Friday’s Q+A brought up A LOT of questions about blogging and the business side of things, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to answer in detail.
I’ve compiled a list of the questions that kept coming up and since this is clearly something a lot of you are curious about, I figured they should live here as part of the Blogging Tips series moving forward.
BLOGGING 101
HOW DO BLOGGERS GET PAID:
There are a lot of ways that bloggers get paid. The most common ways are through doing sponsored campaigns, using affiliate marketing links (like Reward Style, which is the most commonly used) or residual income via projects like capsules collections or books.
In my time as a blogger, I have launched 4 capsules (which are small, limited edition collections, that are co-created with another brand who usually handle the manufacturing side of things). You can learn more about my past capsules here, here, here & here. They are a nice additional revenue stream, but to me these opportunities are valuable bc of what I learn from doing them. I get exposed to things I’d never normally get to be hands-on with and that alone is worth it’s weight in gold.
*cheesy as it sounds, money isn’t everything. I actually decline probably 85% of what gets offered my way. Not because I wouldn’t love the money and an extra shopping spree(!!), but because I have massive respect for what I’ve built so far and I would rather DIE than sellout for something I didn’t truly believe in.
As much as I want to make money, I’m more invested in creating longevity for myself and for my business.
INSTAGRAM GROWTH – YOUR KEY TAKEAWAYS:
I went to town on this one on stories, so here’s a recap of everything we touched on. I am currently in the process of writing a detailed blog post re: Instagram growth – coming soon.
The biggest message I have regarding IG, is that I would encourage you to stop associating your worth with your follower count. I feel like these days, it’s easy to get wrapped up in how everything appears online. In truth, it’s all about perspective and your understanding of where your power is. It’s not necessarily about how many followers you have, but how those people are engaging with your content / what you are talking about.
For example, you have 100 followers on instagram and you share your favourite conditioning treatment. Of those 100 people, 50 go buy it. I’d say you have a pretty loyal and engaged following, who seem influenced by what you’re sharing. My personal opinion is that most people get consumed by the thought of having this massive following, but don’t care much about what is really meaningful in that. If you are new to blogging, you need to know that you don’t need to have 1M followers to have a successful blog. Focus on the people who you have now and who are interested in what you have to say and take care of them. The rest will work itself out.
At the end of the day, Instagram is a marketing tool and the reality is that it could disappear tomorrow. Where would that put your business and all your hard work? This would be where blogs and newsletters still hold true value. It’s the one thing you (alone) own.
GIFTING + INFLUENCER SUPPORT:
We seem to have a lot of small businesses in this community! Many of you asked about getting more connected online but not feeling sure about how to go about getting support. Online or IRL, it’s always best to just reach out and introduce yourself. If you’re trying to get someone’s attention, showing up regularly on their channels can also help make it easier when you pop into their DM’s. You need to create the foundation. You wouldn’t become best friends with someone overnight (normally), it takes time to build a relationship. This is no different.
As a small business, I understand you don’t always have budgets in place to advertise and at times rely heavily on word-of-mouth or the help of your community. Influencer support can be a great way to spread the word about your product online and reach a larger audience that’s targeted to your niche.
Here’s how to seek support:
+ reach out on email & introduce yourself & your company (include a link for easy reference to what you’re talking about)
+ follow on instagram & show some love by interacting with their content
+ give what you intend to receive! So, be prepared to show up over & over.
*These things can feel very transactional, so when I say give what you intend to receive, I mean that. If you’re looking for support, it’s nice when it goes both ways, no matter the following. I definitely notice when ppl ask me for a favour and then forget to return, when due.
WHATS YOUR PROCESS WHEN CHOOSING WHO YOU PARTNER WITH:
First off, I would NEVER partner with a brand, business or person who didn’t align with mine. I believe in working with fewer brands, more frequently, versus more brands, sporadically here and there. That’s just how I like to do business. Right there, that makes my job a lot easier bc I’m very clear on what I like and what I do not.
In terms of my “process”, usually when I’m approached to work with a brand, I have to determine the objective of the partnership. Am I coming on to support, mentor and be an ambassador of this brand/product or am I coming on to work with this brand on a campaign.
There are normally two types of brands I work with throughout the year. Brands who pay me to work with them on campaigns to help execute their marketing strategy: these would be bigger, more well-known companies with larger budgets.
And brands who are seeking support for growth: these would be smaller, local companies with little to no budget. Many of the brands that I have supported in the past, have become huge successes over the years and it’s been so fun to continue working together as they expand across Canada and into the US.
While I don’t believe in working for free, lending my support & channels to brands I’m into, is something I’ll always make time/space for.
Let me know if you found this article helpful and what you’d like to see from me next!
No Comments