How to sell sponsored posts on your website (and what to charge)
Your best pages already have readers a business wants. Here's how to sell them a spot, price it fairly, and stay on the right side of the rules.
Facts checked 29 Sep 2026 · by the AdSworn team
Sell sponsored posts on the pages that attract buyers, price them from real traffic (for example, a rate per 1,000 page views over the sponsorship's length, with a sensible minimum), and label every one clearly as sponsored with the link marked rel="sponsored". Google's spam policies allow paid links when they're qualified this way, and the FTC expects labels like "Ad" or "Sponsored" that readers can see. Get paid before it goes live, or use a service that holds the payment.
1. Pick the pages worth sponsoring
Not every page is worth the same to a sponsor. A page people reach by searching "unlimited video editing service" is full of potential customers for a video tool. A page about trivia gets visits but few buyers. Open Google Search Console, look at the searches behind each page, and start with the pages whose searches sound like someone about to buy.
The 12 Best Online Video Editors of 2026 (Free and Paid)
- Banner ad$25 / 4 weeks
- Featured post$2,000 / year
2. Price it from real traffic
The simplest fair price is a rate per 1,000 page views, multiplied by how long the sponsorship runs. AdSworn's starter rates, which every publisher can change, work like this:
| Format | Starter rate | Length | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banner ad | $15 per 1,000 page views | 4 weeks | $25 |
| Featured post | $40 per 1,000 page views | 12 months (13 four-week periods), paid once | $500 |
Worked example (an estimate from starter rates): a page with 2,000 page views every 4 weeks. A featured post is 2,000 × 13 = 26,000 views over a year; at $40 per 1,000 that's $1,040. On AdSworn the publisher keeps 85%, so $884.
| Format on “The 12 Best Online Video Editors of 2026 (Free and Paid)” | Advertiser pays | AdSworn (15%) | Publisher gets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banner ad / 4 weeks | $25 | $3.75 | $21.25 |
| Featured post / year | $2,000 | $300 | $1,700 |
3. Label it, and mark the link
Google's spam policies treat buying or selling links for ranking as spam, but say paid links for advertising and sponsorship are fine when they're qualified with `rel="sponsored"` or `rel="nofollow"`. Selling "dofollow backlinks" puts both your site and the buyer's at risk.
Readers need to know too. The FTC's native advertising guide lists terms likely to be understood, such as "Ad" or "Sponsored Advertising Content", and advises placing the disclosure in front of or above the headline.
4. Get paid safely
Sponsorship deals go wrong in two ways: the sponsor doesn't pay, or the sponsor pays and the post never appears. Take payment before publishing, or use a service that holds the money until the post is live, which protects both sides.
- Advertiser booksPicks a page and format, writes the ad. Nothing is charged yet.
- Publisher approves, advertiser paysThe listed price, nothing on top. AdSworn holds it.
- Verified live, publisher paidOnce the snippet confirms the ad is live, the publisher gets 85%.
- Never ran? Full refundDeclined or not live: the advertiser gets every cent back.
5. Let sponsors find you
- Add an "Advertise with us" link in your footer or navigation, pointing to your price list.
- Show proof: real traffic from Google converts better than a media kit with round numbers.
- Make unsold pages sell themselves: on AdSworn, an unsold banner spot can show "Sponsor this page" with that page's own traffic and price.
Straight answers
Can I sell dofollow links in sponsored posts?
Google's spam policies say links bought or sold for ranking are spam. Paid links are fine when marked rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow".
How much should I charge for a sponsored post?
Start from your real traffic: a rate per 1,000 page views over the post's length, with a minimum. AdSworn's starter rate for a year-long featured post is $40 per 1,000 page views, minimum $500.
How should I label a sponsored post?
Use plain words like "Sponsored" or "Ad", above or in front of the headline, where readers look first.