How bloggers can work with brands, PRs and agencies Vicki Jeffels – Digital Discussions, Vegemitevix, ParentsOnlineNewZealand

First – grow your blog Its surprising how quickly a blog can grow from 1 reader (your Mum) to 100. (Remember when you hit 100?) Develop your tagline and brand positioning What are you all about? Set up your social media channels – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google + Populate blog and channels with great content & share Its surprising how quickly a blog can grow from 1 reader (your Mum) to 100. (Remember when you hit 100?) Develop your tagline and brand positioning What are you all about? Set up your social media channels – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google + Populate blog and channels with great content & share

And grow.. Grow your communities by following like-minded bloggers (Most will follow back), Comment sensibly and strategically Be generous and encouraging always Share great content – other bloggers content! Install commenting system – Disqus, IntenseDebate. Sharing is caring. Grow your communities by following like-minded bloggers (Most will follow back), Comment sensibly and strategically Be generous and encouraging always Share great content – other bloggers content! Install commenting system – Disqus, IntenseDebate. Sharing is caring.

Dont forget the basics Like your address visible on your blog Set up a stunning About page Join networks and groups – expat bloggers, travel bloggers, foodies Create your own community – Mums Who Love Labradors Ask others for guest posts and reciprocate eg/Moving Stories series Like your address visible on your blog Set up a stunning About page Join networks and groups – expat bloggers, travel bloggers, foodies Create your own community – Mums Who Love Labradors Ask others for guest posts and reciprocate eg/Moving Stories series

Build Community spirit Join in with a meme – Fat Mum Slim Photo a Day, Silent Sunday, Not all likes are equal – be patient, dont buy favour Use Twitter and Facebook – set up Facebook, Google + pages Create your own meme – Travel Thursday, Moving Stories Offer to guest post – do your best work! Join in with a meme – Fat Mum Slim Photo a Day, Silent Sunday, Not all likes are equal – be patient, dont buy favour Use Twitter and Facebook – set up Facebook, Google + pages Create your own meme – Travel Thursday, Moving Stories Offer to guest post – do your best work!

Help Brands & PRs find your blog Develop an advertising & PR page Be frank about what you will do and wont do Make contacting you EASY Find out who represents what brands and follow them Who would you like to work with? Find them! Be proactive and easy to deal with Develop an advertising & PR page Be frank about what you will do and wont do Make contacting you EASY Find out who represents what brands and follow them Who would you like to work with? Find them! Be proactive and easy to deal with

Know your blogs numbers Install Google Analytics, Statcounter, and AW Stats (server) Connect Google Analytics to Webmasters tools Start tracking growth Consider getting Klout or Kred Do everything you can to grow your Google Pagerank Install Google Analytics, Statcounter, and AW Stats (server) Connect Google Analytics to Webmasters tools Start tracking growth Consider getting Klout or Kred Do everything you can to grow your Google Pagerank

What numbers count? Learn the difference between pageviews, page impressions, Unique views, visitors Understand the importance of being sticky and bounce Measure engagement – comments, shares on Twitter and Facebook Importance of deep dive page views and true engagement Learn the difference between pageviews, page impressions, Unique views, visitors Understand the importance of being sticky and bounce Measure engagement – comments, shares on Twitter and Facebook Importance of deep dive page views and true engagement

Build a media kit No longer than 2 pages Use metrics that favour your blog Use comments and accolades Add in successful campaigns and outcomes Use TweetReach, Google Alerts etc to measure Describe your followers in marketing terms Know where your traffic comes from – NZ, Australia, UK, US Create 2 kits – 1 with rates, 1 without No longer than 2 pages Use metrics that favour your blog Use comments and accolades Add in successful campaigns and outcomes Use TweetReach, Google Alerts etc to measure Describe your followers in marketing terms Know where your traffic comes from – NZ, Australia, UK, US Create 2 kits – 1 with rates, 1 without

Be proactive Introduce your blog to potential brands and PRs. Organise business cards and be professional Consider visual look and feel of your blog Know your keywords and how successful you are in search for them Anything goes: cars, dishwashers, biscuits, sex toys.. Its up to you and what fits your blog. Introduce your blog to potential brands and PRs. Organise business cards and be professional Consider visual look and feel of your blog Know your keywords and how successful you are in search for them Anything goes: cars, dishwashers, biscuits, sex toys.. Its up to you and what fits your blog.

Develop relationships Dont expect too much at the beginning, remember youre small Go in for the long term, be easy to work with Brands are trusting you with their reputations be gentle with them Be honest. If you dont like a product tell the PR. Dont be a whinge Always keep comms channels open – can lead to better deals Dont expect too much at the beginning, remember youre small Go in for the long term, be easy to work with Brands are trusting you with their reputations be gentle with them Be honest. If you dont like a product tell the PR. Dont be a whinge Always keep comms channels open – can lead to better deals

Keep current As blogging community grow in NZ so too will approaches from brands Vegemitevix receives between 4-10 offers per day Never print Press Releases – cant comment on India if Ive not been Keep your media kit current and all links updated Remember: if you want to be treated professionally, be professional. As blogging community grow in NZ so too will approaches from brands Vegemitevix receives between 4-10 offers per day Never print Press Releases – cant comment on India if Ive not been Keep your media kit current and all links updated Remember: if you want to be treated professionally, be professional.