Blog Talk: Sponsored Content vs Selling Out
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March 2, 2019
I’ve seen a lot of talk lately about the line between getting paid for content and selling out in blogging. Of course, as bloggers, we want to share things that we genuinely love, but for those of us who need to make money from blogging, sponsorships aren’t so black and white. I admit, it can be a fine line, but I have some things I’d like to point out after having a blog for two years now and posting sponsored content pretty much since the beginning. There are a few questions I ask myself that I find very helpful when deciding whether or not to say yes to a sponsored post offer.
1. Would I post about this for free?
Obviously, it is not ok for PR companies or brands to reach out and ask you to post for something for free. In fact, it completely turns me off to the brand forever and I find it extremely insulting, but that’s something for a different post. What I’m saying is, if I came across this on my own, would I want to share it with my readers anyway? If so, it’s an automatic yes. If not, well, keep reading.
2. Does it fit with my usual blog content?
There are lots of times where I get contacted by a brand that does fit with my content, but isn’t necessarily my style. When I first started blogging, I would instantly say no to these brands, but as I got more experienced, I realized that maybe my readers would like this brand or product, so not sharing it just because it’s not my style might not be the best decision. Once I had this realization, I found that I could make things fit with my style if I just put in a little effort and a little creativity. Sometimes, at first glance, a particular store isn’t my favorite, but once I look a little deeper, I see tons of items that I actually would wear. I personally decide to give brands more of a chance instead of judging a book by its cover and being too hasty in my decision. In the end, it actually turns into a fun challenge to see if I can make this brand work for me and my blog.
3. Would I be proud to share this brand/product with family, friends and on social media?
There are times when I get stuck after question #2. I could definitely mold this opportunity to fit in line with my style and personal preferences/make it appeal to my readers, but would I really be proud to endorse this brand or product? Sometimes this is where I realize the sponsorship opportunity is not for me and decide to decline. For example, I had a lingerie company contact me recently. Yes, I need new bras (and the money offered didn’t hurt), but there’s no way in hell I’d post photos of me in lingerie on my blog. That is not something I’d be willing to put out there, so I politely declined. Yes, as a full time blogger, I have bills to pay, but at the end of the day, being authentic to my readers and fulfilling the advertiser’s needs are more important. If I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it wholeheartedly and I could not put myself into that particular brand.
So those are the steps I usually go through when a brand reaches out to me. I usually say yes about 75% of the time. After all, most brands that reach out to me are interested in me and my blog for a reason. I also want to mention that disclosing sponsorship within the post is an absolute must for any blogger. Not only is it the law, but it’s simply the right thing to do.
What helps you decide when to accept or decline a sponsored post?
Want to know how to get sponsors? Check out this post I wrote last year.
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March 17, 2014 @ 9:51 am
I definitely agree with you and sometimes struggle with whether do partner with certain brands – for example, I mostly talk about luxury items on my blog, but in order to offer my readers some budget-friendly looks every once in a while, I recently partnered with a much less expensive brand to do one outfit post each month. It gives them a taste of what’s available at said store, but I don’t feel like I’m giving up too much of my content for it (see today’s post).
The Style Scribe
March 17, 2014 @ 3:17 pm
That is exactly what I mean! It actually is beneficial to you too – you get to explore something new and really put your style to the test. You passed with flying colors, btw. LOVE the look you put together!!
May 2, 2014 @ 4:26 pm
Yes, I completely agree! Way to sum it up so accurately and quickly. It’s a nice little checklist too when the requests come in and you need to make a decision quickly to get back to blogging! 😉
May 6, 2014 @ 11:21 am
So glad this was helpful for you! I do get lots of requests, so having this little checklist gets things moving along quickly!
March 17, 2014 @ 11:38 am
I love this post (and the one you linked fromast year!) As a relatively new blogger, your advice is invaluable! Thank you so very much 🙂
Love, Ingrid
smilingridm.blogspot.com
March 17, 2014 @ 3:18 pm
So glad I could help! I love sharing the blogging tips I’ve learned along the way 🙂
March 17, 2014 @ 12:57 pm
You make such a great point in #3. Sometimes I’ve tossed and turned about whether or not to accept a sponsorship offer–it’s a good/interesting product, people might like it, but it just doesn’t feel quite like a fit. Thinking about it from the perspective of my mom (!!) or my best friends reading the post would give me a much easier, clearer answer in the future!
Also, right on about encouraging disclosure. You can write honest + straightforward disclosures in fun/organic-sounding ways, and that’s been something I’ve tried to do whenever a sponsored opportunity comes up. Too many people skirt the issue entirely.
March 17, 2014 @ 4:51 pm
So glad I could help out and that #3 stood out to you! It’s always helpful to look at things from a new perspective. Disclosing sponsorship is something that is extremely important in blogging; I wish more bloggers recognized that! Readers don’t want to feel like they’re being fooled. Even if a blogger is being completely honest in their opinions, not disclosing sponsorship is very misleading and dishonest!
March 17, 2014 @ 1:17 pm
I wholeheartedly agree with this post. I love that you encourage bloggers to look further into brands and see if there’s anything there that can work for your style and your readers. I think that’s a really good perspective.
March 17, 2014 @ 4:51 pm
Thanks, Lix. I really appreciate that! It can be fun to explore and be a little bit more open-minded 🙂
March 17, 2014 @ 2:04 pm
I agree! There’s nothing wrong with being sponsored, but it is important to do it the right way. This three tips are perfect!
March 17, 2014 @ 4:52 pm
Exactly! Lots of bloggers need sponsorships to make a living, but being authentic and honest should come above all else, as it should in any business.
March 17, 2014 @ 2:33 pm
*snaps* this post is awesome. i enjoy your fashion/beauty posts but i love your blog-centric content even more! it’s so great to see a blogger who isn’t in it solely for the money or free stuff and actually thinks thoughtfully about their content.
March 17, 2014 @ 4:53 pm
Thank you! One of my goals for the year was to incorporate more blogging posts, so I added the new category and have been trying to post at least one blogging post per month!
March 17, 2014 @ 3:10 pm
Wonderful post! I’ve been blogging for over a year, and I still haven’t figured it out. Your voice is perfect for people like me!
March 17, 2014 @ 4:53 pm
Yay!! It means so much to me that I was able to help you out a little 🙂
March 17, 2014 @ 4:25 pm
This post is really helpful! Yes, totally agreed with you 🙂 I always put myself in a customer position so I’ll be able to determine whether this is something my readers would like if I post about it <3 Thanks for sharing your tips with us :)))
http://www.vonvogue.com/
New Post: Navy
xoxo, Claire from Vancouver, Canada
March 17, 2014 @ 4:54 pm
It always helps me to put myself in another person’s position when making decisions or evaluating a situation, so why not do the same with blogging? Glad I could help 🙂 Love your blog, btw!
March 17, 2014 @ 5:21 pm
Love this post, Megan! Sometimes I struggled with working w/ companies I don’t know too much about. Because if you accept a product, then I believe it would be rude to never post about it! So I always be sure to include honest opinions in the post (I like the product, but it took a month to arrive or it has a smell to it..) I also try and research the company heavily. Love your blog, and these guidelines are definitely a reason why it’s so successful. Keep up the great work 🙂
March 17, 2014 @ 8:38 pm
I completely agree! It can be tough to try out a new brand, but being honest is always the right thing to do, so if you don’t have a great experience, it’s important to mention it. A lot of times, if you talk to the brand about it directly, they can offer alternative options as well. So glad you liked these guidelines! 🙂
March 17, 2014 @ 6:11 pm
Excellent post! I’ve always thought I should turn down product reviews that fit my blog content but not me but your right sometimes readers would want to know about these tings and who knows maybe I’ll like the product too if I invest the time to get to know it.
http://www.simplysinova.com
March 17, 2014 @ 8:39 pm
I’m so glad I could bring a new perspective to the topic! I’ve really been surprised by brands by giving them a chance, so good things can really come out of being open-minded when it comes to sponsorships.
March 17, 2014 @ 7:20 pm
i love this post
March 17, 2014 @ 8:39 pm
Thank you!
March 17, 2014 @ 7:36 pm
Such great rules for bloggers to live by. I think it is just so easy to get carried away by the fact that a company has reached out that bloggers forget that what they are hawking doesn’t fit their reader, sounds like a sales pitch, and isn’t something they they might use. I’ve stopped reading blogs when they felt more about the blogger getting paid/free stuff then about blogging.
March 17, 2014 @ 8:42 pm
Yep, that is so true. It can be easy to get carried away, especially when you’re not experienced in blogging/marketing/advertising. It is very important to find a balance and be true to yourself!
March 17, 2014 @ 8:34 pm
I recently received a request to write a post for a major company’s new spring launch with no mention of compensation. So I replied back with a few questions that I felt to be fair: how/why did you pick my blog? How many posts would they want? And what type of compensation will be offered? To their credit, they did reply back with an honest answer that no compensation would be provided at this time. I appreciated the honesty but I’m also glad I have enough integrity to ask the questions instead of just being flattered by the request. Great post and I’m glad to know I did the right thing!
March 17, 2014 @ 8:53 pm
Yep, there are some big companies out there that are notorious for doing that. I personally think it’s really messed up; it’s like bloggers have no value to them (yet they take the time to contact them & use them for free press). I’m so glad you did what you did! What these companies do–and the bloggers who accept–are very harmful to blogging as a business.
March 17, 2014 @ 8:43 pm
I wish I read this before I did a post for a company completely for free. It sucked and I now feel horrible for doing so. It was extremely insulting and I now realize this. I will no longer fall to these “traps”! Hehe (I felt like that was so dramatic). Thanks for this! xo
March 17, 2014 @ 8:55 pm
Haha don’t worry, the best knowledge comes from experience. Now you know better. It’s important that bloggers know their worth. In fact, I think that will be my next blogging category post!
March 17, 2014 @ 8:55 pm
I really love these tips Megan. I’ve been battling with the issue of not selling out a lot as more brands reach out to me. It’s tough!
March 17, 2014 @ 9:17 pm
Glad you enjoyed it! It can be hard, but it’s all part of the gig! 🙂
March 17, 2014 @ 8:59 pm
such great tips to remember! especially the one about if you’d actually share this product.
so far, the few brands that have contacted me have been great ones, but i’m sure i’ll hit a bump in the road someday.
thanks for sharing!
March 17, 2014 @ 9:00 pm
oh, and i just followed you on instagram and saw that you were an atl blogger! yay! me too 🙂
March 17, 2014 @ 9:03 pm
Yay! I love this city 🙂
March 17, 2014 @ 9:03 pm
Glad I could help! It can be a tough decision at times, but usually, deep down, you know the right call to make! 🙂
March 17, 2014 @ 9:42 pm
This is really off topic for this post… but I absolutely LOVE your setup! The box of succulents, the candle holders and that Canon! I’m a Canon girl, myself. 🙂
March 18, 2014 @ 7:13 pm
Thank you so much! I’m actually thinking about doing a desk styling post soon, so now I think I will for sure! 🙂
March 17, 2014 @ 10:17 pm
Megan, these are all great points. And while I do understand that money needs to be made for the blogger I am often amazed that people have items on their page that go against their morals.
March 18, 2014 @ 7:14 pm
Thank you! Yes, I find that surprising as well, but you never really know where they are coming from when they make that decision.
March 17, 2014 @ 11:16 pm
This is a great post Meg! I’m always really curious to know how other bloggers go about their decision-making with sponsored content and you made some great points. The whole “selling out” debacle is something I never want to find myself in, so I say no to a lot of offers I get (mostly because they’re very, very odd). I like the strategy you take in asking yourself these questions, because obviously you need to keep the lights on but don’t want to jeopardize the authenticity of your voice. I think you’re doing a phenomenal job and I might just start asking myself your same questions next time I get an offer.
xo,
Style Tab
March 18, 2014 @ 7:16 pm
Thank you! It can be a tough decision and these three things really help me make the choice most of the time. There are a lot of strange ones out there that you just have to say no to, but I find out about a lot of really great companies through them emailing me as well, so it goes both ways. Thanks so much for your kind words and I’m so glad I can help out in this area! 🙂
March 18, 2014 @ 6:14 am
nice post
March 18, 2014 @ 7:16 pm
Thanks!
March 18, 2014 @ 9:36 am
As always, this is so helpful! And I love your office setup!
March 18, 2014 @ 7:17 pm
Yay, thanks so much! 😀
March 18, 2014 @ 3:05 pm
I love you!
Thank you for all your tips, you seriously help us all out.
xo Belen, Androbel Insider
March 18, 2014 @ 7:19 pm
So glad I can help!! It’s so great to get all this positive feedback from fellow bloggers 🙂
March 18, 2014 @ 4:12 pm
I feel this in a big way – during my first month of accepting sponsored posts, I said ‘yes’ to everything without thinking about whether or not my audience would benefit from it. There are definitely a few posts I look back and laugh at because they’re SO not me. I completely agree with your criteria here. If you wouldn’t promote it for free, don’t promote it.
March 18, 2014 @ 7:20 pm
Yep, I think we’ve all been there! Over the years I have found that this method works best for me 🙂
March 18, 2014 @ 10:23 pm
I love this post! It is hard when a company offers you money to do something for them to say no, but if you do not agree with their brand it is not worth it to post.
March 19, 2014 @ 6:58 am
I completely agree! Quality should always come before quantity.
March 20, 2014 @ 12:33 am
I really enjoyed your post and understand your points too. I think it’s easy to get lost in the money aspects of blogging, but trying to keep a clear head and stay true to yourself is key to keeping your reader’s trust and not losing yourself. Thanks for the post Megan!
March 20, 2014 @ 10:13 am
It’s so true! It’s a thin line and I think that’s why so many people have trouble with it. Staying true to my readers is always my first priority. I’m so glad you get it! 🙂
March 21, 2014 @ 11:59 pm
Love this. Sometimes its hard to turn down a brand that’s offering compensation, because who doesnt love money- but I’ve learned that I can’t write quality posts about things I dont actually like
March 22, 2014 @ 12:56 am
So true. You should be proud of the things you share! 🙂
July 25, 2014 @ 10:26 am
Thanks so much for all of the great information! We are just starting a new lifestyle blog and your tips are super helpful for deciding how to handle sponsors, finances, etc. Love your page and congrats on all of the success!
November 6, 2014 @ 3:55 pm
Neues Substance ein Schnitt den ich noch nie genäht habe?
January 12, 2018 @ 3:58 pm
Makes sense! Thanks for the informative post!