How to Get More Sponsored Posts Opportunities

Do you want the opportunity to write more sponsored blog posts? Read this post for some practical advice on how to get more sponsored posts opportunities!

Often times, bloggers feel like they have to have a certain number of followers or a certain level of traffic to secure sponsored posts, but that’s not true!

If you have people who are listening to what you have to say, you’re an online influencer and therefore brands may want to pay you in order to reach your specific audience — regardless of the size!

Because here’s the thing…sometimes brands actually prefer to work with bloggers who have a strong and loyal smaller audience!

If you have a community who really listens to what you say, that means you can effectively advertise to them because they will pay attention and take action when you talk about a brand.

So if you are just getting your feet wet with sponsored blog posts, here are some tips for getting started…

1. Sign up with sponsored post companies.

Did you know there are specific companies dedicated to acting as a go-between for bloggers and brands?

This is one of the easiest ways to get started with sponsored posts!

These companies work with a bunch of different bloggers and brands, so you’ll get a lot more opportunities than you ever would on your own.

Here are just a few examples:

• Mirum Agency
• MediaKix
• Citizen Relations
• Acorn Influence Company
• Blog Meets Brand
• Izea
• Social Fabric by Collective Bias

What other companies would you add to my list?

You can also Google and find some other great options! I definitely recommend applying to as many of these as you can when you’re first starting out and looking for sponsored blog posts opportunities.

2. Make sure you have a media kit.

If you want to start writing more sponsored posts and pitching more brands, you’ll definitely need to create a media kit.

Your personalized media kit tells brands who you are, who you serve, and how you can serve them.

Make sure you include who your target market is, your blog’s stats, and what advertising opportunities you offer.

For example, in our media kit we include:

• Blog visitor and pageview stats
• Social media stats for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest
• Newsletter stats

We also include the types of advertising opportunities we offer:

• Sponsored Featured Post
• Sponsored Deal Post
• Giveaway Post
• Social Media Posts
• Live Video (IG Stories or FB Live)

When you list the types of advertising you offer, make sure to include links to examples of what those different options look like in real-time. This really helps a brand envision what they’re paying for.

When you’re first starting out, your media kit might be a little smaller and you won’t have the ability to offer every kind of advertising opportunity. But you should at least have a media kit that shows who you serve and what you can offer a brand.

3. Do some “pretend” sponsored posts.

I highly recommend doing some mock sponsored posts!

Not only is it great practice and helps you know what your time is worth, but it also gives you examples to use in your media kit.

When you do a non-sponsored “sponsored” post, highlight a specific product, store, or service. Make sure it’s something you really and genuinely love! Do an in-depth post, talk about your honest experience, and use your own photos.

Do this same thing with all the different types of advertising you’d like to offer. If you want to offer social media posts or live video, make sure to do a few of those that you can use as examples in your media kit, too.

Companies love being able to see what the finished product will actually look like, so they can know exactly what they’re paying for.

Make sure your “pretend” sponsored posts showcase your best work, have great photos, and are well-written. The better the post, the more chance you’ll have of securing a real sponsored post by sharing it as an example.

4. Approach companies for free product reviews.

Don’t be afraid to approach some of your favorite companies about doing a free product review! It never hurts to ask.

Free product reviews are such a great way to get started, get your feet wet, and build your portfolio. (And you should always be looking for opportunities to build your portfolio in the beginning!)

The more experience you have working with other companies, the more likely it is new companies will want to work with you.

Wondering how to approach a company about doing a free product review? Here’s what to do:

• Show how it’s a win for their brand. Genuinely talk about the product you want to review. Show the personal connection you have to that specific product, be genuine and authentic, and explain why it will be a win for both your audience and their company.
• Send them links as examples. This is where those “pretend” sponsored posts come into play. Send examples of some of your best product reviews.
• Give them your stats. Even if your numbers aren’t huge, give them your stats to show them how many people your review will reach. (You can combine your social media stats, blog visitors, and email newsletter subscribers to give them one total number. This is a good approach if you are a newer blogger with smaller numbers.)
• Explain how you’ll promote the product. Explain all the different ways you’ll promote the product — across social media, in your newsletter, etc. Be specific.
• Contact them at multiple email addresses on their website. I always contact as many different email addresses as I can find. I often email the advertising, publicity, and general contacts. Contact them all, because you never know which one is the correct address, and it increases your chance of someone responding.
• Make sure it’s a perfect fit. Most companies take pride in their products and really want to make sure their product resonates with you, your brand, and your audience. Companies are much more likely to send you a free product to review if they know you genuinely love their brand!

Bonus Tip: If you’re looking for a creative way to get noticed, you could also try tagging your favorite brand on social media or sending them a tweet!

5. Reply to all pitches with your media kit and rates.

As you build up your blog, you’ll probably start to receive a few PR pitches via email.

I highly recommend you respond to these pitches with your media kit and rates! This won’t always turn into something, but it will every so often.

If they’re going to send you their PR pitch, you might as well respond with a pitch of your own to see if they bite!

6. Don’t de-value yourself.

Remember that there’s no hard and fast rule on how much you should charge.

A lot of times when smaller brands don’t have a lot of budget, they might be really willing to work with you if you’re not charging a lot — which could be a great opportunity for you to get started and build your portfolio and demand!

Just also remember how important it is to know what your time is worth and to make sure brand partnerships are a good fit for your audience.

I’d love to hear from you! How have you successfully gotten sponsored posts opportunities as a blogger?