A sponsored post is content a brand pays you to create, usually a blog post featuring their product or service, often with social media or newsletter mentions. Done well, sponsorships can be one of the best-paying income streams for small and mid-sized blogs. Done badly, they can cost you your readers’ trust.
Are you ready for sponsorships?
You don’t need huge traffic. Brands care about relevance and engagement. You’re likely ready when you have:
- A clear niche and audience
- A consistent publishing history (at least a few months)
- Some engagement: comments, email replies, Pinterest saves or social interaction
- Professional basics: About page, contact info, privacy policy
Finding brands
- Brands you already use and love: the easiest, most authentic pitch.
- Brands that sponsor similar blogs: look for “sponsored” posts in your niche.
- Influencer platforms and networks that connect creators with campaigns.
- A “Work with me” page on your blog so brands can find you.
Use our blog pitch templates to reach out.
How to price sponsored posts
There’s no standard rate. Prices vary enormously by niche, audience and deliverables. Common approaches:
| Approach | How it works |
|---|---|
| Time-based | Estimate hours (writing, photography, promotion) × your hourly rate |
| Audience-based | Based on monthly page views, email subscribers and social reach |
| Package-based | Bundle blog post + Pinterest pins + newsletter mention at a set price |
| Value-based | Higher rates for niches where a customer is very valuable to the brand |
What to agree on in writing
- Deliverables (post length, images, social posts, newsletter mention)
- Deadlines and number of revisions
- Payment amount, method and timing
- Usage rights (can the brand reuse your photos or text?)
- How long the post and links stay live
- Exclusivity (are you barred from working with competitors?)
- Disclosure requirements
Disclosure: non-negotiable
Advertising regulators in many countries, such as the FTC in the US and the ASA in the UK, require clear disclosure of paid relationships. Best practice:
- State it clearly at the top of the post: “This post is sponsored by [Brand].”
- Repeat disclosures on social posts (#ad or the platform’s paid partnership label).
- Mark links to the sponsor with rel=”sponsored”.
- Give your honest opinion. Sponsorship pays for your time, not for a positive review.
Keeping your readers’ trust
- Only work with brands you’d recommend without payment.
- Make sponsored posts just as useful as your regular posts.
- Keep the ratio sensible: mostly regular content, occasional sponsored posts.
- Turn down offers that don’t fit your audience.
Red flags in brand offers
- Requests for “do-follow links” with no disclosure
- Payment only in “exposure” or free products of low value
- Refusal to sign a simple agreement
- Products in gambling, crypto or “miracle” health niches that could harm your readers
FAQs
Do sponsored posts hurt SEO?
Not if links are marked rel=”sponsored” and the content is genuinely helpful. Selling unmarked links that pass ranking signals violates Google’s guidelines.
Should I accept free products instead of payment?
Occasionally, for products you genuinely want and at an early stage. But your time has value; as your blog grows, expect payment.
See all income options in how to make money blogging.