Sponsored Content Needs More Than Good Storytelling, It Needs a Good Story

Sponsored content doesn’t have to be an oxymoron. As publishers and marketers double down on their commitment to providing deeper branded experiences, instead of traditional advertising, the rules of the road are becoming clearer on both sides. And more so than just four or five years ago; conventions for doing it right have emerged. In talking to a range of publishers of various sizes and categories, we found that the practices ensuring sponsored content maintains a publisher’s voice and integrity take remarkably similar form. Getting it right, making sponsored content serve the interests of readers, publishers and their clients remains a complex process that starts with basic organization and goal setting but also lends itself to certain content formats, as well as execution and measurement regimen.    Think like editors In talking to sources, the consensus seems to be that creating authentic sponsored content starts with how the operation is organized and connected to the editorial team.  “We are a full-service, one-stop shop,” says Adam Ochman, senior VP, creative and strategy at Leaf Group, whose brand portfolio includes Hunker, LiveStrong.com and Well+Good. A full staff of writers focus solely on branded content, with little outsourcing, he says. That keeps the branded content team in day-to-day contact with the company's editors and processes to ensure its brand voices are ingrained. “We operate more like an editorial enterprise,” says Outside's Sam Moulton, who... Continue reading at 'Folio Magazine'

[ Folio Magazine | 2020-03-05 17:34:24 UTC ]
News tagged with: #social distribution #key metric #user experience

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Why Content Marketing Is an All-In Proposition

It feels like we've all been talking a lot about content marketing for the last two years, even though the concept isn't really new. We just used to call ads that looked like content "advertorials," but what we're seeing today is a lot more than that.What has changed, and in dramatic fashion, is... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-12-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers Weekly's Top Stories of 2014

Best books, bestsellers, and the most-anticipated new titles—here are the 10 most popular stories on publishersweekly.com in 2014. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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5 good books I fear I may never read

It's sobering to think of carrying on into next year the weight of all the unread books on one's nightstand. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why We Still Need to Investigate the Rolling Stone Rape Story

This week, Rolling Stone editor Jann Wenner asked the Columbia Journalism School to review Sabrina Rubin Erdely’s story about a gang rape at the University of Virginia. As it became clear that the story’s central incident—a gang rape of a freshman at a fraternity—did not happen as Rolling Stone... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2014-12-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Galley Beggar Press to launch short story list

Independent publisher Galley Beggar Press will launch a new short story list in 2015 to help lesser-known writers, for whom “getting a collection out there is still something of a battle”. Galley Beggar Press co-founder Eloise Millar told The Bookseller that “publishers have an obligation to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Second Story Press Celebrates 25 Years of Feminist and Social Justice Publishing

When Toronto-based Second Story Press celebrated its 25th anniversary this month, the room at a community center in downtown Toronto was filled with authors and illustrators who have helped the press pursue its goal of publishing important feminist and social justice books for young readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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These Were Tumblr's Top 20 Sponsored Posts of 2014

Since Tumblr first introduced in-stream sponsored posts in Spring 2013, more than 300 paid advertisers have gotten on board. The brand publishers contribute to an ecosystem of content creators and users who have posted more than 98.4 billion items, at an average rate of 83.3 million posts a day.... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hilary Mantel attacks critics over BBC’s Margaret Thatcher story broadcast

Exclusive: Author makes spirited response to Mail on Sunday after corporation decides to air The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher on Radio 4’s Book at BedtimeRead Hilary Mantel’s controversial short storyMan Booker prize-winning author Hilary Mantel delivered a spirited attack on her critics... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC and Booktrust launch teen story competition

Booktrust and the BBC have launched a short story competition for teenagers. The ‘BBC Young Writers’ Award with Booktrust’ is for teen writers (aged 14-18) of short stories, on any topic, of up to a 1,000 words. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling celebrates 12 Days of Christmas with 12 new 'Harry Potter' stories

From Dec. 12 to Dec. 23, Rowling is posting 12 new stories set in the 'Potter' universe on the website Pottermore. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling celebrates 12 Days of Christmas with 12 new 'Harry Potter' stories (+video)

From Dec. 12 to Dec. 23, Rowling is posting 12 new stories set in the 'Potter' universe on the website Pottermore. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Top 10 Library Stories of 2014

PW takes a look back at some of the library stories that captivated the publishing world in 2014, and what they portend for 2015 Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rowling pens Pottermore stories for Christmas

Pottermore is set to post a surprise each day between the 12th and the 23rd December, including new writing from J K Rowling. In a newsletter sent to Harry Potter fans, Pottermore said Rowling will write about Draco Malfoy, a pupil at Hogwarts and one of Harry Potter’s nemeses, as well as... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Verizon Kills Its Content Marketing Baby

That didn't last long. Verizon Wireless has pulled the plug on its newest content marketing venture, a web publication called SugarString, a little over two months after it launched.The website was designed to rival tech-savvy magazines, like Wired, from Conde Nast, and Motherboard, from Vice.... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Touchscreen technology is good for kids? Don’t believe the hype | Eliane Glaser

The National Literacy Trust’s headline-grabbing claim is little more than highly coordinated lobbying based on flimsy evidenceWhen the National Literacy Trust announces that tablet computers help disadvantaged children to read, liberal-minded book lovers like me sit up and listen.The NLT... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Story anthology wins first book award

Irish author Colin Barrett wins the Guardian First Book Award for his debut collection of short stories, Young Skins. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2014-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Content Discovery: Quality Vs. Quantity

As time spent gains ground on page views as the universal metric for engagement, publishers are trying to figure out the best ways to keep readers on their sites. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2014-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Good book for your flight? JetBlue can provide

JetBlue is adding ebooks from HarperCollins to its entertainment mix. Passengers can read excerpts from new titles and then choose to purchase the rest. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How content providers can take on piracy in emerging markets -- and win

The recent news that musicians in Europe are making more from Spotify royalties than via iTunes is a big deal for all content producers. It may be a defining moment in the ongoing competition between subscription services and pay-as-you go digital downloads in the West. The same struggle is... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2014-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins to Provide Content for JetBlue

HarperCollins Publishers has signed on as the exclusive book content partner for JetBlue's new inflight wi-fi program, Fly-Fi, which provides content to airline passengers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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