Let's Talk About Blogging - Sponsored Posts & Advertising
Like em or loathe em, sponsored posts and other promotions of products and services via the blogosphere is here to stay. Up until the end of last year I'd only done one or two giveaways and had never done a sponsored post. And then that changed. And here's why...
Towards the end of last year, in the lead-up to Christmas, you may have noticed that I had quite a few sponsored posts on the blog. Some might have thought that there was too much sponsored content. To be honest, I don't think I got the ratio right, and it's something I am keeping in mind for the future.
Having said that, I intend on continuing to include sponsored content on the blog throughout 2014. Why? Well, it's simple really. We are currently living on one income as I am on maternity leave after having baby Zee at the end of July last year. We do okay, we are not struggling too much, but it does mean that we have to make certain sacrifices in order to make sure we have money for all of the important things like bills and food.
Sacrifices that I am more than happy to make. However when the opportunity arose to include content on the blog that would earn me a small fee, I jumped at the chance. By no means are we talking fees that will see me able to not return to work ever again (although that would certainly be nice!), the extra cash did mean that Dave and I could buy each other a little something to open on Christmas morning. It also meant that we could use that cash to put towards Christmas presents for our families rather than using the money we had saved during the year for them, and then we were able to put that money towards other things that are essentials, such as a second car seat now that Zee is getting too big for the capsule.
And that is why you will continue to see sponsored content on the blog from time to time. I totally understand that some people don't like sponsored posts, and that's cool. Depending on the brand/product/service, I don't always choose to read sponsored posts. Which is why I will always disclose at the beginning of a post if it has been sponsored or produced in collaboration with a brand, product or service.
I will also disclose further at the end of the post if I received goods or money, especially if the post is a review of a product or service. I believe it's only fair and ethical to disclose that kind of information. Receiving money as well as a product to review will never, in any way, sway my opinion, and I will always be truthful in those reviews. I would hate it if you went out and bought something because of my recommendation and then it was crap, so I won't do it.
I will also only accept money or goods for reviews and sponsored content if it's a product that I am interested in and that I think you will like to. You will never see any content that is sponsored or paid for that relates to gambling or smoking. You can read my disclosure policy here if it interests you.
I've also opened up the blog to sponsorship opportunities. A sponsorship will generally include one or two posts, a side-bar and social media shout-outs for a set period. Again, this will always be disclosed.
In addition to this, you may have noticed that some advertising space has opened up on the side-bar. My rates are ridiculously competitive, some would probably argue they are way too cheap, but I don't care. This is purely a way to get a few extra bucks throughout the month, bucks that I will put towards things like blog stuff (events, design, hosting) and also my book-buying habits. I know you would all hate it if I couldn't buy new books to read and then review on the blog, right! If you have a small business and would like to take out an advertising spot, you can see my rates by clicking on the ads in the side-bar or by clicking here.
If you're a blogger and would like to advertise your blog in one of the 150x150px squares I would be more than happy to do a blog swap, where you can have your ad/button & link here for free, in return for hosting a button and link to my blog on your own side-bar. If any of this is of interest please feel free to shoot me an email to kylie(@)kyliepurtell(.)com.
Further to the advertising, I am starting to think about doing something to celebrate my blog's anniversary at the end of May and I am thinking of doing a big giveaway. So if you have a product/service/expertise that you would like to contribute to my anniversary celebration, let me know via the email above.
And finally, I am currently looking in to setting up some affiliate links for when I do book posts and a few other things, but I will let you know more about that if and when it happens.
So that is where I am at. When I first started blogging almost 5 years ago there was no such thing as sponsored posts, and getting paid to do anything on the blog was a ridiculous dream. Money was never, and never will be, the reason that I blog. You can be assured that I will always blog for me, whether there are opportunities for sponsored/review posts or not.
The thing I love most about blogging is the community and the people I have met, both online and offline, because of my crazy spewing-of -thoughts on to the internet. I started this blog as a newlywed, and here I am all these years later, almost 6 years married and a Mum of two. The support that you have all shown me as I have navigated this path has been amazing. I can't thank you enough for being awesome people and for some reason or other stopping by and sharing your thoughts and kind words with me.
And after that super mushy paragraph I think there is nothing more to say than peace out bitches, and thanks for stopping by!
Linking up this fine Tuesday morn with the ever essential Jess for IBOT.
Towards the end of last year, in the lead-up to Christmas, you may have noticed that I had quite a few sponsored posts on the blog. Some might have thought that there was too much sponsored content. To be honest, I don't think I got the ratio right, and it's something I am keeping in mind for the future.
 |
| Some of the posts in my Lazy Girl's Guide to Christmas Shopping series were sponsored |
Having said that, I intend on continuing to include sponsored content on the blog throughout 2014. Why? Well, it's simple really. We are currently living on one income as I am on maternity leave after having baby Zee at the end of July last year. We do okay, we are not struggling too much, but it does mean that we have to make certain sacrifices in order to make sure we have money for all of the important things like bills and food.
Sacrifices that I am more than happy to make. However when the opportunity arose to include content on the blog that would earn me a small fee, I jumped at the chance. By no means are we talking fees that will see me able to not return to work ever again (although that would certainly be nice!), the extra cash did mean that Dave and I could buy each other a little something to open on Christmas morning. It also meant that we could use that cash to put towards Christmas presents for our families rather than using the money we had saved during the year for them, and then we were able to put that money towards other things that are essentials, such as a second car seat now that Zee is getting too big for the capsule.
And that is why you will continue to see sponsored content on the blog from time to time. I totally understand that some people don't like sponsored posts, and that's cool. Depending on the brand/product/service, I don't always choose to read sponsored posts. Which is why I will always disclose at the beginning of a post if it has been sponsored or produced in collaboration with a brand, product or service.
I will also disclose further at the end of the post if I received goods or money, especially if the post is a review of a product or service. I believe it's only fair and ethical to disclose that kind of information. Receiving money as well as a product to review will never, in any way, sway my opinion, and I will always be truthful in those reviews. I would hate it if you went out and bought something because of my recommendation and then it was crap, so I won't do it.
I will also only accept money or goods for reviews and sponsored content if it's a product that I am interested in and that I think you will like to. You will never see any content that is sponsored or paid for that relates to gambling or smoking. You can read my disclosure policy here if it interests you.
 |
| Quicksales is my first ever blog sponsor |
I've also opened up the blog to sponsorship opportunities. A sponsorship will generally include one or two posts, a side-bar and social media shout-outs for a set period. Again, this will always be disclosed.
In addition to this, you may have noticed that some advertising space has opened up on the side-bar. My rates are ridiculously competitive, some would probably argue they are way too cheap, but I don't care. This is purely a way to get a few extra bucks throughout the month, bucks that I will put towards things like blog stuff (events, design, hosting) and also my book-buying habits. I know you would all hate it if I couldn't buy new books to read and then review on the blog, right! If you have a small business and would like to take out an advertising spot, you can see my rates by clicking on the ads in the side-bar or by clicking here.
If you're a blogger and would like to advertise your blog in one of the 150x150px squares I would be more than happy to do a blog swap, where you can have your ad/button & link here for free, in return for hosting a button and link to my blog on your own side-bar. If any of this is of interest please feel free to shoot me an email to kylie(@)kyliepurtell(.)com.
Further to the advertising, I am starting to think about doing something to celebrate my blog's anniversary at the end of May and I am thinking of doing a big giveaway. So if you have a product/service/expertise that you would like to contribute to my anniversary celebration, let me know via the email above.
And finally, I am currently looking in to setting up some affiliate links for when I do book posts and a few other things, but I will let you know more about that if and when it happens.
So that is where I am at. When I first started blogging almost 5 years ago there was no such thing as sponsored posts, and getting paid to do anything on the blog was a ridiculous dream. Money was never, and never will be, the reason that I blog. You can be assured that I will always blog for me, whether there are opportunities for sponsored/review posts or not.
The thing I love most about blogging is the community and the people I have met, both online and offline, because of my crazy spewing-of -thoughts on to the internet. I started this blog as a newlywed, and here I am all these years later, almost 6 years married and a Mum of two. The support that you have all shown me as I have navigated this path has been amazing. I can't thank you enough for being awesome people and for some reason or other stopping by and sharing your thoughts and kind words with me.
And after that super mushy paragraph I think there is nothing more to say than peace out bitches, and thanks for stopping by!
Linking up this fine Tuesday morn with the ever essential Jess for IBOT.
Comments
Ai @ Sakura Haruka
I agree with you. It is important to disclose that the content is sponsored and if you have received any gain. It is also important to match the product with your site. Last I really believe that you need to give a true account of your experience otherwise people will not come back and discredit anything that you write in the future.
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