It’s so hard being a blogger in the current online world, even harder being one of the small bloggers trying to stand out among the crowd. I’ve been blogging for over nine years now and I’ve seen the ‘blogosphere’ evolve in ways you couldn’t even imagine. I’m still kicking myself that I deleted my first ever blog. I would have loved to read back through that now.
It’s taken this long for brands to start to realise just how much a blogger can help them. I’m getting less of the ‘we’d love to help you out by letting you feature our products’ emails. But trust me, I still get the awful ones. 90% of the time, when brands realise the potential of working with bloggers they immediately try to get in contact with the ‘biggest’ blogs out there. I wanted to put this together to show you, brands, how we, small bloggers can help you too.
1. We work just as damn hard, blogging doesn’t come easily to anyone. I’m not going to say we work harder because we don’t. But we do have to work much harder to get the opportunities in the first place. And once we get them, and I’m speaking for pretty much every blogger I know, we will work damn hard to make the content exactly how YOU want it, so maybe, just maybe, you’ll want to work with us again in the future.
2. Promotion, promotion, promotion – views may come easier to someone with a large social media following. All they have to do is post a link once and hundreds upon thousands of people may view the post. We, smaller bloggers will work our arses off to get our posts seen. Posting on every social media platform we know, probably some you’ve never even heard of, multiple times a day. I mean, I’m still promoting content from 2 years ago. It may take a little longer to get the promotion you intended, but you’ll get it.
3. We charge laughable prices, I know it’s all about knowing your worth but I know personally, if a brand that I was devoted to got in touch, I’d promote them for next to nothing, with the hope that there will be bigger and better opportunities as my blog grows. None of us expect to be paid thousands for one Instagram post, just think, pay one blogger £1000 or 20 bloggers £50, I know which one I’d chose.
4. We’re more likely to post about your products, I know that I want to post about absolutely everything that I’m sent and surprise PR parcels make my day, my week, maybe even my year. Us smaller bloggers are just waiting for those opportunities, waiting to promote YOUR products.
5. Link building; wishful thinking here but what if something that I’d written went viral overnight? Your link is already sitting there on my site and it would be worth 100x more. I don’t even need to be as exaggerative as something going viral, as my DA rises over the years, as my blog becomes more popular, that link that I’ve placed for you will be much much more valuable.
6. Building relationships, I’ve touched upon this in other points but working with us now will help to build future relationships. I reached out to a brand when I’d been blogging a few months, probably a little too eager but it was worth a try, they shot me down, in quite a nasty way. This year, they got in touch with me, and guess what I did, I told them I wasn’t interested. I hold grudges, and I’m sure I’m not just speaking for myself.
7. Social media following isn’t always what it seems, I personally know bloggers that have bought followers, it’s easy, I could go and buy 20,000 twitter followers right now and maybe you’ll work with me. Just remember; followers don’t mean readers.
A little side note for brands, if you give us the opportunities to work with you, please work with us. A little RT, Facebook Post, Regram, even an email to say thank you goes a long long way.
Until next time,
Sainab Sharif says
Loved this post and it’s so true, us smaller blogger work hard!
Majean says
Well said and all true!
Tiara Wasner says
Amen sister! I’m been blogger since 2007. Who knew it would become what it is! I totally agree small blogger are just as important if not more important.
Karen L says
Brilliant! Makes complete sense!
Erica @ Coming Up Roses says
All good points here! Small bloggers definitely work just as hard if not harder, especially at the beginning, to really get noticed and make an impact. Keep doing your thing…it’s going to be pay off for you, girlfriend!
Coming Up Roses
Ida Pahus says
This is so good and true!! Can really relate to how hard it can be to get a Companys attention, but I keep working!
Thanks for sharing!!
Jasmine says
Fab post and 100% true. I’ve just started my blog and it’s really hard reaching out to brands knowing you’re not even going to be considered because you’ve only got 600 twitter followers.
Such a shame, but hopefully this post reaches brands and they will give us a chance.
Kisses and hugs
Jazziepickles
Tolaraye says
Great post!
Christine says
You make some very good points! I am really glad you wrote this article and can just hope for brands seeing it too, and getting it. If I were to promote my products, I too would prefer 50 links from small to medium bloggers than one massive link in a crappy article from a ‘famous’ blog that is already overloaded, and spends less time and effort on the work.
Holly Shannon says
Yes, yes, yes!! This is absolutely perfect! I was having a discussion with a blogger friend about sites like TBP where they post opportunities for bloggers but put high requirements like 10,000 followers on Instagram or 50,000 overall followers … The point being that the bloggers with these higher numbers aren’t looking on these sites because the opportunities often come to them!
I definitely still promote posts from months ago when I first started and will continue to promote them. x
Sarah says
I love this post!!! Us smaller bloggers are worth way more than some bigger blogger who will enthuse about any damn product sent their way!!! I’ve been blogging for about 4 years and it’s only really now that I am getting more emails from PRs wanting to work with me! It’s brilliant! But I am repaying the favour by searching out smaller businesses to work with for my #SmallBiz Series! The response has been amazing and I’m finding more and more small businesses to feature all the time! Sometimes smaller is better! xoxo
Wave to Mummy says
Amen! Although, you’re preaching to the converted here 🙂
If you choose wisely, I think you can get a lot of benefit form working with a blogger. It always involves in taking a bit of a punt, but if you invest in let’s say ten small but good quality blogs, one or two of them might grow to be big someday, and there you are 🙂
I’ve seen lots of social media follower buying lately, as well as churning which is so see-through…
Ana says
Nice and motivational post for small bloggers like me! I totally agree with you that followers can’t be readers. And Blogging is not everyone’s cup of tea!
Eugenia says
So true! Brands should understand that there are so many benefits of collaboration with us “smaller” bloggers and not underestimate us but give us a chance to work together! Pinned your post 🙂
Sarah Jones says
I love this post and it’s all so true! I don’t think big brands realise that us smaller brands have just have good influence on readers at least that’s the case with me. I found them to be loyal and trusting of my opinion because I’m so small which I like 🙂
courtney says
SO TRUE! Being new or small doesn’t change how great we can be!
alessia angeloni says
I agree! <i loved this post and I abs love the way you write and you blog!
xoxo
Dia All The Things I DO says
Way to rep for the smaller bloggers ll Love this post. Sharing 🙂
Pawena Kaniah says
This is so so true. I truly wish every non-blogger or person who just ignore our work to read this.
I’m blogging only since 3 and half years and it’s really nice having someone more experienced than me put these words here. It’s encouraging and supportive at the same time. (:
Lisa says
Thanks so much for posting this! When I work with brands I personally want to build relationships with them which is easier to do when you have a smaller blog! Also when I get an opportunity I will spend days and weeks on getting the review or photography just right whilst other bigger bloggers might be churning these posts out multiple times a day! 🙂 xx
Stephanie Canham says
Great post Ami. You’re right on every point! It’s hard to get noticed and I’m an older blogger so sometimes even more difficult!!! 🙁
Steph
x
http://www.pricelesslifeofmine.com
alexandra @ my urban family says
Yes yes yes to all of this! I always promote the crap out of my stuff when I feel like something deserves it – and doubly so if I’m being compensated. And sometimes a loyal small audience is so much better!
Anna says
Love this so much! Great reasons and all so true 🙂