What is a sponsored post?

App developers have the opportunity to support this site through “sponsored posts”, which means there has been compensation for the authoring of the article you're about to read. Since this website isn't in the business of writing traditional reviews, as a reader the fact that a post is sponsored won't mean much to you. You'll never read a great review of a crappy product just because someone paid us to write it. A sponsored post is more likely additional details, specific workflows, or just more information on a particular product that a company wants to see promoted than we would otherwise have time to give it. 

So how does a post get to be sponsored? Read on…

Affiliate Links

If you see the note [affiliate link] next to a link, then that means the site make a little money if you buy that product through that link. Nearly every product link is an affiliate link, even if it does't say it is (we've gotten into the habit of doing it more lately, but sometimes we forget, and lots of older posts don't have the note). Whether it's an affiliate link or not though shouldn't influence your buying decision. If we love it, we'll recommend you buy it, regardless if we're making a few pennies on a sale or not. The author's enthusiasm for a product, and your perceived benefit, should be the only things guiding your decision to buy. If you really don't want to buy via affiliate link, you can always go to the product site directly. But if we influenced you to buy it, why wouldn't you buy through us? It never costs you more, and it helps us, even a tiny bit.

Are you an app developer?

If you have an iOS, Android, Windows or OS X app for photographers and you'd like to see it featured here, there are multiple tiers of opportunities. Details are below, but here are the basics:

• Tier 1: Free App announcement and summary overview (a “Quick Look”) — all you have to do is ask
• Tier 2: Sponsored in-depth analysis of your app
• Tier 3: Sponsored video tutorial of your app

The criteria to be considered is simply that your app must be photography related. That can include OS X or Windows apps or plug-ins, iOS or Android apps, or anything else you have.

Tier 1—App announcement (“Quick Look”)

If you have a new app and just want it known, there's no cost to you. Just tell us about the app and if applicable, include an NFR/download code.

The post will include a first-person overview of the app (we don't just regurgitate your marketing material) and an honest “first-look impression” on the usability and quality of the app. It will include original screenshots, and of course links to the App Store or your website. If you're selling direct and have an affiliate program, be sure to tell us that. If 

The “App announcement” includes:

• A brief write-up of the app on PhotoJoseph.com
• Announcement on Twitter and Facebook

Click here to submit your app and select the tier you are interested in.

Tier 2—In-depth analysis of your app

For a fee, an in-depth write-up on your app will be created. The duration and complexity of the write-up depends on the size and complexity of the app, and can therefore only be quoted once the request has been submitted. We are interested in working with you no matter your budget, and would like to tailor this service to best benefit us all.

The purpose of this write-up is to educate potential buyers on what the app can do, so that they may be inspired to purchase it.

The “in-depth analysis” includes:

• Everything in Tier 1 — a tease of your write-up is included, generating interest in advance of the post.
• A detailed analysis of your app, including screenshots and step by step procedures where appropriate. We will use the app in the real world to get to know it well enough to write about it, and provide an honest look at the app and how it works, and what it can do. You will be able to review the post for accuracy before it is submitted.
• If the app is sufficiently complex, the write up could be split into multiple parts and spread over multiple weeks.
• Original side bar art will be created and hosted for the duration of your sponsorship, linking back to your article.
• Inclusion in the PhotoJoseph.com newsletter, a bi-weekly newsletter with 10k membership and over 60% open rate.
• Multiple posts on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ with a combined direct social reach of 20k+
• Available: Rights to redistribute the write-up text and images in your own newsletter, website, etc. are available but not, by default, included.

Click here to submit your app and select the tier you are interested in.

Tier 3—Video tutorial of your app

For a fee, a video tutorial on your app will be created. This can be a cursory how-to or a deep-dive, depending on complexity of the app and your desired outcome. Because of the flexibility in this, a price can only be quoted once the request has been submitted and options discussed. As with Tier 2, we are interested in working with you no matter your budget, and would like to tailor this service to best benefit us all.

The purpose of this video is to educate customers on how to get the most from the app, and to show potential buyers, in detail, what the app can do, so that they may be even more inspired to purchase it.

The “in-depth analysis” includes:

• Everything in Tier 1 and Tier 2 — both a tease post and an overview text post will be created, driving interest and visibility to the ultimate goal, the video, as well as the social reach, sidebar artwork, and so-on.
• A video tutorial for your app, the complexity of which will be determined by budget and size of the app.
• The video can be provided as a free download, and/or embedded in the post. The video will remain free for the duration of your sponsorship.
• Once sponsorship is concluded, the video can be removed from the site, or sold as paid training material.
• Available: Rights to redistribute the write-up text and images in your own newsletter, website, etc. are available but not, by default, included.

The fee for this Tier is typically either higher up front, followed by a lower per-month retention cost, or can be distributed over a period of time for a fixed duration.

Click here to submit your app and select the tier you are interested in.

FAQ

Q: Will you write something positive about any app just because you're paid to?
A: No. The PhotoJoseph.com team will start with a cursory look at the app. If we don't believe it is of adequate quality for our readers, we will refuse the sponsorship. If you (the developer) submit an app and it's refused, we will gladly provide feedback and if you're able to make changes to the app and submit it again, we will happily reconsider it. But any app that's deemed poorly designed, doesn't do what it's advertised to do, is dangerous or otherwise undesirable, will not be written about. Actually, if it's deemed truly dangerous (i.e. it wiped out our files!), we will let our readers know.

Q: How will readers know you've been paid for the article?
A: All sponsored posts have a very clear indicator that they are sponsored, including a text announcement at the beginning of the post, as well as a color band around the entire article.

Click here to submit your app and select the tier you are interested in.