2013 - Favorite Blogs To Sponsor

Today I am sharing some tips I learned this year from sponsoring some blogs.  I have sponsored about 10 blogs this year and I will share my best experiences, what made sponsoring that blog successful, and what to look for in a blog to sponsor.  I have sponsored some blogs and had some very negative experiences which I will not be sharing here.  I try to keep things positive and I really want this post to be about the good things bloggers are doing.  I am more than happy to share my whole sponsoring experience with you through email if you want to know about a particular blog I did not list here. Things I looked for when I was looking for blogs to sponsor:1. Do I like the blog?  What is the point in giving this blogger your money if you do not like their content?  I know you can gain some readers but they probably will not readers that are engaged in your writing.  Like likes like (that was a lot of like).  If a reader likes a blog you like the chances of them liking your blog are greatly increased. 2. Do they post on a regular basis?No it is not necessary to post every single day of the week.  However, if they post on a regular basis that is only good for you.  For example if a blogger writes fresh, original content five days a week that is five time a regular reader will read the blog.  If a blogger only posts 2 or 3 times a week…. you can figure out the rest. 3. How do they promote themselves?This may seem weird because you want them to promote you, but really you want to know if they are good at promotion.  Do they use twitter to post their links and engage with other blogger?  Are they super into Pinterest?  Is Facebook their jam Are they off the grid and cool like that.  Pay attention to their social media behavior.  If a blogger uses Pinterest exclusively and you do not even have an account, your partnership would not be as dynamic as if you had the same social media savvy. 4. Can I afford it?Really though sponsoring and trying to grow your blog is expensive.  I set a limit for myself of $20 a month when I first started to sponsor blogs. This meant about one blog a month.  I am slowly making a little money now through blogging and might make more one day.  If that comes I can invest more into advertising myself.  Until then about $25 a month is my limit.  Until your blog becomes a real source of income I think it is important to budget, focus on writing quality posts, and trying to make new blog friends. 5. Is there a special on ad space?Half of the blogs I sponsored I used a promo code that they offered in a post or on twitter.  I am sure that if you looked at my list and know how much each ad costs you will know that I could have spent way more than $25 a month.  NOPE!  I am all about bargain shopping. 6. Do I trust them?Really though this is huge.  You are giving over your money and trusting them to promote your blog, give your money to another person if they win a giveaway you sponsored, and their name will be attached to your name (for a week or so).  If you do not get the sense that they are someone you would give a $20 bill to in real life for the love of Dumbeldore, keep your money! 7. Do I get more than a sidebar ad?I am just going to say what everyone says to themselves, sidebar ads don't work!  As I look through my stats, it is a rare day that traffic comes just from a sidebar ad.  Maybe my buttons are ugly, or they have cooties, but whatever the reason they are not working for me.  If you can write something, have someone write for you, give you some space on a post it is a trillion times more effective than a sidebar button. (That is an official stat from the census bureau).Life of BonLove the way she does her sponsor post.  She write about you and your blog and what she likes about it (at least she did when I was on the blog).  I felt like this was extra helpful because her readers trust her and are likely to read something she believes in.   This is the post she wrote the month I sponsored her.  I from her blog I gained as many followers from this intro as I did on the giveaway day.  Bonnie has a great reputation and her readers are loyal to her.  Life of Bon is a great one to sponsor. The Daily TayTaylor's was the first blog I sponsored. I just started small and got myself a sidebar ad.  Later in the year I did her Saturday Takeover. It gave me some great traffic and readers.  It also is the second thing that comes up when you google search my blog, after my actual blog of course.  Clearly, Taylor has a great following and even a Saturday post will get you traffic. Helene In BetweenOK so my favorite blog I sponsored was Helene in Between.  My sidebar ad on her blog actually was clicked many times a day.  I gained so many followers because of my post on her blog and the giveaway she hosted.  Even more than that though I believe Helene is a good person, she has got this blog thing down to an art.  She comments on every post you write while you are sponsoring her blog.  She emails you to let you know how to make your blog better.  It seems like she really cares about you and the success of your blog and her blog.  I can not say enough nice things about her. Really go sponsor her already! Kym at Travel BabblesWho doesn't love Kym!  She is so real and honest in her posts and she hockey is a huge part of her life, which I love.  She is so sweet to her sponsors.  She encourages interaction amongst them on Facebook and will tweet links of posts she likes.  I totally missed the email she sent asking for information on the giveaway last month. I emailed her about it and she was willing to add me to this month's giveaway.  She is kind and understanding and will help you. Nadine at Back East BlondeI like the way Nadie adds your spotlight at the end of her post, it looks nice and clean.  Here was my spotlight on here blog. I appreciated that she emailed  me in advance to tell me when she would post my spotlight.  She also wrote to see if it was OK to move the post date because she did not feel like what she was going to write was dynamic enough. I appreciated that she wanted to write a good post on a day that she would have a sponsor.Postcards from RachelRachel, actually will promote your posts on Twitter.  She makes her sponsor spotlights look very pretty and nice.  You can tell she is invested in the look of her blog and wants her sponsors to be highlighted in the best possible way.  Check out my post on her blog, I really love that it is on a gift guide for guys.  She is quick to reply to emails and a delight to work with. Life According to Kenz and Whispering Sweet NothingsThese ladies are both extremely sweet and professional.  The best thing they offered for me was their group giveaways.  I gained a lot of new followers and they were quality readers because they followed these two blogs. Button Swap MustsYes, above I said that buttons don't work anymore, and I stand by that.  I will say though that it has been good for me to network more and make some new blog friends.  The ladies below are engaged in their blog and will read your blog too.  They all have great content and are genuinely wonderful ladies. Pretty In PinkThe Grand Adventure of MeMer in America Livin It Up As Hey UPThat is all I have for you today, which was actually a lot more than I anticipated.  Do you have a blog that you loved sponsoring?  Share you experiences below I am looking for some good ones for 2014!  I should also say that if you want to sponsor So Much Sunshine you should go to my new sponsor page. Sponsor spotlights are free to the first two months of 2014.  Be sure to enter promocode: SUNSHINE.  Thanks for reading and for those of you who have already sponsored So Much Sunshine! 

Best Songs of 2013

Well folks she did it again.  Who is she?  Well that would be the lovely Helene over at Helene in Between of course.  What did she do?  Well she had a great idea for a link up;... again!  I was already working on this post for myself so when Helene announced it as a link up on her blog I was thrilled.  We both are totally in love with music, even if our tastes are different.  Really though, music in almost any form is amazing, unless it is on my worst of 2013 list below.

When I was making my playlist for top songs of 2013 I really had one main criteria: Did I sing like a crazy person every time this song came on the radio.  If the answer was no I did not include it on my list.  There are plenty of good songs that came out this year, but these are just the top ones that I liked.

Roar by Katy Perry

this is my go to pick me up song.  I do not care that it is full of Rocky flashbacks.  All I know is I have to dance around like a fool when it comes on. 

That's My Kind of Night by Luke Bryan

One of my favorite memories from this year was going to see Luke.  When he sang this song my friend and I were some of the only people who knew it and we sang so loud that everyone around us looked at us.  It was beautiful. 

Little Bit of Everything by Keith Urban

This song came out right before I went to Hawaii.  I went for a little drive around Maui and this song came on.  I sang it loud with the windows down and the ocean to my left.  

Hey Pretty Girl By Kip Moore

All you really need to know about this song is that he wrote it for me. 

Best Day of My Life by American Authors

This is a recent obsession.  I really feel like am having a the best day of my life when I hear it. 

When I See This Bar by Kenny Chesney

The lyrics of this could make you nostalgic for almost anything in your life that involved your friends.  Well done Kenny. 

Goodbye in Her Eyes by Zac Brown Band

I like a good, honest break up song.  One that tells it like it is and is not too melodramatic.  I get it Zac Brown. I get it. 

Cruise by Florida Georgia Line

So this song took over the radio.  I still like it. 

Mirrors by Justin Timberlake

I know Suit and Tie got all the fanfare this year, but Mirrors was better, trust me.

Treasure by Bruno Mars

This song rooted itself deep in my brain this summer and has yet to leave. TREASURE! That. is. what. you. are. 

I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift 

For reals I almost but We Are Never Getting Back Together, but I was afraid I would lose most of you.  So I stuck with this more socially acceptable Taylor Swift Song. 

When She Says Baby by Jason Aldean

So J. Aldean has kind of lost me with all his hick-hop.  But I am totally in love with this song.  Night train is actually a great CD.  Way to be homie! 

best of 2013 by Erica Thompson on Grooveshark

Worst songs of 2013

A best list is not complete without a worst list.  Here are the songs I despised this year.

Aw Nah by Chris Young 

Gross Chris Young.  People are never going to take country music seriously with you putting out songs like this!

Redneck Crazy by Tyler Farr

Just the title of this song makes me cringe.  Since when is it OK to turn into a complete jackal and terrorize your ex?  Get a life Tyler. 

 

We Can't Stop by Miley Cyrus

I already wrote about Miley's attempt to ruin my life.  Apparently this is her anthem for her life ruining ways.  She Can't Stop.

The Outsiders by Eric Church

I have no idea what to say about this.  It reminds me of kids in high school who started a band and lost focus.  Let's add a talking section!  Let's add a gospel choir! Let's add a crazy metal section!

Gentleman by PSY

Other than the fact that it sounds like he is cussing all the time I am just over PSY and all his antics.

Cups that stupid song from Pitch Perfect 

I totally did not mind this song when it was in the movie.  It just started to bug when it was on the radio and then when they made a music video.  It is OK to leave some things alone Hollywood. 

Alright that is all the sass I have for you today.  What are some of your favorite songs from 2013 or what are some songs you totally hope you never hear again?

Best of the Best

Welcome readers from The Daily Tay!  I am so glad you came over for today after reading what I wrote for her blog.  I truly appreciate your visit and I hope you stay awhile and send me a comment, tweet, or email and let me know what you think.  Also, if you are debating blogs to sponser I can tell you Taylor makes the process easy and fun.  I would highly recommend her blog to you, it is filled with sassy humor and gorgeous photos of Chicago and her dog Harlow. 

I love putting together playlists for my weekend.  It is by far one of the things I look forward to the most each week.  

I went to a Ducks hockey game last night (for those not from Southern California Yes the Ducks were based on the Mighty Ducks movies.  Yes I love them both.  No, they are not the Mighty Ducks anymore).   Whenever there is a break in play the sound person plays some music to get the players/ crowd pumped.  Last night they played some Journey and I had so much fun!  

From the game last night.  Going classic with black and white for some classic jams today.

One of my favorite albums is my Journey Greatest Hits album.  I could listen to that thing all the time, and I do. 
I realized that for today's playlist I wanted to go through my Greatest Hits or Best of Albums and share with you some of my favorites of my favorites.  As I made this playlist I realized I listen to old music, which is awesome.  I actually kind of refuse to buy a greatest hits record until the artist has been around for at least 10 years.  This will explain why most of the artists and bands on this list are from previous decades. 
Tiny Dancer and Philadelphia Freedom- Elton JohnI just love Elton!  It is actually one of my goals to get to see him in Vegas soon.  I pretty much love all the songs on his greatest hits album.  How can you go wrong with Tiny Dancer though?  I always think of that scene from Almost Famous when I hear this song too. P. Freedom is actually my fav Elton John song.  I defy you to be grumpy when you sing along to this song. 
Take It Easy - The EaglesThe Eagles are just amazing.  Really their CD is one of my favorites and I could have picked any song here.  Don't Stop Believing and Anyway You Want It  - JourneyThe first here needs no explanation.  Anyway you want it was actually the song that set this playlist in motion so I reckoned it earned its place on the playlist. 
America - Simon and GarfunkelBy far my all time favorite band is Simon and Garfunkel.  America is a beautiful song and again reminds me of Almost Famous. 
Fire and Rain - James TaylorCome on, who doesn't automatically picture Gary Bertier getting hit by that car in Remember The Titans when you hear this song?Free Fallin' and American Girl - Tom Petty  I choose two songs for Tom because I genuinely love Free Fallin' but I didn't want to be too cliche so I threw American Girl in there too. 
Heavenly Day - Patty GriffinThe first lady on the list.  I love this song and I love that she wrote it for her dog.  You've Got a Friend - Carol KingIf you need to relax and clear your mind Carol's Living Room tour Album is the one for you. Where the Green Grass Grows and Something Like That - Tim McGrawI only have two country artists on this list.  I think that is because I only like a few people's entire body of work.  Tim is classic and always a go to. 
She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy - Kenny ChesneyEven if you hate country, tractors, or sexy men this song will put a smile on your good looking face. 
Man In The Mirror - Michael JacksonI LOVE THIS SONG!  I sing it so dramatically and with such feeling people stop what they are doing to stare at me.  Sing it MJ.  Sing. It. 

Best Of Best Of by Erica Thompson on Grooveshark
Well there you have my old lady Best of the Best music selections.  I am clearly in some need of some fresh artists in my best of collection.  I am sure in 10 years this post would look different and Single Ladies would be my top choice.