Monday, June 24, 2013

Relaunch in T - 7 Days

A few weeks ago, I emailed Bobbi of Ready to Blog Designs about changing things up on Betsy Transatlantically.  She created the design I have now and I still like it and wanted to continue the theme she'd come up with, but I asked for something fresh - something a bit less angular and bold.  Just like before, she's been fab to work with, and I'm so excited to roll out the new design at the end of the month.  You want a sneak peak now?  Well, okay!


I also decided it was time for a a couple of other changes while I reworked things.  First, I bought my own domain; starting July 1, you'll find me at www.betsytransatlantically.com.  (Don't worry, the old address will automatically redirect you if you forget!)  And second, also launching next Monday, will be paid partnership options on my blog.  I've been waffling for quite some time about whether or not to start accepting sponsorships, you know.  Over the past year and a half, I've bought ads on a handful of blogs - some of which provided amazing experiences and others... well, others were learning experiences - and I never thought it was the sort of thing I wanted to jump into.

But over the last month or so, I started realizing that sponsoring Betsy Transatlantically could mean whatever I wanted it to mean.  I could make it a program that stayed true to the kind of blogging I enjoy and that respected the kind of blogging that you expect to see on this blog.  (I am not disparaging other blogs' sponsorship options, only admitting that they wouldn't work here.)  So I took time to think about you, dear readers, and the posts that attract the most exciting comments from you and the posts that you share the most on social media and the posts that inspire you to interact with each other both on my blog and on Twitter, and I designed a bespoke style of sponsorship that I think reflects who you are and what you want from this blog.  Here's what I came up with:

FREQUENT FLIER
guest post (choose from Sunday Currently, Wedding Wednesday, or Frock Fridays themes)
option to co-host monthly link-up (topic to be decided by all the sponsors that month)
tons o' social media love on Twitter and Instagram as well as here on the blog
200 x 100 blog button for my sidebar at the top of the sponsorship section

CASUAL TRAVELER
option to co-host monthly link-up (topic to be decided by all the sponsors that month)
social media love on Twitter and Instagram as well as here on the blog
200 x 100 blog button for my sidebar in the sponsorship section

I think there are enough big blogger giveaways out there that you don't need one more, though of course I will continue to bring you special offerings from companies like TripCommon, so I decided that the way I wanted my readers to discover my sponsors was to give you something more substantial to connect with.  That's why all the sponsors for the month will join me in co-hosting a link-up, where you'll be encouraged to share your own post and to check out the other blogs who are participating.  I think it'll be easier to get an idea of who my sponsors really are (and, of course, to get hooked on their blogs!) from personal posts on topics like Advice From My Dog (am I the only one wanting to write a post on that?) than from following for a free Starbucks giftcard, don't you?

In addition, I would love for my Frequent Flier sponsors to guest post here.  From my own experience as a guest poster, it makes life a lot easier to have a sort of template for guest posts, so I'll work with these sponsors to create their own Sunday Currently, Wedding Wednesday, or Frock Fridays spot as best suits their interests.

The social media love aspect of being a sponsor is pretty self-explanatory, but I know I'm shaking things up a bit with how I'll be hosting ads on my sidebar.  Buttons seem the most effective when they remind a reader of a sponsor she's seen elsewhere - in a guest post, say, or from a shared link - but I don't think it matters how big a blog button is as long as it doesn't get lost in everything else happening on the sidebar.

So all sponsors will get to share their 200x100 button on my sidebar with the Frequent Flier buttons placed on top.  And - here's the kicker - there will never be more than five buttons up at any given time.  I will be accepting two Frequent Flier and three Casual Traveler sponsors per month.  Any more than that and I'm afraid the sponsors would not get the attention they deserve!

Let me know what you think about all of this, dear readers.  And email me at betsytransatlantically@gmail.com if you're interested in sponsoring - the idea is to start with buttons and love on July 1!  We can discuss stats and rates and schedules and things.  I'm going to be doing all of this myself - no Passionfruit or anything - because I really want to know my sponsors and I really want to be able to share them with you.  After all, the whole point of this is to build relationships!


20 comments:

  1. Loving it!!!!!! I can't wait to see it all. :)

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  2. it is fun! I have to stop myself from doing it every other day :) would love to hear from you (and have you!) when you're ready :)

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  3. ah thank you! I do want to open up sponsorship options but I don't want this labor of love to just become a labor, you know? so I made it work for me! and I'm SO thrilled by the feedback - sounds like it's working for a few of you as well :)

    Passionfruit basically automates your sponsorship system - it handles the images and the payment and tracking and reminders and things. It probably does make life a lot easier, but it seems a bit impersonal to me for now!

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  4. haha I'm excited to see how it works out, too... WATCH THIS SPACE.

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  5. I am in love with that header! How cool!

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  6. YAY for including the sunday currently in your guest posting options! this makes me so happy :)

    you are a blogging inspiration to me. i love the way you take things - like sponsorships - & really make them your own. the effort & heart you put into your blog is so refreshing.

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  7. What an exciting time for Betsy Transatlantically! I honestly don't know where you find the time, you're a little ball of tidy, organized energy :)
    The new header looks really cool, I'm taking a note of Bobbi because I think it's time to change it up my way too x

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  8. This is so exciting, Betsy! I love your sponsorship model, and I think it completely honors your style and attitude on this blog. I'm excited to see where it goes! :)

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  9. I'm going to miss your current blog design but I'm excited to see more of the new one! And knowing how awesome your blog is and your excellent blogging taste, I can't wait to discover more great blogs through your new sponsor program. Congrats on all the exciting changes!

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  10. THANK YOU! and I need to respond to your email :)

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  11. I love the Sunday Currently! such a great way to check in :) and THANK YOU - what a compliment!

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  12. haha funny I come to respond to this comment now, when I'm in desperate need of a nap :P


    thank you!

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  13. aw yay, thanks! let me know if you're interested :)

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  14. this feedback is making me so happy! thank youuuu

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  15. I'm so in love with the new design! Bobbi is so talented, isn't she? I'm emailing you right now. <3

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  16. Love the new layout! I also like how you can work a sponsorship model to exactly how you want, exactly how blogging should be for each person :)

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