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We’re here with Linda Sellers, Roxana A. Soto, and Stacey Ferguson to talk about Profitable Blogging without Selling Your Soul. I think this is something that is important to a lot of bloggers who want to monetize, but don’t want to completely “sell out.”
Getting the Gigs
Respect your readers when you get paid gigs.
- Maintain your voice.
- Be sincere.
- Be transparent.
Companies reach out to you so you can reach your readers by using your voice, so make sure you don’t sound like a commercial. Use personal anecdotes. Don’t let your readers feel like they’re getting pitched or snowballed. You need to be genuine, because your readers will see right through you.
Work WITH the Brand.
- Expectations
- Guard your reputation.
- Speak up.
How many posts? How many tweets? If you don’t have a contract, get confirmation of the terms via email. Make sure you work only with brands that you respect, brands that your readers expect. Make sure you tell a brand if they ask you to do something you don’t feel comfortable with; it’s helpful if you can come back with an alternative offer for them.
Channel Your Inner College Student
Think about the economics of any gig. It may not always be about the money. Is it worth it for the connections, the experience? The relationship you form with a company may turn into money in the future.
Your Content, Your Niche
Choose Opportunities Relevant to Your Niche
- Seek out the right opportunities for your blog and audience.
- It’s okay to decline certain opportunities that have nothing to do with your niche – you’ll be glad you did.
If a gig doesn’t sound like a good fit with what you do, you can come back and ask if you can turn it around so that it will fit. You can go looking for gigs, too.
Have a Plan and Be Organized
- Where should you post sponsored content?
- Consider an editorial calendar.
By using an editorial calendar, you can see what’s being published when, so you don’t overwhelm your readers with a lot of sponsored content all at once.
Achieve the Right Balance on the Blog
Be aware of the amount of sponsored versus original content you publish. Be sure that the sponsored content does not take away from the original purpose of your blog. You don’t want to become a “sponsored blog.” (Well, maybe some people do…)
(Interestingly, some of my reviews are some of my most popular content. People like to know what real people like me think about various products and services.)
Be a Professional
I’m totally laughing at the title slide here with a picture of a stripped pole that is tagged #tigerblood – Linda says that she’s actually been pitched to review a stripper pole. I think it would be fun to be one of the “stripper polem moms,” how about you? LOL.
Act Like You Deserve to be Paid
- The Internet never closes.
- You can still “keep it real” and keep it professional.
- Position yourself as THE expert in your area.
“Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” If you want to work with family-friendly companies, you need to make sure you’re watching your language and not posting about completely inappropriate things. Brands are watching, so put your best face forward for the companies you want to work with.
Following Through on Your Commitments
- The goal is always to over-perform, but keep your human side – don’t over-promote.
- If you can’t follow through, give ample notice.
- Don’t take on tasks you know you can’t finish – don’t set yourself up for failure.
There are a LOT of other bloggers there, so you have to set yourself apart by going above and beyond.
Don’t perform, and you may close doors for you and for others.
Whatever opportunities you accept, make sure you are having fun! If you’re not, it’s not worth it – and it will show.
You have to be a professional at the outset. If you don’t have time to do everything a brand would like to do, you can negotiate tasks so you don’t lose the gig but you don’t over-extend yourself.
I am liveblogging as a volunteer for the Type-A Parent Conference, and an edited version of this post will be available directly on Type-A Parent.
That’s me: Christina Gleason. I’m a writer, editor, and disability advocate. I'm a multiply disabled autistic lady doing my best in this world built for abled people. I’m a geek for grammar, fantasy, and casual gaming. I hate vegetables. I cannot reliably speak, so I’ll happily conduct business over email or messaging instead.
