Influencer marking is on the rise! Studies show that 74% of consumers rely on social networks to guide purchase decisions, as there is an growing mistrust of corporate retailers. As a result, 75% of brands have turned to influencer marketing and sponsored posts to help them reach consumers in an authentic way.

If you currently blog or have thought about starting a blog of your own, writing sponsored content on your site is a great way to endorse the products you love, share new and exciting trends with your audience, and get paid to do it. For example, Linqia influencers get paid to work with top brands like Nestle Tollhouse and Hallmark to create authentic, engaging stories to share with their audiences.

An influencer’s success is dependent on his or her ability to tell a quality story. Here are 5 essential components for the perfect sponsored post:

Disclosure

Per Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, every sponsored post is required to include a disclosure that states the influencer was paid, or received a product or service, in exchange for writing a post. A disclosure not only keeps you from violating federal law, but also helps to maintain transparency within your readership — happy audience, happy blogging!

Defined Call-to-Action

Every sponsored post should include a clearly defined call-to-action so readers, as well as the sponsoring brand(s), get the most out of your post. A call-to-action is important because it provokes an immediate response from the audience; whether it’s a coupon download, a free sample redemption, or even a sweepstakes entry. Use the written word to your advantage in order to meet your Linqia program goals!

SEO Optimization

Optimizing your post with proper search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the best ways to ensure that your post gets as much visibility as possible. SEO is a method of optimizing your post so that it can be effectively indexed in search engines like Google. By strategically wording your headline and using specific key phrases (often provided by the sponsoring brand), you’ll be able to draw organic traffic and simultaneously grow your audience.

Authenticity

People are often driven to blogs because of their authenticity or their ability to create and share interesting and relevant content. When selecting brands to work with, be sure the brand’s core values align with your own. This helps create a consistent content flow on your site, and will keep your readers coming back for more! Your community should be a place where you can comfortably and honestly share things about yourself — your likes, dislikes, funny stories, or even the hard times — so don’t compromise that by writing about things that don’t align with who you are. Authenticity is key in cultivating a following of like-minded readers.

Creative Visuals

Articles and posts with images get 94% more total views than plain text content, so be creative with your program visuals. Feature the product or service in unique ways, whether it’s a video, original photography of your children, or an animated GIF. Many brands repurpose influencer content on their official website and social channels, so this is also great opportunity to showcase your creative skills and share them with a larger audience.

As long as you’re armed with these five essentials, your content is on the fast lane to influencer success. The next step is growing your blog’s traffic and readership. If you have at least 2,500 social media followers, are located in the United States, and are interested in monetizing your influence and connecting with great brands, apply to become a Linqia influencer today.