Paid to Tweet: Did you just sell out?
Everyone wants to know how to make money online and with their social media accounts. You are using them anyway, why not get paid for it? Well, there is such a thing as getting paid to tweet; sponsored tweets are probably the easiest way to get paid for tweeting. But what does it do to your credibility? Does getting paid to tweet an ad affect your authority, or public opinion? Did you just sell out?
There are many services out there where you can sign up to become a sponsored tweeter. What happens is: you sign up, they analyze your Twitter account for reach and influence, and then they create a pay range based on these criteria. The range is anywhere from $0.50 to $10,000 per tweet.
However, only people like Kim Kardashian are getting paid $10,000 for a tweet.
Paid to tweet or paid for a tweet
Wondering what the difference is between being paid to tweet and paid for a tweet? I don’t blame you. Plenty of people are paid to tweet. What this means is they work for someone like an individual client or a business and they are paid to take care of their Twitter account, including making posts. They are acting as a representative of the person, company or brand. This also means they can promote their own products without it being considered an ad.
A person who is paid for a tweet means that their tweet is an advertisement. It is not something they would normally post, it’s like a commercial in the midst of their Twitter stream. It is something they are getting paid to tweet, but not paid a commission or bonus for sales.
I’m in Porn
Excellent! Don’t worry, you are not excluded. Porn stars can get paid to tweet! You can become a sponsored tweeter or an advertiser. Twitter continues to be a place in social media where porn is not totally back-listed, even with sponsored tweets.
Rules of Engagement
Yup, there definitely are. If you are a sponsored tweeter you have to make it known that your tweet is an ad. Oftentimes, the hashtag #ad is used. If you use a service that pays you to tweet, like SponsoredTweets.com or PaidPerTweet.com, they will give you parameters for your tweets: the appropriateness of your phrasing, not slandering the client, not using swear words and making it clear that the tweet is an ad.
Ultimately even if you don’t use a service, you have to mark a paid tweet as an ad. The FCC is regulating this and they will fine you.
I want to make the big bucks
If you want to make the big money with sponsored tweets, like Kim Kardashian, then you basically need to be famous. Oh wait..you are famous! Well then, you will want to go to either SponsoredTweets.com or Ad.ly – these work with celebrity clients and will be able to help you command a high price.
Your Reputation
From an advertiser: As an advertiser it is in my interest to pay someone with good reach and influence to tweet my ads. I will reach an audience I don’t normally reach and generate leads I would not otherwise be able to create. The better your reputation, the more I want you to tweet for me.
From a Tweeter: This is a great way to make some extra money. Most of your tweets are your own but then maybe 1 out of 50 you are paid for.
From a Follower: Most of the time I don’t mind seeing the very occasional ad. But I do wonder, when I see one, if your Twitter is about making money or about engaging. I question the integrity of your feed. Do I understand it? Yes. But I also know about sponsored tweets. What about the people who don’t? Did you just sell out?
Did I just sell out?
Since the ability to make money with sponsored tweets is based on your influence and your reach, if you are a popular and engaged Tweeter then you will be able to command a higher price. However, if you are exceptionally engaged, you might be compromising your authenticity and integrity. It may seem a bit extreme to say that if 1 out of 50 tweets is an ad you have automatically compromised your integrity, but remember, it may be an issue for your followers.
The conclusion
Once you get your first payday your 1 in 50 tweets might become 1 in 20, then 1 in 10. So be careful; making money is addictive and getting paid to tweet is simple. Before you know it you may have compromised your entire account, lose followers, lose influence and now your Twitter isn’t good for anything. You are just another spammer.
So keep your end goal in mind; your Twitter is ultimately about you and putting forward your message. You could be ok inserting the occasional ad.
As a follower I prefer that my tweeps don’t ad. It bugs me.
As a Tweeter, I decided not to ad because it bugs me as a follower. However, I understand why people do it.
As an advertiser, I think it is a good opportunity to expand my reach.
Do you think you will become a sponsored tweeter?
**Side note, 7 Veils was not paid to mention any link in this post. We do not blog for money. There are many pay-for-tweet companies out there, we just listed a couple of reputable ones.