In this article, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about working with brands on sponsored posts…

If you’re a blogger or social media influencer that wants to start working with brands and getting paid, this is for YOU. 

We’re going to talk all about finding brands to work with, pitching your ideas, landing gigs, and making money.

When you get through these tips, you’ll be on your way to monetizing your blog and social media accounts with sponsored posts.

WHAT IS SPONSORED WORK?

I’m glad you asked!

Most bloggers make money from selling their own products and services or promoting other people’s products and services.

When you’re doing sponsored work, you’re sharing other people’s products or services with YOUR audience in exchange for payment.

The sponsor is the person paying you or covering the costs of the promotional work to increase awareness or sales.

It’s just like Nascar drivers that have cars covered in stickers from companies that ‘sponsor’ their race.

You’re the driver. Your blog/platform is the race car. The brands that you work with are the companies sponsoring your race (or your blog post/social post).

Working with brands is a great way to monetize your blog or social media accounts. And in this article, I’m going to share all the deets and dirt about how this is done, what you should be doing, and what you should avoid.

Let’s get to it. 

This article is a long one, so grab a cold one and kick up your feet… and be sure to pin it for later!

This post probably contains affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure here.

BEFORE YOU START WORKING WITH BRANDS

You need a solid foundation if your blog is going to grow into a money-making business. 

Likewise, you need to have a few things in place if you want to make money from sponsored posts.

THE PLATFORM

To be successful working with brands, you need a live website and active social media accounts. 

Remember, your job is to promote and share their products or services on your platforms, so you’ll need to have these set up ahead of time.

Many sponsors require you to have your own self-hosted website, which is highly recommended in this industry anyway.

If you haven’t done it yet, here is an easy guide for setting up your own self-hosted blog.

You’ll also want to have a few social media accounts set up, depending on what brands you work with and where they want you to promote. 

At the very least, most bloggers that work with brands will have an Instagram account, a Facebook business page, and one video-based channel (like TikTok, YouTube, etc).

THE CONTENT

Secondly, you’ll need some good content that lets the brand know what kind of products and services you share with your audience.

This doesn’t have to be paid content. It just needs to be content that shows off your ability to get engagement from your audience…

Pro tip: choose a very specific niche for your content, so that brands can recognize your competitive edge as soon as they land on your site!

THE AUDIENCE

Thirdly, you need some semblance of an audience that is showing interest in your content. If you don’t have an audience yet, you can’t really work with brands, because you don’t have anything to offer them.

The purpose of sponsored work is raising brand awareness and inciting your audience to try new products or services that they will enjoy or benefit from.

You will be wasting your time pitching to a brand if you don’t have any readers or followers.

When it comes to working with brands, an engaged audience is the key!

But don’t let this discourage you.

Everyone starts with zero followers and zero blog readers. 

And you don’t need a HUGE audience. You just need an engaged audience.

Here is a helpful guide for boosting your blog traffic and reaching your target audience.

Focus on reaching your target audience and engaging with them DAILY.

To boost that engagement, check out this course by Carly Campbell. 

It’s action packed and affordable. You’ll get pro tips on engaging your audience through Facebook, Instagram, and your email list.

Pssst: I contributed to the course and covered an entire section on getting genuine engagement/followers on Instagram!

Set up your blog, narrow down your niche, and create content that reflects what your audience enjoys and wants to see. This foundation will set you up for sponsored work before you know it!

WHAT IS THE POINT OF WORKING WITH BRANDS?

The purpose of working with brands is to create a mutually beneficial relationship between your two companies.

Your blog or social media account will serve as a platform that promotes a product or service for the brand. And that brand will get access and exposure to a whole new audience (your audience).

What do YOU get out of it?

The brand or business will usually compensate you with product and payment, in exchange for your work and the exposure they get with your audience.

Hence, the reason that you need an audience.

HOW TO START WORKING WITH BRANDS

There are three ways that you can start working with brands.

ONE: You can join sponsored networks (also known as influencer networks) and get matched up with brands that fit your target audience.

TWO: You can reach out to brands that you want to work with and pitch to them directly.

THREE: Brands can find you and reach out if/when they want to work with you.

Let’s break each of them down real quick!

WORKING WITH BRANDS THROUGH SPONSORED NETWORKS

Sponsored networks are third-party platforms that connect you with brands that work with bloggers. You’ll apply for sponsored gigs and also get paid through the network.

Here are a few popular blogging networks that you can join for free:

When you join sponsored networks, you simply fill out your profile and attach your social media accounts. Then you are matched with brands and sponsored opportunities that fit your niche.

You will usually be notified via email when a brand wants to work with you through a sponsored network.

WORKING WITH BRANDS THAT YOU FIND ON YOUR OWN

The great thing about finding your own brands to work with: you get to call the shots, name your rates, and have more creative control.

When you work through a sponsored network, you have to abide by their rules and follow their guidelines in order to get paid. You also have to wait quite awhile to get your paycheck (usually 30-60 days).

When you select a brand to work with on your own, and you formulate a contractual agreement based on your own terms, YOU are in the driver’s seat.

Keep in mind: when you’re reaching out to brands, it’s a bit of a numbers game, especially in the beginning. The more people you pitch to, the more chances you’ll have of landing a gig. So, make a list of 10+ companies that you want to work with, formulate your pitch, and send it over. Do this at least once a week.

It’s extremely beneficial if you have already engaged with this brand and shown your support to them on social media.

You can simply like, follow, comment, or tag them in social posts relating to their brand. This pulls you up on their radar and makes it easier to connect with them when you send them a pitch.

WORKING WITH BRANDS THAT REACH OUT TO YOU

When certain brands reach out to you, they will sometimes send a generic email template and offer you “free product” in exchange for a blog post.

Those companies are rarely worth collaborating with. I don’t recommend working for free.

But sometimes, if a company reaches out to you and sends a personalized email that demonstrates how much they like you and your blog, and they appreciate what you are bringing to the partnership, then it is worth considering.

Just send them a response with your sponsored post fees, your conditions, and an estimated timeline for work to be completed.

It is seriously that simple.

Grab my FREE pitch template from my resource library right here!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WORKING WITH BRANDS

There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to working with brands. I’m sure many bloggers have different experiences, but this is what I’ve learned from mine.

1. Choose your collaborations wisely.
   

As your blog grows, you will get pitches from companies that want you to share their products on your blog.

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to responding to these offers, but keep in mind that your audience trusts you and they want to see specific things from you.

Think less about what that brand/business wants from you and think more about what your audience wants from you.

It is okay to say no if the brand doesn’t fit with your message, mission, or audience at this time. 

2. Brands sometimes want you to work in exchange for product.
   

My very first brand offer came in when I had been blogging for a short time and had a very small social following. They offered me a free product and I accepted.

Although I do not usually recommend this, you do have to weigh out the pros and the cons of working in exchange for product.

If you feel that the value of the product is equal to the value that you’re bringing to the company and the work you’re putting in, then it’s okay to work in exchange for product on occasion.

Especially if you’re just getting started or if you truly want/need the product being offered.

But sponsored work is still work. Don’t sell yourself short.

3. You’ll get some rejection and some silence.
   

No matter how great your writing may be or how many followers you have, some companies just won’t be interested…and that’s okay.

Maybe they don’t have a blog collaboration in their marketing budget, or maybe they don’t understand the power of a blogger’s influence. 

Either way, you will face some rejection, and you will get a lot of unanswered emails and phone calls.

You have to have thick skin in this business.

Let it roll off your back and keep pushing forward. Working with brands can be very fun and rewarding. And when you find your groove and you’re working with companies that you love, the whole process just becomes a breeze.

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU CHARGE FOR A SPONSORED POST?

When you work within a sponsored network, there will usually be a listed payment amount, which makes it a little easier on you.

When you’re pitching to a company on your own, you need to consider the amount of work you’ll be putting into this project.

Sponsored posts might require research, writing, editing, search engine optimization, Pinterest graphics, social shares, videos, and sometimes more.

This requires time and effort and is therefore deserving of compensation. You’ll have to decide for yourself what the compensation should be, depending on your abilities, your efforts, your following, and your financial needs.

As a simple personal example, I charged $50 for a sponsored Instagram post and $100 for a sponsored blog post when I first got started. 

Social Blue Book has a decent calculator you can use as a starting point to help you decide what to charge.

Be sure to adjust the calculation based on your unique competitive advantages.

THE LEGAL SIDE OF WORKING WITH BRANDS

Last, but certainly not least, let’s talk about the legal side of working with brands on sponsored posts.

It is so important to protect yourself legally when you’re doing anything in business. I highly recommend using your own legal contract anytime you partner with a brand.

This is the contract that I use for my sponsored work.

It was drafted by a lawyer and covers all your bases… even some of the stuff you and I don’t really think about or worry about when we land a gig!

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

I know that we’ve covered a lot of ground here today. And there is just so much to learn about this blogging stuff.

Ultimately, these are the important things to keep in mind: 

You are the business owner and you call the shots. Make your fees and your conditions clear from day one, make sure both parties sign a contract, and always follow the FTC guidelines.

Join some sponsored networks and apply to gigs as they become available through these networks. It takes some work, but it’s worth it. Research and pitch to companies that fit into your niche.

You want to select sponsored work that is fulfilling to your personal brand, helpful to your target audience, and financially rewarding for you.

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This article was originally published on 3.18.2018. It has been updated to improve readability, adjust broken links, and update any outdated information. Thank you for reading!