Dear Don & Paula,
We are reaching out to you to invite you to participate in our sponsored paid post program. While conducting research we identified your company's blog as an excellent fit to help us create awareness of our brand and product. We'd love to inform your readers about how Company with Questionable Ethics [NOTE: I changed the company name for the purposes of this post] can be used to help keep dogs safe in the home and yard. We are limiting participation to 10 bloggers on a first come, first serve basis.
As a sponsored host, you will receive a payment of$225 USD via PayPalupon publication of an article on invisible fencing options. Additionally, we will give you a$25 Amazon gift cardfor one winner to serve as an incentive for your readers to engage by either commenting or sharing the post on social media.
Because we want our messaging to be aligned to your readership, you may choose to either write an article from your perspective as a pet services provider,or you may choose to post an article provided by us and specifically crafted for your blog[emphasis added].
If you decide to participate we do need the post to be published no later thanAugust 7and the giveaway winners selected no later thanAugust 14. If we find that you are an influencer, we will add you to our list of preferred bloggers and invite you to participate on additional paid and sponsored blogging activities.
The small print:
- The article must include several do-follow links to informational material on our website. You may indicate this is a sponsored post.
- We are happy to help you by engaging in conversation with your readers and addressing concerns regarding dog fences.
Attached is a sample sponsored post. If you agree to participate, we will provide you with more specific guidelines for posting. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you.
Now, obviously this company did not research me or Green Acres Kennel Shop very well or they would have discovered that the likelihood of me posting anything on my blog recommending shock collars is non-existent. However, I suspect that they use this approach because it works and, unfortunately for dogs and the people who love them, found 10 bloggers who played along and just like Judas received their 30 pieces of silver, or in this case $225.
The point to this article: Be careful out there, not everything you read is true, and not everyone will be honest with you. Endorsements by celebrities and less-than celebrities are often far from honest and nothing more than paid advertising made to appear as sincere belief.
Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor. He produces and co- hosts a weekly radio show and podcast, The Woof Meow Show heard on The Voice of Maine (103.9FM, 101.3FM, 1450AM & woofmeowshow.com) every Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and Sunday at 8:30 p.m.
