How to write sponsored blog posts that don’t sound fake

Sponsored blog posts are very exciting for little bloggers like me who haven’t quite “made” it in the blogging world yet. It can be the opportunity that gets you noticed because you can spend more time making “Pin-worthy” images if your being paid. In turn, images are pinned and more traffic comes to your site, which gives you even more money from ad revenue. It’s a fabulous cycle that every small lifestyle blogger should want to be a part of, especially newbies.

If you’re a regular reader, you know that I’ve started accepting more sponsored content. It’s holiday season, and it’s hard to turn down $75-200 for a blog post, especially when it’s for something that I would have paid to do anyway.  I love to play around with recipes, so when I’m paid to develop one, I’m in blogger heaven. I hope my readers will stay with me as I take on more sponsored posts. I know a few bloggers who have lost loyal readers because they don’t like feeling like they are reading a commercial. I promise to work hard to never let that happen here!

I have a few sponsored posts coming up over the next few weeks. Through all of this, I’ve found that they aren’t always easy to write. I’ve made the mistake of pitching an idea to an advertiser that I didn’t actually want to do. Lesson learned: just because it’s a great idea, doesn’t mean you should be the blogger who does it.

Just because it's a great idea, doesn't mean you have to blog it. #bloggingtip Click To Tweet

Now that I’m a few posts into sponsored content, I’ve come up with a few tips that can help you make all your sponsored posts feel organic. It isn’t as simple as quick product review posts. With sponsored content you are being paid to say certain things, so you better make sure you believe what you are writing. Otherwise you risk your audience losing trust in you. Here are some tips to write sponsored posts that don’t feel fake.

• Rule #1: Don’t fake it! If you don’t like it, don’t agree to do it. Remember, you are always given the opportunity to turn down a sponsored blog post. Don’t accept one if you don’t like what is being sold.
• Apply for sponsored opportunities that you would do anyway. I can’t tell you how much of a hassle it is to put together a blog post for something you don’t want to do. If you like to plan parties, apply to write posts about hosting parties. If you like to shop, apply for shopping deals.
• Find a way to bring a sponsored blog post into your daily life. For us, that means recipe development becomes a meal for our family and friends.
• If you finish prep for a sponsored post, but find that you don’t actually like the product you’re going to blog about, talk to the advertiser. Be honest. This works for product reviews too.

If your a blogger, what are your favorite tips? If you are a reader who doesn’t blog, what do you like/ dislike about sponsored content?