Thinking about sponsoring other blogs? With so many great bloggers and offers, how in the world do you decide whom to sponsor?
First, it is important to consider what it means for you to sponsor someone.
Sponsorship versus Advertisement…
While in the blogosphere the words “sponsorship” and “advertisement” are often used interchangeably, I don’t see them as quite the same idea. While an advertisement usually involves an ad image and some form of promotion, a sponsorship can be so much more than that.
I’ve spent a lot of time (many hours, probably) evaluating sponsorships and weighing my options. Here’s the thing: when I sponsor a blog, I’m hoping to enter into that blog’s community. I want to interact with their readership and engage with what is already going on there. While I’m a relatively new sponsor and don’t yet offer sponsorship packages of my own, here are some questions that I ask myself before purchasing a sponsorship.
8 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Sponsoring A Blog
1) Do you already love their content? Sponsoring a blog is not merely a transaction; it demonstrates genuine support. Do you believe in that blog’s mission? How familiar are you with their work? This is important because not only are you employing their services to promote your own work, you’re also helping provide for their blogging (or living) costs. In effect, is their content something you would be willing to pay to read? If yes, then it’s definitely a good sponsorship option!
2) How engaged is their readership? This is a big one for me. While not many bloggers will provide the bounce rate or click-throughs, you can evaluate reader engagement at least by their comments and social media interactions. They might have thousands of “followers” but zero comments or interactions (I’ve seen this a few times). Why is that? Do they engage with readers on other platforms? If their readers aren’t engaged and communicating, then it will be less likely that they will click on your ad or respond to the guest posts you write.
3) Do their prices and numbers fit the market? Everyone can set their own rates, and sponsorship services all vary in terms of what’s included. However, be sure to look around on different blogs in that blog’s niche and check out how much others are charging. If a blog appears to be overcharging, you can always politely email them and ask about their offers.
4) How specific are their sponsorship packages? Do they just offer “social media love!” or do they promise a certain number of tweets, pins, and features? Follow them on twitter to see what their promotions look like. Can you get details on the group giveaway item? What does an in-post shout-out include? The more specific their promises, the better. And while you should remain in close contact with those you are sponsoring throughout the month, you shouldn’t have to remind them to follow through.
5) Do they visibly love their sponsors? Do you see their comments on their sponsors’ blogs? Do they show a genuine interest? I love it when bloggers build relationships with their sponsors. It helps me feel invited in, and I appreciate the investment of time they’re making in my work.
6) Are they busy making money? This might be a jarring question, but it’s important. I’m personally wary of sponsoring blogs that constantly seem to be promoting something. This is mostly because, as a reader, I start to lose interest when every other blog post from a blogger is trying to sell me a product or make me read someone else’s work. While I love discovering new blogs and products, I still want to feel connected with the actual blogger and her/his own creative content. If they’re always selling something, then you could just be another feature in the mix.
7) How much time do YOU have this month? Do they expect you to send them posts to tweet about? Write your own guest post? Answer interview questions? These are all perfectly good options, but it’s important to ask whether you have time for it. Too many guest posts or interviews in one month can be exhausting. Furthermore, be sure to read previous posts featuring sponsors. Do you like what you see? Did readers respond?
8) What are your reasons and goals for sponsoring other bloggers? This is probably the most important one. There are many reasons to sponsor blogs, not limited to increasing your page views. Sponsorships can expose you to new blog communities and friends. Sometimes there’s a special cause you can participate in. Perhaps you’d like to join in on a giveaway to increase your followers. Or maybe you just love this blogger and want her/him to know it! Whatever your goals, be sure the sponsorship in question has the potential to meet them.
One last thing: be open to trial and error. Sometimes you’ll be incredibly pleased with your sponsorships and gain a new blog friend. Other times, you might find yourself miffed or even disappointed. But successes and failures are all part of the business! Everyone is learning, and we can always find ways to help each other out. So be sure to provide both positive and constructive feedback, say thank you, and continue supporting bloggers you love!
Want more insight? Check these out:
- Oak and Oats: Should I Buy Ad Space?
- Wetherills Say I Do: Making the Most out of Sponsoring Blogs
- Becoming Adorrable: How To Run a Kick Butt Sponsorship Program
- Simple Moments Stick: Thoughts on the Blog Sponsorship Trend
- A Beautiful Exchange: Make Your Blog Sponsorships as Successful as Possible
**Do YOU have experience with blog sponsorships? How do you evaluate them? If you do offer a sponsorship program on your blog, what services do you include and why? I would love to know!
These are amazing points and questions!! I completely agree, and I love the idea of looking back at past sponsor spotlight posts and seeing how the readers responded. That will give you a good idea of how your sponsorship with go and if the readers are engaged. 🙂
Thanks Hayley! 🙂 I’ve spent WAY too much time thinking about this, haha.
This is a FABULOUS list! Love it!!
No probs, always welcome on my blog darling!
Kisses xo | From Aliona With Love
Sure thing girl! I’d love to hear about them. Email me at makingmrsm@gmail.com
Thanks Jessica!! Oh my goodness you’re starting wedding photography– that is wonderful! Yeah, I did find you on that sponsor, haha 🙂 It’s tough to figure out these things though, that particular blog (where I found you) gets tons of views but not always tons of comments, so I’m not always sure what’s going on there 😉 I’ve considered sponsoring that blog too, but I didn’t know if my content is very similar at all. But still– glad it worked out that way! Can’t wait to see photos from weddings you guys shoot!
This is an excellent list! Seriously! Without every articulating these thoughts and points to myself, I debated each of these questions before I sponsored a blog. I have only done it once so far, but it was for a blog I absolutely love, where I felt my blog would appeal to this readership, and where the sponsors are rotated monthly, each getting their chance in the spotlight. Now my partner and I are considered another sponsorship to launch our upcoming wedding photography business through, and I’ll be researching with all of these questions in mind. It’s so encouraging to hear that you found me through that sponsor!!!
Thanks Daisy =)
Thank you Sarah 🙂 I also love your idea of encouragers rather than sponsors 🙂
Such great tips, Daisy!
Thank you Jenna! So glad it resonated with you, and I’m glad I’m not the only one who looks for actual engagement and not just numbers! Choosing sponsorships is tough for me because there are so many blogs, and I have to look closely and carefully for the potential for a relationship can actually grow. Thank you so much for reading 🙂
Thank you so much Sharlee! Yeah, it’s so hard to know if and when someone’s going to follow through on a promise, even if that promise is specific. I’ve also sponsored someone who I’m pretty sure didn’t read my blog all month. It’s really strange to me; you’d expect a bit of relationship building so that the sponsor will come back and sponsor again. Anyway, I’m so glad this resonated with you. I really appreciate you visiting and sharing your thoughts 🙂
Thank you so much!! And exactly– I never really know what’s going on with folks who claim to have tons of views and followers and no visible engagement. I mean, one out of your 10,000 followers has to be a blog-commenter, right? Nope… crickets. Hah thank you so much for reading 🙂
Thank you Adelina!
Thank you Whitney! I didn’t think of it as integrity– but that is a huge value that comes through everything a blogger does. And it shows! Thank you so much for reading 🙂
Thanks for reading, Laura!
Thanks Rachel! Yeah, the idea of blog community was a huge surprise to me. I had no idea that you could be friends with someone just through the internet– sounds weird! And I think sponsoring a blogger is taking that another step forward; it’s fun and could be rewarding, but isn’t always necessary. Let me know if you want any more tips on this topic if you decide to sponsor blogs one day 🙂
This post is so good! It’s everything I look for in sponsoring other blogs, but I’ve never broken it down and thought about it this way. I really liked where you said, “when I sponsor a blog, I’m hoping to enter into that blog’s community.” That is exactly what I want when I sponsor a blog.
This is an incredible list and makes so much sense. I agree with you. I’ve recently started sponsoring blogs and I’ve found myself disappointed with a few. Some that do promise a specific number of tweets or pins, but wait until the end of the month and do it all…while I’d rather it be throughout the month. I also have been disappointed when a blogger that I’m working with doesn’t comment on my blog, not even one post that entire month. I would like them to interact with my blog! I just found you via a tweet and I love the clean design of your blog and think I’ll be sticking around! 🙂
These are GREAT tips and ones that I live by -especially in regards to the reader engagement. I want to sponsor people that get comments on their blog because that shows me that their readers care about their content.
So helpful post!
http://adelinaschoice.blogspot.com
Very useful and important tips, integrity is crucial when being a blogger, thanks for sharing hun!!
Love,
Whitney
http://www.whitneyswonderland.com
thanks for the tips!
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
Thank you for sharing! While I’ve been blogging for years, I’m just now starting to get more involved with other bloggers, so I had not heard of sponsoring other blogs. Greats tips and I shall keep them in mind if I decide to go this route someday.
By the way, Ema– I’ve been trying to leave a comment on your blog but it continues to reject my comments as spam… 🙁 You might want to look into your spam filter and opt to moderate the comments yourself! 🙂
Thanks Miri! Sponsorships are definitely a fun way to invest in your blog; hope you’ll consider it! 🙂
Yes, sponsorships can be the wrong fit in so many ways! It’s important to be selective 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by Ema!
Thanks Cara! Hope it’s useful, thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
Thanks Sienna! Sponsorships are totally optional but they can be a fun way to invest in your blog 🙂 Thank you for stopping by!
This is a very interesting article. I never thought of sponsoring a blog. Now you gave me something to think about. Thank you!
X
Miri
htpp://currentlywearing.com
I agree with these questions! We made the mistake once of posting clothes that a brand had given us, which we would never wear otherwise. I sincerely regret having done that post since we did not agree with the content, so lesson learned!
http://themirroronthewall.com
Thanks Megan! Hope it’s useful, thank you for stopping by 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by Becca! That was a super useful post too 🙂
Thanks Heidi! Yeah, the blog market is so fascinating, lots of buying and selling. Hope this is useful:)
Thanks Aliona! I really appreciate you stopping by 🙂
So glad to hear it, thanks Lee! 🙂
Thank you Melody! I appreciate you stopping by 🙂
Wow thank you so much Anne! Yeah I’ve given it a lot of thought and have sometimes felt torn about where to put my limited resources. Thanks for showing me what it means to sponsor a great blogger!
Thank you Megan! Yeah social media shout outs are great– and then it’s important to see if people actually interact with these bloggers on social media too! (at least it’s something I look into).
Thanks Shannon!! Yeah, I wrote this only after I purchased some sponsorships for upcoming months, and realized that I maybe shouldn’t have. We all make those mistakes! Thank you for stopping by:)
Sure Susannah! I love your thoughts as well– there’s so much to say about this topic. We should keep talking and giving people feedback!
Sure, Tina! Hope it’s helpful. Sponsorships are definitely optional, but could be fun or useful eventually 🙂 Thank you for stopping by!
Thanks for stopping by Olia 🙂
Yes, absolutely! I know in a way you’re paying for people’s time and attention, but it means a lot when they’re willing to be invested! And that’s so great, Marielle– I’ve definitely seen bloggers who take offer so many spaces that they don’t even really know who their sponsors are!
Sure, thanks for stopping by Jasmin! Hope you find this useful:)
Thanks girl! Yeah, it’s definitely a neat way to meet long-term followers 🙂 But also an investment of sorts. Thanks so much for stopping by!
I know right? I haven’t been sponsoring for long, but simply reading sponsorship offers closely and observing how sponsorships are going has taught me a lot! There’s definitely a lot of trial and error. Jaelan we should talk (not public) about which sponsorships have been the best 🙂
Glad you found it helpful Joanna! Sponsorships are a big thing for a lot of bloggers and it’s good to know what you’re getting into if you ever decide to do it! 🙂
Thank you so much Maggie! Exactly– took me a while to figure out all the different sides of being a blogger and I’m still learning new things every day!
I never thought to sponsor, great advice!
xx Cara
http://www.carascliche.com
This is definitely helpful, and something I should start thinking about! Thank you 🙂
http://www.rosecolorglass.com
Love this! I have never really thought about sponsoring another blog so this was definitely informative!
<3 Shannon
upbeatsoles.blogspot.com
Awesome info! Thanks so much for sharing!
Megan Star | Beauty Brawler
Thanks for sharing my post, Daisy! These are great things to consider when sponsoring a blog!
Such a great post! Nice to look at it from the other perspective.
Heidi D.
http://www.wishesandreality.com
So useful. Would love it if you could check out my latest post on styling hair!
Kisses xo | From Aliona With Love
Excellent & timely post. Thanks for the great advice, Daisy 🙂
http://lovecompassionatelee.squarespace.com/thinkoutloud/2014/10/23/102314
this is very nice
http://melodyjacob1.blogspot.com/
This may be the one of the best posts about sponsorships that I have read in awhile. I think your questions are all valid and serve as an excellent guide to use when choosing whom to sponsor. Definitely a must read for everyone!
Great article! I usually look for social media shout outs.
Thank you so much Sheryl! I’m so sorry to hear that past sponsorships have not gone well; it’s a real struggle to know what’s going to be effective and who’s going to follow through. I think my biggest priority is to ask whether I see myself building a relationship with this person. But there are things you can’t decipher before taking the plunge. And next time it’s good to ask them to follow through– I think keeping each other in check is a great way to maintain the integrity of the blogging world. Thanks for the tweet Sheryl:)
This is great information to have! When I first started blogging I bought a few sponsorship on other blogs, but didn’t ask myself any of these questions…definitely a rookie mistake! Thanks for sharing this Daisy!
Shannon
Clothes & Quotes
Aw thank you Madison! And of course:) I wrote this post after having experienced a great sponsorship, so thank you for showing me what that means!
Thanks for featuring my post! I love your thoughts on this topic!
I haven’t gone into sponsoring yet but will definitely refer back to this if I ever do. Thanks for the tips!
Tina
http://www.justatinabit.com
Love this! Hope you’ll stop by my blog & follow along!
http://www.LoveOlia.com
I agree with all of these, especially #5. It’s definitely nice when a blogger you’re sponsoring drops by to leave a comment at least once during that month. I like connecting with other bloggers, so I try to keep my ad spaces limited so I can keep up with all of them occasionally 🙂
Thank you so much for swinging by my blog earlier. What a great article. Thanks for sharing all those great tips 🙂
Jasmin xx
http://www.whatdefinesus.com
These are great tips to consider when sponsoring, babe! I haven’t jumped into the sponsorship arena, so this was cool to learn about.
Happy Thursday!
-Ashley
http://lestylorouge.com
Daisy,
Thank you!!
I started sponsoring in August and I have been absolutely and completely pleased by some and absolutely not by others. These are wonderful ways to attempt to weed out those that aren’t a good fit. 🙂
These are wonderful tips. I’m preparing to openly promote sponsorships and I am going to refer back to this to make sure I am doing the best I can for my sponsors. Sadly, I’ve had a few experiences where I certainly did not get what I paid for but I was too hesitant to say anything about it.
Oh my goodness I’m so in love with this post!! So many great tips for those who are starting out in sponsorships. It really shows that you value the investment you’re making in your blog because you’re thinking out your choices of who to sponsor! I’m honored that I made your list of people to sponsor 🙂
Super uselful tips! =)
NEW POST on http://whattostyle.blogspot.com/
Instagram | Twitter | Bloglovin
xoxo,
Jess
Thank you for this, Daisy! There’s so much about blogging that I don’t know yet and I’m so appreciative of any tips. Thanks again for sharing this xx
lovejoanna.com
I really love this post. Blogging is so much more than pretty outfits and yummy looking food. It is so great to gather some great tips about making solid business decisions!
Maggie
http://www.PolishedClosets.com