This document provides advice for bloggers on how to successfully partner with brands. It recommends starting small with medium-sized brands and provides tips on how to craft an effective pitch email, including explaining who you are, what you can offer the brand with supporting metrics, being specific in requests, and following up on partnerships. The document outlines dos and don'ts and stresses delivering results to build long-term relationships with brands.

1. Brand Partnerships:
Before You Think Big, Think
Medium
Katie Hammel
Sara Robles

2. @SaraRobles
• 10 years experience in PR and
Online Marketing.
• Managed more than 200
collaborations for GowithOh.
@KatieHammel
Senior Travel Editor, Viator
• Manages Viator’s blog network,
and blogger ambassador
program

3. Who this session will benefit:
Bloggers who want to increase their experience working on
sponsorships/campaigns, or create bigger partnerships with well-known brands.
What we’ll tell you:
How to make the leap from where you are now to where you want to be.

4. What we will cover:
● Where to start
● How to best present yourself
● How to pitch
● How to grow an existing partnership including what to do when things go
wrong and the art of following up

5. Walk before you run!
Things to consider before your first pitch:
● Personal goals from brand collaborations?
● What do you have to offer?
● What types of collaborations are more suited
to you and the brand?

6. Types of collaboration with brands:
● Product/service reviews
● Copywriting, guest posts, etc
● Content creation: stories, photos,
videos
● Social media collaborations
● Advertising
● E-books
● Online courses, video workshops
● Affiliate programs
● Newsletters
● Brand ambassador programs
● Interviews
● Contests
● Events
● Sponsorships
● Offline actions
● Consulting
● Special campaigns
● SEO benefits
● Branding & image collaborations

7. Choose your partners carefully
Things to consider before you pitch a partnership:
● Is this a brand you like? Does it fit you?
● Does this brand already work with
bloggers?
● Is there any conflict with brands you’ve
previously aligned yourself with?
● How do you feel about this brand?

8. What do you have to offer?
Be objective with your evaluation of yourself!
● Do you represent the customers the brand
wants?
● What numbers can you offer?
● How much influence do you have?
● Are you an expert in a smaller niche?
● Syndication opportunities on bigger sites
● Offer other content services

9. What numbers matter?
Monthly visitors and pageviews are only part of the story
● Consumption metrics and audience
growth
● Sharing metrics and
social media engagement
● Demographics
● Successful referrals from past
campaigns

10. How to craft a pitch that gets noticed?
How to sell yourself
1. Explain with facts who you are & what you
can offer
2. What you want in return
3. Start small and build a relationship.
4. Be honest
5. Be authentic to yourself, your blog
6. Be open to negotiation

11. Example of a Good Pitch
Hi <Name>,
<Short but detailed introduction>
Who you are and what you offer
Numbers/stats
<Show what you can offer beyond the above numbers>
<Specific request and offer>
Give reason why this tour is a great fit.
Show that you have looked into how the brand collaborates with other bloggers.
<Closing>
Relevant samples are linked below
Complete name / Blog url / Social media links / All contact details

12. Example of a Good Pitch
Hi <Name>,
<Short but detailed introduction> I'm a travel blogger who publishes <X blog> and I am interested in working with <company>. My
blog receives <number> monthly visitors with an average of <number> views per post. I have <number and social media platform>
followers (repeat for your top platforms among the most popular).
<Show what you can offer beyond the above numbers>
● <I have contributed to/my blog has been featured on/I syndicate content to/my photos have been featured on> <list other
sites or publications>.
● Though my blog is only a year old, it was ranked by <reputable, well-known site> as one of the best new travel blogs for
<my niche>.
● A recent campaign with <other company> generated more than <number> or referrals to that company’s website.
<Specific request and offer>. I’m traveling to <city> from <date range 3-4 weeks in future> and would love to do the <name of tour,
with link>. <give reason why this tours is a great fit - you write about food and it’s a food tour, or you’d like to write about seeing a
city through this particular angle>. Per the policy listed on your blog, in exchange for the tour and payment, I would contribute a
post about the tour, with photos, to the Viator blog. I would also plan to cover the tour on my own blog and social media channels.
<show that you have looked into how the brand collaborate with other bloggers>.
Relevant <blog/writing/photo/video> samples are linked below. Please let me know if you need any additional information.
Thank you,
Complete name / Blog url / Social media links / All contact details

13. What works? The DO’s!
DO: Explain who you are
and what you offer
● Include numbers/stats
● Other value you bring?
● Give examples of your work

14. What works? The DO’s!
DO: Do your research
● Explain how you fit the brand/how the
brand fits you
● Be sure that the company offers what
you want
● Address it to the right person

15. What works? The DO’s!
DO: Be specific
● Call to action

16. What works? The DO’s!
DO: Make it easy to work with
you
● Lots of lead time
● Show that you care!

17. Things to Avoid in Your Pitch
Hi <generic name>,
<Intro with lots of big claims but no proof>
<Vague offers or no real request>
<Asking for too much the first time>
Over-promising on the results
<Closing with no details>

18. Things to Avoid in Your Pitch
Dear editor,
I love your sight! I am the editor-in-chief of mytravelblog.com, an extremely popular blog, and I would love to work with you
sometime! My blog has been ranked in the top 100 travel blogs by thatotherblogger.com and I know my readers would LOVE
to learn more about your tours!
___
I have a HUGE following - 10,000 monthly pageviews and 4,000 twitter followers!
___
I’ve been traveling full-time since 2011 so I can write about almost any destination and I’m always on the move so I’m sure we
can find a place where I can review some tours. I’m going to France soon. Let me know if you need anything!
__
I’d love to write about the Super Deluxe Ultimate 7-Day VIP Exclusive Experience. Can we set this up for three days from
now? I’m traveling with my “photographer” and four “assistants” (ages 3-9) so I’ll need tours comped for all of us.
___
In exchange for this two-hour tour I can guarantee seven blog posts and 15 social media mentions.
____
Thanks,
First name only, never says the name of the blog or attaches media kit or mentions stats

19. What doesn’t work? The Dont’s!
DON’T: Be vague
● Not explaining who you are/what you
offer with facts
● Not providing any stats to back up your
claims
● Not providing all information requested
● Not providing examples of your work

20. What doesn’t work? The Dont’s!
DON’T: Oversell or
over-promise
● Showing vague/fake numbers
● Promising unrealistic results

21. What doesn’t work? The Dont’s!
DON’T: Be unrealistic
● Asking for too much or too late
● Asking for something that seems out of
character

22. What doesn’t work? The Dont’s!
DON’T: Be careless
● Typos, errors, and other signs of
carelessness or unprofessionalism

23. How to ensure a one-off partnership can
grow into something more
Be a blogger brands love to work with!
● Over-deliver, stay true to yourself
● Show that you authentically value the relationship
● Be an unofficial brand ambassador
● Make the collaborator’s life easier
● Ethics and professionalism

24. What to do when things go wrong
● It's not what happens to you, but how you
react to it that matters!
● Speak up when things go wrong
● The sooner you explain the situation,
the better
● Be open to alternative solutions

25. Following Up
★ Share results!
★ Comment on other platforms
★ If you liked the experience: show the love!
★ Make connections
★ Be proactive about expanding the partnership
★ Continue to follow protocol on future pitches
★ Be the person your contact looks forward to
hearing from!

26. Thanks & keep in touch!
@KatieHammel
www.linkedin.com/in/katiehammel
Katieh@viator.com
@SaraRobles
www.linkedin.com/in/sararobles
Hi@sarification.com