I’m ALL about being transparent on my blog. One of the most controversial topics in the blogging world is brand partnerships/sponsored posts. So today, I wanted to talk more about them + how I come up with creative content for said brand partnerships.
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I remember my very first brand partnership. It was with a small jewelry company, and I was paid $50 to post on my blog and Instagram. I remember being so excited, and feeling so cool that a company wanted to work with ME. Sure, I had received a lot of free product, but no one had ever offered to PAY ME.
Crazy. It’s always a “pinch me” moment, and I could probably write about brand partnerships in a million different ways.
Since then, this blog has become a great little side hustle. I’ve been honored to work with many brands I admire on my blog and on social media. There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to bloggers and sponsored work, but I can say that some of my favorite work has come out of brand partnerships and sponsored opportunities. It allows me to think outside of the box and push my creative limits.
Brand partnerships: Think about what I’d want to see
You ever look at a blogger’s post or Instagram image and think, “Wow. This is perfect.”? Like it just stops you dead in your scrolling tracks. Or it’s so good, you just bookmark the post. Whether it’s a sponsored post or not, that’s what I strive to do when coming up with any content. Obviously sponsored content is much different, and I want to make sure I’m really putting the product/brand I’m working with in the best light possible. So, as a (very avid) consumer, I’m always looking through blogs and Instagram posts to inspire the way I
consume
.
Brand partnerships:
Look for inspo
Inspiration is what makes this blog, well, a blog. Sometimes it’s really difficult to keep yourself inspired, and that can be an issue when you’re trying to create content for sponsored campaigns. Pinterest is obviously just such a great source of inspiration. And fellow content creators. Duh. But recently, I’ve been trying to do a deep dive into other forms: Books, movies, trends…and strangers on the streets of New York City. It’s nice to switch up where the inspiration is coming from!
Brand partnerships:
Keep the key messaging in mind
When working with brands, there are typically campaign guidelines. These guidelines usually have content direction, what types of photos NOT to post, and specific messaging that I need to write about. Messaging is
extremely
important. I need to make sure I not only write about the messaging in my captions or in a blog post, but also make sure the messaging comes across in the photos!
In addition to the key messaging, it’s also very important to keep the brand’s aesthetic in mind. While it might not always match my aesthetic to a T, I love keeping this in mind when I’m working on a campaign. I want my readers to know I understand the brand, and also make sure I put my content in a position to be shared by the brand!
Brand partnerships:
Make sure each platform gives a different point of view
Photos can make or break sponsored content. Each photo taken for a sponsored post has to match the platform I’m posting to. Instagram is 100% more of a visual platform (DUH), so writing a super long caption doesn’t always make sense. I want to make sure the image thoroughly captures the key message for Instagram. When I’m writing a sponsored post for the blog, I really rely on my words to get the key messaging across. I love writing about my experience with a certain product, information about the campaign, and how it all relates back to my every day life.
When it comes down to it, sponsored content and brand partnerships are what keeps this blog going. It’s ALWAYS an honor to work with brands, and I absolutely love being part of really cool campaigns. Sponsored content forces me to stay creative, and keeps me on my toes. I’m always working on ways to step up my sponsored content game.
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