{"id":15607,"date":"2017-04-07T08:49:38","date_gmt":"2017-04-07T13:49:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/?p=15607"},"modified":"2017-04-07T08:49:38","modified_gmt":"2017-04-07T13:49:38","slug":"ways-connect-brands-blogger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/ways-connect-brands-blogger\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways to Connect With Brands as a Blogger"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Connect<\/p>\n

More often than not, consumers trust industry influencers over paid advertisements.<\/p>\n

Customers crave honest and candid messages that speak their language. And brands are starting to recognize that trend.<\/p>\n

Research found that 84% of marketers<\/a> are employing an influencer marketing campaign. This finding presents an opportunity for bloggers to collaborate with their favorite brands.<\/p>\n

With a robust platform, bloggers can talk directly to a company\u2019s target audience. From posting product reviews to hosting a video tutorial, bloggers have the power to influence a generation of consumers.<\/p>\n

But how can bloggers garner the attention of top brands? Here\u2019s five creative ways to land your next big gig:<\/p>\n

\"HostGator<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Tell the World<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Consider the post like a Batman signal. You\u2019re placing everyone on notice that you\u2019re ready to engage in business. And by telling your audience, you\u2019re tapping into their network of colleagues.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Serial entrepreneur and bestselling author Gary Vaynerchuk<\/a> possesses a '\u02dcHire Me to Speak\u2019 page on his website. He pinpoints exactly what he can offer brands and includes a contact form, along with his most recent talks.<\/p>\n

\"Gary<\/p>\n

And don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

No one knows that you\u2019re open to brand opportunities until you tell them. So, tell as many people as possible.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Target Specific Brands<\/h2>\n

Can I share a secret with you? Not every brand will match your blog\u2019s audience or needs. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to narrow down your options.<\/p>\n

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

Use this knowledge as a foundation to focus on certain brands. Because if you\u2019re already catering to their customer base, they may feel more comfortable spending advertising dollars on your site.<\/p>\n

Next, do some research on those particular companies. Make sure their values coincide with your beliefs. For instance, if you\u2019re an advocate for clean energy and Company X doesn\u2019t believe in that cause, you may want to eliminate it from your list.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t let the fear of rejection stop you.<\/p>\n

'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\u2019t sponsor you at this time. Thank them for their time and keep them in your database for future reference,'\u009d state Dave and Deb<\/a>, the smiling faces behind The Planet D.<\/p>\n

Not every business will meet your standards. Therefore, conduct research to find the ones that do.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. Sell Your Niche<\/h2>\n

As a blogger, you\u2019re doing something very special. You\u2019re writing posts, recording sound clips, or maybe even talking in front of the camera.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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?<\/p>\n

'The fact is that most of us will never compete with the broad publications that are out there…sell the fact that you\u2019re different and that you can reach a narrow and targeted group of people that makes the money an advertiser spends much more effective,'\u009d writes Darren Rowse<\/a>, founder and editor of ProBlogger.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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

\"Girl<\/p>\n

Stand up and be heard! Demonstrate what sets you apart from all the other bloggers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4. Create a Media Kit<\/h2>\n

After you get the word out, it\u2019s possible that you may receive a few inquiries about your work. Executives will be curious to know what you\u2019re doing and who you serve.<\/p>\n

Prepare for this conversation early by creating a media kit. A media kit is usually a PDF containing the nitty-gritty about your blog.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

'I can\u2019t 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,'\u009d says Jeni <\/a>The Blog Maven.<\/p>\n

Spice up your media kit with images. Below is an example from Jessica Fiorillo at Feed me dearly.<\/p>\n

\"Feed<\/p>\n

Professionalism is part of connecting with brands. Invest some money into producing a quality media kit.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

5. Showcase Brand Results<\/h2>\n

It feels amazing to have relationships with brands. They recognize your talent and see the value in what your blog brings to the table.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s still a business. And brands are interested in knowing if you can deliver results.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

You also may want to develop case studies. These detailed stories outline how you solved a company\u2019s problem. Blogger Kristi Hines offers a few suggestions for creating a case study<\/a>:<\/p>\n