One of the questions I am frequently asked by other online influencers is this,
“How do I know which brands I should approach, or work with?”
It’s a great question, but a question only the individual asking can answer. Why?
Know Thyself
In blogging, “knowing yourself” is something that helps you define what you will and will not do. This applies to all influencers – whether you are a blogger, Instagrammer, YouTuber, or some other type of social media maven or rockstar.
You need to determine what you will and will not spend your time on.
Example #1: A food blogger who creates all-natural whole food recipes would be ill-advised to create a sponsored post featuring processed convenience foods.
Readers will sense a “sell-out” and may unsubscribe (or worse yet) bad mouth the “whole food” blogger on social media.
Example #2: A blogger who typically advocates un-schooling as a means of homeschooling would shock her readers if she tried to sell a very structured, classical form of homeschooling curriculum on her blog.
Readers will sense a false form of promotion.
How do I Know Which Brands I Should Work With?
“Your ability to work with Brands and Influencer Networks is Directly affected by the Audience you Cultivate” – MonicaPruett.com
Strategically, with every post you create, you need to understand that you are attracting a certain “type” of reader.
In some ways this can be very limiting and it other ways it can be very freeing.
If you are against chemicals in cleansers and you write about it in your home organizing and cleaning posts, you would NOT be a good candidate to work with a brand like Clorox. But you would be perfect for a brand like Norwex. And your readers would much rather hear about Norwex.
This discipline of understanding who you are and what you are willing to write about will help you set boundaries on the types of posts and social media shares you are willing to create.
Authenticity is Key
One of the most requested features of a sponsored post from brands and influencer networks is authenticity. Brands and networks don’t want another ad, they want your voice — your authentic voice.
Once you determine your vision, mission, and goals, you can set boundaries on the things you write. This will both attract and repel certain types of brands, Think through it carefully and pull together a rough outline of what you will and will not write about.
You Need a Strategy
Developing a strategy for working with brands and small businesses is vital to a content marketer. If you’re an online influencer, it is possible to earn an income from your online business efforts if you align yourself with brands and small businesses that offer helpful solutions to your audience for their everyday challenges.
Hi, I’m Monica. I have an MBA in International Business, five years of online blogging experience, and over two years of running a profitable online business at HappyandBlessedHome.com. I love working with brands and small businesses, and I also enjoy sharing my insights with my blogging friends. My goal is simple: to help you turn your passion into a profitable online business.
Register for “9 Essential Steps”
I struggled for two years before I figured out how to make an income with my blog. Now I am booked 30-90 days out with sponsored work – and I want that same success for you. I am incredibly passionate about helping other bloggers get to an income making level much quicker.
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.
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
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Monica
Author: Monica Pruett, MBA, MonicaPruett.com
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