{"id":24769,"date":"2024-10-15T12:46:10","date_gmt":"2024-10-15T09:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themeisle.com\/blog\/?p=24769"},"modified":"2024-10-15T12:46:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-15T09:46:14","slug":"sponsored-blog-posts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themeisle.com\/blog\/sponsored-blog-posts\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Sponsored Blog Posts: 10 Steps to Find Your First Sponsor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you’re ready to start making money from your blog, you’re on the right track! The fact that you believe in the value of your content is a huge step – one that many struggle with. Now that you have the right mindset, it’s time to turn that confidence into income by landing your first sponsored post! <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to get started, and who knows – maybe down the line, you’ll even become a brand ambassador. Let’s take this journey one step at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be clear, I am not an influencer myself. I am on the other side of the table representing the potential advertiser that content creators often approach. At Themeisle, we have received many proposals for sponsored blog posts for our WordPress themes and plugins. And, even though we don’t do them frequently, we have developed a way to choose the right partnerships and create trustworthy content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several things to take into account when considering a new collaboration. Understanding them will increase your chances of opening more doors. Moreover, these are not industry-specific and will likely apply to your blog as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I’ve also invited some fellow professionals to add their thoughts on the points below, for more diverse opinions. Hopefully, we’ll get your mind spinning and some cash flowing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What is a sponsored blog post in the first place?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By sponsored posts, I mean an arrangement where you’re being paid to come up with a topic for a blog post, and then write it in a way that best reflects your views and values while endorsing a brand in an authentic way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I realize that there’s a lot of nuance here, but in general, the key characteristic from a blogger’s perspective is that a sponsored blog post in nearly entirely within your creative control. As in, you decide what the content is going to be, you decide how to write it, and you are also the one who’s responsible for making it in tune with other content on your blog and your audience’s expectations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the brand often provides specific guidelines or key points to include, it’s essentially your job to navigate that and make it all fit.<\/p>\n\n\n

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1. How to find brands in the first place?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let’s begin by finding you some names for your list of potential clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that comes to my mind is checking out which brands are already doing this type of influencer marketing. Look at your direct competitors and see if they have partnered up with any brands in the past year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This next one is my favorite: go and network at meetups, events, conferences, or expos where you can connect directly with brands looking for ambassadors or influencers. Take a few copies of your media kit with you (I talk about this in point 5 below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try to find startups that have recently received investment and are likely to have marketing budgets to spend. Startups that have just closed a funding round are often looking to scale quickly. Search AngelList and Crunchbase<\/a> and filter startups by recent funding, industry, location, or company size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Crunchbase<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can also try getting some external help from PR agencies that often represent multiple brands. Reach out and make some new connections. When they start searching for influencers to collaborate with, your name will be remembered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I’ve never used them and don’t know what the competition is like over there, you can check out the new online marketing platforms that connect bloggers with influencers. Aspire, Activate, or Influencity allow you to browse campaigns, apply for sponsorships, and pitch your content to relevant companies.<\/p>\n\n\n

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2. Share the same brand values<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before approaching possible advertisers, let’s start by researching the brands you’ll want to possibly endorse. Because they will do it too. This means they will check out your blog and your profile and if your brand values and strategy differ, there won’t be any deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alignment between your values is crucial for maintaining authenticity and building trust with their audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s how you can identify the brand values and mission:<\/p>\n\n\n\n