Publishers can post opportunities including payments for email placements, homepage takeovers, sponsored content and much more. Advertisers are able to browse an easy-to-use directory to find these new opportunities. Each opportunity displays detailed information about what’s involved, a suggested price and a suggested date so that an advertiser can get in touch to negotiate and agree on the final details.
Andrew Girdwood is a publisher with several websites, including Geek Native a large culture blog covering tech, games, fantasy and sci-fi books, movies and TV shows. The site has over 18k Pinterest followers, 26k G+ followers and more than 4k in Twitter and Facebook each. Andrew has used Opportunity Marketplace to connect with advertisers, and tells us a bit more about his experiences:
What were your first impressions of the opportunity marketplace?
I raced to the Opportunity Marketplace when I first heard of it and then I discovered I’d be forced to think. I stopped in my tracks and, I think, went for a beer instead.
That said, I kept thinking about the information the marketplace asked affiliates to contribute and understood why it was happening – brands have to know enough about potential affiliate partners before they get in touch. I came back the following week and added my first entries. It wasn’t so hard after all. I have a number of blogs and was able to write an opportunity for each one, spelling out how it would work, how it would help the advertiser and giving an indication what sort of partnership would work for me.
Has it impacted on how you engage with advertisers?
I think the main plus of the Opportunity Marketplace for a content affiliate like myself is that it gives you a chance to engage with advertisers when you might not have before. I’ve done my best to see which merchants might have goods and services I can mention in my blog, but by being able to describe my sites – and pointing out the sort of promotions I can offer – has meant that a whole new range of brands have got in touch with me. This is a far more personal conversation than I’ve had compared to the regular email updates.
I’m outside London, I’m in Scotland, and I don’t get the chance to network with London based teams as a result of that. The Opportunity Marketplace helps compensate.
What opportunities have you added so far, and have any new relationships occurred as a result?
I’ve found brands suitable for my sites that I’d previously missed and I’ve joined programs as a result.
The opportunity marketplace has helped me pick up product and service reviews, I’ve run competitions and been able to give away coupons. I’ve been tweeted by brands and national events thanks to the opportunities the marketplace created for me.
What has been your best offer uptake?
Oh! That’s a difficult one. I got to review a service that lets artists sell their work as t-shirts, posters and prints. I was able to pick a geeky framed print and write up the service. I do like the print and the relationship with the brand is a perfect fit.
How many opportunities have you posted on Opportunity Marketplace?
I’ve written up review and competition offers for three blogs and extras – like hot deal promotions – for some of them. My tactic has been to provide low cost (sometimes no cost) as well as higher value projects for brands. I’m not sure how many I’ve posted in total, but I think I’ve about 8 opportunities live at the time of writing.
Would you recommend The Opportunity Marketplace?
No, stay away. It’s all mine! I’m joking, of course. I’d strongly recommend The Opportunity Marketplace – not just to content affiliates looking to articulate their offer to brands but also to brands and agencies looking to get in touch with bloggers. It’s probably more cost effective and rewarding than splashing huge amounts of money on random ‘influence marketing’ campaigns.
If you’re an Advertiser and wish to browse the Opportunity Marketplace and discover new partnerships, log in to the Awin interface and find it under Publishers > Opportunity Marketplace.
If you are a Publisher and have opportunities to promote, you can log in and add them in your Opportunity Management area – find it under Links & Tools > Manage Opportunities.
