Are Sponsored Posts Right For Your Crochet Blog?

Leverage Your Influence with Blog Sponsors

Today companies want to leverage the power of bloggers by offering cash or products in exchange for blog mentions or reviews.

Quick Bites:

• What is Sponsorship?
• How Can I find the Right Opportunity for my Crochet blog?
• Where can I find opportunities?

What is Sponsorship?

Sponsorship is simply being compensated for including a companies link, blog post, or review.

You might know Crissy Herron of IndieBizChick.com? She has partnered with companies like Chevy, Laughing Cow Cheese, Frito Lay and Microsoft to name a few. She can teach you a few things about pitching to companies.

How Can I Find the Right Opportunity for My Crochet Blog?

In choosing the right company to partner with you need to always keep your needs as well as the needs of your readers in mind.

Ask yourself the following questions before accepting an offer:

• What does the company stand for? 
• Do your goals and beliefs align?
• Will you be able to give an honest review? OR stand behind the product or service?
• Will you be proud of the post?
• What are the terms?
• Do they provide the post or will you need to write your own post?
• If they provide the post are you allowed to put your own spin onto it?
• How long do you have to keep the post active?
• What is the minimum you charge for this service?
• Will this benefit, education, entertain, or solve a problem for your reader?

Once you know the goal of offering these types of posts to your readers you will be able to accept or deny offers with ease.

Sara, Can I Have an Example?

Why of course you can – Last year [2012] I did some sponsored posts for my personal writing blog. I write on a number of topics so took offers from MacCorrmick Grillmates, Best Foods (Hellmanns for the east cost folks), Time 4 Learning, Oak Meadow Curriculum, and Frigidaire.

Below is just one example of product ‘payments’ I received for participating in sponsored posts.

I chose these offers not based on payment but on my readers. At the time I wrote about homeschooling so that is why I chose to host a giveaway of Oak Meadow Curriculum. Besides it is what I use to teach my son. My readers were also homeschoolers so adding this post to my blog educated my readers.

I also chose to do a sponsored post for some food based companies. Again, at the time my posts included recipes and menu planning so my audience would benefit from this relationship.

It wouldn’t make much sense to put these types of post on this blog as it is mainly about blogging and business as it pertains to crochet.

Where Can I Find Opportunities?

You are pretty lucky. You used to have to contact the company you wanted to work with BUT now there a businesses in the business of connecting you with brands.

Here are Just a Few:

• One 2 One Network – My Review
• SheHeard – did some work with them but I just went to their FB page and they haven’t been active since Dec 2012
• Little Tikes – for those with little ones
• CleverGirlsCollective 
• The Sits Girls – pretty much the biggest and most influencial blogger to brand company
• BZZAgent – simply try products, talk about them, and build your bzz.

Contact the Company Directly

Alternatively you can just contact the company directly. Usually you need to be a professional crafter i.e. have a business license with an Employer Identification Number. See if you can work something out.

Interview Those Who Have Gone Before You

You might want to interview the Crochet Dude or The Crochet Crowd. Both have successfully reached out to brands. Amy and Donna of Crochetville might be able to help you as well. I’m almost positive (I could be wrong) that you will need to join the Crochet Business Mastermind Group but for the inside scoop on working with crochet brands – I think it is worth it.

Forget the Middleman (woman) and Promote Yourself

I follow a YouTube channel Aeri’s Kitchen because I’m interested in Korean cooking. I also have an addiction to Korean Dramas which happen to highlight my favorite emotion – LOVE. Anyhow, Aeri teaches Americans (and others) how to make Korean dishes. I learned how to make Kimbap from her.

She used brands in her cooking and the company contacted HER to represent their brand. (Sempio) Well, she wasn’t trying to be a brand ambassador but it presented an opportunity to her because she was just being herself. Cool huh?

One More Resource

I know this is all great information BUT it can get a bit overwhelming. BREATHE. Take some time to soak it in. Ready?

Visit Blog Monetizing 101. This blog is run by Jodi Grundig who started blogging in 2007. She started reviewing products and hosting giveaways and NOW teaches you how to do it.

Take her 30 Steps to monetize your blog because it is literally everything you need to get started.

Do you currently do Sponsored Posts or Sponsorships?

Share One Tip in the Comments.