The “Sponsored Post” Designation

Anywhere the eye can see, it’s likely to see an ad. As social media opportunities grow, so too does the possibility to scroll through ads. But why are advertisers willing to pay to reach you on your social media sites? Social media continues to generate revenue for businesses. But as companies are turning more frequently to sponsored posts instead of a more organic, free option, do you know what a sponsored post is and if it’s worth it?

According to WiseGeek, a sponsored post is a post on a website or blog which is paid for by an advertiser. Unlike a typical personal or business Instagram account’s post, a sponsored post appears on everyone’s feed, regardless of their connection with the company.

Brand Michael Kors was the first to roll out a sponsored post on popular photo sharing site, Instagram. While met with resounding negativity, the post was successful, nevertheless. The company gained nearly 43,000 new followers in the following 18 hours. Put in perspective, that’s 16 times higher than their average new follower rate, and the number of likes it received was another four times greater.

Among the companies who have also rolled out sponsored Instagram photos are Levi’s, Lexus, GE and Ben & Jerry’s. In every instance, the posts have led to a surge in followers and likes.

Ben & Jerry’s, for example, reached

nearly 400,000 likes with the rollout

of their first ad, a 2000% increase. 

If you would like to discuss whether sponsored posts are a good option for your company, give us a call. Appleton Creative is an award-winning, full-service advertising agency located in Orlando, Florida. Appleton works with local, national and international clients to provide marketing strategies through print, web, social media and video production – all in-house. At Appleton, we want to learn about your business, empower your marketing team and be your creative resource. Your marketing goals are worth a conversation: contact us at 407-246-0092 or info@appletoncreative.com.

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