Do you write sponsored content for your web site? Here are 10 awesome tips to follow:
Meet all of your sponsor’s requirements. This seems obvious, for it’s so important! Pay attention to details and complete every task that is assigned to you. If you are working on a campign that has a list of requirements (for example, links that need to be included, social media amplification, particular images that need to be in your post), make a list of ALL of the post requirements before you start writing.
Tell a personal story. Always make a sponsored post relatable to your real-life experiences. A blog post is so much more interesting if you make it into a story, and not just an boring advertisement for a product your readers might not be interested in learning about to begin with.
SEO your post. All of those reviews you do? People looking for those products will google “Product X Review” when they’re thinking about buying that product – and you want them to come to your blog and read your review!
Use unique images. Unless specifically asked to use stock images, I always try to take my own pictures (sometimes, this just means I’m using screenshots that I’ve taken, but they’re still my own and something you won’t find anywhere else on the Internet). I think that using my own pictures tells a better story…and shows a brand I care enough to put in some extra effort.
Be clear with the brand about whether you’ll be using dofollow or nofollow links. I almost always use nofollow links on sponsored posts.
Amplify your post on social media. Meet at least the minimum requirements set by the sponsor (usually, they will ask for you to share your post on at least Facebook and Twitter). I always share everything on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google + – and sometimes Instagram, too!
Take screenshots of all your social media shares. I put them all together on one document (I use Paint) and save it, along with sending to the PR rep/sponsor if necessary. You can also create a document with links to all of your social media shares.
When your post goes live, be sure to send a link to the sponsor/PR person.
Share, share, share! Ask your blogging friends to share your post (tweets and pins are easy and will reach a wide audience).
Overdeliver. Always go above and beyond – give your sponsors (and your readers!) something to be excited about!
Don’t forget your disclosures! You must always disclose your relationship with your sponsor. I include a disclosure at the top and the bottom of all my posts.
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Bloggers, are you looking for an amazing new company to work with? Markerly is the best blogging network to find sponsored content opportunities and get paid to work with awesome brands. Find out more about Markerly here.
Here is why they are awesome!
- -Markerly is a full-service managed network with 24/7 blogger support
- -Markerly gives you heat maps of your entire post so you can see what people were clicking on
- -Markerly pays bloggers within 48 hours of the post going live
- -Work with brands like Levi's, Super Bowl, TruMoo, eMeals etc.
- -Get free products to review like wine from companies like Last Bottle Wines and Invino or cool earbuds from Jaybird.
- -Markerly's network is open to anybody to join that has over 10,000 page views a month or an average of 3 comments per post
- -Markerly is very focused on quality blog posts and bloggers that have engaged audiences
I've been writing sponsored content for 10+ years and I always choose content that works with my readership. Markely works with brands like TruMoo, eMeals and many more that will work with your audience!
