Get Started with Sponsors and Contests

[ArmySister]

I've read so many of your amazing blogs and seen how companies are sending you things to review and giveaway.  I really think I would enjoy this so much,  but I've been googling and can't find any help.  How do I get started? Do you seek out these companies? Do they seek you out?  How did you get started? What did you do right? And wrong?

I would really love some guidance.   

[cloudsters]

As someone who's not ever been contacted, one would think it is the companies that monitor the blogosphere, and do the approaching. Probably one's blog would need to have a decent daily readership, and be in a niche that the company wants to exploit.

(Approach our blog anytime, companies! Heh heh)

[strawberryred]

I just started doing this too, and basically you just email companies and ask them to sponsor a giveaway or have you write a review.  So far everyone who has responded has said yes, they are super excited to do it.  They all have been super super nice.  I sent out maybe 10 emails on Sat, and so far I've had 4 people say yes.  The worst they can do is say no, right?

[grocerymama]

When I did my homemade kitchen promo I approached the stores I wanted to feature. And had the chance to meet some amazing and creative women in the process.
For other products, companies approached me. Right now, I am doing a review on an oral b toothbrush and a really cool cookbook.
The main thing I can say is write quality content that gets indexed into google.
Many of the bigger companies hire marketing firms to find bloggers for them.
It never hurts to contact companies direct. Strawberry red is right, the worst they can say is no.

[strawberryred]

I've talked with a lot of other people over at Momdot, one who has over 50 people/companies offering things to give away, and they all say you just have to contact the companies and then maybe when you are really into it, the companies will start contacting you.

[Aimee]

Winning a giveaway---haven't done that yet.  Until I actually win something (since i've entered myself in like 100 at least LOL), the idea of "hosting" one doesn't appeal to me. LOL

[ArmySister]

Yea...i've finally gotten started...

My first contest will post tomorrow at AllAboutKimberly with a prize that was donated!!  I also received some toothbrushes to review and the company said they would sponsor a giveaway, and I've got some cake on the way to try out too and review!!

YEA!!!!!

I'd still love to know anything specifically that anyone has done (besides contacting vendors directly...that would be a school break job...not something I could do this time of year)....

I've signed up with the Momdot forum....waiting to be approved.