Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
For a lot of bloggers being able to work with brands they love is a goal they would like to achieve. If you are new to blogging or haven’t worked with brands before it can be daunting and you can be left confused as to what your first step should be.
I have been extremely fortunate to work with some incredible brands and I am more than grateful. However, that doesn’t mean I haven’t been turned down or had e-mails ignored before. It unfortunately comes with the territory.
It has only been in the past year that I have started reaching out via e-mail and social media to brands I would like to collaborate with. As previously brands would contact me, or I would find the opportunities online. Networking is definitely key to successful collaborations. I have had my email passed to other PR consultants and found collaborations that way also.
I have recently had a lot of comments on my blog and Twitter asking how can I reach out to brands, what should I say and where can I find blogging collaboration opportunities. The 4 tips I have written have been working well for me so I wanted to share these and maybe they can give you the boost of confidence you need to reach out.
1. Make a list of all the brands you would like to work with
Writing a list of the brands you would like to work with in the near future is a great start, it means you can do some research and see if you can establish a contact or a contact e-mail. Carrying out research on the brand, finding the brand’s message means you can tailor your e-mails to them. Brands appreciate you making the effort. Some companies will get hundreds of generic emails sent to them, make yours stand out!
2. Reaching out to brands via e-mail
When you have established a contact e-mail, there is a list of things you want to make sure you include:
- A mini introduction including who you are and why you are contacting them.
- Links to all your social media platforms as well as your blog.
- Your statistics, monthly views on your blog and follower count for all your social media platforms.
- Any ideas you want to put to them about possible collaborations.
If you have a media kit already designed then you can attach that to the e-mail if you prefer. In the next month or so I want to allocate time to designing my media kit to use in future e-mails to brands.
Photo by STIL on Unsplash
3. Searching for brand collaboration opportunities online
You do not need to reach out to brands if you are not confident in doing so, you can find great opportunities online. Twitter has so many different opportunities that bloggers can get involved with. Brands will often use Twitter to reach out as they can reach a wider audience. I have found several opportunities through Twitter. If you are wanting to look for opportunities, searching for #bloggerswanted #bloggersrequired and #PRrequest, will provide you with the latest tweets requesting work with bloggers from brands and other bloggers. Respond to the opportunities you want and put yourself out there.
4. Patience and perseverance
With any task or project it takes time and doesn’t always work out first time. Blogging is no exception! Many people will openly say blogging is easy, we both know it isn’t! Sometimes you may be turned down or not have a reply to your e-mail, but keep going, it will happen!
If you do work with brands, make sure you are declaring your content. It is important your disclosure is clear to your audience. These are just a few tips on how to find brand work. Just make sure you work honestly with the brands. But also remember do not sell yourself short! Know your worth, some brands will expect something for nothing. You don’t have always say yes!
This was such a helpful and informative post, thank you! I would loveeee to work with brands in the future so these were all such great tips to keep in mind. I didn’t really know you could search those kind of hashtags on twitter so I think that will be my first step in delving into the world of working with brands! xx
That’s great you have found it useful! There is so much on there. Happy searching! I hope you find some great work. Thank you for reading and commenting! Xx
I’ve only worked with one brand so far (PMD Clean) and they reached out to me when I commented on another blogger’s review of their product! So that’s another way to find opportunities. But I’ve never reached out to a brand myself. I am hoping to work with more brands in 2020, so these tips will be really helpful for me, thank you!
That’s a great tip too! I know a few people who have got opportunities that way! I hope they help. Thank you for reading and commenting. Can you send me the link to your blog x
Thank you! Of course – it’s http://thisbrilliantday.com x
Brilliant post. I’ve just had my first sponsored post after they contacted me, it’s very exciting but now I need to make moves to gather more income from my blog.
It’s quite a daunting task x
That’s awesome! Congratulations! 🎉 I hope it goes well for you! Good luck xx
These are such awesome tips and super useful. I’d love to be able to out some of these into action in 2020 and level up my blog 🙂
I hope they help and you find some great opportunities. Thank you for reading and commenting! 😊
Thank you!
I loved reading this post, thank you for sharing these tips!
Thank you for reading and commenting!
Sure thing, it was a useful post to read xxx
Very helpful post. This is one of my goals for 2020 but I haven’t even started yet… 🙂
Good luck when you start reaching out 😊
Working with brands can be daunting but this post is definitely full of information to help you through. I think that they most important thing about working with brands is remembering not to sell yourself short. Always remember your worth! ♡
Exactly what I think! Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog post xx
Fantastic tips here!
I’m trying to build up the courage to approach brands. Eek.
Cora | http://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
Thank you!
Really helpful post! I’ve not worked with any brands yet 💛
This is my goal, I just have to push past my anxiety
Definitely give it a go!
Love this post, Lauren, it’s so helpful. TBH I’ve never cold pitched a brand. I’ve applied for opps on Twitter or Facebook but I’ve been very lucky to be contacted directly for my brand collabs. It makes me wonder what I could achieve if I actually screwed up the courage to pitch directly now – I mean, you’re right, they can only say No or ignore me! But my favourite tip is to know your worth. Brands aren’t in business for peanuts and neither are we. Our time is valuable too. Great post, lovely! Lisa xxx
I have cold pitched a few times and been so lucky for them to agree. But previously they would contact me or I find them online too! You should give it a go! You are a successful blogger and they would be silly not to work with you! Definitely knowing your worth xxx
Great tips 🙂 I have emails from companies to do posts, that are not always relevant, so it’s picking and choosing for me what I can manage to, not to get myself to stressed out 🙂
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
Yeah definitely! I have turned down work before as it doesn’t fit my niche! I have to stay true to myself and my brand. Thank you for reading and commenting!
This is such a helpful post. I really want to reach out and work with more brands this year and this post has definitely inspired me
I hope this post helps you to do so! Good lucks
Thank you for these tips! I haven’t gotten many opportunities yet, but my goal is to work with brands!
Definitely use those hash tags! X
Great tips 🙂
Brianna | http://briannamarielifestyle.com
Thanks!
This is very helpful and true, you’ll never get if you don’t ask!x
FATIMAH • ROSEYGOLDBOX
Thank you! X
This is a super helpful post, I’m new to blogging and working with brands is a little scary but this really made it simple and easy to understand!
That’s great I am glad this has helped! I hope you find some great opportunities soon! Xx
Can you link your blog so I can have a read x
This is a super helpful post! I’ve never worked with a brand and don’t think I’m anywhere near it – but I’ll be keeping all of this in mind <3 x
A helpful post! Tips of all kind make for learning opportunities.
I think making a list of the brands you have in mind is a great idea; it helps you stay focused. And, of course, nothing is better then reaching out to people! I never regret it.
Brilliant post, with what are probably the 4 most important pieces of advice for reaching out to brands/companies.
It’s been that long since I tried, but recently the hashtags on twitter have become saturated with bloggers promoting their own content. Now instead I go to the blogging groups on Facebook where many PRs post opportunities they have going.
That’s great ideas! Thank you for reading, commenting and sharing 😊
How was I not following your blog before? New blog follower here! Ok so I definitely need to check out those blog collaboration hashtags, I just know I’ll find more opportunities. Thank you for sharing those big tips!
Natonya | http://justnatonya.wordpress.com/
I have followed you back ☺️ thank you for following! Definitely check those hashtags! Good luck with them lovely! You’ve got this! 😊
Thanks for reminding me about the hashtags. I’m clueless as to which brands will accept a blogger with my daily views and experience. So, looking for brands who have already put the word out along with those guidelines might be a little easier than going in blind.
Definitely check out the hashtags and you have to start somewhere, keep putting your name out there ☺️x
Useful tips!! I’ll definitely keep these in mind!!
Des | https://www.itsbetterinheels.com
Thank you!
Loved this post! There were some great tips and a good reminder that you can’t always get your way, no matter how big you are, your emails can always be ignored or rejected!
Kirstin
http://letsgosomewhereelse.co.uk/
Thank you for reading and commenting! I have returned the comment. Can you make sure it has gone through xx
I couldn’t agree with you more here especially on the second tip, reaching out to brands has got me some of the best opportunities that I’ve had so far in blogging!
That’s awesome!! Thank you for reading and commenting!
thank you so much for sharing this.
Thank you for reading and commenting!
Such a great post. I totally agree perseverance is key x
Thank you for reading and commenting x
Thanks for the tips! I feel like I’ve stumbled upon my few collabs at this point. I need to be more active in seeking them out.
Glad they helped! Please can you link your blog so I can read your blog x
This is such a helpful post! 🙂
Thank you. Can you link your blog x
I love these tips. It does take patience and time. You do get no’s but eventually you get a yes.
Definitely! Thank you for reading and commenting!
Thank you for reading and commenting! Can you send your link to your blog x
These are all such great tips! I love working with different brands, but I need to be better about reaching out myself through email to companies I really want to work with.
Thank you!!
Thanks for reading. Can you link your blog
This post was so informative and helpful! Thank you so much! I have only posted my first ever post a few days ago but this post is super helpful if I decide I want to start working with brands!
You are welcome! Good luck with working with brands! 😊😊
I am new and now learning about blogging. Slowly j would like to be able to reach out to some brands. I will follow your suggestions. Thank you so much for sharing your tips.
Thank you for reading! Good luck when you decide to reach out
This is such an informative post – never really gave thought about writing down the brands I’d love to work with, much less reaching out to them! Thanks for these tips!
☼ cabin twenty-four
I hope these help and you reach out! Thank you for reading and commenting x
This is such a useful post! I’m about to start contacting brands for collabs, so this was great to read. Really great tips, the hashtag one was my favorite! 🙂
Good luck!! I hope it goes well for you! Thank you for reading and commenting 😊
This was so informative and really came at the right time! Thank you so much for sharing 😊 xx
Aww I am glad it has been helpful to you! Thank you for reading and commenting! Xx
This is an awesome post! I don’t yet have the audience to reach out to brands, but my blog is growing every day, and I hope that I’ll be able to reach out with brands for sponsorship opportunities. This is a great guideline for a new blogger like me, thank you so much!
That’s great! I hope you can reach out soon! Xx
Great post and very informative. I’m not ready to work with brands yet but I’ll definitely keep in mind all your advice.
Good luck when you do reach out
Great post. I haven’t reached out to any brands but I hope to do so this year. Thanks for the info.
That’s awesome! Good luck!
Thank you for this post. I’m pretty new to blogging (six months). This is something that I want to be involved with. Great suggestions.
Good luck when you do reach out! X
Thank you. Right now I’m juggling my hours between writing and promoting.
It takes up a lot of time, doesn’t it?
More than I would ever have imagined.
Great article! For me it’s all about having the patience and perseverance! Not so easy at times. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much!! Can you link your blog so I can have a read x
Great tips, I certainly never thought about contacting brands myself before!
Definitely give it a go! Good luck! X
I’ve only ever had brands reach out to me for collaboration. How do you normally go about even finding a contact email for the brands you like outside of the standard “contact us” page?
Their social media pages are the best place. Or contact us ones work also! Can you link your blog so I can have a read 😊
One of my main blogging goals for 2020 is to have a brand collaboration and this post was super helpful for me. I already have a list of ideal brands – some are really ambitious and some are more reasonable but I need to work on my media kit for sure before I start emailing out but I am really excited now to start trying. Thank you for a really informative post.
That’s awesome, good luck with reaching! I hope it goes well for you xx
These are some great advice. One of my goals for 2020 is to have the blog pay for itself, so getting tips is amazing 😊
Thanks for sharing ❤️
-Tea
https://teaspangsberg.com
That is a great goal to have! Good luck with achieving that this year ❤️
Thank you 😊
Working with brands is something I’m trying to navigate through myself now, so this post definitely came at the right time! I have been thinking what brands I would like to work with, but I feel like all the brands I do know are all the big name ones so have to think a bit smaller. Twitter is a great place to search for opportunities – though the hashtags can get a bit clogged up sometimes but they’re great. This was a super informative post!
Sahara
https://www.saharasdreams.com/
such a helpful post – and its really helpful especially to someone like me whos just started out with blogging! i really like the tips you give! thank you!
Aww I hope they help you when you come to working with brands! Thank you for reading and commenting!