Working with Bloggers

Social media should be a facet of every company’s marketing plan today, and we would venture to say that it’s even more essential for up-and-coming brands. As a crucial part of social media, bloggers are one of the best resources in helping spread the word about the newest, latest and greatest. We asked a few of our favorite bloggers for their best tips on how to work with them. Check them out below:

• The most important thing is to develop relationships with bloggers that truly love and appreciate your brand! Write personal emails, leave comments on their blog, etc. - Chelsea from {frolic!}
• I think what’s key to approaching a blogger is to know their audience. I, for one, will only post about modern pieces or weddings for my site.  Other sites will exclusively post about vintage, or DIY or traditional. It’s a good idea to take a look through the site to get a sense of their aesthetic, and then if your product fits that aesthetic, by all means email away. – Vane from Brooklyn Bride
• Make sure your product is a good fit before approaching a blog, otherwise you’re wasting your time and theirs. If you can somehow relate it to a past post, or give your product a unique story twist, all the better! I once had someone advise me (since I come from a PR background) that really the media wants you to do the work for them. I can now say that that’s absolutely true. We want quick facts and we want to know what makes you unique. Think about it this way – chances are that unless your product is TRULY the first of it’s kind, we’ve probably seen some version of it before… so why would we pick you to feature? Connect the dots for us. Maybe we come from the same city? Maybe we know someone in common? Maybe your product has a great story behind it? Tell us that – briefly. – Cassandra from coco + kelley
• Always include photos! Bloggers get a lot of submissions and it’s great if they can quickly glance at a photo or an easy link to get an idea of the style. And on that note, have great photos! If you can’t afford a professional photographer, take photos in natural light (next to a window) with clean backdrops! - Chelsea from {frolic!}
• As a blogger, I depend on great images of a product, so my number one tip to new businesses pitching wares would be to send publish-worthy photos. They can definitely be in a smaller file size format for the introductory email, but high quality photos are priceless. I recently had this situation with a designer whose dresses were definitely blog worthy, but the photos made them look horrible. Invest in good photography! And, while we’re on that topic, I would recommend sending 2-3…maybe 4 photos at the most. Select a good variety and your best pieces. – Cassandra from coco + kelley
• PLEASE please please proofread who you’re sending the email to…I can’t tell you how many times someone has sent me an email addressed to someone else! It’s just embarrassing and guarantees that I will not email back! – Vane from Brooklyn Bride
• I won’t blog about something just for a random giveaway. However, when it’s relevant to my blog and readers though, a little gift is a great way to spark some interest and excitement. A lot of people have yet to discover the power of this online design “community” we have – news spreads fast! – Daniella from Dress, Design & Decor
• I am bombarded with pitches daily. It usually takes me at least 2-3 days before I respond to one (unless I’m really excited about it, or it happens to fit perfectly into a story I’m working on). If we don’t respond right away, don’t get frustrated. Send a simple follow up email in a few days, and maybe another one in a week. If you still don’t receive a response, we’re probably not interested. Don’t take it personally! And, don’t stop trying. If you add pieces to your line, are involved in an exciting event, have been featured in a magazine… those are all great reasons to send a follow up email later down the line. If we really don’t want to hear from you, we’ll probably ask to be removed from your list. Otherwise, keep ‘em coming, but at a reasonable pace. – Cassandra from coco + kelley

If you’re also a blogger, please share your tips with us! If you’re a brand, ask your questions! We’ll make sure to get answers to you in another post or directly via email.

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