How do I go about setting my blog up for Reviews and Giveaways?

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Permalink Reply by Keep It Classy, Jen on February 22, 2009 at 10:48pm

Hi Sarah...

I will be covering this in my program Keep It Real. I also have a review/giveaway blog that I have grown to have high traffic, Posh Point of View. I'd love to give you a few tips!

I think there a few things you should consider before beginning your reviews: try eliminating some clutter on the right sidebar, adding links that are pr friendly, and background less busy.

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Permalink Reply by Mama Snow on February 26, 2009 at 7:58pm

I just started doing my own giveaways and reviews about 2 months ago. I think you have made a great start by being involved in networking sites, such as The Classy Closet. This is a wonderful way to make new friends and spread the word. One day I decided just to start trying to find PR's. So I went to Etsy and searched a whole bunch of different stores I knew I would enjoy. I contacted about 10-15. I heard back from a few and from there I gained the confidence to shoot for bigger companies. I think the biggest thing is to just go for it. Once you get your first giveaway you have to be ready to advertise and work to get people to it. Use your resources at The Classy Closet and also join other networks. (I can give you a list of ones I have joined). I also have several list of blogs and places where you can list your giveaways. I would be more then happy to send it to you.
You will be amazed at how fast you start gaining followers and subscribers. Obviously I am now pro. but I was in your same situation not to long ago and feel that I have been able to accomplish the getting started part.
If you have more Q. Let me know. I would be more then happy yo help you out. I always appreciated the other bloggers who took the time to answer my Q. and guide me in the right direction.
Good luck!
Mama Snow
Hail2theSnowQueen@gmail.com

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Permalink Reply by Mama Snow on February 27, 2009 at 4:31pm

Jen,
I totally am going to check out what you have to say on Keep it Real. Since I am also so very new I know I could use it from an expert like you.
Sarah, I am sure Jen could give you wonderful tips and advice. I would listen to her for sure! ;)

Keep It Classy, Jen said:

Hi Sarah...

I will be covering this in my program Keep It Real. I also have a review/giveaway blog that I have grown to have high traffic, Posh Point of View. I'd love to give you a few tips!

I think there a few things you should consider before beginning your reviews: try eliminating some clutter on the right sidebar, adding links that are pr friendly, and background less busy.

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Permalink Reply by Miranda on February 28, 2009 at 6:08pm

I turned into a review blogger kind of on accident. I wasn't necessarily looking to but with the right connections through networking it happens quickly and easily and then you just don't get a break. LOL I originally intended to host giveaways and hadn't really considered the review thing yet but it turned into that and I love everything about it, and because I started as a mom blogger I'm not limited to what I can talk about on my blog you know? It's a fun mix of everything WITH reviews and giveaways. A really simple way to get started is just giving a shout out on twitter. You'd be surprised how many companies and PR reps are on there and might be paying attention to your tweets. :)

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Barnes on May 1, 2009 at 6:50pm

I am sorry I had not looked at this reply until now. My father went into the hospital at about the time this message was sent to me, and my sister and I stayed with him in the hospital 24 hours a day for 5 weeks, before he passed away.
Anyhow, I am just rambling on at this point. But I am interested in the fact that you were getting some PR on Twitter. I am having my first giveaway/Review now, and I have listed it on Twitter twice, but I have had no one enter it yet. I guess I need to give it a few days, but I wonder if I should word it differently and/or do I need to shout out to PR Reps for some products I can review and giveaway, or what steps I should take next.

I know that I have asked a bunch of questions, so take your time. I will get back with you before 2 months have gone by.

Thanks for your help,

Sarah Barnes
http://ourbarnesofgrace.blogspot.com/

Miranda said:

I turned into a review blogger kind of on accident. I wasn't necessarily looking to but with the right connections through networking it happens quickly and easily and then you just don't get a break. LOL I originally intended to host giveaways and hadn't really considered the review thing yet but it turned into that and I love everything about it, and because I started as a mom blogger I'm not limited to what I can talk about on my blog you know? It's a fun mix of everything WITH reviews and giveaways. A really simple way to get started is just giving a shout out on twitter. You'd be surprised how many companies and PR reps are on there and might be paying attention to your tweets. :)

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Permalink Reply by Fiona Bryan on May 1, 2009 at 11:03pm

I took Jen's class ... I highly recommend it - I learned a TON!

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Barnes on May 2, 2009 at 10:14am

I just signed up for this 2 days ago. I am really excited about joining this group.

Fiona Bryan said:

I took Jen's class ... I highly recommend it - I learned a TON!

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Barnes on May 3, 2009 at 2:07pm

Well, I am obviously slow to catch up with things this year. I am hosting my first review and giveaway, and I am interested in getting a list of places you networked and shouted out to to get people to sign up for your giveaways. I am not doing something right, because I have put it out there on Twitter and The Classy Closet and so far I have had 1 person sign up for the giveaway.

I really appreciate any advice you give me, because I am outside of my comfort zone, but I want to improve and do more and more of these.

Thanks for your help. I love your Blog and I enter most of them!

Sarah
http://ourbarnesofgrace.blogspot.com/
Mama Snow said:

I just started doing my own giveaways and reviews about 2 months ago. I think you have made a great start by being involved in networking sites, such as The Classy Closet. This is a wonderful way to make new friends and spread the word. One day I decided just to start trying to find PR's. So I went to Etsy and searched a whole bunch of different stores I knew I would enjoy. I contacted about 10-15. I heard back from a few and from there I gained the confidence to shoot for bigger companies. I think the biggest thing is to just go for it. Once you get your first giveaway you have to be ready to advertise and work to get people to it. Use your resources at The Classy Closet and also join other networks. (I can give you a list of ones I have joined). I also have several list of blogs and places where you can list your giveaways. I would be more then happy to send it to you.
You will be amazed at how fast you start gaining followers and subscribers. Obviously I am now pro. but I was in your same situation not to long ago and feel that I have been able to accomplish the getting started part.
If you have more Q. Let me know. I would be more then happy yo help you out. I always appreciated the other bloggers who took the time to answer my Q. and guide me in the right direction.
Good luck!
Mama Snow
Hail2theSnowQueen@gmail.com

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