Finding Bloggy Conference Sponsorship

Sunday, July 15, 2012

8:40 PM // , , , , ,


We {Bloggy Conference} recently held another fun and very informative Twitter party about finding sponsorship for the conference. However, all the tips and suggestions can be used for any conference you're looking to attend.

If you missed it - here are some questions to answer and tips to get you started.


{1} Have you determined the cost for you to attend? Ticket. Travel. Lodging?
Before you can begin asking brands for sponsorship, you must have a calculation of the expected cost to attend the event.


{2} With cost calculated, how many levels of sponsorship can you offer?
Check out this breakdown of sponsorship levels provided on BloggyConference.com


{3} What can you offer your sponsor(s)?
What type of advertising and marketing of their services/products can you provide them.  Ad space on your blog?  A post about them and their services/products each month for a given time frame?


{4}  Do you have a media/sponsorship kit?
Browse the Media Kit tips provided by BloggyConference.com


{5}  Who is your audience? Who does your blog appeal to the most? 
This helps determined the best brands for sponsorship.


{6}  Do you have a button/image stating that you are seeking sponsorship?
Get a #BloggyCon sponsorship button here http://ow.ly/cayaf


{7}  Do you know which businesses best fit your target audience? 
Tip: Make a list!


{8}  Have you sent proposals to brands/businesses?
The sooner the better!  Don't wait too long - they wouldn't be able to make an agreement and cut a check even if they wanted to when you wait until the last minute.


{9}  Are you following up with the brands you have contacted? 
Be persistent without being annoying.  A friendly and final reminder of your proposal may be in your best interest.


{10}  Have you created a dedicated post about seeking sponsorship?
This is a great post for your "Sponsor Me" button to link back to.  This is where you explain where you want to go, how much it will cost to get there and what you can provide brands that help make this successful.


{11}  Are you using various social media platforms –Twitter-Facebook- to announce that you are seeking sponsorship?
Use each of your social platforms to announce {multiple times} that you are seeking sponsorship.  


Reminder:  Each conference has policies regarding personal sponsorship.  Check out Bloggy Conference Sponsorship Policies.

Just a few of the awesome tweets from the Twitter Party!






















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What do you write about?

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

9:39 AM // ,


In an interview last week {I don't know why people want to interview me either}, I was asked what I blog/write about. It's interesting to sit back and examine your own blog. What do I write about?

Over the years it has changed - along with my life. My top priorities and thought patterns have changed quite significantly since I began nearly two decades ago.

I tend to write about what is most prominent in my thoughts at the moment. At one point, I wrote mostly on social media/blogging tips. I currently write more about my daily life and time spent with my children.

I add reviews to the line up - as long as the product/service fits into our life and interests. Ultimately, I have to enjoy what I post.

That's my advice to you. If you don't enjoy writing on certain topics, I don't see the relevance in spending hours composing articles on the subject. That is in regards to your personal blog - not for posts/articles where you are employed.

When you enjoy something - scrap booking, your children, photography, cooking, writing tips, financial planning, the technical side of social media - I think it will shine through and you will find a greater joy in maintaining a blog. It will become seemingly effortless.

Throughout the years, I've been all over the board. I can say though, that I enjoy what I write and I allow the topics/niche to gradually fade into one another. That makes up who I am.

I admire the blogs of others just as I admire the writings of great authors such as Alfred Lord Tennyson. I can only be myself and not try to emulate the postings of other bloggers just as I am not and could never be Tennyson.

After saying all of that, what do you write about? Are you trying to be another blogger that you esteem or do you let your thoughts flow and design your writing around that?

You will find that you are able to craft a much more interesting blog when you allow it to be uniquely you.




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How do I grow my blog audience?

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

2:59 PM // , ,


The questions I am asked most frequently all relate to building a blog audience.

"How do I grow my blog?"

"How do I find more readers?"

"How do I increase my audience?"

While there is no secret and magical set of instructions - here is a list of "Must-Dos" that you need to focus on in order to even begin to build an audience.

{1} Content

If you aren't providing interesting and relevant content, there is no compelling reason for someone to visit your blog and then remain on your site for a while browsing various posts.

I've often seen "Sorry I haven't been around for a while, I'll post more soon!" type entries repeatedly on blogs - beginning blogs. If you haven't posted in a while, that's evident - there is no need to point it out in a short and thoughtless post.

If your blog is comprised largely of this type of post, then you essentially have no content.

The type of content that is relevant and interesting will vary depending on the audience and niche. Do you post recipes or Do-It-Yourself entries? Are you writing about your every day life and experiences? Is your blog made up of couponing and savings tips with daily deals listed?

Whatever the case may be, you need to provide real content with depth.

{2} Where are you?

You may have the most fascinating content, yet if no one knows where you are - how can they visit you?

The beginning of each year at college was filled with finding out where friends were living that year and letting friends know where they could find me for the next two semesters. Your blog address is much like having a new physical address. If you don't make it known - how can anyone visit?

Make sure this information is readily available on any profile you set up.  Anywhere.

Facebook
Twitter
Bloggy Moms

Your profile on all accounts should lead your connections back to your blog.  They will no doubt browse through your About Information on the accounts - why not provide that important url.

{3}  See and be seen!

Make the daily/weekly rounds through your social media accounts. 

Post a status update and send out a tweet.

Visit other blogs and leave a thoughtful comment that is relevant to the post.  After all, you did read the post in its entirety before you left a comment.

Participate in Twitter parties - Hashtag discussions.

Comment on the fanpage of pages that you have 'liked'.

{4}  Invite discussion.      

Encourage your readers to participate and take a role in your blog and share their thoughts/opinions.  When your readers do comment on a post - be grateful they took the time to do that.  Reply to their comment and make it a two way discussion.

There are many more elements to developing your audience.  Template/Layout, Links, Niche - they all play a role.  Take the first step by being social in social media.




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