In our December #WEGOHealthChat, our host Brooke Abbot walked us through how to financially support your online advocacy.
From sponsored blogs to advisory boards, the network talked about several ways to connect with sponsors and make some money, while still maintaining your personal brand.
If you’re looking for ways to fund your advocacy work, this is a chat transcript you want to read!
Below you’ll find some highlights from each discussion question. If you’d like to read the full chat transcript, you can find it HERE.
Q1: One great way to maximize your impact both personally & professionally is to begin monetizing your blog. How might you be able to advance your impact & monetize your brand/advocacy work?
A1:Guest writing, copywriting, joining an advisory board, public speaking, & finding sponsors for your brand. #WEGOHealthChat
— TheCrazyCreoleMommy (@CrzyCreoleMommy) December 12, 2017
Q1: @CrzyCreoleMommy @Wegohealth Working on selling sponsored posts (both on the blog and social media) and working on building up my YouTube video library so I can eventually get some ads running on my videos. Also need to follow up on a speaking gig inquiry! #wegohealthchat
— CPAP Babes (@Cpapbabes) December 12, 2017
A1a Follow Up: Certain brands can provide a variety of opportunities for you to reach patients on and offline through speaking and /or events. Also, pairing up with a brand that isn’t disease specific can help bring awareness to a non patient audience. #WEGOHealthChat
— TheCrazyCreoleMommy (@CrzyCreoleMommy) December 12, 2017
Q2: What are some ways to protect yourself while working for yourself while being a patient?
A2: Don’t give your story away for free or to someone who will not nurture it. Be discerning in who you work with. #WEGOHealthChat https://t.co/r3AZQg5yFS
— Amber J Tresca (@aboutIBD) December 12, 2017
A2- Consider keeping certain personal info private, use lists/calendars to prioritize importance, use tweet scheduling, work with other patient advocates/share content and ideas #WEGOHealthChat
— Becky Brandt RN (@bbhomebody) December 12, 2017
A2: Do your homework, weigh up pros and cons, stay true to your vocation/mission, surround yourself by positive people, and network with people who have the skills, knowledge and experience you may be developing. #WEGOHealthChat https://t.co/bj5AOBjZLQ
— Simon Stones (@SimonRStones) December 12, 2017
Q3: Talking about sponsors, how to gain and keep sponsors? What is some brand sponsorship & advisory board etiquette?
A3 – You can begin by packaging yourself with a media kit, headshots and a bio. Then reach out to brands that are relevant to your advocacy or following. You can reach out via social media, expos where vendors are set up, blogger events, medical conventions. #WEGOHealthChat
— TheCrazyCreoleMommy (@CrzyCreoleMommy) December 12, 2017
Q3. Always follow through and don’t over promise, but when I can, I over deliver. Many find me now through my sm platforms. #WEGOHealthChat https://t.co/p4FkIitfO7
— Barby Ingle Official (@BarbyIngle) December 12, 2017
Q3: I’ve gotten more mileage out of partners than sponsors. Find a group/tribe to team/earn with. #WEGOHealthChat
— Casey Quinlan (@MightyCasey) December 12, 2017
Yes! I’ve worked on Advisory Boards that paid well but did nothing to help my comminty when it was over. I won’t work with that company again #WEGOHealthChat
— Whitney Petit (@CfEpilepsy) December 12, 2017
Q4: What are some steps you can take to begin building your brand’s fiscal value?
A4 If you have a blog, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A QUALITY ABOUT ME PAGE. I put it in all caps because most people don’t do this. List out your accomplishments, who you work with, what you do, etc #WEGOHealthChat
— Julie Cerrone Croner (@justagoodlife) December 12, 2017
A4: Create engaging content that helps patients understand their condition and how to cope with the everyday struggles. Good information goes a long way and often into the hearts of those struggling the most. #WEGOHealthChat Good content will lead to fiscal value in my opinion.
— Ashley Hattle (@AshleyHattle) December 12, 2017
A4a Advisory boards: know why you’re there. Do your homework. Come prepared. Listen. Speak with all the authority you can muster. React to ideas not people. #WEGOHealthChat
— Danny van Leeuwen (@HealthHats) December 12, 2017
A4– Invest in yourself. Get some headshots, business cards, create a name for your brand, connect your social media pages and clear out anything that has nothing to do wit your brand. #WEGOHealthChat
— TheCrazyCreoleMommy (@CrzyCreoleMommy) December 12, 2017
Q5: What are 5 goals you can make right now to advance your impact for the coming year?
A5: Pass the bar, find the right job in the pharmaceutical industry, start blogging again, push OPEN Act, hit the gym! #wegohealthchat
— Candace (@RareCandace) December 12, 2017
#Q5: Get consistent with writing, get better at answering emails, consistent outreach, taking action on things I know I need to do to advance and take care of myself and my son, who is coming in May! #wegohealthchat
— CPAP Babes (@Cpapbabes) December 12, 2017
1 – Choose integrity no matter what
2 – Help elevate diverse voices
3 – Listen more than we speak
4 – Celebrate success of others and ourselves
5 – Cultivate a community of empowered patient-owners to restore power back to patients.#wegohealthchat https://t.co/8ViPQja0zB— Savvy Cooperative (@savvy_coop) December 12, 2017
A5:
1. Invest more in myself
2. Care less about personal consequences
3. Push the publish button and carry on
4. Goals + Reason + Reality = Balance
5. Be kinder to myself. Calm the perfectionist#WEGOHealthChat— Christy Stone (@CrohnieBologna) December 12, 2017
A5 New Cover pics
Update website more regularly
Focus on our smaller follower numbers away from Twitter& Facebook, nurture them & do some networking
Build alliances with relevant orgs etc
Advocate harder with more raffles /FUNdraising Awareness campaigns #WEGOHealthChat— FibroFlutters (@FibroFlutters) December 12, 2017
You can join our #WEGOHealthChats on the second Tuesday of every month at 1pm ET. If you’re unfamiliar with how to participate in a Twitter chat, we created this handy-dandy guide to get you up to speed.
