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When I started blogging I never dreamed that one day, I’d actually get sent a product – for free – in order to write about it, let alone get paid to write a post. I didn’t understand how blogging can be a serious business, that there’s money to be made from it and that brands actually genuinely trust bloggers, want to work with them and promote their products through this platform. Sponsored blog posts and earning money blogging is a much more recognized thing now, than when I started blogging. But actually getting your foot in the door can be hard.
Photo by Alexa Williams on Unsplash
Some bloggers are very secretive in how they get certain opportunities. I’m sure they’re not doing any dodgy business so I’m not sure the reasoning behind why some bloggers are so shifty about telling people how and where they got sponsored blog posts and what they’ve done to help themselves along the way. Babe, it’s not MI5, lots of bloggers are doing it *eye rolls*.
So today I wanted to talk about blogging opportunities and share all the advice and resources I’ve learned and used in order to build my blog up to the point where I’m able to get opportunities and sponsored blog posts on a very regular basis.
Ready to start making money through your blog and working on sponsored blog posts?
Build your blog audience
Brands want to work with bloggers who have an engaged audience – that’s no secret and brands need and want exposure. Although micro-influencers are incredibly valuable and engagement is the most important thing in most cases, you still need to build a loyal following to provide that engagement easier. Focus on your blog and your social channels and work to build that audience.
Recommend: A Beginners Guide To Growing Your Blog Following
Actively search for opportunities and sponsored blog posts
I scroll past blogging opportunities on Twitter every single day – have I always noticed them? Heck no. Because I’ve never thought to look. Lots of brands post about opportunities on Twitter – even if you think you have no chance, reply anyway because you never know. Have a look on the #bloggerswanted hash tag, where a lot of opportunities will crop up.
Work on your DA
Ah, the dreaded DA score. Before we go any further, a DA score will only apply to bloggers who have their own domain name. So if your blog URL ends in .wordpress or .blogspot – you do not have your own DA score. I’ve seen a lot of bloggers who don’t know this, so when a brand asks for your DA, make sure you know what you’re giving them!
A DA score is where your blog ranks on search engines and when brands are looking for bloggers to work with, you may see that they ask for bloggers with a DA above ‘x’. This is because the higher the DA, the better ranked on a search engine the post will be. Therefore, more beneficial to the brand. I wrote a huge guide on domain authority which will help you if you’re confused!
Put yourself out there to gain sponsored blog posts
Contrary to the bloggers which tell you, “I’ve never had to approach anyone about sponsored posts, they just come to me“, most of us do actually have to put ourselves out there a bit. If you’re one of the ones which have had all their sponsored posts fall in their lap then you’re very lucky! Apply for things, pitch to brands, sign up to websites, search the hash tag, join Facebook groups.
Recommended: Your Pitching Toolkit eBook (use code JENNY10 for 10% off – aff)
Be professional
I don’t mean signing every email off with “best regards, yours, Jenny of the Neverland” but coming across as professional is always a bonus. Chloe from Lady Writes understands both sides of the coin, being both a blogger and a PR person. She wrote two exceptionally helpful posts called The PR’s Guide to Blogging which covers topics such as the importance of your reputation as a blogger, what PR’s look for and why you should be professional.
Related: The PR’s Guide To Blogging Part 1
Related: The PR’s Guide To Blogging Part 2
I really hope that you found this post helpful as a starting point on how to find sponsored blog posts and blogging opportunities!
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[…] and where I find blogging opportunities. I’ve done various posts about it in the past (like this one, this one and this one) and I plan to do another one sometime soon with very specific links to […]
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[…] blogging seriously or want to take blogging seriously and maybe start working with brands or even earning money, it can definitely help to treat it like a job with a routine rather than just blogging […]
Just reblogged it so other could take advantage of it. as well. Thank you so much for sharing Jenni
You’re welcome and thank you for reblogging 🙂
[…] via Sponsored posts, earning money & blogging as a business – tips & tricks — Jenny in Never… […]
Jenny, You always seem very supportive and bring a great stuff for other fellow bloggers. I have to save your post so I can use it in the future. Just purchased my domain from go daddy but now I am confused what If I go for self hosted, would I loose my wordpress community? Any suggestions? Stay blessed and stay connected please.
I’m not self hosted so I can’t help there I’m afraid!
[…] helps you build up your brand image and certainly makes you look professional. It’s likely you’ll be keeping a roughly similar style over your social media platforms […]
Great advice, much appreciated! I’ve been blogging for a long time now as it’s something I love to do, but just recently I’ve really wanted to start getting my blog out there a bit more and it’s always nice to make a bit of money from it isn’t it! 🙂
Lovely blog, I’ve read so many of your posts today.
Chloe xx
http://www.chloechats.com/
Awh thanks so much! So glad you found them helpful! 🙂
[…] sponsored posts and working with brands Great resources to improve blogger outreach Sponsored posts, earning money and blogging as a business – tips and tricks Tips for offering advertising slots on your blog Tips for people who want to go […]
Wow, I never even knew about a DA score before reading this! Thanks for the great tips and feel free to check out my food & lifestyle blog http://www.classymillennial.blog
[…] 2016 which was a post I did for Quorn! I wasn’t aware that I’ve only really been doing sponsored posts for just over 2 years until I looked at my […]
This is a really good piece! Really glad I read it now.
Thanks 🙂 x
Reblogged this on Business and Life and commented:
Found this post very useful to bloggers. I hope you will to learn from it.
Just learned some new information from this post especially on where to get sponsored posts. Thanks!
You’re welcome 🙂 Glad you found it helpful!
[…] a week; Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then leave Tuesday and Thursday open for any last minute sponsored content or product reviews which might come in. I also always try and leave weekends free so I have a […]
This is such a helpful post! Half the things on there, I didn’t know how to do. I’ve tried working with brands before, but again, the amount of followers I have always tends to put them off working with me. But patience is virtue. So I will apply these tips and keep on grinding. Thanks! x
Glad you found it helpful! I’ve found a lot of brands so value a higher number of followers and page views but building your following organically is the best thing to do! xxx
OMGosh, I’m such an old novice! I just started my WordPress blog earlier this year to try to figure out the basics, but life has got in the way of me developing it at all, into setting up my own domain (whatever that really involves…). I love reading many other blogs, and probably spend more time doing that than writing, playing with or developing mine at all. I had thought I might have done much more by now as I try to develop a job I can do from my isolated home. You talking about DA’s (Dental Assistants, from my dick n’harry), Sponsored Links / pages and all the Twits has left me a bit beffudled. Is there somewhere I can go and read up on all that where it is written for ‘seniors’? =D (I really don’t want to set up a Twitter account and get caught up in all that ……but is there a way around it? Will I be left behind?)
I’d suggest dropping me an email with some specific questions if you need some advice! 🙂
Thank you. I’ll endeavour to do that over the next few days. It’s late night here now. Cheers