How to get sponsored to attend CyberMummy

Some bloggers would like to come to CyberMummy (who doesn't?) but just don't have the resources to fund the ticket as well as possibly the travel and overnight accommodation if necessary.

The good news is that more and more brands want to work with bloggers and you don't have to wait for one to come to you.

CyberMummy Sian has posted some great tips on her site about how to target, pitch and secure a sponsor. (Hint: Don't offer to get their logo tattooed on your arm...or elsewhere.)

Get Sian's step-by-step advice on getting sponsored for CyberMummy.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Party prize giveaway: Things for grown-ups too

Yesterday I blogged about the great prizes we'll be giving away that the kids will love (and one that babies and mums will love)

But let's not forget about our grown-up identities. And what does a mature, intelligent parent need? I hear you saying "intellectual stimulation". I was thinking more along the lines of "free stuff".

So, in the last update about our prize draw before the big day, here are some of the things you could win that remind you it's good to be an adult:

* Gold sponsor Leapfrog is giving away £150 worth of Leapfrog products of your choice to keep your children entertained, providing you with some valuable "me time"

* Gold sponsor Glam is giving away a £550 BHS voucher at the Oxford Street store, which includes a personal consultation with a stylist

* Our Silver sponsor Biss Lancaster is giving away a bottle of Tanqueray 10 and a bottle of Ciroc Vodka (I know what you're thinking, but they'll be sending these out later to the two lucky winners, so there's no opportunity to crack these open at the party)

* Our Bronze sponsor Tommee Tippee will make all those nighttime feedings easier (and daytime, too) with hamper absolutely stuffed with bottle and breastfeeding essentials, including a Closer to Nature breastfeeding kit (including bottle warmer, breast pump and bottles), a Closer to Nature bottle feeding kit (including travel bottle warmer and steriliser), and a Weaning kit (including decorated bowls and plates)

* Our coffee break sponsor Garofalo will keep three lucky winners in pasta for a month

* Green clothing company Mini Myne is giving away a children's clothing gift certificate for £100

* Isklar Mineral Water (Norwegian glacial mineral water) is giving away an Isklar tote bag, designed by Giles Deacon, worth £100

* Five people will win copies of "William's Progress: One man, one woman, one year, so many ways to screw up" written by Sunday Times writer Matt Rudd and occasional daddy blogger of Alpha Mummy

If you ain't in it, you won't win it, so remember after the Crowdsourced Keynote to fill out your feedback card and drop it in the bowl on your way into the party. You must be present to win.

Read the full Terms and Conditions.

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Meet our sponsors and win a hamper : Johnson's Baby

Another great sponsor, with another great chance to win some goodies. Read on to find out how you can work with Johnson's Baby and enter to win a hamper full of baby products. Johnson's Baby says:

With 100 years of baby expertise behind them, the team at JOHNSON’S® Baby know that being a mum can be both exciting and scary. JOHNSON’S® Baby are delighted to be sponsoring the CyberMummy event and the team look forward to talking with you about exciting developments from the well loved brand. These include the launch of a new, very fun and bubbly product and also plans for a brand new website. Look out for us at stand 7 or call or email 0845 070 7613/ Johnsonsbaby@redconsultancy.com for more information on any of our brands.

JOHNSON’S® Baby Hamper text
With 100 years of baby expertise behind them, the team at JOHNSON’S® Baby are giving you the chance to win a hamper of classic JOHNSON’S® Baby products at this year’s Cybermummy event.

The hamper includes JOHNSON’S® Baby Oil, JOHNSON’S® Baby Skincare Wipes, JOHNSON’S® Baby Lotion, JOHNSON’S® Baby Softwash, JOHNSON’S® Baby Bedtime Lotion, JOHNSON’S® Baby Powder, JOHNSON’S® Baby Sun Protection Lotion SPF 50+, JOHNSON’S® Baby Kids Sun Protection Spray SPF 50, JOHNSON’S® Baby Bedtime Wash, JOHNSON’S® Baby Bath, JOHNSON’S® Baby Shampoo, JOHNSON’S® Baby Soothing Naturals Rich Bath, and JOHNSON’S® Baby No More Tangles Spray.

To be in with the chance of winning simply enter the prize draw on the day.

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Meet our sponsors and win an iPad : Glam

Those of you looking to expand your techie skills will meet some of the Glam experts in CyberLabs. But there's a lot more to Glam and its network. Here's what they say about what they can do for you as a blogger. And read to the end for information on how to win an iPad.

Why become a publisher with the Glam Family Network?

Running ads on your site is a big commitment. Your personal blog is your space -- your baby. You’ve spent a lot of time perfecting it and making it a place of your own. When you run ads, you are in essence “renting out” real estate on your blog to sponsor. Glam recognises this commitment, and will take very good care of your space. You’re in good company, Glam’s Family Network gets 3.6 million unique users each month. The ads are nice looking, too. Joining the ad publishing team can help to raise your profile, and you can help make your passion for blogging pay as well.

By becoming a publisher in the Glam Family network, you will:

1. Gain a partner to help you grow your site. Glam wants your site to grow and will give you access to resources that will help you reach your best. Focus on being a really good blogger, and Glam will help open doors to the rest.

2. Monetise your blog. With Glam, you earn a higher (premium) CPM. The amount you earn is based on traffic, so as your site grows, your revenue will too.

3. Plug into a larger network. As a blogger, you are often a “one-woman show”, having to be your own reporter, editor, IT support and marketer. Glam offers you access to a wider community of expertise and resources. Some of these include SEO and design workshops, tech support when you can’t get your ads to work, and networking events. You will be introduced to bloggers outside family blogging as Glam also represents other women bloggers in multiple verticals including fashion, food and entertainment.

4. Work with a top publisher. Glam ranks #1 in lifestyle, and #2 in family & parenting sites WORLDWIDE (according to Comscore). That is cool.

5. Be associated with the best. Glam only works with premium brands.

6. Have control over your ads. With Glam, you have complete control over which types of ads you want to run on your site. Everything is open and transparent.

7. Have fun and enjoy blogging. Blogging is supposed to be fun and with Glam you will have access to industry events where you can meet other bloggers, explore possibilities with sponsors and even enjoy occasional freebies.

For your chance to win an I-Pad with Glam, please leave your details with a member of the Glam Publisher Team located at the Glam Stand.

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Speakers at CyberMummy: Samantha Harris

Who better to talk about how companies want to work with bloggers than an expert at a company with natural ties to mums and dads? Samantha Harris, marketing manager at LeapFrog, will be sharing her knowledge and experience in the 14:00 session about how to branch out and work with companies.

Harris has worked in the marketing department at LeapFrog for over 3 years and is responsible for the UK marketing campaigns and promoting the connected experience that the LeapFrog range offers. In addition she is currently overseeing the launch of the exciting new learning gaming console called Leapster Explorer. Samantha comes from a toy industry background, having worked on the Crayola brand, before moving to LeapFrog and working on their innovative toy range.

Look forward to seeing Harris on what's sure to be an engaging and informative session!

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Party prize giveaway: books and techie goodies

CyberMummy has its own version of summer reading. We've got a collection of mum-friendly books to give away at the party, generously donated by sponsors.

* Tana's Kitchen Secrets
* A set of Moomin picture books
* A set of signed books by Annabel Karmel

Alongside these, we also have some techie goodies:

* Snapfish has donated 5 £60 vouchers for photo services
* 3UK has a wireless modem to give away
* Kodak is providing 2 Kodak Pulse Digital Photo frames

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Trips you could win at CyberMummy

"Go away!" is the message some companies have for mummy bloggers. Specifically, take a holiday, enjoy a day out or otherwise take a break and have some fun.

A host of companies and generously donated trips and outings** so that some lucky attendees at CyberMummy can do just that. We'll be pulling out names for these lovely getaways at the end of the party so don't leave early and miss out on knowing how you could spend your summer.

* Kickers is offering 4 tickets to for a fun family visit to Legoland Windsor

* The O2 has a pair of tickets to the new In the Night Garden Live

* Disney is inviting 4 people along to the glamorous London premiere of Toy Story 3

* Madame Tussauds has a family pass to give away to see your favourite celebrities in wax

* London Dungeon has a family pass for winner to enjoy the horrors of Great Britain

* Haven Holidays is offering a four-night break for a family of four in superior accommodations**
Haven, the leading provider of UK family holidays and breaks, has 35 award-winning parks nationwide with pools, direct beach access at most properties, free kids clubs and sports and leisure activities.

* Key Camp Holidays is ofering 7 nights for up to 2 adults and 4 children**
Key Camp holidays offer high-quality accommodation throughout Europe, in relaxed easygoing parcs that range from countryside to lakeside to beach.

* Grecotel has a 4-night break at its kid-friendly luxury Creta Palace in Crete**
The hotel's new Grecoland - a special section of its bungalow village for children - includes activities, youth programme for 13+ during peak summer months and the Tasty Corner kid-friendly buffet, serving from 11am to 5pm. Plus families have access to the beach, freshwater and seawater pools, tennis courts, water sports and other hotel leisure activities. Read more about the prize on the CyberMummy blog, including Ts&Cs.

** Some prizes have additional Terms and Conditions

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Win a Luxury Break for you and your family at the Grecotel Creta Palace

The elegant Creta Palace in Rethymno, Crete provides the perfect retreat for families, giving parents the time to relax, safe in the knowledge that their little ones are being well looked after and entertained in style.

One lucky family will have the chance to win four nights accommodation in a Family Bungalow on a half board basis. The five-star resort hotel is situated on a glorious 14km sandy beach in the heart of the Cretan Riviera.

Offering exceptional restaurants and an impressive selection of swimming pools, the resort also houses an Elixir Spa and a new specialist Ayurveda Center. The newly built high-tech Grecoland kids club, located in the lush gardens of the resort is a paradise of fun for children aged 3-12 years old. Children can enjoy an abundance of activities here including cookery and gardening as well as a constant supply of fresh, tempting food and drinks at the all-day, free Tasty Corner.

The lucky family will also be able to experience traditional Cretan life with a visit to the nearby organic Grecotel farm, Agreco. A privately owned 40,000sqm estate, Agreco Farm showcases an innovative display of environmentally friendly cultivation methods including olive pressing and traditional wine making.

For more information please visit http://www.grecotel.com/crete/creta-palace/welcome_91.htm.

Terms & Conditions
1. This prize is for up to two adults and two children (0-12 years) sharing a Family Bungalow for four nights on a half board basis at Grecotel Creta Palace, Rethymno, Crete.
2. All extra incidentals including telephone calls and laundry and food & beverage etc. must be paid for directly by the prize winner.
3. This prize is valid from September 2010 until 15th July 2011, according to availability. Please note the hotel closes in the winter.
4. The prize winner will be issued a voucher which can be exchanged for the free holiday by contacting the PR Department at Grecotel, Athens, telephone number: +30 210 72 80 352 or email: press@grecotel.gr quoting ‘British Mummy Bloggers competition’.
5. Flights and travel insurance cover must be obtained separately by the prize winner.

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Win tickets to Wicked with MS&L

Do you have a Wicked side? MS&L certainly hopes you do as we have five pairs of tickets to give away to the West End’s favourite show, Wicked: the Musical.

Experience this unforgettable, award-winning musical and discover that you’ve not been told the whole story about the land of Oz...

Based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire that re-imagined the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, WICKED tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two girls who first meet as sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Goodand the Wicked Witch of the West. Discover more at http://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/.

To win, simply fill in your details at the MS&L stand at the Cybermummy Conference and we’ll draw names at the end of the day. Personal details will not be passed on to third parties.

All bloggers who enter will have an additional chance to win a place on MS&L’s new and exciting ‘Team Mum’. This exciting group will bring selected Mum bloggers and their families to London twice a year for a fun-filled chance to enjoy weekend experiences while providing valuable feedback on some of the UK’s biggest brand names. Enjoy museum and theatre outings, sporting events, outdoor adventures and family-friendly dining simply by doing what you do best – speaking your mind and telling us what you think!

We look forward to being Wicked with you – and good luck!

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Meet our sponsors: SuperSavvyMe

You can hear from the editor of SuperSavvyMe during our Content session (she's a longtime journalist and content creator), but are you familiar with the site itself?

Over to SuperSavvyMe:

Launched a year ago, supersavvyme.com (from Procter & Gamble) set out to provide women with insights, tips and wisdom from a combination of real women and experts in order to help make them even savvier. Recognising the growing contribution of mummy bloggers, we commissioned three prominent bloggers to offer their perspective on the daily challenges facing today’s mums. We are now working with over thirty mummy bloggers to help us compile our supersavvyme guide to the school summer holidays which is all about having more fun for less money. Like mummy bloggers, we understand the importance of relevant and engaging content.

supersavvyme.com celebrates the growing influence of this distinct and unique group of women – the Mummy Blogger - and is proud to sponsor the Cybermummy Conference 2010.

supersavvyme.com combines editorial on parenting, home, fashion and beauty with a platform where real women can exchange ideas, inspiration and wisdom. Women can also sign-up to receive the latest samples and promotional offers from some of Procter & Gamble’s leading brands including Ariel, Fairy, Max Factor, Pantene and Olay.

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Meet our sponsors: Bounty

We can't say it enough: we are very appreciative of our sponsors who have made the conference possible. And just as sponsors have chosen us, we have sought out those whose products, services and message gibe with the concerns of mum bloggers.

The sponsors that you'll be meeting on Saturday next week will be introducing themselves to you on this blog over the coming days, telling you a bit more about who they are and what they do.

Over to our first sponsor posting:

Bounty – The UK’s favourite parenting club

For over 50 years, from when Bounty produced its first Bounty bag, mums have relied on Bounty to provide the latest information, support and products to help make family life easier
throughout the four key-life stages: pre-birth, birth, toddlers and pre-school.

With 2.5 million members and over 50,000 new members joining every month, www.bounty.com is the UK’s favourite parenting website and the largest online meeting point for mums in the UK. With such a large network of active online mums we are proud to be part of Cybermummy and lend our support to this growing tribe of mummy bloggers.

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More fabulous prizes to win at the CyberMummy party

I blogged yesterday about the prize draw at the party - already a couple of folks have described their intention to win all the booty! (Don't worry, we'll be spreading it around.)

Here are some more of the great things you could win:

• Wilkinson has donated a summer's supply of suncare products (if, like you, you slather this stuff on, you know how great this is): 2 squirty suncare lotions, 2 standard lotions, 2 squirty kids' lotions, 2 standard kids' suncare, and 4 aftersun products. Bring on the sun.
• Polaroid, perhaps also anticipating good British summer, have donated 3 pairs of sunglasses.
• Tesco has stepped up and offerred a goody bag of Tesco baby products, perfect for mums with babies.
• Babes with Babies has provided a set of its gorgeous luxury hand lotion and organic handwash.

Stay tuned to hear of more great prizes to be won on the day!

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We're having a prize draw at CyberMummy!

The question is not what you can do for CyberMummy of course - it's what CyberMummy can do for you. And in addition to all the cool things we've got planned during the day, there's one aspect of the end-of-conference party that we're very excited about.

One thing all of the CyberMummy sponsors have told us - from our Gold sponsors Glam Media, Leapfrog, MS&L and SuperSavvyMe to our coffee break sponsors to the folks manning the stands in CyberMummy Central (the main room at the conference) - is that they want the day to be stimulating and different.

To that end, we've added a prize draw at the end-of-day party, thanks to the stacks of goodies generously donated by sponsors. Fill in your feedback form that you'll get at registration and drop it in the bowl on your way to pick up your drink at the party, and you could win some fabulous prizes.

I'll be tantalising you with postings of the giveaway items over the next several days, so keep checking back. Here are just some of the great prizes you could win.

• A Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Puppy






• A Fisher-Price Bounce N Spin Zebra (pictured, bottom)






• A pair of Kickers Lego Football World Cup Boots (pictured, top)






• A pair of Kickers for mum (pictured, middle)

Good luck!

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Congratulations to Vonnie, winner of a free ticket!

A while back PowderRoomGraffiti was giving away a ticket to CyberMummy along with a wedge to help cover expenses for one lucky blogger. Vonnie from blottedcopybook.com (Adventures of a Lady in Training) won!

She's coming all the way from Glasgow so the money for expenses will really help, and PRG tells us she's really looking forward to it. See you at the sessions, Vonnie.

We're so excited that so many bloggers are able to attend because of the generosity and community spirit of sponsors, sites and other bloggers. We've tried to keep ticket prices low but even so, the money from delegate tickets doesn't cover the costs of putting together the day of sessions, activities, food and drink. (We can thank our sponsors for helping make it all possible!)

The fact that so many folks have thought about bloggers who want to come but can't afford to shows the kind of community spirit that runs through this group. It makes me proud to be part of it.

Sian, who has been trying to find sponsors for individual bloggers, has written on her blog about bloggers helping bloggers and resources for those who want to come but need help. Check out her post and donate to help a blogger (no amount too small) if you like, or put youself on the list to win a ticket. Get more info on Sian's blog now.

Better hurry - it looks like we will soon be sold out!

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Are you looking for sponsorship?

Are you a blogger looking for sponsorship in order to attend CyberMummy in July? 

If you are can you please email using the link at the top right of the page? I will need to know your name, your blog name and where you live.

We do have a couple of brands looking for bloggers to sponsor - so I thought a list was in order!

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