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.
Lilac Illustrated Social Psychology Presentation.pptx
Working With Brands (for Bloggers)
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.