One of the greatest thing about being able to make a living as a blogger is that you have the ability to really support the brands you actually want to, whereas if you didn’t work for yourself, you might not be able to choose. Even if your blog is still growing and you’re not at full time status, there’s still a ton of opportunity to work with the artists behind Etsy shops and online boutiques, and even local brick and mortar stores if you want. As the holiday season approaches, I wanted to give a little more info on partnering up with the shops you love for mutual benefit.
Roundups
Featuring products from favorite shops in roundups like our gift guides is one of the best ways to promote brands you love, whether or not you’re getting paid to do so. Even if you’re not getting a sponsorship or affiliate commission out of the deal, featuring handmade or indie shops can actually go along way, whether it’s just opening up a dialogue between you and the boutique owner or having them promote your post. We love when shops get excited that we post their item—it just shows that we’re all here to support each other. From a shop owner’s standpoint, it’s awesome to have your work featured, but it helps if you have professional quality photos optimized and ready to go.
Host Giveaways
When I was selling on Etsy, I participated in a number of giveaways. As a shop owner it helped me get my name out there, even when it didn’t directly lead to sales. Then, as I started blogging more, I would host giveaways too. Giveaways aren’t something you want to count on to drive a lot of sales or increase your blog’s following (depending which end of the partnership you’re on)—they’re attractive to people who want free stuff, after all—but they do totally get a brand out there, and as a blogger they can really show what you’re into and want to support.
Behind the Scenes & Interviews
You’ve probably seen that many bloggers feature interviews with makers or sellers that they’re intrigued by. I recently posted an interview on my blog and the reason reached out to the shop owner (via Instagram) was because I felt like we had a lot in common and wanted to learn more about her. To me, it’s always fun to learn about what other creatives/artists do, so why not post what I learn on my blog? It’s a great way to generate original, interesting content and possibly even help get more eyes on someone’s work. Most of the time (and especially if you have an agreement) the shop owner will use their social media influence to share the post too.
There are of course a ton of ways bloggers + shop owners can work together, but these are the basic three. Even if you don’t have a particular partnership in mind, there’s no harm in simply reaching out to an artist or boutique that inspires you.
(Photo taken at a super cute Los Angeles boutique, Shout & About.)