How-To: Choosing Brands for your Blog Strategy

Image via New Darlings

At the beginning of the year, we discussed 4 Ways to Brand Your Blog. Today, we want to share how to determine which brands and retailers work best with your current blog strategy.

First off, you need to understand who are your readers. You need to know who you are speaking to when you post content to your blog and social channels. The easiest way to understand your readers is to create a Google Analytics account. From there, you can learn where your readers are are based. You can see specific demographics like language and location, and then determine the retailers and brands that are available to that country. For example, if you have a large readership in Paris, make sure you aren’t just focusing on US brands as they don’t always ship internationally. Choose a brand that your Parisian readers can be inspired by and shop in their locale.

Now that you know who your readers are, you can better craft the content and select the right brands for them. Your blog is a source of inspiration for you and how you feel about the content should also speak to you, but always be aware that your readers are watching your every move. They also need to feel inspired by the content and brands, or they will not engage — or even worse, stop reading altogether.

The brands you write about should be brands you love, want to promote, or already own. Content should feel authentic. For example, if you’re a mommy blogger known for sharing your kids OOTDs, easy recipes, and budget-friendly items, you shouldn’t suddenly start blogging about luxury items or menswear brands. It’s a turn-off and feels inauthentic to your blog.

Brands can show up in your content both organically and via paid opportunities. While paid opportunities allow you the chance to speak to a product and be compensated, make sure you align these opportunities with a clear vision of what your strategy is. If your vision is to be a mommy blogger with a focus on kids’ fashion, recipes, and budget-friendly items, don’t take a campaign opportunity from a luxury retailer. You want to stay authentic at all times.

Now that you know how to create content with the right brands make sure you are monetizing that. Create Looks, Widgets and Text Links to really capitalize on your influence.

xo,

Carlina