blogging, favorite posts
The Truth About Sponsored Posts
I’ve been meaning to write about sponsored posts for a while now but wasn’t sure how to address it…and after someone recently told me I was a horrible blogger for doing so, I figured it was time to tackle the subject.
Let me start by flat out saying sponsored posts are posts in which a blogger is compensated either in money and/or product. Most of the bloggers I follow (including the huge bloggers) write sponsored posts.
Yes, there are sponsored posts on my blog. AND you will ALWAYS see a disclaimer on the post saying it was sponsored or that I was given a product sample. Not all bloggers post disclaimers which I view as a horrible blogging practice. I value honesty and expect it from all the blogs I read.
Everyday I receive emails asking me to work with companies and about 90% of those I reject. Why? Because I don’t think they’ll be beneficial to you the reader, they don’t fit with my blog, or I don’t believe in the company. It’s as simple as that. My readers are my top priority and I never want to talk about a company or item that I wouldn’t personally stand behind.
I want to make that clear since it is so important to me that my readers see me as a reliable source.
Another reason why I have sponsored posts is that they allow me to cover the costs of the blog. I pay monthly fees for hosting and other programs that allow me to continue blogging. And since I no longer work full time as a teacher, a little bit of compensation goes a long way to help cover items that Mabel needs.
Lastly, sponsored posts help Modern Mommyhood to grow since they lead to my posts gaining exposure on larger companies’ sites and allow me to introduce my readers to things they might not be aware of. They also give me the opportunity to host giveaways for my readers that I otherwise wouldn’t be financially able to do on my own.
Overall, I don’t believe sponsored content is a bad thing as long as the author of the blog is VERY selective and looks out for his or her readers. I truly think I’ve done a pretty good job at this but let me know if you ever think I’ve become out of touch!
I hope this has made sense and that I have helped to shed some light on it all. 🙂
Have a question about sponsored posts? Leave them below for me and I’ll answer them for you!
Dear Morgan as a constant reader of your blog I assure that I always find new and useful things from ModernMommyhood. And i trust your choice because I have noticed that we have a lot of similarities in choosing baby items. And I’m sure I’m not the only one! And I’m sure I’m not the only one
Thanks so much Marianna, your comment means a lot. I appreciate your following the blog and great minds think alike if we’ve been choosing all the same baby items! 😉
Well written post Moran! You do a great job with Modern Mommyhood!
Thank you Maggie! 🙂
Morgan,I love when you share about products you love!It introduces me to new products and ideas.I just bought the piggy paint for my little girl thats three months younger than mabel.Keep up the good work!
I love that you suggest (sponser) things that might interest us!
Nice post!
I choose my sponsored posts wisely and I will do the odd guest post, quite frankly, just for the money because it’s good money in the bank account and my blog pays for my family’s groceries every month….so if my readers feel ripped off by the odd guest post, sorry guys – it’s worth it to me. I don’t allow content not relevant to my blog, but I do realize it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
I, like you, reject most of what gets sent too me.
Could not have said it better myself. Found this post from the #SITSSharefest on Twitter and so glad I did. We approach sponsored posts exactly like you do…only choosing those that fit in with our blog and readers…we write them exactly the way that we write “regular” posts, which makes them authentic to our readers. :)-Ashley
Stopping by from SITSShareFest! I love this post and I post sponsored posts/ads frequently. My blog isn’t “free” to run, and while it is a hobby … it is still important to create relationships with brands I enjoy!
I love this post. I think it does a few things: explains to new bloggers what sponsored posts can do, and it also establishes some sense of credibility to you as a blogger, I think, because you are honest with me as a reader about what your intent is with your sponsored posts. I’ll be sure to follow you everywhere. I like your honesty! xoxo
I found you through the SITSSharefest party yesterday. This is a much needed post for blog readers. Thanks for helping educate our followers! 🙂
I think it’s pretty tacky when bloggers or vloggers that I follow are less than forthcoming about their sponsorship. I watch some cooking vlogs on YouTube and it’s like a 15 second commercial for some product. The labels are always facing out and unobstructed. It’s like if you’re going through all that trouble, why not just admit you’re being sponsored.
Bravo Morgan! I knew I liked you!
Lol….luv what u wrote
Hello- my blog was just approved by social spark. I haven’t written any posts yet. Who do you like to work with? If you don’t me mind asking, how much (do you think) is a reasonable rate per link and per word? My blog is about a month and a half old. I have a total of 6,000 views so far. How much should I ask for?
Pingback: Where Am I Going With This? - Modern Mommyhood