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

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Sponsored Content Needs More Than Good Storytelling, It Needs a Good Story'


J.D. Salinger: Three early short stories are released by Devault-Graves Agency

Three stories by Salinger printed in 1940s magazines have now been collected into print, ebook, and audio format. Devault-Graves Agency co-founder Tom Graves says it's the first time a Salinger work has legally appeared in electronic format. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #salinger work #devault-graves agency #audio format #electronic format


Kindle Unlimited: it's the end of losing yourself in a good book

Amazon's leaked 'Netflix for books' plan will alarm publishers and doom old-fashioned anonymous readingOnce upon a time, 12 years ago to be precise, David Bowie said something very perceptive. "Music itself is going to become like running water or electricity," he told a New York Times... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #good book #publishing industry


How Top Publishers Label Content Recommendation Ads

As the debate rages over the ethics of native advertising on both sides of the Atlantic, regulators in the U.K. have added more fuel to the fire. A ruling by the U.K.’s Advertising Standards Authority against Outbrain is forcing publisher ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2014-07-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #debate rages #native advertising


Elmore Leonard's unpublished stories to be published next year

From small-town New Mexico to a military base in Kuala Lumpur, publisher promises 'razor-sharp dialogue and headlong pacing'A collection of previously unpublished short stories by the late Elmore Leonard will be released next year, his publisher has said. Continue reading... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publisher promises #elmore leonard #military base #kuala lumpur


Digital Publishers: It's Time to Think About Paying to Promote Content

There is a long-held belief among content publishers -- including many we are partnered with -- that they shouldn't pay to amplify their content. Their clear aversion most often comes from some dogmatic belief that quality content doesn't require paid promotion. For them, paying to promote... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #core part #largest advertisers #online publisher


Amazon Versus Hachette: The Whole Story

Amazon's long-running standoff with Hachette has been making headlines for months. Here's the whole story in PW coverage. What began as a "scuffle" now has us using the language of war to describe it. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #making headlines #pw coverage


David Mitchell tells Twitter story

Novelist David Mitchell is to tell a 6,000-word story on Twitter, beginning today (14th July).... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


DPW Debuts Disney Story Central, a Kids' E-book Portal

Disney Publishing Worldwide is launching Disney Story Central, an online portal of interactive titles for kids aged 3-7. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online portal


Penguin Random House to Sponsor California Bookstore Day

Just days ahead of Chicago Bookstore Day on July 12, California Bookstore Day, which inspired it, announced a new sponsor. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #days ahead


J.K. Rowling pens a new 'Harry Potter' story and a new 'Potter' theme park opens

J.K. Rowling recently released a short story about the futures of such characters as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, while the new section of Universal Studios titled The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley just opened to the public. J.K. Rowling also recently... Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rowling pens #short story #harry potter #ron weasley #hermione granger #wizarding world #diagon alley #recently published #robert galbraith


J.K. Rowling pens a new 'Harry Potter' story and 'Potter' theme park opens (+video)

J.K. Rowling recently released a short story about the futures of such characters as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, while the new section of Universal Studios titled The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley just opened to the public. J.K. Rowling also recently... Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rowling pens #short story #harry potter #ron weasley #hermione granger #wizarding world #diagon alley #recently published #robert galbraith


Rowling writes story about 30-plus Harry Potter

J K Rowling has written a new piece about a thirty-something Harry Potter and his friends at the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harry potter


PW Talks with Gustav Niebuhr: The Story of an Unknown Hero

In his new book, 'Lincoln's Bishop,' former New York Times religion correspondent Gustav Niebuhr tells the compelling tale of Henry Benjamin Whipple, who spoke out loudly against injustice toward Native Americans during the 19th century. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #native americans #19th century


Bedtime stories for a teenager? One set of children's books brings a father and son together

Monitor contributor Danny Heitman enjoys reading a children's book series about a wealthy elephant named Uncle to his son. What's surprising about that? His son is a teenager. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bedtime stories #books brings #book series


Religion Update Fall 2014: The Good, the Alien, the Secular

Fall religion, in not so many words: still too many pastors; religion is still bad for you and the world (Christopher Hitchens has even come back from the dead, via previously unpublished essays, to remind us of this); Pope Francis still looks promising. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pope francis


Driscoll Rift Stories Not True, Tyndale Says

In spite of news stories citing a rift between Tyndale House Publishers and controversial pastor Mark Driscoll, the publisher stated on Tuesday that the relationship is still intact. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


It’s All About Storytelling

"Storytelling” was the most frequently cited buzzword among the 400 exhibitors at this year’s Licensing International Expo. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Bookshop memories: your pictures and stories

When we asked you to share anecdotes and photos of your favourite independent bookshops, the stories poured in. From romance surrounded by Shakespeare to an encounter with a falconry-loving policeman, here is a selection of your bookshop memoriesSee all the contributions and add your own on... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent bookstores #latest additions #city block


S&S Children’s acquires YA suicide story

Simon and Schuster Children’s Books has acquired the UK and Commonwealth rights to a YA... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ss children #schuster children


Adaptive Studios Revives Abandoned Content

Adaptive Studios is an unusual venture that looks to find abandoned intellectual property and revive it for production in a wide variety of media. The venture has launched Adaptive Books and released its first title this month. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #adaptive studios #wide variety