ask tosin Category

BRANDS & YOUR BLOG: PART 1 (APPROACH)

Posted on April 11, 2015 44 Comments

Hello,

So Cassie Daves and I have been discussing this topic in secret and I think it’s the appropriate time to share my thoughts.

Since I started blogging I’ve been privileged to work with a substantial amount of brands, see them HERE. Both in Nigeria and internationally. With that, I have noticed a lot of difference in the business of blogging in Nigeria and abroad. Many of which are not favorable to Nigerian bloggers.

I’d be doing a series on this topic, and this is the first of three. Today’s topic is “Approach”. I hope a fellow blogger or brand would read this and effect some changes in their PR & business activities.

Many Nigerian companies approach bloggers for brand exposure (meaning they acknowledge your value & influence). However, the remuneration and manner of approach they bring to us sometimes isn’t the most encouraging. Let me give you a vivid example of a UK company that mailed me for partnership, Versus a Nigerian company.

UK COMPANY

“Hello Tosin, Trust you’re doing well. I’m Mark from xxxx company, We got your mail from the contact section of your blog. My team was doing an online round-up of Nigerian bloggers and africanismcosmopolitan.com came up. Your content is fresh and original which resonates with what our brand stands for, we especially loved your post on xxxxxx. That being said, we’d be honoured if you’re interested in participating in our new campaign targeted at youths between ages 18-29. For now our company cannot afford to give cash compensations but is willing to offer you products worth £200, with an extra 10% coupon code for your readers. You’d be given the liberty to choose the products you want from our website embedded HERE.

Kindly let us know if this is something that would interest you. Our company & Campaign information can be found here & here, do not hesitate to reply this mail with any questions you may have.

Regards,

Mark Cumming( Marketing & PR)

NIGERIAN COMPANY,

Good day sir/ma,

Please find attached a press release for your blog, Our company xxxx is currently undergoing a new brand campaign, we have selected a number of bloggers in Nigeria, and you’ve been included. Kindly send your mailing address and contact number so we could send you a product from our new range. Otherwise you can pick up from our outlet at No. X, xxxx street, xxxx, Lagos.

You can reply this mailing address with any question you may have,

We anticipate your response,

Follow us on twitter, Facebook & Instagram

Kind Regards,

Toun Okoro ( xxxx company)

Notice the difference in the manner of approach. Both companies may/may not have a budget for this campaign, however if I were to do a free post/review/advert, the company I’d choose is clear. The first company did the following:

Addressed me with my name
Mentioned my blog and referred to a post (showed they went through/acknowledge my work)
Mentioned their target audience to show its in line with my readers.
Explained that they do not have a monetary form of remuneration currently.
Offered a substantial compensation, that could add value to me and my blog readers.
Left contact details and a website to learn more about them.
Asked/hoped if I’d be Interested, not assumptous.

WHEREAS THE NIGERIAN COMPANY

Referred to me as sir/ma.
Did not mention my blog or name (makes it seem impersonal or was a mass email request)
Did not tell me about their campaign or where I could learn more.
Said I was ‘included’ as though it was something I applied for.
Assumed I had an obligation to publish their attached press release.
Overall message seemed imposing, instead of coming off as a proposal for consideration.

To bloggers what I’m saying is this, These companies approached you for a reason, they felt you could add value to them some sort of way, hence you should be seen as an asset to their company. As a blogger you fall under advertising and media, which is included in their yearly budget.

What you spend your time, energy and money on you value. So when these companies approach you, see yourself as an asset as well.

Many big name firms would approach you, which truthfully is a great opportunity, but in business there is no charity. Partnerships favours BOTH parties either monetary or not.

So as a blogger do not say ‘ WOW Apple contacted me to review their new watch” Instead think like this “I’m glad Apple reached out to me, it shows my hard work, online platform and audience base is well valued”.

Point is this, don’t sell yourself short. Freebies won’t pay for your internet data, camera or domain name maintenance.

I hope this post communicates my thoughts well, I sincerely do not mean to sound abrupt, I just feel Nigerian businesses have a lot to improve on as regards their business modules and marketing efforts.

The next post on this topic would be on ‘Budgets and Fees”. The money aspect of blogging.

Please Feel free to share, drop a comment and ask questions below.

xoxo

Tosin.

This post is owned by Africanismcosmopolitan.com and parts or all of it must not be republished without prior consent of author, in cases where the post is being referred to, kindly link the blog name. Legal actions would be taken when otherwise.

6 FREE APPS THAT IMPROVE YOUR IMAGING EXPERIENCE

Posted on February 5, 2015 16 Comments

Hello!

When it comes to blogging and social media, presentation is key…F

NOMINATE ME! NIGERIAN BLOG AWARDS: BEST PERSONAL OR LIFESTYLE BLOG

Posted on January 13, 2015 12 Comments

Hello!

The Nigerian blog awards for 2014 is open! and I’d like to participate! please go over there and nominate me so I can be shortlisted! If you’d like to support me, or you think I worked hard last year and you’d like to see this ministry move forward, Please kindly fill out the nomination form! ^.^ The rule is simple! scroll down to number 18 on this LINK, and enter my blog name: africanismcosmopolitan.com for the ‘best personal and lifestyle blog’, no need for wwww or http. I can be nominated for up to 3 categories. PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THE EXACT BLOG NAME IF YOU DONT WANT TO TYPE IT OUT ‘africanismcosmopolitan.com’

IMPORTANT: Please use your most used email address: If you don’t you will not receive their email asking you to validate your submission and my nomination will NOT be counted.

Thank you and God bless!

Tosin!

IS A MASTERS PROGRAMME WORTH IT? (FAQ’S, APPLICATION & MORE)

Posted on October 28, 2014 8 Comments

Hello people,

I get a lot of questions form readers asking about university choices for a post graduate course and programme selection. In this post I answer a few questions, and share my personal experiences as a recent graduate. I discuss tuition, application processes, course selection, travel and more. I really

ASK TOSIN: HELP! I WANT TO START A BLOG

Posted on October 3, 2014 15 Comments

Hello!

Remember I launched a new segment on the blog called “Ask Tosin”, a platform where you can send me questions on anything you’d like my opinion upon. Now, I do not claim to know it all but I may have a comment/suggestion on shared topics which I hope you find valuable to the circumstance. Thank you for all the questions so far, some questions are confidential so I may not be able to publish them. however, for recurring questions like this, I’ve decided to answer and post them periodically(once a week). For this first published segment I would be answering my

NEW SEGMENT: ASK TOSIN!

Posted on September 3, 2014 2 Comments

Hello beautiful people!
I’m back! and with a bang!

I have lots of posts to publish, so this blog will be on a roll! All segments are back, from Logos corner, get ready with me, outfit posts, recipes, reviews etc. I’m also adding new segments to the blog, one of which is “Ask Tosin”. I get lots of mails weekly on various issues from clothing stores, to beauty, spirituality and even career. Hence I’ve decided to make it an official part of the blog. (You can mail me at asktosin@gmail.com I’d respond ASAP).

However, if I feel some questions are repetitive or may be beneficial to many, I’d publish them as FAQ’s (frequently asked questions) But if you’d like to stay anonymous or confidential I would certainly respect your wish.

I’m really excited about this time in my life , so much goodnews and activities which day by day I’d be unveiling to you all.
Thank you again for the support.

P.s. Don’t forget to share and add my blog to your bookmark to avoid typing my long blog name lol.

Speak soon! (Later today)
Xoxo
Tosin

Read my testimony here

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS!

Posted on February 5, 2014 15 Comments

Hello guys, This is a video specially for you, answering all your questions and also some personal details about me. I tried to cover all topics but just incase I left anything out, Kindly leave your question in the comment box below. P.S Did you notice the new domain name? No more wordpress.com, its now […]