Here's how to... write a sponsored blog post like a pro*

It's a subject hotly debated among bloggers: should blogs feature sponsored posts. Some say yes, some metaphorically spit in your face at the mere suggestion of them. Whether you should or shouldn't is another matter entirely and one I'm quite frankly not interested in. Today I'm going to talk about how you can, nay, should write a post if you're being paid.

1. Don't be a bhore
You're a beauty blogger, and an adult toy company asks you to write about their wicked cool gadget (I mention this as it's literally just happened to me). It could be tempting. You could sure do with the cash. But you know what? No one is going to care, because your readers are all about eyeshadows with names like 'Owl Beige' and 'Woodland Creature Green' than toys with names OMG I can't even mention. It WILL put them off.

If you're willing to take money for something clearly so unsuitable for your brand (yep, your blog is your brand) it calls your reputation and credibility into question. If you're willing to turn down money to keep your blog the way nature intended, that's one firm way to gain me as a follower forever. So choose who you work with carefully, because this is the first way to lose readers and damage your reputation. Do it right and you'll get wikid respec' (I'm sorry).

Ask yourself: "Would I write about this if I wasn't being paid?" No? Then NO THANK YOU MR MARKETER! You can shove your £250 where... oh.

1. Make it natural
Some writers have it down to a tee. So much so, if they didn't have a little asterisked note explaining it was a paid for post, I'd never know. (On that note: guys, you know you can't just put a star by the title right? There must be a disclosure within the body of the post for those reading using RSS feeds, etc.) What's the key? Naturality! Ok so I may have made that word up. But it's no good detailing things like the product's logo if you never normally ever talk about the product's logo. So say you're a lifestyle blogger and a a cool toy camera company gets in touch. They want to send you a product and will pay you to write about it. Say you're all over photography usually, so the product is a great fit. If you normally don't rave on about the box a product comes in, or the fact the strap is made from black plastic, or the lens is made from such see-through glass and WOW this manual is in Japanese AND English!!!, or other such trivial detail, don't start now. Be wary of hyperbole and language you wouldn't usually use, too. Because that is literally the worst thing in the universe. The end user won't appreciate it and they will leverage their right to utilise the unfollow button respectively.

Ask yourself: "Does this fit with what I've talked about before or is it OTT sales spiel? Would a double glazing salesman want to pay me for sales lessons?" Yes? You're doing it wrong.

1. Don't spam us
How annoying are hundreds of links and keywords in a feature about sponsored posts. You see, I want to tell you how to write a brilliant sponsored posts. But writing a good sponsored post isn't just about cramming the amazing sponsored post with links and keywords. Sure, the reason they're getting in touch is to raise their profile. But actually, this isn't just annoying to the Internet and all its cats, but could also cause the product's page rank to drop. Google views sponsored posts as marketing, and unless you use the nofollow attribute, they risk being penalised - which won't go down well with you as their writer. So leave ads on Google's sidebar and nofollow all links within a paid post. Keep keywords natural - don't go crazy with a thesaurus.

Ask yourself: "Does this read like Joey's Baby Kangaroo adoption letter?" Yes? It's best just to start again in all honesty.

1. Don't make tenuous links to an irrelevant product
This kind of fits in with 1 above. There's no point trying to make a sponsored post personal if you're having to make a tenuous link to make it personal. How ridiculous does this sound:

"I was walking my dog the other day (how cold and dark is it at night now!) in my local park. We had such a great time, when we stopped to sit on a bench. Fido went to fetch the ball I'd thrown him three hundred times already while I sat there thinking how much he loves his balls. Then, it popped into my head! The cornballs I made the other day! Isn't it annoying when they don't stick? SO when I learnt about the Bluth Cornballer(TM) I just HAD to tell you lovelies... [advertorial spiel ensues]"

Compare this:

"I was walking my dog the other day (how cold and dark is it at night now!) in my local park. We had such a great time. I had my flask with me because it was chilly, and Fido was pretty oblivious to the whole freezing weather thing because he was running around like a loon. After tiring him out (who am I kidding, that puppy is cray) we stopped to sit on a bench. Fido was loving me playing with him, but I was FREEZING! I haven't started unpacking my winter wardrobe, which would explain why my leather biker jacket wasn't adequate. Worse than that, I haven't even hit the shops! So here are a few winter clothes ideas for when the snow starts falling [proceed with well-fitting advertorial about jumpers, coats and Never Cold Ear Muffs(TM) #ad]

In the first example, everyone knows you didn't walk your dog and start thinking about cornballs. Or if you did (you crazy person you), it certainly wouldn't inspire a blog post. Unless you were being paid. But it's pretty obvious that if you're sat freezing your bum off, you might start thinking about what you're going to wear when it's Baltic. So choose clients who fit your brand because you'll find writing about them is a whole lot easier, and a whole lot better.

Ask yourself: "Am I really struggling to find an angle for this copy?" Yes? You've made a huge mistake.

1. Don't write a sponsored post
I don't know about you, but when I see a feature in a magazine in the mag's house style, font and layout, I'll read it. But chances are I won't if it features the word 'Advertorial' anywhere in the header. Why? Because I'm interested in reading editorial content, not churned out advertising spiel (I'm a creative copywriter. And I KNOW it's spiel). There's nothing worse than post after post of paid for advertising. So before considering whether to accept a sponsor, have a look through your archive. If the last ten include more than two or three ponsored posts, give it a miss, or mention to the PR/marketing agency that you'll take it, but can be scheduled later in the month/year.

Ask yourself: "Would I be annoyed if I saw most of my favourite blogger's posts were paid for? Would I call into question everything they've written?" Yes? You don't have to be like them.

So that's it. You may have noticed each tip is number one. That's how important it is. Because drive readers away and your stats will suffer, meaning that ill-fitting sponsored post about effective night vision CCTV cameras for high net worth individuals will be your last. It's basically about integrity and ingenuity. We love a bit of friendly debate, so let us know what you think below!

*This post has been sponsored by no one. So if someone could give me £250 that would be great.