Good morning! First Saturday of Summer vacation, and my son, who I cannot drag out of bed on a school day, was up at 6:30am today. What the…??? Sleep, I miss you!
So I have some things I want to tell you about.You may have noticed lately that I have had {sponsored post} in some of the titles of my posts, or #ad in some of my FB or Twitter updates. I’d like to tell you what that is all about. So recently I was over at Robin’s Chicks (seriously, she is one of the funniest bloggers I know – and I actually do KNOW her because she spoke at Bloggy Boot Camp) and I read her post about #sponsored posts. I really like the way she handled it, and I was inspired to write my own post.
If a post is Sponsored, the blogger has received either financial compensation or free product to try in return for a post.
Why Sponsored Posts?
Anyone who has regularly followed my blog knows that I started it as an outlet for my grief. I needed to share, I needed to express some things, I needed to keep Kathryn’s memory alive and well. I also wanted to bring awareness to Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome.
But I have always loved writing, and before long, I had the writer’s bug. Now I want to write about everything, and my blog has really grown and evolved. I’m working more on fiction and editing my book.
However, it takes time and it costs money.
Both of these issues are problematic to a stay at home mom on a very tight budget.
So I began to look for ways to earn some money while being able to carry on with my passion of writing. I found that I could do Sponsored posts, offer advertising space, and become an affiliate.
I receive compensation of some form in these sponsored posts. It may be monetary, or it may be in the form of a free product to review and tell my readers about. I have gotten some really awesome products this way, and they almost always offer one as a giveaway too, so my readers also benefit. Remember the Tooth Fairy book? Love it! Or Splash ‘N Boots? My kids LOVE that CD and DVD. Not to mention the free 3 month subscription to Conscious Box, one of my all time favorite giveaways! It’s a win-win situation!
I absolutely love the way that Robin laid it out for her readers, so I will paraphrase the 3 most important things to know about sponsored posts on my blog:
- I do not view my readers as consumers, and I hope you don’t feel like one. I value your readership, your comments, your support (especially when I am down low) and I don’t want you to feel lessened. I also hope that you value my opinion on products and services. And hopefully you like the giveaways too!
- I do not accept every offer that comes my way. If it doesn’t fit in with the overall theme of my blog, I turn it down. If I don’t believe in the product or like it, I turn it down. I use all products that I post about.
- You will always be told when a post is Sponsored. Due to new regulations, it will be so very obviously stated in the subject, the first line, and at the end of my post. But don’t be freaked out by that! (Refer back to bullet 1!)
And my bonus thought – I will NEVER let Sponsored Posts over – run the blog.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on Sponsored Posts! And don’t forget to visit Robin’s Chicks for a good parenting laugh. (and no, that was not sponsored. That’s just me sharing one of my favorite bloggers/writers with you!)
Chris Carter says
June 8, 2013 at 10:40 amI support your sponsored posts 100% Alexa!!!! Here’s the deal- we love to write. It’s our passion. We dream of making it in the “Author’s world”, we hope we can actually be ‘worthy’ of getting paid in some way for our hard work and talent. I have only done one sponsored post- but oh, how I would LOVE to do more and actually make money doing what I love!!!
With that said. I absolutely LOVE that you are getting opportunities to help support your dreams… your family… your life. YOU deserve to make MONEY with your gift. If any of your readers truly know you, they won’t be offended by your sponsored posts…if anything, they will embrace each one- in support of YOU.
BRING it, girl!!!
katbiggie says
June 8, 2013 at 10:54 amChris you are just the most awesome of the awesome! I adore you! And thank you for the support! I just always feel a little weird putting “sponsored post” on stuff, like I am selling out. Thank you for letting me know it’s ok!
Janine Huldie says
June 8, 2013 at 12:10 pmAlexa, you said it quite perfectly and believe me I too try real hard not to let the sponsored posts overrun and do not take every offer thrown my way. I feel it totally has to fit my blog and readers, as well as myself. But you are right we do need to make a few extra dollars here and there being SAHM’s and these opportunities do help to do just that. Thank you for sharing your feelings and it is always nice to know that we aren’t alone in the way we feel about certain things!! 🙂
katbiggie says
June 8, 2013 at 12:27 pmThanks Janine! I especially wanted to make sure that my friends and family who stop by the blog don’t think that I”m just trying to make money off of them, cause that isnt the way it works, right? At least not with sponsored posts! 🙂
another jennifer says
June 8, 2013 at 1:40 pmI see nothing wrong with sponsored posts. As our blog grows, so do our opportunities. Who doesn’t want to make a few extra bucks or get some perks? I think as long as bloggers stick with the posts fit with their blog, it’s fine. I’ve done a few myself, and I’ve turned down some as well. I haven’t seen anything on your blog that doesn’t fit!
Christine Danielle says
June 8, 2013 at 2:38 pmHi Alexa! You rock those sponsored posts, girl! =)
So happy to connect with you via SITSgirls!
The Dose of Reality says
June 8, 2013 at 7:58 pmWell, you won’t hear any complaints from me!! If you have the opportunity for you blog to bring in a little bit of cash or helpful/fun products due to all of your hard work, I say MORE POWER TO YOU!!! You go girl!! WOO HOO!! –Lisa
Dana says
June 9, 2013 at 10:23 amThis is a great explanation of why you have sponsored posts, and I appreciate how upfront and clear you are about them – no one wants to feel hoodwinked. I don’t like reading a post only to find halfway through that it’s sponsored, so thank you for letting us know right away. I love finding out about new products, so as long as you feel comfortable supporting it, I’ll be reading!
katbiggie says
June 9, 2013 at 12:52 pmThanks Dana! Funny that you should comment today. For some reason, while in church today, I started thinking about you and how I needed to check in on you. I know, totally random!
Pary Moppins says
June 9, 2013 at 6:05 pmIt’s a perfect symbiotic relationship between companies and bloggers. Bloggers are authentic consumers and if a company wants to gain legitimacy, the best way is through a blogger. The blogger gets a free product or compensation for their time and the company gets a true picture of their product and an audience that may not be reached otherwise.