Dear proposed advertisers and proposing authors
When I started this blog, I didn’t expect to be approached with quite so many proposals to post adverts, paid content or paid links. Seriously, never crossed my mind.
I’m incredibly flattered that you would consider submitting anything to the Financial Independence Campaign.
I don’t have a blanket “no” policy on any of these things. Honestly? If I thought I could get the blog to fund its own hosting fees, I’d be keen.
However: integrity is everything, and there are some rules/guidelines that I would need any paid content to follow before I accept any approach. These are set out below.
If it’s a product, it needs to be something I would consider using.
If I think something is valuable then I have no qualms telling my readers about it. However, if it’s something I wouldn’t consider using myself, I’m not willing to provide a platform for it.
For example: I was happy to link up to Topia, which is an app to track accounts on Open Banking and provide a progress update/ status for financial freedom. I don’t use it, but I was allowed to see a preview and saw the value to my audience. It’s a good fit.
I wouldn’t however allow you to sell fast fashion to my audience. That doesn’t make sense, it’s not going to happen. Likewise: memecoins.
If it’s a service, it needs to add value.
I generally don’t link up with intermediary services, save where they are providing a unique offering or helping my audience access something they couldn’t already.
Example: I don’t link up with ISA providers whose rates and offerings are more expensive than those of other, more established providers.
The exception to this would be where your service is a pure educational service and I’ve used (or at least trialled) it, typically in fields such as the arts, STEM, coding, or training that leads to formal educational qualifications. If the Open University wants to advertise here I will gladly support them. Likewise, I link to The Odin Project all the time, for free.
Affiliate links and blogs must be relevant
I’m keen to help out other independent bloggers, but there has to be some relevance to either my audience or my personal interests.
DIY renovations in the UK? Totally fine. A FIRE blog? Go for it!
A blog on zero-down-payment property purchases in the US? Not really relevant.
Affiliate marketing articles are highly unlikely to make it. I get that it’s a money-making idea, but Avon and Tupperware already did that back in the 1990s and the thing with these is that someone is always getting burned somewhere. I’m not going to add to that.
Your blog also needs to have made a decent bit of progress, because I will get punished by search engines if you haven’t. If you’ve written maybe six posts and then stopped, but I’ve linked my site to yours, it affects my rankings. Link swapping is a two-way relationship and we can either build each other up or tear one another down.
Cheat sheet: topics I love
I’m generally going to be happy to be approached with any of the following:
- A guest post swap with another indie blog in personal finance, sustainability, philosophy, minimalism, self-sufficiency, adult education, or alternative living.
- Any links to education service providers like the Open University, a trade training or DIY course providing centre, a microlearning platform, or something that’s just good for becoming a well-rounded human being or more capable.
- Things that save people money on essential purchases.
- Products that are specifically designed to be robust, user-maintained, upgradable, or otherwise good for a prolonged lifespan compared to their competitors. Think “buy it for life” and you’re on the right track.
- Debt support charities.
- Financial advisory/ planning services specifically aimed at persons working towards financial independence and offering an advice-only service (whether that means they also offer portfolio management or not, there has to be an option to just get a report and walk away).
- Products and services that I have already referred to using on the blog.
- Charities and other organisations that support environmental action, tackle global warming, or promote the rights of the individual against the state (such as privacy, liberty, protection from torture).
Kind regards
SierraWhiskyMike