How to Monetize a Writing Blog with Sponsored Content
As a blogger, you may received requests to promote books or products, or even share an ad or link on your site in exchange for payment. And, while most of these offers are spam, they may have got you thinking about how to monetize your writing blog with sponsored content.
The most common way brands work with bloggers to create sponsored content is through blogger outreach.
What is blogger outreach?
Blogger outreach is a method of marketing that is becoming increasingly popular among brands and businesses seeking to get their products or services in front of interested eyes. While brands and businesses pay for traditional ads, these types of ads lack the personal connection that attract more customers.
The idealized benefit of blogger outreach is that, by working with bloggers who have a more direct, developed connection with their audience, brands and businesses can get their products or services in front of people who are more likely to buy and potentially keep buying.
Brands and businesses utilize blogger outreach by working with bloggers to create sponsored content featuring the business or brand’s product or service. In fact, it is quite likely you have come across sponsored content on some of the blogs you read.
What does sponsored content look like?
Well-written sponsored posts read like any good post. They are fun, engaging, and glow with the writer’s honest, authentic voice. Sponsored content usually takes the form of
Social Media Posts
Think Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok posts. You’ll discover sponsored social media posts include either a paid partnership tag or an #ad disclosure somewhere within the post.
Product Reviews
While not all bloggers are paid for product reviews, most product reviews are made possible by gifted items. These posts are marked AD—Gifted and are considered a form of sponsored content.
Sponsored Links
Many gift guides, list, and round-up posts include links to recommended items and services. Sometimes brands will either gift an item, pay for a link to one of their products, or both. These posts are also usually marked as sponsored.
How to monetize a writing blog with sponsored blog content
One of the best ways to monetize a writing blog with sponsored posts is through blog posts. Brands usually pay more for a blog post featuring their product or service as blog posts tend to be engaging and ideally discoverable by search engines again and again.
I enjoy reading sponsored posts that highlight a brand or business as the solution to the problem the post explores. I also enjoy gift guides and roundups that make effective use of sponsored content to add depth to the writing.
If you are still with me, let us explore what brands look for in a blog.
What do brands look for in a blog?
When it comes to landing paid collaborations, brands look at things like your monthly views, how engaged your audience is, and how informative your site is when deciding whether or not collaborating with you will be mutually beneficial.
Designing an Eye-Catching Blog
Brands also look to see if your website layout is appealing and if your site is well designed. If you are struggling with website design, there are plenty of resources available, including website templates and platforms that allow you to quickly design an eye-catching site.
Strikingly is a platform that makes “building a website . . . like building a slideshow, literally. If you have used Powerpoint or Keynote in the past, then you’re more than capable of publishing a website with Strikingly.” Check out Strikingly here.
Generating Traffic
While generating direct traffic through new post alerts, interacting with fellow bloggers, and social media marketing helps bolster your stats, it is equally important to generate organic traffic through search engines.
If you are writing helpful writing guides or sharing round ups of literary resources, it is in your best interest to keep your post as focused and SEO-optimized as possible so that it has a higher chance of showing up in search results if someone searches for “best useful resources for writers”, for example.
Also, the higher the DA score of your blog, the better chance it has of showing up in search results. DA is based off, among other things, how well you interlink your posts, how niche-specific your site is, and the number of OTHER sites in your niche linking back to your site. You can check your DA score with Moz’s free DA checker tool.
The Role of Marketing
Social media is a wonderful place to make connections and get in touch with a larger audience, as well as drive traffic back to your website. However, due to the overwhelming number of options available to you when it comes to marketing, it is worth it to sit down and develop a marketing plan that outlines what you will post on each platform and when.
How to generate organic traffic
One of the best ways to generate organic traffic is to post helpful, relevant content on your website. Center your topics around the aspects of writing, editing, and publishing you care about and share your expertise. Interlink your posts and make sure most of your posts are evergreen, meaning the post is always relevant.
Good evergreen content on a writing blog could be
- Roundups of useful writing resources
- An in-depth review of a popular writing tool, such as Microsoft Word
- Tips for aspiring writers
How can writers monetize their writing blogs with sponsored content?
If your blog enjoys good traffic and offers value to your readers, it has the potential to attract sponsored posts. I have received direct offers from PR companies that represent brands and, while most of these offers are spam, it does mean brands are finding me. However, to land better-paid, more engaging sponsored opportunities, you have to do most of the work yourself.
This usually means emailing brands you are interested in working with directly. So, how do bloggers interested in monetizing their writing blogs with sponsored find brands to work with?
How to find brands to work with
A quick search on Google can help you find the top brands in your niche. You may be thinking of essential writing tools like Microsoft Word and Grammarly. However, mega brands rarely open emails unless they are from mega influencers. Instead, once you have a list of the leading writing brands you would like to work with, start searching for less-known alternatives. You have a better chance of landing a collaboration with a smaller brand than you do going right after the big guns and smaller brands are more interested in exposure.
Once you have a list of smaller (but still quality!) brands, get on their radar. You can usually find contact information on the Contact Us or About Us pages, or somewhere in the website’s footer. Once you have the necessary information, you can contact the brand directly with a pitch about why you want to collaborate and how a collaboration could be mutually beneficial. To take your pitch to the next level and to make it easier to outline your stats and readership, create a media kit.
How to monetize your writing blog with sponsored content easily
If emailing brands directly sounds like a ton of work, it is. Luckily, there is an easier solution: join a blogging jobs marketplace.
How does a blogging jobs marketplace help me monetize my writing blog with sponsored content?
A blogging jobs marketplace makes it incredibly easy to find brands who are looking to work with bloggers. While it can be challenging to find work in your niche, it is also incredibly fun to find ways to work everyday topics, like fashion and lifestyle advice, into your writing niche.
If you are interested in monetizing your writing blog with sponsored content, join Get Blogged! Get Blogged a blogging jobs marketplace that connects you with interested brands. It is free to apply for jobs and Get Blogged only takes a small fee for completed work. Sign up here*.
The legal side of sponsored blogging
If you live in the United States, it is required that you include a disclosure statement identifying if a post was paid for. Some bloggers put these disclosures at the end of the post, but I believe the disclosures should be placed at the beginning.
I hate reading posts only to discover the post was sponsored as I feel it is breach of trust. However, I have no problem with sponsored posts as long as I am being kept in the loop by clear communication upfront.
If you live outside of the States, I recommend you look up your country’s laws on sponsored blogging. You do not want to create sponsored content only to run into legal ramifications.
Do I write sponsored content?
I do! I love writing sponsored content. They are no different from the posts I already write and I reap the added bonus of being paid for my time. Here is one of my favorite sponsored posts thus far.
Are you interested in monetizing your writing blog with sponsored content? What are your thoughts on sponsored content? Tell me below!
Jordan | Brew and Let Be
These are great tips for monetizing a writing blog! Although this is geared towards blogs that focus on writing, I still find a lot of value from this as a travel blogger. This cleared the air for me about how blog monetization works + how paid opportunities can arise. Thanks for the post, I loved it! x
Jaya Avendel
Thank you, Jordan! I love that you connected with this.
mindbeautysimplicity
this was such an informative post, jaya! thanks for sharing your wisdom about monetization. 🙂
Stuart Danker
Wow, I’m not really the sponsored content type because of the legwork involved, and also because it’ll take sometime before I reach substantial numbers of traffic, but the tips here are all spot on. This is quality material, and it’s awesome that you’re sharing it freely on the blogosphere!
Jaya Avendel
Thanks so much for reading, Stuart, and I am so glad you found this thought-provoking and useful!
LaShelle
I’ve not had any sponsors yet but I really love how informative this is! Seriously I learned so much. My blog is mostly about my crazy life and the insanity of farm life but I’m forever looking for tips on how to generate more followers and get people to read what I have to say ❤️
Keep Calm & Drink Coffee
These are very prrecious tips and as usual your explanation are fully detailed and cleare.
Also the legal aspect is very relevant and too many times it is not taken into consideration, so thanks a lot!
Jaya Avendel
You are most welcome, Claudia!
Belladonna
Thanks for sharing this!!!!!🙏🏽
Miriam
So much great information here. I’ve thought about monetising my blog over the years but I always thought it too hard in terms of my content and the whole process.
As many of my travel articles are published in magazines anyway I never found it necessary but it’s definitely food for thought. Thanks for this useful post.
Jaya Avendel
Thank you for reading, Miriam! Love that this post got you thinking.
Butterfly
Nice post🤠
Michele Lee
Thank you for this excellent resource, Jaya. There is a lot to dive into!
Charity
Yes! It is so great to be able to monetize your blog with sponsored content for sure!
Jodie | That Happy Reader
These are great tips for sponsored blogs! I’ll definitely keep this information to use in the future. Thanks for sharing Jaya.
Eri Tz
I still haven’t worked myself into sponsored posts but I think I will do it at some point. This was really detailed and informative to me. It feels like I know everything I need to start working with brands. Thank you for this post!
Jaya Avendel
I am so thrilled you found this a useful resource, Eri!
Deeksha Bhardwaj
Wonderful post with some great tips, Jaya🙏🏼😄
thetravelvine
I really enjoyable read Jaya, and so informative for a fellow blogger like me. I’m with you also that your disclosure statement should be at the beginning, which is where I place mine. Loving the sounds of Get Blogged I’ll have to have a look into that. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Lindsay | https://thetravelvine.blog/
Jaya Avendel
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Lindsay! Love that you put your disclosures up top too.
Daily Poetry
Great post, I loved the various tips. If I ever want to monetize my blog I know what to do now. Have a nice day!
Lauren
These are some really great tips and points about monetising blog posts. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren
Daphny Aqua
I’ve never really given a thought about sponsored blog but this is quite resourceful, thanks a ton for keeping us informed. 💞
Unwanted Life
An informative post. I have a media kit but so far I’ve not been bake to find a brand to work with that fits my niche even though my media kit is pretty good. How much work you can find really does depend on your niche, so some will be able to find monetize options really easy while others won’t
Jaya Avendel
I have found it challenging to work sponsored work into my blog too, but I keep trying and evolving the way I view sponsored work so I am hopeful things will keep changing for the better as I keep moving forward! Best of luck to you, too.
Cindy Georgakas
Great informations Jaya and I bet this post is a huge hit!! 💖💖👏
Aspen Hite
I just asked the universe for ways to make money writing and this landed in my inbox. Saving to read and process later. THANK YOU for sharing! ✌️
Jaya Avendel
Woohoo, Aspen! Love that this found you at the right time.
Becky
Really enjoyed reading this article, some great tips. I do a lot of sponsored work but don’t do advertising much anymore.
https://thelifestylebloggeruk.com
Jenny in Neverland
Some great advice here Jaya, it’s definitely possible to monetize any type of blog with the right tools etc.
Ingrid
Some great advice here, Tricia – making money from blogging is not easy!
Merry
Love this post so much, Jaya! At first, I just want to blog because I love it and when I know that you can monetize your blog, I tried to find out more and reach out to brands. I’ve been monetizing my blog since last year and worked with brands that I love 😀 Thanks so much for sharing this! This is a good article for writers who wants to turn their passion into a career 🙂
Jaya Avendel
Thanks for sharing your amazing thoughts, Merry! I love that you are blending what you love with monetization to successful gain.
Vanelle
So helpful! I’m glad I came across your post as I’m considering to monetize my blog in the near future. I have a love-hate relationship with SEO but I’m making an effort to learn more about it. And oh, I also enjoy reading about gift guides. Thank you so much for sharing x
Jaya Avendel
You bet, Vanelle! Glad you found this useful.
Michelle (Boomer Eco Crusader)
Thanks for sharing this Jaya. I’ve often thought about monetizing my blog but haven’t got around to doing anything about it. I’ll definitely save this for future reference.
D. Wallace Peach
I decided a few years ago not to monetize, Jaya. I’m particular about what shows up on my blog and really wanted to keep it personal, with information that I could personally stand behind. I still get approached, and sometimes it’s tempting, but I’m happy just being a book/writing blogger. Great info!
Jaya Avendel
Thank you for sharing your stance on this! I love that you are sticking to what you feel is right for your blogging space.
D. Wallace Peach
My decision is personal, of course. It may be perfect for another blogger. <3 <3
Jacqui Murray
I have a lot of sponsored posts on my education blog, https://askatechteacher.com. As you say, it works well.
Jaya Avendel
I am delighted to hear you find sponsored content a success for you, Jacqui!