No bullshit social publishing news and opinions. Follow Brandon.
[This is part of the How To Use Twitter series on SBI. Today we're taking a look at sponsored tweets and how to avoid them. Have I missed a Twitter topic? If so visit the Contact page and let me know what topic you would like to see covered.]
Why Is Disclosure Important In Social Publishing?
1) Because you should always tell the truth, especially to your readers.
2) You don’t ever advertise to your readers. You can suggest things and use affiliate links* (that’s what I do), but you don’t advertise. Advertising in the sense of “You look at ad, you buy product, me profit” does not work with social publishing.
*Make sure you clearly state, in multiple places on your website, that you use affiliate links.
Examples Of Disclosure And Recommendations (Not Advertising)
Do: Hey, I am using 31 Days To Build A Better Blog here on this website. I thought it was effective, and it may be useful to you if you have a blog. Every purchase you make of the workbook helps fund Soap Box Included. You can see what I have done with the workbook in the “How To Build A Better Blog” section.
Don’t: 31 Days To Build A Better Blog. Buy it.
The Problem With Sponsored Tweets
1) You don’t have enough character space to properly clarify your relationships (meaning people might confuse your brand with your advertiser’s brand.) Should your advertiser royally screw up (either publicly or in the eyes of customers who follow you) this will damage your credibility.
2) If you’re in a commercial free relationship, you can’t change the travel plan mid-flight and become filled with commercials. You betray the trust of your audience, and they will unfollow you. What’s more valuable? A few cents or your audience’s trust? If you plan on getting anywhere through social publishing, your audience must trust you.
How Do You Spot A Sponsored Tweet?
1) Look for the obvious ones: “Get More Followers”, ”Make Money Online”
2) Look for the signs: “My sponsor”, “my advertiser”, “sponsored:”, “sponsoring”, “sponsor”, “brought to you by”, “Advertisement”, ”Ad”, “#ad”, “#sponsored”, “#spon”
3) Look at where the message came from. Be wary of things that say “From API” , “From TweetAdder”, or from a third party service you can’t readily identify.
