Advertorials are gaining popularity in the marketing and public relations sector and can be a profitable skill for freelance writers.
Having the ability to write various projects is a lucrative freelancing skill. Simply stated: as your abilities increase, so does your profit. Advertorials are becoming one of the fastest-growing segments of the freelance writing industry and having the know-how to write them is in your best interest.
What is an advertorial?
In the simplest terms an advertorial is an advertisement that disguises itself as an editorial. Chances are very good that you've encountered an advertorial and did not even realize it. They are usually published in magazines and newspapers and are purposely designed to look like legitimate articles. However, they are really advertisements created and purchased by a third-party company looking to promote and sell their product.
What are the benefits of writing advertorials?
Using advertorials as a marketing method has been practiced since the 1960s primarily in niche marketing and trade publications, though their usage has recently become popular in mainstream media publications. Many companies and industries are starting to experiment with using them to promote their product or service, therefore there are many jobs available for freelancers looking to expand their services to this area.
What are the downsides to writing advertorials?
Unfortunately, many advertising and marketing agencies view advertorials negatively because of they are not traditional in style. Advertorials have also garnered their fair share of controversy because they can be misconstrued by readers as genuine articles and editorial content as opposed to an advertisement. There are no rules as to whether advertorials must state a disclaimer that they are actually an advertisement or promotional feature.
Another downside of advertorial writing is that the writer does not get a byline for their work, nor do they get to retain any of the copyrights. However, if you are comfortable with ghostwriting, this aspect of advertorial writing should not be an issue.
How can you make money writing advertorials?
Advertorials are usually written by either staff writers in the advertising department of a print publication or by freelance writers. If you have a background in marketing, business or sales writing, advertorials can be a profitable way for you to expand your freelance career.
There are certain industries that use advertorials more than others. For instance, two of the largest business sectors that utilize advertorials as a primary marketing method are the travel industry and the weight loss industry. Having a background in an industry that commonly uses advertorials is a great way to get credibility as an advertorial writer.
Writing promotional copy in the form of advertorials can be a worthwhile endeavor for a freelance writer who enjoys marketing and sales.
