As a full-time blogger and someone who’s been growing in working with brands over the past few years, I have learned how to create sponsored content that my readers will love. Sponsored content can have such a stigma to it and that shouldn’t be the case.
If you’re not familiar with what sponsored content is, sponsored content is when bloggers or influencers are paid to share about a certain brand or product on their blog and/or social media channels.
[bctt tweet=”Sponsored content can have such a stigma to it and that shouldn’t be the case. ” username=”SummerTelban”]
I have come to learn that when people don’t understand something, they naturally revert to looking down on it and they even tend to bash it… all because they’re mostly misinformed. This is why I started to touch on breaking the stigma of sponsored content a year ago. To see people (even other bloggers) lash out at bloggers and influencers who get to work with brands absolutely breaks my heart and it also infuriates me.
It breaks my heart because we should be building up one another, not tearing each other down. It infuriates me because people don’t want to take the time to get properly informed about sponsored work.
In last year’s post, I wrote to those who get annoyed when bloggers share sponsored content. This year, I want to write to my blogger and influencer friends who share sponsored content.
HOW TO CREATE SPONSORED POSTS THAT YOUR READERS WILL LOVE:
If you’re a blogger or influencer, you should know by now that what you write about online isn’t all about you. Yes, you want to share about things that you love, but you also want to reach your readers with things they might love to read about. It’s all about balance. Today, I’m sharing some key tips to help you develop a plan for only creating sponsored content that your readers will actually want to read.
[bctt tweet=”How To Create Sponsored Content Your Readers Will Love” username=”SummerTelban”]
1. Partner With Brands That You Truly Love & Use // Partnering with brands that you already love and use is the top key way to create sponsored content that your readers will love. Not only is it the way to creating content your readers love, but it’s also the only way to stay true to yourself and not become a sellout.
When you wholeheartedly love a brand or product, everything for your content will flow easily. Nothing will feel forced. This is what you want all of your sponsored content to be. Believe it or not, your readers can tell when you really don’t love, love a brand or product that you’re posting about. When this happens, you can start to lose your readers’ trust and interest.
To avoid this, always have a heart-to-heart with yourself when applying for sponsored campaigns or reaching out/responding to possible partnerships. It’s better to say “no” to something that your heart’s not all in with, rather than to lose readers because you’ve chosen to compromise your authenticity.
2. Share A Story, Not A Review // Reviews of products and brands are so overdone and to be honest, they’re dry and boring. Your readers don’t want to read another review of something they can just look up on their own. You want to draw your readers in with a real-life story about how a brand or product has changed your life. You want to let your readers into your real life experience with brands and products. Open up and allow yourself to get vulnerable with your readers! Honesty and vulnerability is how you earn your readers’ trust and loyalty.
[bctt tweet=”Want to keep your readers’ interest in your sponsored content? Share a story, not a review.” username=”SummerTelban”]
3. Know What Kind Of Brands/Products Your Readers Enjoy // The majority of my demographics are women the ages of 18-34, which is why I share about general lifestyle, fashion, and millennial lifestyle here at CWS. While my lifestyle categories can appeal to many ages, my content primarily targets millennials. After 3 years of blogging seriously, I have learned the kinds of content and products my readers love to read about.
[bctt tweet=”How To Figure Out What Kind Of Sponsored Content Your Readers Enjoy” username=”SummerTelban”]
How can you know what kind of brands/products your readers enjoy?
- Analyze past sponsored content…
- Did your blog post get a high number of comments?
- Did your social shares produce further shares and conversations?
- If so, try to introduce similar brands and products to your readers. If not, try straying from the brands/product that didn’t get much of a buzz going and introduce new ones.
- Ask them!
- Conduct a poll on Twitter or Instagram.
- Conduct a reader survey.
Related Reading: Reader Surveys – Why You Need Them & What To Include In Them
[bctt tweet=”6 Tips To Create Sponsored Content Your Readers ACTUALLY Want To Read” username=”SummerTelban”]
4. Solve A Problem For Your Readers // I will only ever share brands and products that I truly love and believe in. The majority of my sponsorships are built around products that have changed my life for the better in one way or another. Whether I’m sharing about skincare or decor tips and tricks, I’m sharing my story on why certain products have helped improve my life.
Aside from wanting to share my story when introducing products to my readers, I want to make sure that these products have the potential to change some of my readers’ lives, as well.
[bctt tweet=”Share sponsored content about brands/products that help solve a problem for your readers.” username=”SummerTelban”]
You want to share products that will solve a problem that your readers might be dealing with. From acne to organization and everything in between, there are products out there that can help not only you enhance your life, but your readers’ lives, as well.
5. Share On Social Media // If you’re creating sponsored blog posts, chances are you’re sharing on social media, as well. This is not only great for your blog’s traffic, but it’s huge in reaffirming your readers how much you love the brand or product you’re sharing about.
Pro Tip: If you truly love the sponsored content you shared, share it more than the required amount of times you’re asked to in your partnership. Go above and beyond! Over deliver. Don’t just share about a sponsorship once and be done. You want to keep sharing it.
In addition to my little pro tip… Share about products and brands that you love that you’re not paid to share about. Even if you’re wanting to partner with them in the future, share about them beforehand. This helps to further cultivate trust between you and your audience.
[bctt tweet=”Go above and beyond! Over deliver. Always.” username=”SummerTelban”]
6. Disclose Properly // My dear blog friends, you have to disclose properly on all sponsored content. If you’re working with brands through networks, proper disclosure should already be in part of your campaign requirements. If you’re working with a brand directly and they don’t tell you to disclose, you STILL need to disclose. If you’re working with a brand that tells you to not disclose… you probably shouldn’t be working with them.
Disclosing that you’re getting paid to share about a brand or product is not awkward, inconvenient, or any other excuse you want to come up with to not disclose. By not disclosing, you’re showing your readers (and other bloggers and brands) that you’re dishonest. Yes, that’s blunt. Yes, some bloggers need to hear that.
[bctt tweet=”When you don’t disclose sponsored work/affiliates properly, you will lose your readers’ trust.” username=”SummerTelban”]
The same goes for disclosing affiliate links. If you are getting paid in any way to share something, you must disclose that you are. It’s sickening to see bloggers and influencers skipping out on disclosures all in hopes of earning an extra dollar or two. Is compromising your authenticity, honesty, and relationship with your readers worth the extra dollar or two? I think not.
I could go on and on, but that’s for another time and another post, haha. For now, learn more about the FTC guideline’s here.
Point blank – be honest, be upfront, be open. Always. Your readers and followers will notice if you’re not.
[bctt tweet=”Be honest, be upfront, be open. Always. Your readers and followers will notice if you’re not.” username=”SummerTelban”]
I know this post was long, but friends, I hope it was helpful to you! I want to see every blogger succeed in working on sponsored content and in general, of course. 🙂 What are some of your best tips for creating sponsored content your readers will love? Let’s chat!
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