Get Yourself Noticed: Getting Sponsors

Over the last week I have been inundated with emails in regards to my post on "How to get Yourself Featured." Sadly, with the Easter weekend and the my sister's wedding, my ability to respond to emails has been majorly derailed.

No need for alarm my darlings. I found a solution to answer each of you.

I've decided to do a mini series entitled, "Getting Yourself Noticed."

This series will highlight everything from photography techniques to marketing your etsy shop. 

It will be fun and a there will be a test at the end. So take notes, lots and lots of notes. 

So, with that said, this week I am going to give you the 411 on sponsorship. 

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Many moons ago before I started this blog, I use to sit at my computer for hours on end and stare at other blogs. I loved their tutorials, their funny little anecdotes, their constant inspiration, and their awe inspiring ideas.

Back then I believed that I couldn't start my own blog because I had somehow missed the blog train.

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Then one night while lying in bed I decided I would start a blog. In the beginning I was overwhelmed and frustrated. I didn't know where to begin. Slowly I began to write posts and overtime a positive correlation began to occur between the number of posts and an increase in my stats.

Once I had developed a platform for my writing and I had a sense of where I wanted my blog to go I then went seeking sponsorships. 

Here are my tricks:

1. Promote yourself.

Yep, I said it. In the beginning I was so small that I knew no one would ever sponsor me. So I sponsored myself. I had a etsy shop so I started to do small giveaways every week from my store. Not only did this help boost my numbers, but it also got my name out there.

2. Friends rock.
Once I had tapped out my own giveaway budget I started to ask friends if they would like to do a giveaway on my blog. They all said, "yes!" And even today, I am still so grateful for their contributions and their faith in me when I was still a struggling blog trying to find my way.

3. Don't be afraid to ask.

The only way you will ever find sponsors or items for giveaways is to approach different companies and ask if they would like to do a giveaway. Yes, many "big blogs"  don't have to approach companies anymore because people are just throwing their items at them, but they were small once too. So believe me when I say that they had to do their own amount of sponsor searching in the beginning as well.  

4. Don't be afraid of the dreaded word, "no."

I have been turned down my fair share of shops. It happens and it is life. Let's be real for a teensy second-- You will get discouraged, but keep going my friends, with every "no" there will be a handful of "yes's."

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And just think, if you don't ask you will never know what their answer may have been?

5. Don't be afraid to approach "big" blogs or shops.

If there is a shop that you love, but it is huge--approach anyway. The least they could do is say "no," but who knows they may say "yes." And just remember, if you don't ask them someone else may and then you may have just lost a "big fish" opportunity!

6. Write an awesome letter/gushing email to potential sponsors

I have provided two sample emails for potential sponsors. While there isn't just one way to write a sponsorship letter, these two examples may give you a little guidance when you start to write your own letter.

Dear Sara

My name is Halsey Bishop and I run a little blog called Spunky Junky. Recently I came upon your shop and I love your announcement cards. You have such a wide variety and I catch myself favoriting all of your items. I am really having a hard time deciding between Blast Off and Twist announcements for my little guy's first birthday! 

Now, that I have Sara's attention and I have created a sincere effort to show her that I have actually looked at her shop then I would approach her about doing a giveaway.

Even in my initial letter I would provide her with a few facts about my blog including size, target audience, and why she would benefit from doing a giveaway on Spunky Junky.

If she emailed back saying that she would be interested in doing a giveaway then I would send her back a marketing packet

In this email I would include:

*Blog statistics

*Example giveaway posts

*Target audience (and relevancy to giveaway item)

*Social media coverage (Facebook and Twitter).

*Blog post sponsorships

*Sidebar advertisng

*Product review (FREE advertising for xx months)

The second letter is if you already have a product from a particular shop.

Dear Sara

My name is Halsey and I run a blog called Spunky Junky. Recently, I purchased 50 Twist announcements from your shop and I couldn't be more pleased. The quality of your announcements are amazing. Thank you so much for providing such a great product.

Once, I finished gushing about Sara's products I would then approach her about doing a giveaway. If she agreed, I would then send her the same marketing package as above.

Once, she agreed to the giveaway I would do everything possible to promote her shop and products. This is where the hard work starts for you! 

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Remember what I said last week about when you give love you will receive love. Well, this is where you should do it. 

Promote your shops, gush about them, tweet them, facebook them, post about them often. Do whatever you can to get there names out there, because when everyone else starts to love them then you will have done your job!

7. Here are a few ideas for promoting your lovely giveaways and sponsors:
*post dedicated solely to the sponsor's shop and the giveaway item
*daily tweets about the shop
*facebook updates about the sponsor's shop
*sidebar advertisement
*daily posts with a shout out about the sponsor at the bottom
* If you know certain days on your blog get hit more then other days put a special note at the bottom directing your readers to the giveaway.

8. When doing a giveaway, you could also make these mandatory or optional requirements:
*ask readers to visit the sponsor's blog/shop
*provide extra giveaway entries if they purchase something for the sponsor's store
*ask them to become a follower/fan of the sponsor's blog/shop
*have them tweet/post/or facebook the giveaway and the sponsor

Remember, to ask the sponsor how they would like to be promoted. Also, and maybe most importantly, ask them which of these requirements must be mandatory. ;)

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And remember...
helping others out is can fun and rewarding. Don't you think?

;)

Now, get to work finding those awesome sponsors!