5 Ways to Connect With Brands as a Blogger

More often than not, consumers trust industry influencers over paid advertisements.

Customers crave honest and candid messages that speak their language. And brands are starting to recognize that trend.

Research found that 84% of marketers are employing an influencer marketing campaign. This finding presents an opportunity for bloggers to collaborate with their favorite brands.

With a robust platform, bloggers can talk directly to a company’s target audience. From posting product reviews to hosting a video tutorial, bloggers have the power to influence a generation of consumers.

But how can bloggers garner the attention of top brands? Here’s five creative ways to land your next big gig:

1. Tell the World

Let’s face the facts. There are millions of blogs on the Internet and hundreds more are cropping up everyday. If you want to work with corporations, you must spread the word.

Start by dedicating an entire blog post to discussing your desire to partner up brands and why you would be a perfect fit. This content should highlight your knowledge as well as your accomplishments.

Consider the post like a Batman signal. You’re placing everyone on notice that you’re ready to engage in business. And by telling your audience, you’re tapping into their network of colleagues.

Also, take the time to develop a page dedicated to attracting companies. Provide brand managers with details about your services and how they can contact you.

Serial entrepreneur and bestselling author Gary Vaynerchuk possesses a '˜Hire Me to Speak’ page on his website. He pinpoints exactly what he can offer brands and includes a contact form, along with his most recent talks.

And don’t limit marketing efforts to just your blog. Share the news on all your active social media accounts. Send a teaser tweet with a link to your promotional post. Or record an Instagram story about the announcement.

No one knows that you’re open to brand opportunities until you tell them. So, tell as many people as possible.

 

2. Target Specific Brands

Can I share a secret with you? Not every brand will match your blog’s audience or needs. That’s why it’s so important to narrow down your options.

To target specific brands, learn more about your readers. What are their behaviors and interests? And what companies do they currently buy from?

Use this knowledge as a foundation to focus on certain brands. Because if you’re already catering to their customer base, they may feel more comfortable spending advertising dollars on your site.

Next, do some research on those particular companies. Make sure their values coincide with your beliefs. For instance, if you’re an advocate for clean energy and Company X doesn’t believe in that cause, you may want to eliminate it from your list.

The last step is to actually reach out to the brands. Send an email or write a letter expressing your interest in establishing a partnership. And don’t let the fear of rejection stop you.

'Companies will say no that is a fact. But you will be amazed at how many people will respond with a polite letter explaining why they can’t sponsor you at this time. Thank them for their time and keep them in your database for future reference,' state Dave and Deb, the smiling faces behind The Planet D.

Not every business will meet your standards. Therefore, conduct research to find the ones that do.

 

3. Sell Your Niche

As a blogger, you’re doing something very special. You’re writing posts, recording sound clips, or maybe even talking in front of the camera.

The uniqueness lies in your ability to offer your perspective about a chosen topic. You might be sharing family recipes or giving readers your personal gardening tips. And all of that content matters to companies.

Selling your niche means showcasing your distinctive traits that make your blog outstanding. Why do your subscribers sign up? What keeps them coming back for more?

'The fact is that most of us will never compete with the broad publications that are out there…sell the fact that you’re different and that you can reach a narrow and targeted group of people that makes the money an advertiser spends much more effective,' writes Darren Rowse, founder and editor of ProBlogger.

Brands are hungry to collaborate with bloggers that will make them stand out. You can offer a vertical of exclusive content, or let companies receive access to your VIP audience.

While most fashion bloggers cater to petite women, Tanesha Awasthi at Girl With Curves is doing something different. She is empowering curvy women to live their lives with confidence.

Stand up and be heard! Demonstrate what sets you apart from all the other bloggers.

 

4. Create a Media Kit

After you get the word out, it’s possible that you may receive a few inquiries about your work. Executives will be curious to know what you’re doing and who you serve.

Prepare for this conversation early by creating a media kit. A media kit is usually a PDF containing the nitty-gritty about your blog.

It should include an introduction about yourself, your mission, notable clients, website statistics, and frequently asked questions. If you already know what type of partnerships you want, provide a section about your services and package rates.

'I can’t stress this enough the energy and effort you put into your media kit can either open doors of opportunity for you or slam them in your face…if you want to be competitive and really shine in front of brands, do yourself a favor and invest in a professional design for your media kit,' says Jeni The Blog Maven.

Spice up your media kit with images. Below is an example from Jessica Fiorillo at Feed me dearly.

Professionalism is part of connecting with brands. Invest some money into producing a quality media kit.

 

5. Showcase Brand Results

It feels amazing to have relationships with brands. They recognize your talent and see the value in what your blog brings to the table.

However, it’s still a business. And brands are interested in knowing if you can deliver results.

Can you drive significant traffic to their websites? Can you persuade 200 of your readers to enroll in their free webinar? At the end of the day, your record of results will matter.

Social proof is an effective way to present your achievements to potential brands. Ask previous clients to give a short testimonial of how you executed on a marketing campaign.

You also may want to develop case studies. These detailed stories outline how you solved a company’s problem. Blogger Kristi Hines offers a few suggestions for creating a case study:

• Write about past experience your ideal brand can relate to.
• Tell a story from start to finish.
• Provide an easy-to-read format.
• Talk about specific strategies.

Flaunt your past results to brands, and use social proof to clinch the deal.

 

Build a Solid Connection

Influencer marketing isn’t anything new. However, bloggers can seize the opportunity to work with major brands.

Spread the word about your hunt for partnerships via your blog and social media channels. Attract brands with your expertise in a specific niche. And create a media kit for executives to learn more about your blog.

Ready for the big leagues? Start connecting with brands today.