My Working with Brands talk at CFLBlogCon.com in Orlando, Florida on September 15, 2012. A presentation for bloggers on how to find the right contacts, how to network with brands and how to work with them.
1. Working With Brands
Julie Deily / TheLittleKitchen.net / JulieDeily.com
CFLBlogCon / September 15, 2012
2. Overview
✤ My background
✤ Finding the right contacts
✤ Networking
✤ How to work with brands
✤ Essentials of a Pitch Letter
✤ Quick Tips
3. My Background
✤ Started The Little Kitchen.net -
food blog in Dec. 2009
✤ Software Engineer, Recipe
Developer, Freelance Photographer
✤ Organized two Food Blog Forum
Orlando events and two Food
Blogger Bake Sales, co-organized
Food Blogger Cookie swap, spoke at
CFLBlogCon last year
✤ Have worked/working with many
brands including, KitchenAid, Dole,
Green Mountain Coffee, OXO and
Le Creuset
4. Finding the right
contacts
✤ Internet searches - ‘brand
name’ PR agency, ‘brand
name’ press release
✤ Interacting with brands’
twitter accounts
✤ Networking on LinkedIn and
at conferences
✤ Answering the pitches you
receive
5. Networking
✤ Social media
✤ Twitter is a huge connector
of bloggers and brands
✤ Connect with them before
pitching them
✤ Conferences like these or in
your niche
✤ Network with other
bloggers in your niche
6. How to work
with brands
✤ Product reviews, sponsored
posts, giveaways,
conference sponsorships,
brand ambassadorships
✤ Each brand wants different
things - find out what that is
✤ Attention to detail matters -
pitch letter, brand markings,
etc.
7. How to work
with brands (cont’d)
✤ Build a relationship with
brands and their PR reps
✤ Always be honest when
working with brands (with
the brand & with your
readers) - your integrity is
always on the line
✤ Trust your gut
✤ Partner with other bloggers
8. The Essentials of a Good Pitch Letter
✤ Keep short, sweet & simple
✤ Introduce yourself & your blog
✤ Speak to why you love the brand and why you want to work
with them
✤ Tell them what you want
✤ Tell them why you are the perfect fit (mention stats, etc.)
✤ Spell the person’s name & the brand’s name correctly (this
matters!!)
9. Sample Pitch Letter (an actual one I sent)
Hi “Name”,
How are you doing? My name is Julie Deily and I blog at The Little Kitchen. I love to share my favorite
recipes on my blog and show that even in a little kitchen, you can make amazing food. I'm reaching out to
you because I would love to do a review and giveaway of a ______ because I'm a huge fan of the brand.
As a kid, I remember the ______ we had and although it didn't have the bells and whistles of the ____ line,
I just remember it being reliable.
A review and giveaway post on my blog would include links to the ______ website and any social media
properties. I would highlight the features, provide a how to make ____ and also provide tips. I would most
definitely include photographs of the product.
With over ____ twitter followers, almost ____ facebook fans and _____ of monthly blog readers, I know
that I can provide a positive impact by helping to promote the ______ brand on The Little Kitchen.
Please let me know your thoughts and if you have any questions. I really appreciate your time and look
forward to hearing back from you.
Sincerely,
Julie (also include a signature that has link to your site & social media profiles)
10. Quick Tips
✤ Get an email based on your
domain, ie.
julie@thelittlekitchen.net
✤ Create a media kit. Great
example & how to on Katy
Widrick’s blog:
http://bit.ly/katymediakit
✤ Include your email on your
about page AND contact form/
page (if you don’t have a
contact page, add one)
11. Quick Tips (cont’d)
✤ Copy/pasting into emails
(quick demo)
✤ Re-read one more time
before sending
✤ check spelling of brand &
recipient
✤ DO NOT discuss or make
fun of PR pitches you
receive on your social media
profiles
12. In Closing
✤ Build relationships with
brands and PR reps and
agencies.
✤ Work with brands you're
passionate about to build
trust with your readers.
✤ Utilize and harness the
power of social media but
always be authentic.