I recently had the opportunity to attend a session on public relations led by the fantastic Anna Lingeris who happens to be the PR Manager for The Hershey Company.  I truly wish every member of Bloggy Moms, mommy blogger and bloggers wishing to work with brands had been there.  Anna gave precise tips and suggestions for properly contacting brands.  She also gave excellent advice on understanding how brands work with bloggers.

The following are my notes from the session:

{1}  When choosing a brand, find one that fits well with you and your blog.  If your blog is largely recipes and cooking, a good food brand would probably be best to contact.

{2}  You will need to find out how to contact your chosen brand(s).  Do they use in-house PR or are they represented by another company?  Make sure you know the name of their point of contact.  This information can usually be found in a press release from the brand.

{4}  Compose a short message to this person.  Make it short and to the point while clearly explaining your proposal.

        {a} Introduce yourself and what you are representing.

        Example:  My name is Tiffany Noth and I am the creator/founder of BloggyMoms.com, a network of over 4,000 incredibly talented moms who blog…

        {b} Keep this message short – under 150 words preferably.  Remember that they are probably receiving many  messages a day from bloggers and do not have all day to read your proposal. 

         {c} Tell them why you are interested in working with them and their brand.

       Example:  I have recently been placed on a gluten-free diet by my physician and would love the opportunity to review your gluten-free products to share with my readers who must live the same lifestyle.

         {d} Lay out your plan.  How are you wanting to work with their brand?  What do you intend to do with their product?

          {e} Explain what sparked an interest in working with their brand.

       Example:  I recently read an article that –your brand- will soon be making available gluten-free products in my area.  This is fantastic news as I have always enjoyed your products.

           {f} Explain the benefits of working with you and your blog.  What will you provide to this brand that another blogger could not?  What is unique about you and sets you apart from others in your niche.

           {g} List your reach.  How many people follow your blog?  How many people are subscribed to your blog?  What is your blog’s rank?  How many people follow you/your blog on Twitter?  How many fans does your blog have on Facebook and Networked Blogs?

           {h} What is your time frame on this project?  How soon would you like to work with this brand?  Keep in mind that brands may not work on the same schedule as you do.  In fact, many of them are working several years out.  Just because they can not work with you now, does not mean they do not want to work with you in the future.

           {i} Remember to leave your full name and contact information as well as blog address at the signature.

{5}  Follow up.  Give them time to read, ponder and respond.  Again, remember they are very busy individuals just as you are.  If a few weeks go by, send a follow up message thanking them for their time and consideration.