Archive for Public-Relations
Sponsoring Bloggers: Part Two
Posted by: | CommentsPart one of this series discussed the importance of knowing who you are sponsoring. Now I am going to touch the subject of why you should sponsor bloggers. I realize I am moving a little backwards. That is my style!
What does it mean to sponsor a blogger?
When a company sponsors a blogger they cover the costs the blogger would have paid to attend an event or conference. This may include flight, hotel, and conference fees.
So, what can sponsoring a blogger do for your company?
- It shows bloggers you care and you support their message
- It allows your name to be spread throughout the community using social media
- If you are new to social media it is a great way to introduce yourself to a specific audience
- It helps introduce more people to your company on Twitter, Facebook, and Blogs
- It takes your message our of paid advertisements and puts it into a friendly voice
- It brings your company into the community of bloggers
Sponsoring Bloggers: Part One
Posted by: | CommentsI began this post and decided it was going to need a second part…and maybe a third…stay tuned.
Every time a conference rolls around we the hustle and bustle of finding sponsor starts shooting through blogger land. People talk of companies they will contact and PR people they will work to find someone to help them get to conferences. I think sponsoring can be a great way to promote your company…sometimes.
When you are sponsoring a blogger you are putting your brand in their hands. Anything that is said and/or done at that conference has your brand written all over it. When you hire a new employee you do background checks and call references. Many times contracts are signed and rules are set. Things have to be outlined very well because that new employee is representing your brand. Still, how many companies blindly spend money letting a blogger represent them without really knowing who this blogger is and what they are about?
I would assume most companies would know this but I feel the need to lay out some ground rules. When sponsoring a blogger:
- Read their blog: Not just the first post on the page but dig deep down in there. Look for the juicy posts or the hidden posts. Look at what they have written and how they respond to their readers.
- Interview them: If this person is going to be at a conference with booze and friends and loud music you really should know who you are sending out there to represent you. If you are a small company the only interaction bloggers may have with you are the people you have sponsored to a conference.
- Set guidelines: Make it clear to the bloggers you are sponsoring what you would like from them. The way in which they should approach people. The way in which they should represent your company.
There are some amazing bloggers out there and some really good writers. Many people who are looking for sponsorship not only need it but deserve it. So pay attention to who you are sending out their with your brand in their hands.
Look for part two: what sponsorship can do for your business…
