This week will start what I view as an experiment for this blog – accepting sponsored posts. The first one will run tomorrow. Before it does, I wanted to provide some background.

What is a sponsored post?

It is a form of advertising. An advertiser pays money to publish a post on my blog. The advertiser writes the post and is responsible for its content.

How will I know when a post is sponsored?

Sponsored posts will be labeled as such. The word “Sponsored” will appear in the headline and as the post author.

How often will sponsored posts appear?

No more than once a week. I have no idea how many of these will be sold, so it could be far less frequently.

Will you be involved in writing or editing sponsored posts?

No. These will be written by the advertisers. I reserve the right to refuse any post based on content I consider inappropriate. I also reserve the right to edit solely to conform to this blog’s style and technical requirements.

What will sponsored posts be about?

That is up to the advertiser. My hope is that they will adhere to the mission of this blog, which is to inform and educate readers about the use of technology, the web and social media in law and legal practice.

Experience suggests that, for sponsored posts to be effective, they should not be “hard sell” advertisements for a product or company, but should be written to inform, educate, enlighten or challenge readers.

How does a company buy a sponsored post?

Advertising for this blog is sold through the Above the Law network. For rates and information, send an email to Advertising@abovethelaw.com or Sales@breakingmedia.com.

Why have you decided to accept sponsored posts?

So that I can continue to devote the time to this blog that it requires. Writing this blog takes a lot of time – trying out new products, sitting through product demonstrations and tracking a range of news sources. All of that is time away from income-producing work.

What does this mean for readers?

First and foremost, it means that I will be able to continue bringing you news and reviews of products and services related to your work as legal professionals. In addition, I hope that the sponsored posts also prove informative and helpful and make you aware of products and services you can use.

Will this compromise your impartiality?

No. If you’ve read this blog for any length of time or if you know me personally, you know that I will say what I think. I’ve had advertising on this blog for several years and I’ve never held back because of it. This is simply another form of advertising.

Part of what swayed me to accept sponsored posts was my recognition that a growing number of legitimate and objective blogs and news sites are accepting sponsored posts.

Do you really want to know what I think?

I really do. Feel free to comment below or send me an email at ambrogiATgmail.com.

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.