DeeryJennifer

  
How does your company want content created?

-Bloggers are hired to create “organic content” to leverage the Blogger’s audience.

-Ask for product reviews, giveaways, or just flat promotion. KNOW WHO YOUR AUDIENCE IS! Have demographics to give out – this helps justify your expense.

-How is your blog audience relevant? Know who you are reaching and targeting.

Blog posts have an infinate life-span. More longevity and ROI for company investments.

Be aware of your community and network on-line and also in real life. Use your partnerships and alliances (PTA, social groups, Chambers of Commerce, etc)

*Influence is not the same as following. You can have a very high incluence with only relatively low follower numbers! Network you social channels together.

What Brands / Firms want you to know:

• Approach your blog as a business. Stand out by being professional in your brand interactions.
• Ask questions-know what brand is looking for exactly.
• You may receive product or $payment for content. You may not have complete control over the content. Be willing to work with Brand.
• Continue to reach out to brands – even a small following, may have high value.
• Know the business of the Brand you are approaching. If it is a publically traded company – visit the investor page on their website and look at the news releases and other information. Use this to align your pitch.
• Professionalism – take it seriously. Have good follow through and commitment.
• Have a definate brand (logo, statement, font, layout)
• Bloggers – realize that you are a business. If you are investing time and money to learn and improve – you are not just a “hobby” anymore!
• Be aware of Search Engine Optimization – change your URL’s to reflect what search you want.

How do you know who to contact in a brand?

• Face to face interaction at Brand Event, Conference, etc. Go up to them and speak to them with your short one-sentence pitch. Get busines card and reference conversation during your introductory email.
• Talk to your fellow bloggers – find out who they are working for/with. Reach out to people. 
• Google power – use Twitter to interact and find people. Connect on LinkedIn.
• Don’t ignore someone because they represent a brand you don’t think is a good fit for you. Build a relationship – you never know what will happen.
• Free Posts are often used to Brands to try out a blogger.

What do you want in a pitch?

• Develop a media kit – with all you numbers, reach, past case studies (powerpoint is fine)
• Be awere of brand/ company calendar (plan out 3-6 months in advance)
• Don’t underestimate the power of advertising or blogging about gatherings you were going to do anyways! (have an awesome book club? Blog about it!)
• Don’t be rude! Be nice.
• Use good grammar and spelling.
• Keep attachments small and manageble. (use links when possible instead of downloads)
• Have a link to your Media Kit (don’t sent the entire thing in an attachment)
• Have a realistic rate sheet – know your value with your price sheet.

When a campaign starts to go bad – what should  a blogger do?

• Contact Brand rep asap and be upfront and honest. Try to bring an alternate solution.
• Call and let them know. ex: if the product you are supposed to review is just bad – let brand know, give them a heads up.

**Read your contracts and know what you are signing. If there is no contract or official agreement, then get everything in writing via email. 

**Ask them to confirm expectations so that you have the record. Make sure that you and brand are on the same page for expectation.

After a Campaign – what to do?

• Send links and results to the brand at the end.
• If you go above and beyond or something noteable happens – let the brand know.
• Be aware of your analytics – what are the likes and shares?
• Metrics and measurements are important for showing ROI
• Your work represents the entire blog community.

Advice for Creating Content for a Brand

• Make it your own – so it feels natural and not forced
• Actually visit the place or use the product you are blogging so it is realistic
• Reach out if you need help (editorials, talking points, etc)
• Take the brand concept and be original with it.
• Be authentic and real.
• Be specific about your location (your headquarters)

What do you Want Bloggers to Know Before Working With Brands?

• Know your own brand ethos.
• What will you do or not do.
• Know that it is a business for the brands
• Create relationships – brands want to work with people they like.
• Know your passion and what you like.
• Know what your niche is or where you can fit with a Brand.