Please note this post was written yesterday prior to losing power. We are currently without power in most of our neck of the woods. We are running a generator off and on. I’m doing as much as I can in those short spurts.
The first thing that I wanted to share with you was ways in which to start earning free products to review on your blog. Personally speaking I started reviewing products on my blog really early on. I did it with products that I already owned and loved from our home. I felt like it was worth sharing and a good way for companies to see what I was willing to do for them.
Where to Look
Then I started hunting down opportunities and places to get products to review in exchange for blog posts. I started out with Tomoson.com. I have grown to enjoy working with them. I’ve noticed that they have made many positive changes over the years I’ve worked with them. I have to say that some of my favorite items that I’ve reviewed have come from them too.
I have also been making amazing connections in blog forums to get to know other bloggers and PR representatives too. All of them have been wonderful resources for me finding products that I really want to review.
What happens if you come across a product that you desperately want to review and haven’t found the PR person from all of these awesome resources, what then? I’ve learned that if you go to a company’s website they will have a section on there for contacting them. Sometimes they even have Press Release sections which gives you direct PR information to contact.
Here’s a quick video of how to do it.
Making the Pitch
Then comes the tricky party, making a solid pitch.
Here are some amazing blog posts and resources to help you out with this:
1.) How to Pitch to a Company Even If You Don’t Have Huge Blog Stats
32.) How to Pitch Companies For Review Packages
3.) BlogaThon Pinterest Blogging Tips Page
How to Improve Traffic
This is a case of I wish I had more hours in a day. I have literally recruited my mother-in-law and oldest son to help me with marketing my blog all over the place lately. It’s made a huge impact on my traffic, but there is only so much that they can do for me when they really don’t understand the whole blogging world and how it works.
Many people who have never done the blogging bit for real products and money don’t understand that it’s far more than just writing a blog post. It takes having the right set of information plugged in the right way, connecting to the right sites, and being involved in as many social media outlets as possible.
Here are some amazing blog posts on the topic of promoting your website:
1.) 58 Ways to Get Noticed As a New Blogger
Here’s a final tip that I’m trying like crazy to implement in my own blog throughout 2014. Make sure that if you do start accepting product reviews and sponsored posts, which your blog doesn’t become solely about that. I’m finding that I’m having a hard time juggling that act myself.
I have a thousand and one things I really want to share with you, but in order to continue to be able to do that I have to have the sponsorship and the products. My husband and family want to have a reason for having me spend hours doing this every week. I can’t say I blame them for that. I’m totally utterly addicted to all things blogging. I love what I do and have no plans of quitting. I don’t believe my family would like me to stop it either.
What is a tip you have to share with us? If you’re a newbie did this post help you?
P.S. You can also check out my Blog Related board on Pinterest too.
Such a helpful post Crystal! I am SO SORRY y’all are without power. We are *literally* praying every second that ours stays on. Hang in there!-Ashley
Ashley,
We’re back in business. I’m glad you didn’t lose it. What part of SC are you in? (You can email me at tidbitsofexperience@gmail.com if you’d rather keep it private.) I’m in Orangeburg, half-way between Columbia and Charleston.
Wow, Crystal, am I ever glad you visited me today. Your place is loaded with things I’ve been wanting to learn about. I’ll be following. Thanks so much for stopping by. Go SITS girls.
Glad you stopped back by. I’m glad you gained something from stopping by.
Thanks for all the tips. As a blogger launching a new site, I’m always looking for information to help improve my blog. I will definitely be following you to keep up on the latest posts. #SITSBlogging
Glad to hear you got some value from this post. I love to do these blogging tip posts. They are a lot of fun and to be honest, it makes me more inclined to actually put these tips in action myself.
Great tips! I’m posting this to Pinterest!
Glad to hear it’s Pinterest worthy. 🙂 I definitely am trying to give you tips you can really use on #TidbitsThursdays.
This is so helpful! I’m bookmarking you in hopes of getting more great tips like this. I’m going to check out some of your other posts now! Found you via #sitsblogging!
Glad you enjoyed this post. #TidbitsThursdays is one of my favorite blog posts to do each week.
What a great tip list! I happen to love blog posts about blogging, as silly as that sounds!
I’m hooked on reading blogging tip blog posts too. That’s why I love rounding up some of my favorite tips I’ve learned throughout a week with you on Thursday’s when I have enough worth sharing.
Great tips, especially for us bloggers hoping to grow our traffic. Thanks for sharing! #SITSChallenge
You’re welcome. Thank you for stopping by.
Thanks for the tips! I am just starting out, so any information is always helpful.
I do hope you ended up getting your power back on. Stopping by from #SITSBlogging.
We finally got it. I “try” to give blogging tips every Thursday, but some weeks I don’t find anything of value to share in my blog hopping. I’m always on the mission to learn some new way to make blogging better and more enjoyable.
As a new blogger these tips are really gonna come in handy. Hope all is going better and your power is up and running 🙂
#SITSBlogging love
I’m so glad they were helpful to you. I have a few other blogging tips on my #TidbitsThursday posts found under blog related section up top. 🙂 We have power again, but I’m playing major catch up.
Thanks for all the great tips! I am pinning so I can revisit often 🙂 Visiting from the SITS Saturday Sharefest
I’m glad that you enjoyed these tips. I try to give valid tips on Thursdays.
Love these ideas! I pinned this! #SITSBlogging
I’m glad that you enjoyed them. 🙂
These are awesome tips. Most people give the typical tips but I love your take on blogging tips! It definitely has me thinking.
I’m glad you’re finding them useful. 🙂
WOW – this is an amazing amazing resource – thanks so much for compiling and sharing!
Alfred,
Glad you found them helpful. I try to compile the unique blog tips that aren’t highlighted as much as other things are. That is one of the reasons why it doesn’t get posted every Thursday. It takes time to read and do research, but I do love it. I love all things blogging.
So much new information to digest as I want to learn all i can that will help improve and grow my blog. Thanks! Linda
Linda,
You’re welcome. Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you’ve checked out some of my other tips. Feel free to email me with any questions you may have.