Octopied Thoughts despatched me this tee – I graciously accepted as a result of they are a native model and I feel they’re rad!
Should you observe me on Instagram, you might need seen a rise in posts which are sponsored, or the place I’ve obtained the product in PR. A short time in the past, my IG good friend Julie messaged me asking how I resolve which manufacturers and corporations to work with. My reply to her was somewhat haphazard, however it received me considering. I actually assume I might’ve benefitted from this type of put up earlier in my running a blog and social media life, and an enormous a part of my content material technique is to make the type of content material I might need to see. So I am doing it. _(ツ)_/¯
Earlier than we get began, please observe that I’ve solely began receiving a daily PR and sponsorship pitches within the final 12 months or so, and I undoubtedly do not have the biggest platform on the web. Additionally remember the fact that I have been running a blog for 7 years now, for no matter that is price. I undoubtedly wasn’t interested by these items once I first received began.
Small, Native, or Canadian Companies
If I get an electronic mail or DM from a small enterprise positioned in Ottawa or in Canada, relying on the ask, I am nearly all the time down.
I really like small companies. I really like the care they put into their merchandise, their packaging, all the pieces. Within the final 7 months I’ve actually been specializing in shopping for from and supporting native and small enterprise, and Changing my staples – clothes, meals, candles, no matter – with native or small biz options.
I started working with Copious Fashions as a result of I made real connections with the Ottawa small biz group.
Pre-pandemic, I hung round craft reveals with my pals so much (I am very cool, I do know). I might purchase local-made garments, craft provides, and equipment, put up about them, and tag the outlets within the images. That is how I linked with and ended up modeling for Alyssa from Strut Jewellery. Her photographer, Kaja, additionally takes images for Carissa of Copious Fashions, and advised me for a Copious challenge.
The purpose of that little anecdote is that the small biz group is intertwined and, nicely, small. Making connections and sincerely supporting small, native corporations is such a good way to become involved and construct group.
Black-Owned, Ladies-Owned, or Queer-Owned Companies
Once I get electronic mail or DM pitches from manufacturers, if they do not point out who their homeowners or founders are, I analysis that. In the event that they’re Black-owned, woman-owned, queer-owned, or any-other-minority-owned, assuming their product is one thing I am inquisitive about or matches my model, I am all the way down to work with them.
That is how my Aunty Tega and Butter & Spice Bakery sponsorships took place. Each are Black-owned, Canadian companies that make some critically scrumptious treats.
I am not saying I labored with these manufacturers solely due to their possession demographic. I am saying that it is one other means for me to help marginalized or underrepresented communities. (I additionally solely say sure to receiving merchandise I am really inquisitive about attempting – extra on that in a minute.)
Manufacturers That I Already Love
If a model whose product I already love reaches out to me, uh, sure, I am gonna work with them. Alternately, generally I will ship electronic mail pitches to corporations whose merchandise I really like. Pitching PR corporations may very well be a weblog put up in and of itself – it is one half artwork, one half science, and two elements luck, and I am nonetheless engaged on it tbh.
I really like Chunk Magnificence as a model, and was thrilled they agreed to ship their Changemaker Basis to me to strive.
In any case, if I already use and like a product and the corporate desires to or agrees to ship me some others to strive, sponsor a put up, or work with me in another capability, it is normally an important match.
Manufacturers or Merchandise That I Am Occupied with Attempting
It is a catch-all class for each corporations/merchandise I’ve by no means heard of however am inquisitive about attempting, and ones I’ve heard of however have not gotten round to attempting simply but. For me, the underside line is that I’ve to be inquisitive about an organization or product. It is tremendous vital to me to be sincere with my little group, so I am most unlikely to simply accept one thing I am bored with or – worse but – that I do not assume I will like.
MLMs, Direct Advertising, or Industrial Cults
I watch numerous anti-mlm movies on YouTube in my free time. If you do not know what an MLM is, they generally go by the title direct advertising corporations, community advertising corporations, or business cults. These corporations promote product, however the principle income stream for people concerned in them is to get others to enroll as a part of their “downline” to allow them to earn fee off of that particular person’s gross sales. I will not work with these corporations as a result of their recruiting ways squick me out, the oldsters who work means down the downline typically find yourself spending extra money than they earn, and so they promise group however at large price to these concerned.
For extra on why MLMs are a no-go for me, watch any NOT THE GOOD GIRL video, or take a look at this text.
Random Instagram Firms
We have all gotten these spammy IG feedback: “Nice pic 😍 @SeverelySadlyShoetique is in search of ambassadors, DM them now!”
I by no means DM them. I normally reply to the remark as a result of it boosts engagement within the IG algorithm, however I by no means DM them. On prime of the truth that most of those corporations do not characteristic anybody who seems like me or make merchandise I am inquisitive about, they normally need you to work free of charge, pay for product or delivery (!!), or work on fee solely (Jaime of @girllovesgloss has an important IGTV about this!).
There are, after all, exceptions to those pointers, and it does not cowl all the pieces. I am simply stepping into affiliate hyperlinks, however solely with manufacturers I’ve a pre-established relationship with or with respected affiliate networks. That too may very well be a put up by itself. However general, these are my guidelines of thumb on the subject of deciding which corporations to work with.
Disclosure: This put up incorporates PR samples and re-promoted sponsored posts.
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