By: Kristin

Hey guys!  My name is Kristin and I am the owner/editor of Whole Lotta Mama!    I went on a hiatus for about 7 months and came back to the mom blogging business and everything had changed on me.  I have learned a lot in the last two months, then ever before.  I am here to explain to you how to jump start your review and giveaway site from step one, the noob or newbie stage.  I am no expert on this subject, but I think you will be able to get your blog further than ever before.

The very first thing to do, if you have not done so yet, is set up a blog. (Duh, right?)  The most simple blog platform would be Google’s Blogspot or Blogger, which ever you prefer to call it.  If you are wanting a template or background for your blog I have a few favorite free sites to get awesome backgrounds.  (ShabbyBlogs, The Cutest Blog on the Block and Leelou Blogs).  The best thing to do is get your own domain name.  A lot of sponsors don’t like seeing http://www.yourname.blogspot.com.  They would rather see http://www.yourname.com or http://www.yourname.net or http://www.yourname.ca.  I purchased mine through GoDaddy.com and purchased http://www.wholelottamama.net.  The .net is cheap, but just as important as a .com.

After you have set up your blog, all pretty and stuff, start searching through your home for products to review.  Every day, write one review on something you have in your home.  For example, I reviewed, Downy UN Stopables, in wash scent booster for my start up review.  Now, yeah, I only did one review before I started looking for sponsors.  I wish sometimes I had waited and posted a few more reviews on my own.  Anyways, you get my drift, I hope?!

What do you need to have?

What do I mean?  These are the must haves of the blog.  These are the deal breakers for EVERY sponsor. 

GFC – Google Friend Connect – Sponsors rely on this number more than anything.

Stat Counter –StatCounter.com – Calculates all your visitors on your blog.  Sponsors will ask for your stats.

Feed Burner – Feedburner.com – Sets up a feed for your readers to join your blog my email.

Facebook – Fan Page – Mine is http://www.facebook.com/wholelottamama. Set up a fan page from your personal Facebook page.  Some/Most sponsors like this.

Twitter – I am not a big fan of twitter, but it is a good networking tool.  My twitter handle is @WholeLotta_Mama or http://www.twitter.com/WholeLotta_Mama42. (You are able to write on your Facebook fan page wall and have that tweeted also to your twitter followers.) 

Alexa –Alexa.com – This awesome tool ranks your traffic.  Download the toolbar, put a widget on your blog and set your blog as your home page.

When you find a sponsor you want to “pitch”, send them a nice email.  I have a few pitch emails I use.  You can email me for these pitches (Kristin@wholelottamama.net), and these pitch email I use are customizable and they work!

Some sponsors will ask for your stats.  The best way to give them your stats is having a Media Kit.  When they ask you for your stats, just email them your Media Kit Link.  Here is mine, and you may use it.  Just make sure you give me credit and the end.

What about those AWESOME giveaways?

Now, you should have a sponsor, even if it is a small product, people will come to your giveaway.  Everyone LOVEs winning anything they can.  The newest way to enter giveaways and easiest is Rafflecopter.  There is a waiting list, most people wait about 24 to 48 hours to get a response from rafflecopter, so sign up NOW!

After you have your giveaway posted along with your review, make sure you send your sponsor the live link to your post.  There are hundreds of sites to promote your giveaway.  Contest Girl is my favorite site to promote my giveaways.  Here is a full list of giveaway link ups.

WOW!  I’m beat! I feel like I have been talking a million miles a minute, LOL!  I am certain you will become a great Product Reviewer and a Giveaway Host/Hostess.  It will take some time to reach your goals, so don’t give up!  You may email me, find me on Facebook and ask me questions.