The Middle Men Of Collaborations :: Influencer Sites

7.16.2019

The Middle Men Of Collaborations :: Influencer Sites

I know that there is a hush hush vibe around social media about collaborations and contacts, but I want to break that stigma and share some of my favorite influencer sites!

When I first started collaborating, I wasn't one to reach out to brands because I felt like I was so inexperienced. What brand would want to work with me when I had a very small following? That thought alone kept me from reaching my full potential -- until I got an email inviting me to join an influencer site.

It sounded fairly interesting, so I thought alright, let's give it a shot. I got online, did some research, signed up for a few sites and then the waiting game began! I got my first collaboration email / invitation which in essence isn't a done deal, but rather an invitation to apply to collaborate with a certain brand. After you apply, the brand reviews your application to see if you're a good fit for them and if you are, you get an acceptance email with further directions.

I was so excited to get to work with brands that probably wouldn't have even looked at me otherwise with my small follower count had I emailed them. I got free stuff and I got to build up my portfolio -- a win / win for a small blogger who is just starting out. So here's a list of some of my favorite influencer sites to get you started if you're wanting to jump into the influencer realm.

No. 1 :: ApexDrop 

I've done over 10 collaborations through ApexDrop and it's been so fun! They've put me in touch with some of my favorite brands some of which include: Bravado Designs, MOD straps, Squeezamals and so many more! 

What I really love about ApexDrop is that you don't have to accept every collaboration that they send your way. As you grow as an influencer, there will be times when you're drowning in work, so it's nice to have the option to not respond to an invitation without the worry that it'll affect future collaboration invitations!

Another aspect that I love about ApexDrop is how efficient and fast their customer service team is! I've had a few things sent to me that I wasn't crazy about or had something I didn't like, and when I emailed them about the problem, they got back to me within 2 business days. We came up with a solution that both the brands and I agreed upon fairly quickly.

It's a great stepping stone for those who want to start collaborating with brands and don't know where to begin. Thanks to ApexDrop, I dipped my toes in the water and gained the confidence to reach out to brands myself.

++++++++++++ To get started with ApexDrop, click here. +++++++++++++

No. 2 :: Influenster

Influenster was one of the first sites I signed up for because it didn't require much effort. You sign up for this platform and then you review products you currently have lying around your own home. The more you review, the more badges you earn and then the more likely it is that you'll get free products in the form of a VoxBox. 

A VoxBox is a little box filled with goodies that Influenster and brands (both well known and ones that are newer on the market) curate to send out to their reviewers. Most of the products in the box are fairly new or are about to hit the market. I've received items from Marc Jacobs, COOLA, Lancome, and Eco Tools and Origins in VoxBoxes and was even invited to an event by Origins through Influenster!

But what I really love about Influenster is that it has a corner for every niche -- beauty, home, foodies, fitness, etc. They really let you speak your truth about any product you can think of. 

If I'm honest, I still use Influenster and rate items all the time because who doesn't like receiving sweet little packages by brands that we all know and love?!

++++++++++ To get started with Influenster, click here. +++++++++++

No. 3 :: Social Native 

Social Native is perfect for the Influencer who wants to earn a little money on the side. You sign up for the site and then wait to be invited to apply to certain campaigns that fit your niche. 

The campaign invites come through email, so you have to be vigilant about checking and making sure that you accept right away because the slots fill up fast! Once invited, you view the guidelines and time frames the brands want you to abide by and if everything sounds doable, then you apply. 

If accepted, make sure you follow all the rules and guidelines because brands often have you post a new photo if they think you've violated the guidelines in some way. I know a few influencers (myself included) who have been told to post new content because something looked off to them. 

However, Social Native is a great place to start getting paid for collaborations and was one of the first sites to pay me straight after a completed campaign. 

++++++++++ To get started with Social Native, click here. ++++++++++

No. 4 :: Socialix 

Socialix is another place where you can collaborate and get compensation. However, most of the campaigns on this site are product trade for share type of collaborations. It's another great place to find products that fit your niche because you can search the type of products you want to promote and then read the current campaigns they have running.

If you see something you like, you submit a proposal and then wait on the brand to respond. I love the way they have the site set up because they break down the collaborations, you can see your deadlines when you login and have product tracking on the site while you wait for your product in the mail. 

Another thing I love is that your personal profile tracks your engagement rate and blog stats if you give them permission to access those channels when you first set up your profile. I found this extremely useful when I was talking to other brands and didn't have google analytics set up. You can also see the brand's review of working together and it's all in one place. It's pretty much an organized blogger's dream set up. 

+++++++++++++ To get started with Socialix, click here +++++++++++++

No. 5 :: The MAVRCK Influencer Index

This is one of the places every influencer should sign up for because it's just to get you on the radar. It's an index that allows you to pick 4 niches that your blog or Instagram revolves around. Once signed up, you'll occasionally get an email you asking you to apply for a campaign. If you decide to apply, the brand gets a notification and will accept or decline your application. I've gotten quite a few paid campaigns this way and I'm pretty sure some brands have taken my information from MAVRCK and contacted me on their own for bigger campaigns. You fill out that form and then brands come to you. 

+++++++++++++ To get on the Mavrck Index, click here +++++++++++++

So There You Have It...

I've just shared with you my favorite influencer sites! I am hoping you find this information useful.
Here are a few more sites that I've signed up for that have trickled in a few collaborations for me or that haven't really worked out for me, but might work for you.

+ Heartbeat
+ Influence.co
+ Ambassadher
+ Webfluential
+ IZEA
+ Shopping Links
+ Activate
+ Popular Pays
+ Sway
+ The Blogger Programme
+ Blogger Meets Brand
+ Brand Snob (app for your phone)
+ #PAID
+ Octoly
+ Buzzoole
+ Obviously
+ Markerly
+ GrapeVine
+ Speakr
+ Linqia
+ Social Fabric

SO YAH -- good luck my loves. Get that side hustle going! & for the record, this post isn't sponsored you guys, I genuinely want to help out my blog readers and social media followers because I truly appreciate you following and engaging with my content.

Keep your eyes on the blog because posts on media kits, how to make a rate sheet and what to say when emailing brands are coming soon!

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Room & Board :: Hess Sofa [ + Product Guide ]

7.11.2019

Room & Board :: Hess Sofa [ + Product Guide ]

As I look for other products for my living space update, I am happy to report that the first piece arrived this month and it's proving to be glorious. We got the Hess sofa in Urbino Black from Room & Board and we could not be happier. It's the perfect size for our family of five and when we're all sitting on it, there is still room to spare -- perfect for any growing family.

We opted for leather because with three under three, spills and crumbs are inevitable. I've been able to wipe it down several times with a microfiber cloth and it looks just as amazing as it did when it first arrived. The boys are such a fan of this sofa because of the deep seats and how easily they can climb on and off it.

I am loving the contemporary / modern look of this sofa and the contrast pop to the brick wall behind it. My husband keeps commenting on how comfortable it is and we just cannot stop raving about this sofa. I mean, we all equally loooooooove it just as much as the next person in this house. Even the baby loves napping on it.

So yes, as you can plainly see this Hess sofa has a home that loves and adores it. We're eagerly searching for pieces to complement it in our living space update. We're still looking for a TV console, two armchairs, an area rug, and some other decorative pieces. As soon as we have all of those pieces in the room, we'll do one massive room reveal.

In the meantime....

I thought it would be fun to do a little product guide / mood board of some the wonderful things Room & Board has to offer. I'll be linking each product down below and if anything catches your eyes, go take a better look at it on their site.  

The Items

No. 1: Marlo Bed

No. 2: Hudson Office Armorie 

No. 3: Isaac Select Rolled Arm Recliner

No. 4: Dahl Console Bookcase

No. 5: Dodd Leather Storage Ottomans

No. 6: Morris Modern Bench

No. 7: Nico Office Chair

No. 8: Burnham Pillow

No. 9: Adams Modern Glass Door Cabinet

No. 10: Jasper Sectional 

No. 11: Tempo Wall Clock

No. 12: Bangla Storage Baskets

No. 13: Fairbanks Pendant

No. 14: Berkeley Wood Desk 

No. 15: Case Study Ceramic Planter

... aren't these just gorgeous?! I am so in love with the modern look of their furniture. Room & Board also has outdoor furniture, lamps,  rugs, and so much more. I honestly cannot get enough of their stuff. I'd do a whole house revamp with these stunning pieces -- and maybe in time, I will!

Thanks for stopping by, loving on my new sofa and taking a mini-tour of Room & Board with me! I hope you had as much as fun as I did.

+++ special thank you to Room & Board for partnering with me and gifting us this sofa +++

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DIY + Reveal :: Repurposed Old Dresser

7.02.2019

DIY + Reveal :: Repurposed Old Dresser

Today I'm sharing a really fun project -- how to DIY and repurpose an old dresser! This was a project I've been wanting to do for the last four years and I finally convinced my husband to get it done. I mean, honestly you guys, there is nothing like a grumpy nagging pregnant wife to get a husband into gear. I think the only reason he even attempted to do this was because I would not stop talking about how ugly this dresser was. When he finally agreed to tackle it and I was ecstatic! We had a few mishaps along the way (I'll be sharing those, so y'all can learn from our mistakes), but it turned out amazing and I'm so excited to share what it looks like now, I can hardly wait.

Before The Project Began

You see what I'm saying? This dresser was just awful looking. I mean, it had character, but it was a worn out, historical figure type of character. I didn't have the heart to throw it out because this dresser was my childhood dresser and I grew attached to its sturdiness and reliability -- what can I say, it became a sentimental piece. It's been through some stuff though, so the first step we took was to sand all that history away.

Sanded & Looking Fresh

It's already looking like a whole new dresser, am I right? To achieve this step, we took all the handles off the dresser and then borrowed my dad's orbital sanding tool. We went to Home Depot and bought very fine sanding paper to get all that gunk off the dresser and after we sanded it, we went to find the paint color -- and here is where we had allllllll our mishaps.

Mishap No. One :: Not Standing Our Ground

I went to Home Depot to find the paint color I was envisioning -- a green with some blue hints to it. This being the first time I've ever bought paint to paint something other than on a canvas, I was a bit lost and had no idea what to do. Naturally, I went and asked a person who worked in the paint aisle for assistance after I got the color card I was going for. 

I probably stumbled on some workers that were either bothered that I was interrupting them or were having a bad day because when I showed them my paint card, they angrily told me they'd have to tint that. 

I had no idea what that meant, but before I could even ask, a worker grabbed an oil based can of hunter green and stuffed it in front of my face and told me this was the closest color they had to what I was looking for. 

Me, being oblivious and slightly embarrassed that I put them in such a foul mood, thanked them and bought what they gave me because I thought they were actually helping. Buuuuuuuut, then I got home and my husband put on the first coat of paint. We were both silently shocked with the result -- we had just painted our dresser the ugliest Christmas green I had ever seen. I hated it so much, I couldn't even document it in picture form, it was that bad.

While I do get that Hunter Green is typically super green, the band on the paper of the can was much greener looking than what was now on my dresser. After paying 60$ on a can of paint, I silently grumbled to myself and mourned my vision until my husband asked if I liked it -- to which I couldn't lie and admitted it's not what I was picturing in my mind. 

He graciously called Home Depot and asked if they could still tint a can we recently bought and they said yes, so we took it back hoping that things were gonna work out. Welllllll, hopes dashed because get this -- you can't tint pre-made colors. The good news was that we could paint over the oil-based paint, so we didn't have to resand the dresser. If the first can would have been water based, we would have been in trouble. 

Anyways, we ended up buying another can of paint -- this time tinted and the color I actually wanted. 

Mishap No. Two :: Buying To Much Paint 

Again, totally oblivious here -- we bought a gallon of paint each time. We would have been okay with just a quart, but now we have 120$ worth of paint in our garage. I'm pretty mad about the christmas green color, but I feel like the second can of paint will come in handy. I'm thinking about going to thrift / secondhand stores to find mini side table drawers that I can repurpose to match the dresser.

Mishap No. Three :: Painting Outside 

Because I was pregnant, I decided that I didn't want paint fumes in the house. Painting in the garage wasn't an option either as we have a bunch of boxes down there with no space to spare, so we had to paint outside. It was funny that the moment we started to get this project going, the weather decided that it wasn't going to agree with us.

To start, it was humid day and right after we finished painting, clouds rolled in.... and it started to rain! Luckily we were outside when it did, so we managed to move all the drawers before they got soaked and stopped the water from ruining the paint. Because of the humidity, it also took a few extra hours to dry, so if you're ever painting outside, make sure it's on a sunny with now rainy suprises.

Painting & Getting New Handles

Regardless of the weather being ridiculous, we got the dresser painted and I loved the turnout. It was the perfect shade of green and it looked gorgeous! I was so ready to spray paint the handles, buuuuut I ran into another mishap.

Mishap No. Three & Four :: The Actual Handles

I bought some gold spray paint and just went to town on the painting. The mishap came when I realized that the handles were covering the plate, so I went in to spray them again and the coating ended up being way too thick and the paint started to peel and look clunky. I tried to scrape and wash off the paint to start again, but I epically failed.

So, I went to Amazon to find new handles for my repurposed dresser. If you end up getting new handles for an old dresser -- make sure to measure the distance between the holes of the handles if there is more than one screw hole. That's super important when ordering them online. 

Since I was going to get new handles, I decided to put a modern twist to it and brass gold handles. I got these handles off of Amazon and I love them. They're sturdy and heavy, but I landed in my fourth mishap with these online handles.

The screws were not long enough for my dresser, so we took another trip to Home Depot, only to realize that these handles were made with European metrics and there wasn't any size at the store that would match up with our metrics 100%. We ended up asking a Home Depot associate and bought new screws that were as close as possible to the handles I had from Amazon. 

The Finished Product 

We went home, installed the handles and people... we have a dresser and I am so excited about it! It's everything that I wanted it to be. The handles, the look of the matte color, the way it came together -- I am just sooooo happy with the finished product! It's the perfect addition to our bedroom. We're using it as a changing table for baby and storing all the newborn / breastfeeding supplies I need throughout the day in it. 

Even though this project is completed, I have a basket and the empty wall above the dresser that I still need to decorate. In addition to the decorating, I am looking for a rug and a rocking chair to place in the room next to Alex's crib since our bedroom is also a mini nursery for the time being. The dresser is the piece that will bring the room together and I can't wait to share that with you guys as well when it's all come together! 

⇓ PIN IT ⇓

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Review | Baby Tula Baby Carrier

6.18.2019

Review | Baby Tula Baby Carrier

Hey guys, today I wanted to brag on our new Baby Tula carrier a bit because I am really loving it! I have the mint chip design and I think it's just the perfect gender neutral pattern that both mom and dad can wear without feeling like the print is too much. If the carrier was full of flowers, my husband would not want to be seen with it on -- so this mint green is perfect. I also feel like the mint green color is amazing for when we're outdoors and it's super sunny. We have another carrier from a different brand that is a navy color and both Marcus and Felix would get super hot / sweaty since it's well known that darker colors attract the sun!

In addition to the design, the lightweight breathable cotton material of this carrier is both soft and sturdy making it comfortable for mom and baby. In comparison to all the other carriers I've tried with the boys, this one is truly my favorite when it comes to comfort.

Another thing I love about this carrier is that grows with baby -- from the newborn stages to toddlerhood. It has an adjustable neck support pillow for newborns that I find so helpful when I need to have my hands free. I don't have to worry about baby hurting his neck. I love that there are multiple ways to carry the baby as he grows. It's a product that is going to grow with us and I just love that about Baby Tula.

image taken from Baby Tula's website 

I recommend this carrier to all my friends because it's such a great product! I love using this product when I'm running errands, shopping, or when I need my hands free to pass out snacks and clean. It's become a staple in our lives and functionality when it comes to dealing with three under three.

Sounds awesome, right? Well, I've got good news! Baby Tula and I have teamed up to give one mom / mom to be this mint chip carrier, so she can conquer motherhood with her hands free! 

The giveaway is being hosted on Instagram and ends on June 19 at 8:59 PM / PST, so hurry and go enter!

⥥ Click This Photo + Enter Now ⥥

Special thank you to Baby Tula for making such amazing products and partnering with me to host this giveaway. 

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#HASHTAGS :: Why You Need To Use Them

5.29.2019

#HASHTAGS :: Why You Need To Use Them

Hashtags. They've taken the social media realm by storm and for good reason -- E X P O S U R E. They're a great way to get your posts / tweets seen by a larger audience than just your following. I read an article once that stated that the tweets that incorporate hashtags receive two times more engagement than the tweets that don't have them. If you care about numbers, this matters. If you're a blogger / influencer, you're essentially marketing for brands which means the more people see your content, the more successful you'll be.

So let's talk about hashtags -- here are a few tips on how to use them and when to use them.

The Dos & Don'ts of Using Hashtags

DO :: Be Relevant. 

Make sure that the hashtags you're using is relevant to the audience you'd like to reach, but also to the content you're posting. I can't tell you the countless times I've seen random posts in a hashtag. If it doesn't correlate with your post, find a new hashtag because people will pass right by it which is doing nothing for your numbers.

Make sure to research  and by that I mean start looking and using the hashtags that your fellow blogging / influencers are using and keep an eye on the tags brands are using in their captions and bios.

DON'T  :: Use The Same Hashtags Frequently. 

This is huge because if you use the same hashtags too frequently, it could result in Instagram detecting "spam" and IG will then go hide your posts from appearing under that hashtag. This will really hinder your engagement and growth.

I also want to mention that a lot of people claim that Instagram "shadow bans" them and then cue the freak out. Instagram is not out to get us bloggers and influencers, but they are looking for bots and spammy users. So take a deep breath, don't panic and just switch up your hashtags. 

DO :: Follow Hashtags On Instagram.

This is a great way to stumble upon great content and get inspiration from like minded people, but it's also a way for you to interact with people who you aren't following without having to stray away from your timeline every single time. Interaction is key when it comes to instagram growth that won't result in an unfollow later on.

DON'T :: Use Too Many Hashtags. 

Contrary to popular belief, using too many hashtags can hinder your numbers. I always see people talking about using all 30 hashtags on instagram and how they consider that to be utilizing every source, but I've done my research and that's simply not the case. 

From my understanding and research, multiple sources / studies have stated that the golden number for hashtags on Instagram is around 9 to 10 hashtags per post while for Facebook and twitter that number is one to two. 

DO :: Post To Hashtags That Have Less Than 1.5 M posts Under Them. 

This is a tip I've started utilizing lately and have seen it help my numbers and engagement. If a hashtag has a lot of posts tagged under it that means a lot of people are using the tag which at first may seem like a great thing, but this can also mean that your picture will get lost in the flood of pictures that are being tagged. Because of this, I look for and engage with tags that may not have millions of posts under it, but still have great content. 

A LIST OF SOME OF MY FAVORITE INSTAGRAM HASHTAGS 

*please note that most of these hashtags are ones that I use to reach my target audience. If you're not a motherhood + lifestyle blogger / influencer, then these tags probably won't help you since young moms, photographers, parents and women are the people I want to reach.

#motherhoodisdarling 

#rawmotherhood 

#unfilteredmotherhood 

#mommyhood 

#momlifeisthebestlife 

#ig_motherhood

#honestlyparents 

#momlife 

#momsofinstagram

#clickinmoms

#parenthood 

#momtog

#momswithcameras

#boymom

#uniteinmotherhood

#motherhoodthroughinstagram

#motherhoodunplugged

#motherhoodsimplified 

#honestmotherhood

#honestlymothering

#mynameismama

#mom_hub

#motherhoodrising 

#mymotherhood

#sahmlife

#raisingmytribe

#inbeautyinchaos

#writeyouonmyheart

#thepursuitofofjoyproject

#thehappynow

#expectful

#thebump

#realmotherhood

#joyfulmama

#stopdropandmom

#momminainteasy

#busymama

#toddlermomlife

#pursuepretty

#teammotherly

#heartofslowliving

#thecollabteam

#b1withmomboss

#momsofinstagram

#imsobloggingthis

#momblogger 

#momswhoblog

#thesparklediaries 

#insearchofjoy

#chooselovely

#makeitblissful

#ambhappylife

#thegramgang

#solovelysofree

#toadyslovely

#alifeofintention

#embracingaslowerlife

#slowlived

#quietchaotics

#darlingdaily

#toddlersofig 

#boymom 

#letthembelittle

#letthemexplore

#babiesofinstagram

#magicofchildhood

#littleandbrave

#letthekids

#thatsdarling 

#mytinymoments

#documentyourdays

#lovelylittlesquares

#magicalmoments 

#toddlermomlife 

#theeverydayproject

#livethelittlethings
#seekthesimplicity 

#mybeigelife 

#lifeandlensblog

#snapfromtheheart

#hellostoryteller
#deeplyauthentic
#instamom
#expectful

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Review | Cascade Pure Essentials ActionPacs

5.16.2019

Review | Cascade Pure Essentials ActionPacs

* this post is sponsored by Cascade, but all comments + opinions are my own. 

I wanted to talk to you guys about my new favorite dish detergent because I am so excited about them. I know, you're probably thinking I am lame -- I mean, it's stuff you put in your dishwasher, buuuuuut hear me out... it's a new product by Cascade with a simplifies formula that has essential oils in their perfumes. How neat is that?! 

I mean, it's no secret that I’ve always loved Cascade products, but this one has become one of my absolute favorites within the first week of using them. I really love that they're promoting offering a product that I can really feel good about, so I don't have to worry. I have been trying to reduce my overall exposure to certain ingredients in most of my home + cleaning products, so Cascade as really made this so much easier for me.

The fact that there is no chlorine bleach and no phosphates in these ActionPacs make my momma heart so incredibly happy. It’s so important to me that the things I am using in my home promote healthy living for my boys. Having these being infused with essential oils is another plus. 

Not to mention that these ActionPacs smell heavenly -- they come in two scents: orange blossom and lemon essence and I love them equally as much. I'm having a hard time choosing which scent to use next. The scent lingers as I open my dishwasher, so putting away the dishes has become my new favorite chore! 

Another thing I love is the fact is that this formula leaves no residue on my dishes which makes me oh so very happy. My pet peeve is when you're unloading the dishwasher and you see spots and leftovers on the plate after you've taken them out. I love sparkling dishes with no spots / grime and these do the job so well. I honestly cannot rave enough about them!

& good news friends -- From now through May 25, save $1 off any Cascade pure essentials item (bag or tub) with this online coupon from Kroger.com  by clicking here.

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