a failure to create cash flow can often lead to an early retirement (and I mean – the “website” goes down).
This post is created as part of a series of Blogging Success Stories and is part of a long list of posts that offer FREE Tips for Online Influencers.
You Need a Strategy
Developing a strategy for working with brands and small businesses is vital to a online influencer. Only an arrangement that includes cash payment can provide a blogger with the funds necessary to keep a blogging business afloat.
Hi, I’m Monica. I have an MBA in International Business, five years of online blogging experience, and over three years of running a profitable online business at HappyandBlessedHome.com. Out of frustration over the lack of business essentials provided to bloggers, I started this blog, MonicaPruett.com. My goal is simple: to help you monetize your influence.
Case Study
Let me introduce you to my friends: Julie and Jodie, two women who blog together at TheDesignTwins.com. Now Julie and Jodie are wizards on Instagram.
We met at a blog conference in February and both women experienced frustration over not being able to make an income from their blogging and Instagram efforts.
The Course that Transformed their Business
Julie and Jodie just completed my course “9 Essential Steps to ROCK Sponsored Posts”, and in addition to now being paid for photography, several sponsored posts with influencer networks, and two new direct to brand contracts for sponsored work, Julie and Jodie have the perfect example of taking a product review and turning it into a paid sponsored post.
Turn a Product Review into a Sponsored Post
A few months back, Julie and Jodie took on the challenge of knitting a CHUNKY KNIT THROW using synthetic yarn provided by a small business. Their only payment for writing about the yarn and creating the DIY knit throw, was the yarn itself.
The post went crazy with social shares on Instagram and The Design Twins sent traffic to the small business who had provided them with the skeins of yarn for the chunky knit throw.
There were a couple of challenges with this arrangement:
- An exchange of free advertising for product does not match apples to apples. A “product” is a one time expense to the small business owner, while the upkeep for maintaining a blog – things like domain hosting, anti-spam and anti-hacking protection, and costs associated with driving traffic through social media sharing is an ongoing expense to the blogger.
- The ladies tried contacting the yarn provider after the post went live and started driving big waves of traffic to see if they could become affiliates, but the small business said “no”.
- Competitors’ products, large skeins of yarn, could easily be purchased by readers on Amazon, but TheDesignTwins.com had no product page to link to. Thanks to –> the lackluster arrangement with the small business.
Applying What They Learned in Class
In class discussions at “9 Essential Steps to ROCK Sponsored Posts” we talked about taking a “product review” post and turning it into a sponsored post.
The Design Twins took action, and with new knowledge from the course they were able to negotiate a partnership with a different provider of chunky yarn skeins.
NEW POST: www.thedesigntwins.com/arm-knitting-made-easy/
The new arrangement:
- 4 new blankets valued at over $1000
- A generous affiliate payout program.
- A partnership with a new small business that will likely lead to more sponsored posts in the future.
- A generous one-time cash payment
I’m so proud of Julie and Jodie and their many accomplishments. I can’t wait to see what is in store for their massive following on Instagram and the growth of their blog.
Make a Connection
If you have any questions, The Design Twins have kindly agreed to make themselves available to chat. You can best reach them on Instagram.
Want to Earn an Income from Your Influence? Take: “9 Essential Steps”
I struggled for two years before I figured out how to make an income with my blog. I am incredibly passionate about helping other bloggers get to an income making level much quicker. The Design Twins are one example, but all of my students have experienced an increase in income, or an increase in income earning potential in less than 90 days.
Sign up for my course, “9 Essential Steps to ROCK Sponsored Posts” and keep sponsors coming back for more. In this completely comprehensive course I share every tool I use – plugins, spreadsheets, apps, lighting and camera equipment, research strategies, pitch e-mails, and negotiation tactics for working with brands and influencer networks. To date, I’ve pitched nearly 1000 campaigns; and I’ve landed and created nearly 200 pieces of sponsored content and many more for clients and students.
Special Thanks
Special Thanks to The Design Twins for their joyful willingness to share their success story with MonicaPruett.com readers. The entire community wishes you much continued success.
Other articles in the Blogging Success Stories Series
- How to become a Social Media Brand Ambassador or Brand Ambassador
- How to Turn a Product Review into a Sponsored Post
- How to Work with Small Businesses to create Sponsored Posts
Get Connected
Sign up to be a part of community and get free pitching secrets sent straight to your inbox. You’ll also get updates with free tips and blogging resources. Never any spam. Just tips to help you build your business.
Monica
Author: Monica Pruett, MBA, MonicaPruett.com
Have questions? Send me an e-mail: monica[at]MonicaPruett[dot]com
Other topics of interest on MonicaPruett.com:
Monica, Jodie and I are so grateful for the opportunity to take your class, learn from you, and literally transform our business. We will be forever grateful. In addition the friendships forged are priceless. We can’t thank you enough. Blessings, Julie & Jodie
Julie – you and Jodie are a dream to work with and it’s SO exciting to see all your hard work and talent pay off. I can’t wait to see what the future brings!
I like that you’re taking something so daunting and making it accessible. Not to the point of sponsored posts yet, but know I’ll come back to you when I am!
Thanks Amy! We’ve got a whole tribe of bloggers working together and we’d love to have you join us when you’re ready!