Nov 07
How Do You Treat Your Sponsored Posts?
Yesterday, we got a pretty good dialog going during my “If You Couldn’t Be Paid for Blogging…” post. So before I forget, thanks to everyone for the wonderful comments! And speaking of those…
One comment in particular by Christine brought up the interesting topic of sponsored posts and kinda started a mini conversation in regards to how we should treat those sponsored posts of ours.
My Brief Thoughts on the Matter
As I told you guys yesterday, my thoughts on the whole thing were changed after Opal gave me a talkin’ to on the matter. And where I am now with sponsored posts is I try and do the best job I can with them. I try to make them as good as I can… I try to make them engaging for my readers and I try to provide value for my advertiser not only for the sake of doing a good job but for the sake of attracting future advertisers to the site.
But here I go again blah blah blahing. Look, even though I kinda led us into this conversation, I think it’s now wholly on Christine’s lovely shoulders so make sure you say “hi” to her today by adding your two thoughts to her post on the subject over on her blog!
Thanks guys and again remember, this conversation will continue over there!
November 7th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
LOLOLOL,
Thanks Bush. It’s not very often that a comment makes me really sit down and think. But I do appreciate it.
Your comment really did make me sit down and really consider what it is that I do, and why I do it. You’ve really given me a new outlook on the whole issue.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
@Christine – Everything I do, I do it for you. (#);)
November 7th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
aaawwww, thank you baby. That’s the sweetest load of horse hockey I’ve ever heard. LOLOLOL
)
November 7th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
@Christine – HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA HA HA
November 7th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Having read all what Christine said, and everyone else over on her blog and your post. I thought about it.
In general, I write far more sponsored posts than what is good for my blog. However, as of late I actually depend on the money I am getting from those posts. So, I must do it.
As for the content of My Spnsored posts, some are much better than others, clearly. Nevertheless, I think my sponsored posts always have at least some of my own opinion and creative juices in them, and that’s all you can expect.
PayPerPost has a rule that you can do 3 sponsored posts per day with one non-sponsored post in between each one. So, they’re forcing you to do 6 posts.
If I did 6 posts per day, would all of my readers read all 6? No. Would they read some, of course. So, my take on it is if the sponsor has something interesting my readers will read my post about it, regardless of if it is the first post in the list, or the last.
My Homepage lists 5 posts. If you skim over title’s, pictures and content you can decide which post you want to read. My RSS feed has 10, and is only titles. My Blog Search and Calendar are very useful.
Basically, even if a post is not the first part there are various ways to find it within my blog. So, I don’t think I have any responsibility to keep a post on top for awhile.
November 8th, 2007 at 7:20 am
Hey Bush thanks for the mention. I stumbled this article but I meant to stumble the other one with all the comments so I’ll be stumbling that one also.
Apex,
Not everyone that lands on your page will look through your archives especially if they don’t know about the review. Of course you don’t have to wait before you post but I do believe that some advertisers will pay attention to things such as that and will reward you accordingly.
I can only judge based on what has happened with me but my bids are usually approved on Sponsored Reviews and the direct offers I’ve received from review websites have all been over $100. The highest was $150. Those businesses that want more than a link bait will look for other things.
I know I as a business owner am looking for that “extra” and when I do use advertising I will look at those bloggers that do that. I know I’ll be paying the bloggers more than they can normally make doing three reviews from Pay Per Post. I’ll be paying them directly.
Thanks for linking to Christine’s post. I stopped by her virtual home. I really like it. I’ll be back.
November 8th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
@Opal T – Hey buddy, appreciate the stumbles. And I’m glad you went by Christine’s place. It IS nice isn’t it? (#):D
November 10th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I have just started using Pay Per Post and have been struggling making the posts creative and have been worrying if I am am adversely affecting my blog!
But I am enjoying the fact that I can spend the time on my blog and know that I can earn a small amount of money from it.
I won’t be stopping anytime soon. I will just strive to get better.
November 11th, 2007 at 6:23 am
Bush,
Yes it is a nice little spot.
Forest Parks,
I struggled in the beginning. Keep at it check out others who are writing them. You’ll get better. What helped me was I stopped thinking of them as paid post and thought, Hmm how would I talk about this to someone in person. How would I market their company?
November 12th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
@Forest – In a similar way to what Opal says in response to your comment, I think detaching yourself from the notion of it being a paid post helps. After doing that, just try and provide the best writeup you can for your readers. Usually doing that ends up making everyone happy. imo