This document provides tips for bloggers on how to approach brands for potential partnerships. It recommends that bloggers (1) understand the brand's specific marketing objectives and pitch a plan that helps them achieve those objectives, (2) show that their audience is a good fit for what the brand is offering, and (3) provide materials to brands that help sell a partnership internally and inspire confidence, such as a detailed written pitch, proposed reporting, and case studies. The tips are based on experience being both a client and blogger.

1. how bloggers should approach brands
insights and tips based on experience of being both a client and a blogger
@garybembridge
tipsfortravellers.com

2. “look at the partnership through their eyes”
brands respond best to pitches that show understanding of
their business goals and promise programs focused on
helping them achieve their specific brand objectives

3. tips
find out what their specific brand-marketing objective
is and pitch a plan that shows you understand it and
how you can help them deliver it
examples of objectives may be
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recruit people to cruising who currently go on all-inclusive resort vacations
recruit specific type of traveller to their brand (e.g. solo traveller women 50+)
convert existing cruisers from a certain brand to their brand for cruising the
mediterranean in 2014

4. “show you are audience centric”
brands are interested in getting travellers to book travel
with them - not in entertaining them. make sure your
audience is really likely to be the right fit for them

5. tips
show them that your audience is totally right for them,
and acts on your advice
prove to them that your audience is
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in the right territory (UK office of a brand only interested in UK travellers)
the right mix & type (fits to the audience their objectives seeking, and have
travel lifestyle likely to use the brand – e.g. backpackers will not cruise on a
luxury line with formal nights)
interested in what they are offering (insights drawn from audience surveys in
addition to analytics)
Influenced by your activities (survey data showing what your audience says
about your influence on decisions + data on past activities click-through to
brands sites, testimonials on leads converted to sales)

6. “stand out from the crowd”
brands will have vast choice at who they can partner with.
you are going to need to really stand out from everyone else

7. tips
show what is unique and different about you (skills &
blog) and why best placed to help them
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how you are unique (“unlike others I ..” and “Only I ….”
special skills you can provide
proven ability to drive results

8. “inspire confidence to close the deal”
your contact will have to sell partnering with you to
management demanding a return on investment. Give them
the tools they need to make the case for you

9. tips
give your contact materials and tools to sell partnering
with you internally
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detailed written pitch, including show understand objectives, content to be
delivered, timing, estimated reach
proposed measurement and reporting
case studies of similar projects success
client testimonials

10. free resources
eBook PDF and podcast
tipsfortravellers.com/traverse