Do's and Dont's of Being Sponsored at a BlogPaws Conference

by: Carol Bryant

It’s that time of year: BlogPaws 2013 Conference registration is here. New for 2013 is our very first “choice of track” programming. That’s right: Choose your tracks and customize your educational goals.

Tracks include 101 (Beginners), 201 (Intermediate), and PRO (Advanced), plus exclusive tracks for animal rescue and advocacy, copyright and social media legalities, and pet lifestyle. Coupled with networking, meeting brands, engaging with industry influencers, attending a red-carpet media-engaged blogging award ceremony, and connecting with your friends while making new ones, you really want to be at this conference.

Have you ever considered becoming a sponsored blogger? Lately, we’ve had a few queries cross our desks at the BlogPaws offices, and this post is being presented to answer and guide any further inquiries. Here is what you must know including the do’s and don’ts of what a sponsored blogger is/means:

Do’s

Know the guidelines of what sponsored bloggers can and cannot do at BlogPaws conferences.

Register at the corporate rate – you are attending on behalf of a company or corporation, therefore your registration is a corporate registration.

Be clear with the brand/company what you expect to be provided in return for their sponsorship. For example, the brand agrees to pay the bloggers’ conference registration (at the corporate rate) and travel costs (including airfare, hotel and miscellaneous expenses for food/cab/etc) while the blogger provides certain agreed-upon benefits.

Indicate on your blog that you are being sponsored. This can be a badge or small box provided by the sponsor, but it usually announces that the blogger is attending the conference under a sponsorship agreement.

Make sure you offer the sponsor a good return on the investment.

Entice brands by showcasing your blog readership, your twitter following and/or your Facebook fans.

Don’ts

Register at the regular registration rate. If a blogger is sponsored by a brand/company, they must register at the corporate rate.

Sponsored bloggers may NOT create sponsored parties or events with other bloggers on behalf of their sponsor at the BlogPaws event or in association with the BlogPaws event. No activity may occur within the Conference venue and hours, or at any scheduled event planned by the BlogPaws’ committee and held outside of the hotel, unless previously approved by BlogPaws.

Do not add items to other attendees bags or leave them around the conference.  Staff and volunteers will be on the lookout and will dispose of any material not previously approved. Additionally, you may be quietly asked to leave the conference if you are in violation of these terms.

You may not add content to the Blogger Exchange Table for your brand, only for yourself.

Realize that there are two important reasons for restricting marketing activities within the Conference venue and hours: it’s annoying to other attendees and unfair to our BlogPaws’ paid sponsors.

Tips for Getting a Sponsorship to BlogPaws

In short, if you follow this bulleted list, you have a good chance of getting sponsored to come to BlogPaws, where your presence and blog posts/ tweets/facebook posts will provide lots of eyeballs for your sponsors.

•  Post a button or create a blog post talking up the sessions and purpose of BlogPaws, including our “giving back” to shelters and rescue sites.
•  Offer a specific benefit: tweeting, blogging, and otherwise giving your sponsor attention he or she might not otherwise receive (within the guidelines).
•  Share information on your sponsor outside of the conference area and/or hours.
•  Put your sponsor’s logo(s) in your newsletter and run ads for them for 2 weeks prior, and 2 weeks (or months) after the event. Add your sponsor’s logo to your business card or brochure. You are free to share those within the conference venue.
• Know how much you need to raise and be honest about it. Once you reach that level, cut the sponsorships off. Three good sponsors get more eyeballs and attention, than a dozen. They’ll know that.

BlogPaws has specific guidelines to what our bloggers can do as a sponsored blogger at our conference. We look forward to learning, growing, monetizing, and networking with you in May!

Comments

[Lisa Taron (Pet Blog Lady)]

I fortunately had success finding sponsors for Barkworld 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (enough to pay for return airfare from Canada and hotel accomodation). It did however come with a lot of work. (and what I now see was a great learning opportunity and experience)

It is indeed a lot of work (and I enjoyed it) but it's so worth it. You help the companies that sponsor you reach pet-loving peeps out there and you receive the financial support to allow you to attend the best conference on Earth. Win/Win. Plus it builds a strong relationship between yourself as a blogger and the company - which is really what it's all about in the end. Not just selling sponsorship packages and doing what you have offered to do.

Thank you for these guidelines. Great timing too. Blogpaws 2013 is right around the corner. Definitely the highlight of my year.

[Doug Bell]

Have done registration for the conference already thanks for dos nd dont sharing with us so all member's will be carefull, this campaign will be success for sure.

[Carol Bryant]

Watch for my post on Monday, 03/04 with more info for bloggers to use ;)