The editorial decision

Before accepting a sponsored article, ask what decision it helps the audience make and what the sponsor is paying for. Agree which claims require evidence, who can request corrections and how the relationship will be disclosed. Do not let a payment convert a company assertion into an editorial fact. A useful sponsored contribution should still explain scope, limitations and practical next steps rather than simply repeating a product brochure.

A working method

Keep the disclosure near the content in language readers understand. Review links according to the platform’s current guidance for paid relationships, and have the technical implementation match the editorial arrangement. Separate sponsor approval of factual details from control over a supposedly independent conclusion. If the piece cannot stand on its own as useful material, revise or decline it. Record the sponsor’s involvement so later editors understand why the article exists and which relationships may need updating.

Imagine this

Hypothetical example

A provider sponsors an operational checklist. The publication identifies the sponsorship, checks technical claims against documentation and includes limitations relevant to buyers. The sponsor can correct factual inaccuracies but the article does not pretend its commercial origin is an independent product endorsement.

Make it practical.

Use this checklist as you read. Checks are not stored.

References & further reading

Further reading: Google qualifying outbound links ↗

Published by Tap Tap Go. Product availability and eligibility vary by programme and market. About our stories.