Please meet our December Influencer of the Month, Sprout Daily.

Facebook: facebook.com/sproutdaily.manly

Twitter:  twitter.com/sproutdaily

Instagram:  http://instagram.com/sproutdaily

What are some of the cool opportunities you’ve gotten from blogging?

One of the best things that I’ve had the privilege of being part of was a 3 week camper van trip around New Zealand with Wilderness Motorhomes.  There’s no better way to see New Zealand than up close and personal and having a motorhome is the only way to go, especially on a surfing trip.  We choose to go in April because our primary focus was surfing and that’s the magic month for waves in New Zealand.  Wilderness Motorhomes came on board and sponsored us a van for 3 weeks and I ran the blog while we were on the road, posting about surfing, travels and general NZ adventures.  Start here if you’d like to check out the adventure.

How important is photography and creating original content for bloggers?

For me it’s mostly about creating rather than sourcing content.  I post my own photography daily and I hope my style is what attracts people to Sprout Daily and keep them interested.  But there’s always a place for sharing relevant content with your community, but it’s got to have a direct link back to the source and a credit.

What’s in store for the future of your blog?

More Travel, more adventures, both here and overseas.  Oh, and I’d really like to dig a little deeper into my own community right here in Manly.  Right now I keep it fairly surface, but the more I observe the more I want to delve a little deeper and get to the heart of the people and sub-groups that exist here.  Yeah, a picture of a crusty old body surfer getting out of the water is nice, but what’s his name, where’s he from, why’s he do what he does.  That’s what I want to ask, both visually through photography, and in writing.

2012 is almost over, and your blog is looking a little dusty, right?  Let me guess – you want to tweak how it works, feels and looks (whilst trying to keep up with the current web trends) in time for the new year? No matter if your blog is the place you share notes from your latest recipe, highlights from your recent travels, or simply your daily musings - I’ve put together 13 quick and helpful tips to help clear out the cobwebs and make your blog attractive, functional and ready for 2013.

• If you want to learn how to create something unique for your blog (or grab some freebies), jump onto digital resource websites like Webneel, The Finished Box or Naldz Graphics for tutorials on a variety of digital projects. They also have plenty of free digital content – including icons, graphics, fonts and backgrounds.
• Don’t forget about the myriad of free blog templates and themes available across all major blogging platforms. Changing up your blog layout/template/theme could give it the fresh look that it needs – just like re-arranging your lounge room!
• Get a cool new plugin or app for your blog – anything that measures your blog’s activity or instills some creativity/productivity would probably be a good start.
• Social Media isn’t just for Millennials – if the Queen has a Facebook page, the Dalai Lama is on Twitter and your blog isn’t – you better jump on the bandwagon quickly. An active Facebook and Twitter presence is one of the best ways to connect your blog with like-minded individuals.
• Many bloggers today not only create content, but also share other people’s content via their blog. If you give credit (with a link) when its due – there will be no angry people flooding your inbox.
• Learn to utilise tags and categories in your photos, videos and blog posts. This will make your blog’s content much easier to search through.
• If you’re interested in tracking the popularity of your links, you can use online tools such as Bitly - to not only shorten (and disguise) the link, but to also track the number of clicks and saves it receives.
• Don’t think well on your feet when it comes to your social updates? Look into social management tools like Hootsuite that can schedule updates for whenever you set them.
• If your creative light-bulb sometimes dims or flickers, jump onto Pinterest or Stumble Upon to get inspired!
• Fancy yourself as an amateur smartphone photographer? Link your blog and social media profiles with your Instagram app, and use Webstagram when you’re browsing on your computer.
• If you need a free online alternative for Photoshop, jump onto Pixlr (which I actually used to create this thumbnail) or iPiccy to do your own simplified image editing.
• Pay attention to the little things – alignment, spelling, sizing (etc) of content on your blog will either entice or deter visitors straight away.
• Don’t procrastinate (too much) when it comes to your blog. Sit down and write that post, upload that photo, share things… and make it a productive 2013!

Hope you got some good tips and ideas – leave us a comment if you have any other ideas! Cheers, Olivia.

Finding travel bloggers from a specific region can be tougher than one might expect, because (you guessed it) they tend to change their location a lot. I was inspired to write this post after a Sydney friend, Colette of Arribaa.com asked a question around finding travel bloggers based on location to work with. I wanted to share my knowledge with five key tips on how I would tackle this search in order to find the right bloggers for a campaign.

• Check directories where bloggers list themselves. There are several PR-friendly directories out there where bloggers can list their blog and their most up to date information. This could include their current location, or where they are originally from (and have moved to). I love the expat directory network that shows where the blogger moved from and their current home country by using tiny pictures of flags. It also helps to give you an idea of what countries their audiences may be focused in.

• Use free local search tools. Do some research to see if there are localised free tools in the country you’re looking for bloggers. E.g. Aussie Twitter Search is a free web tool that allows you to search through Twitter user profiles, which can be filtered about specific topics.
• Check blog rolls and blogging communities. Travel bloggers often feature blogging friends from their hometown or country. They might have a separate list for “UK Blogger” on a page of their blog. Also look to blogging meet-ups, Facebook groups, online nings and sub-groups of these online communities.
• Use paid search tools. Sometimes a paid search tool is worth the investment, depending on your company size and how much work you do with bloggers. We are fans of GroupHigh, a blogger research tool based in the US, which allows you search globally for particular locations. It also lets you search by content topics, so you can find bloggers that are talking about a specific destination.

• Outsource your influencer research mapping. Again, depending on your company size and available spend, you might consider having someone else do this research for you. Companies like Kred will compile “Top 10, 50, 100” lists for specific categories based on social media profiles. Also, not to give ourselves too big of a pat on the back, we do this type of blogger outreach mapping at Rocketman. Data mining can be time-intensive, but if you’re starting with zero knowledge of the landscape and you’re unsure of what you’re looking for – it can take even longer.

In the end, there is no “trick” or quick answer to the question of finding the appropriate bloggers for a campaign. However, as you start to learn more about where you can go for information about bloggers and become more comfortable in this research process, it becomes an easier job. Ask bloggers both where they are based geographically, but also where their audience is based (if this isn’t explained in their media kit).

What tips would you add for researching bloggers from a specific region or country? 

We are very happy to be introducing the November Rocketfuel Influencer of the Month, Yvette from Little Bento Blog.

Facebook: facebook.com/littlebentoblog

We’ve been having a lot of fun with our current campaign with Variety, The Children’s Charity for the 2012 Santa Fun Run. Taking place all over Australia, this 5km fun run invites you to dress up as a “Clause for a Cause” to help raise awareness and funds for Variety and their mission.

We have five bloggers from WA, NSW and QLD participating as Blog Ambassadors for their local fun run this year.  You can check out their blog posts (and vlog posts) about the run below, and follow them on the day of the Santa Fun Run, Sunday the 25^th of November when they take part in in the event.

• Jenn – Mountains and Musings – NSW
• Stacey – The Veggie Mama – QLD
• Lori – Random Ramblings of a Stay at home Mum – NSW
• Trae – Where’s my Glow – WA
• Kirri – Happy Mums at Home – QLD

We also have had a number of other bloggers who were able to get involved in a variety of ways by sharing information on their local Santa Fun Run and how to register. We’re super thankful for so many awesome people getting involved to get the word out about the Santa Fun Run.

But we would also like to share a little something, so take a look at the video below – 150 Santas Dancing Gangnam Style!

Directly from the Variety, here are some of the ways your fundraising can make a difference

• $75 to send a child with special needs to the annual Variety Special Kids Christmas Party
• $200 will help a child who is non-verbal to communicate with iPad assistive software
• $1,000 will give fun and freedom to a child living with disability with their own customised tricycle
• $3,500 provides an electric bed and pressure mattress to give a child with special needs a good night’s sleep
• $5,000 will help a child living with physical disability with a customised standing frame

The Rocketman Team will be attending the NSW Fun Run in Darling Harbour on Sunday – and we would absolutely love if you could join us to be a ‘Clause for a Cause’… Wish us luck and stay tuned for a follow up post and some photos!

Say hello to our October RocketFuel Influencer of the Month, Penny Whitehouse from Wildlife Fun 4 Kids

Blog: Wildlife Fun 4 Kids

Facebook: Wildlife Fun 4 Kids

Twitter: @Wildlife4kids

How would you describe your blog to someone who had never read it?

Through parents and educators, Wildlife Fun 4 Kids aims to encourage a love of wildlife in children through engaging, meaningful and fun wildlife activities.  It’s a place to find out about wildlife play activities, environmentally friendly products,  interesting pets,  wildlife exploration activities, sustainability and wildlife family activities.

What causes are you most passionate about?

I’m passionate about wildlife and habitat conservation, hence why I started Wildlife Fun 4 Kids. When I didn’t have children (I now have a four year old and two year old twins) I was actively helping with Koala Action Group and The Wilderness Society. Now, I make a difference from my own home building wildlife appreciation in my children and hopefully inspiring others to do so through my blog.

What’s something your readers don’t know about you?

Gosh, there would be a lot they don’t know about me. They wouldn’t know that I write picture books in my spare time. They wouldn’t know that I love strawberries to the point that I can’t wait until they turn red, so eat them green. They wouldn’t know that sharks are the only animal I have a slight fear of. It’s only minnimal, I still recognise that they play an important role in our oceans but I used to have nighmares when I was a child. And yes, I love insects, spiders and especially snakes!

I had a great time speaking and just hanging out at Beauty Bloggers Utopia this weekend in Sydney. It was a two day event for some of Australia’s top beauty bloggers. The attendees travelled not just from around Sydney, but also from out of state to take part in the weekend. The lovely organisers, Larah and Sara-May asked me to sit on a panel along with Christina of Hair Romance, to share my thoughts on bloggers and brands working together.

There were a lot of great questions on brands, working with PRs, agencies and measuring your blog activity. However, one question (that somewhat caught me off guard) was around reviewing damaged product. We don’t do much in terms of sampling physical products here at Rocketman, but for beauty bloggers, reviews are obviously super important. For some blogs, this can be the focus of their content — providing tutorials, detailed information and opinions on the newest and best beauty products on the market.

Photo credit: Crashing Red

An attendee asked a question around what to do if a product they are sent is damaged, unusable or just plain terrible? Do you write the review anyway? Often it’s the nature of these beauty products that you can’t return them. So what are your options if you agreed to accept an item with the understanding you would be writing about it?

I stand by my comment from the conference that you have to evaluate this on a case by case scenario. However, I’ve put together three tips for consideration if this happens to you and ways to protect yourself.

1. Explain to brands what you can deliver for product reviews in your media kit and/or on your blog. Consider adding a disclosure statement that explains what happens if a product is damaged or unusable. This isn’t meant to scare companies away, but rather set some expectations and protect you in these situations.  You can later refer back to those terms and conditions if needed.

2. Don’t accept products you have no intention of reviewing or talking about. If you have a feeling that a product won’t be a good fit for you (or your readership) or perhaps that it won’t be to your quality standards. Avoid it in the first instance. This will save both parties some hassle and postage. Remember, it’s okay to decline. There will be plenty of other awesome opportunities for your blog that come along.

3. Be professional and keep communicating. If a product arrives damaged or unusable, a brand should understand why you can’t review it. A more difficult message to communicate is that you disliked a product. However, you can still do this a professional manor. Take some time to provide some feedback on why you didn’t like the item you were sent. Ask the agency or company if they would still want you to share an honest review.  Ignoring emails and calls is not a good outcome, and will be seen as unprofessional.

Kudos to the organisers and attendees of #BBU12 – I always enjoy these discussions and they help us continue to improve the work we do here at Rocketman HQ. Thanks again for having me, it was a pleasure.

Are you a blogger who has faced a similar issue with product reviews? How did you handle it? What advice would you give? Leave us a comment. 

I attend a lot of events and conferences, both for work and perhaps more often, just for fun. I’ll be attending ProBlogger Training Event in a couple weeks wearing my Rocketman hat, but I’m also interested in an event like this, as a blogger and curator myself.  I enjoy meeting people with similar shared interests. For me, the conference experience is not just about the speakers and program but also the people I get a chance to catch-up with.

I wanted to share a few tips with you on getting the most out of a conference such as #PBevent that I’ve either learned from experience or wisdom that’s been shared with me.

1. Set-up meetings before you attend. A common mistake for new conference ‘go-ers’ is thinking that just because you’ll be at the same event with people you want to meet that you’ll get time to catch-up. Even when attending small conferences, it’s smart to purposefully setup lunches, coffees or extra time to chat with people who you would really like to see. It’s likely you won’t have time to see everyone, but it’s great to lock in some appointments where your schedule permits.

2. Let others know you’re attending through social media and your blog (doh). Write a blog post (like this one) letting people know you’ll be at the conference. Even if you’ve tapped a few shoulders individually, there’s a good chance there are people going who you forgot to tell and who would be awesome to meet or say “hello” to as well. Grab a blog badge, tweet with the conference hashtag, update on your Facebook page, profile or the Facebook event… you get the idea. Give it a couple shout outs in the lead-up.

3. If you’re traveling from another city, also keep non-conference attendees on your radar. I’m quite looking forward to catching-up with some of our RocketFuel Influencers based in Melbourne who may not even necessarily be at this conference. Use extra time you have to catch-up and network if the opportunity presents itself.

4. Bring business cards… lots of business cards. Writing down your blog URL and email on a piece of paper 10 or 20 times gets old quick. Trust me, I’ve done it. Even when I was a University student I had cards printed with my personal website and Twitter handle printed up to take to events. It just makes your life much easier when meeting so many people. I like Moo cards, and vista is an affordable option if you’re looking.

5. Make connections after the event. Some of your best contacts may come not just from the conference, but afterwards as well. It’s great to be able to share the common experience of attending the conference together, and then take time later to properly catch-up either online or offline. Don’t stress if you didn’t get to talk to someone for hours, be diligent in your follow-ups to suggest a coffee or drink another time.

What are your tips for networking and meeting new people at conferences? Please feel free to share your own tips in the comments below. 

Welcome to part 2 of our Monthly RocketFuel Influencer series – please meet our September Influencer of the Month, Lilit Spargo.

 
Blog: Makeup and Macaroons

Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Makeup-and-Macaroons/111540035590359

Twitter: @lilitsblog

What advice do you wish someone gave you when you started blogging?

Write about what you are passionate about, rather than writing about something you think your readers want to read. For a while when I first started blogging I became obsessed with my stats, analysing them to see which were my popular posts so I could write only those types of posts in the future to drive traffic. Unfortunately what happened was I stopped being passionate about the content as I was taking such an analytical approach to it, which showed through my writing and I’m sure cost me readers. However when I stopped counting the numbers and concentrated on writing about things that I loved, things I felt passionate about, things that I personally wanted to read that’s when my blog grew and my readers became more engaged.

What are some of your favorite blogs?

I tend to like blogs where the writer’s personality shines through. The following are my top 3 blogs.

1. http://www.lovemaegan.com/ – for the fashion, DIYs, and for baring her heart and soul on the blog whether it be writing about her battle with infertility to how much she is in love with her husband.
2. http://esmeandthelaneway.blogspot.com/ – for the wonderful vintage fashion and beautiful photography
3. http://www.hairromance.com/ – Christina makes me want to make more of an effort with my hair! She is amazing, the Hair Whisperer who does wonderful hairstyle tutorials and shares her reviews and opinions on all things hair.

What’s something your readers don’t know about you?

As much as I love to share things on my blog with my readers, some things are better kept secret.

With blog advertising becoming more common standard in the Aussie blogosphere, there are important questions to be addressed around disclosure and transparency. There isn’t a rulebook on how to disclose or even what should be disclosed on personal blogs in Australia. However, from an ethical and credibility standpoint these are questions both the blogger and brand need to address.

I spoke with blogger Elise Phillips of Stuff that I Bought to get a better understanding of the issue from a blogger’s view. I wanted to know why she thought disclosure on blogs is important and what is risked by not disclosing payment.

“There are varying levels of disclosure because there are varying levels of being bought. When it comes to spruiking free products you have been given, it’s about authenticity. Getting your readers to trust and believe your opinion. Above all else, that should be the most important thing to a blogger. If your readers think you’re pulling the wool over their eyes, they won’t be your readers for long,” shared Elise.

When it comes to sponsored content and advertorial, it’s not just bloggers but also brands that should be conscious of their own credibility. We don’t need to look any further than the recent South Australia Tourism scandal on Twitter to realise this. Followers don’t want to be lied to, and the backlash from the sponsored tweet campaign showed this. Not only did conversations take off on Twitter, but the story was reported on by mainstream news sources.

Elise also believes standards for disclosure are important for blogging as an industry in Australia. “Not disclosing sends a bad message not just to readers, but to the marketers who are paying for that placement. It says that bloggers can be bought… We can’t expect other people to take us seriously if we don’t take it seriously ourselves,” said Elise.

What are your thoughts on disclosure on Australian blogs? If you’re a blogger, what guidelines do you set yourself? Leave us a comment and join in the discussion.