I just signed a deal with a well-known brand.
They’re paying me $2,000
To write blog posts that I would have written anyway.
Read on below to find out how you can copy this method for your own sites…
Before we get into the nitty gritty…
This isn’t some link-selling scheme.
These are normal posts that I’m writing,
I just got a brand to sponsor them.
The links are nofollow and the posts are marked as sponsored.
While some people make decent money from selling links,
I don’t do it
Because it’s just too risky for me.
There’s the risk that Google will find out and penalise your site.
And there’s also the risk that your site will be used for tier-2 link building.
This means that you’ll get a ton of crappy PBN links pointed at your page –
Your site will be used as a buffer so that the site you linked to gets the benefit, without the risk.
What I actually did…
I wrote high-quality, keyword-optimised blog posts
That will make me money with display ads.
And I got a brand to pay for them.
It’s the ultimate hack.
Here’s how to do it…
1. Join the brand’s affiliate program
I wrote some posts that would send traffic to the brand.
And then waited a few months until I had sent a few hundred tracked clicks their way.
To show that I can write posts and send them traffic.
2. Contact the brand’s representative
Next, I searched within the affiliate program interface.
And found the contact details of the marketing manager.
I emailed them to introduce myself.
I explained that I would like to work with them more closely.
And that I had some ideas that would send more traffic.
I set up a call to discuss.
3. Get on the phone
I know, I know, I hate calls as much as anyone.
But sometimes, it’s gotta be done.
On the call,
I explained how I love the brand and want to create more content.
However, the low commission (only 1% 😲) was holding me back.
That’s why I had created more content about their competitors so far.
I apologised.
I emphasised how much I loved the products.
And asked if they would consider a sponsored post.
I explained that
I would write the content,
I would promote it via organic search, social media and email,
And they would just pay a one-off fee.
I offered to send through some content ideas and a price.
4. I made a plan
Now, I didn’t just want to do one sponsored post.
Because if I can sell five, then I only have to make 1/5 of the calls.
And I hate calls!
So in the pitch,
I explained that it’s much easier to rank in Google if you have a content cluster.
(This is true)
Five or more posts would have the best impact.
For the topics,
I did some research on the brand.
I watched one of their webinars to find out what products and USPs they were keen to push
And was sure to include these in my suggested blog post titles.
Now, for the price.
I had a price in mind that I wanted.
Ideally, I wanted $2,000 for 5 posts.
5. I put together a pitch
I knew that if I went to the brand and asked for $2,000,
There was a chance that they would bargain me down.
For example,
If they said that they would only pay $1,500
I’d be $500 down on the deal.
So, to prevent that,
I offered a tiered pricing system.
(I owe full credit for this idea to my husband who works for a marketing agency)
He said that the agency always offers three packages –
Bronze, Silver and Gold.
He said that nobody ever chooses Bronze
They don’t want to be seen as cheap.
He said clients almost always choose Silver.
I also remembered a video I watched by Alex Hormozi.
He said that frozen yoghurt stores do this too.
They make a small froyo cost $3,
The medium costs $4
And the large costs $7.
Nobody buys the large,
Its only purpose is to make the medium look like good value.
Which it does, right?
Because you would expect the medium to cost $5
But it’s only $4.
So you’ll get the middle-sized one.
I used the wisdom from these two great men,
To put together three packages,
With the aim of selling the middle one.
- Bronze – $1,500 for 5 posts
- Silver – $2,000 for 5 posts + email and social promo
- Gold – $3,800 for 10 posts + email and social promo
I sent the pitch.
Of course, they went for option 2.
Woohoo!
And that,
Is how you can get paid $2,000
For content that you would have written for free.
Give it a go?
– NSL
P.S.
One more tip –
When I publish the content,
I turn off desktop ads for one week while the brand looks at it.
Just so it looks nice and fresh for them.
Then they go back on before the email and social goes out.
P.P.S. Look out for my email next week.
I’m busy updating old content and you might like to see my process.