Sponsored content has become an increasingly popular and effective marketing strategy for brands looking to engage with their target audience and drive conversions. Businesses can create and distribute valuable content that resonates with consumers by partnering with publishers and content creators. In this blog post, we'll explore five examples of successful sponsored content campaigns and the key lessons we can learn from their success.
The New York Times & Netflix: "Women Inmates"
In 2014, Netflix partnered with The New York Times to promote the second season of their hit series, "Orange Is the New Black." The campaign featured a long-form article titled "Women Inmates," which explored the challenges faced by female prisoners in the United States. The content was informative, engaging, and relevant to the show's theme.
Key Lesson: Align your sponsored content with your brand's values and messaging, and create informative and relevant content for your audience.
Buzzfeed & Friskies: "Dear Kitten"
Buzzfeed collaborated with Friskies to create a humorous, viral video series called "Dear Kitten." The videos featured an older cat imparting wisdom to a kitten about life as a house cat. The content was entertaining, shareable, and integrated Friskies' products subtly and engagingly.
Key Lesson: Leverage the power of storytelling and humor to create shareable, engaging content that resonates with your target audience.
IBM & The Atlantic: "The Cloud"
IBM partnered with The Atlantic to create a sponsored content campaign centered around cloud computing. The campaign included articles, infographics, and videos that gave readers valuable insights into cloud technology. By offering informative, value-driven content, IBM successfully positioned itself as an industry leader and expert.
Key Lesson: Provide your audience with valuable, informative content that positions your brand as an authority in your industry.
American Express & Business Insider: "Partnering for Success"
American Express partnered with Business Insider to create a sponsored content series on small business success stories. The content highlighted how various small businesses leveraged American Express's products and services to overcome challenges and achieve growth. The campaign effectively demonstrated the value of American Express's offerings while inspiring and informing its target audience.
Key Lesson: Showcase real-life examples and success stories to demonstrate the tangible benefits of your products or services.
Airbnb & The Guardian: "The Host"
Airbnb collaborated with The Guardian to create a sponsored content campaign called "The Host." The campaign featured interviews with Airbnb hosts worldwide, offering readers an inside look at the unique experiences and cultural exchanges made possible through the platform. The content humanized the brand and showcased the positive impact of its services on people's lives.
Key Lesson: Humanize your brand and showcase the positive impact of your products or services through personal stories and experiences.
In conclusion, these five successful sponsored content campaigns demonstrate the power of creating engaging, value-driven content that resonates with your target audience. By aligning your content with your brand values, leveraging storytelling, providing valuable information, showcasing real-life success stories, and humanizing your brand, you can create sponsored content that drives engagement, brand awareness, and conversions.