Along with many of you out there, blogging is now a big part of my life.
Although, monetizing my blog has never been top priority. As far as connections and community go, blogging has brought me so much more than cents and dollars can ever offer.
However, I am of the opinion that, as long as we stick to our guns in staying authentic with our content and remain transparent to our readers, making a bit of pocket money along the way can’t be a bad thing.
At the same time, I’m sure none of us want to be coined with those dreaded two words, “Sell out”
Sponsored posts are a fine line in the white, pristine endless sand of potential internet marketing opportunities.
Ideally, I want to find the ones that perfectly suit my voice and blog but sometimes, for the experience and the challenge, I’ll take on something a little different or unexpected.
I’ve done several sponsored posts now and I’m happy to say, all have been a positive experience, bar one.
And it was after this particular unpleasant incident that I decided to make my own set of guidelines to ensure that future dealings with PR companies for sponsored posts are hassle free and with minimal misunderstandings. (I can only but try…)
- If the PR company haven’t requested one themselves, I’ll let them know specifically when I intend to publish the post. I’m also going to make sure that it suits my terms and schedule.
- After negotiating on the fee, send an invoice and ask for payment prior to the post being published.
- Send a draft of the post a few days prior to the scheduled date.
- Unless it was agreed in the initial negotiations with the PR company or brand, I will not accept any other forms of alternative payment such as vouchers etc.
- Trust my gut instincts. Figuring out what’s legit on the internet can sometimes be tricky but I’m not naïve either. Nor am I desperate for the business. If I think they’re not the real deal, I won’t do it.
Blogging’s a lot of fun and making a bit of cash on the side can add to the thrill.
However, without a union or an ombudsman to look out for us, we can easily find ourselves in a compromising or even risky situation. The scary reality is, we don’t really have any rights – legal or commercial – protecting us.
But we don’t have to think we’re all doing it solo.
Last week, I raised a concern of mine to many of you out there.
I quickly discovered that while we’re a powerful group, we’re also going through similar obstacles and battles in earning some professional respect and monetary value.
The information exchanging and the collaborative thinking in coming up with a solution just makes me have more faith in our tight knit community.
Individually, our opinions hold plenty of weight and substance in the blogosphere.
When we band together, fighting for a common cause, well, wow, gosh darn it…those shonky PR companies better watch out!
What would you add to my list? What would you take out? Tell me, I’d love to know…
Joining the lovely Essentially Jess for IBOT
