Hiking with Shawn Advertising & Sponsorship Services

Hiking with Shawn advertising and sponsorship services are available to purchase through our brand. We do not accept just any kind of advertising or sponsorship requests due to the nature of our industry and niche markets.

If you’re a business, organization, or part of an event and you wish to be advertised on the Hiking with Shawn brand or sponsored, please continue to read this guide for more information.

We’re not interested in advertising and sponsorship opportunities outside of what this page describes.

Everything you need to know about Hiking with Shawn Advertising and Sponsorship is described below.

Hiking with Shawn Advertising & Sponsorship Opportunities

Below are the current opportunities for advertising and sponsorship across the Hiking with Shawn brand.

• Sponsored Blog Post: The official Hiking with Shawn Blog accepts limited sponsored articles in review form. We do not accept articles that are not review-styled posts unless it is a local business-related post (see below).
  • The article must be written by Hiking with Shawn authors who have reviewed the product or service that the post is about.
  • Reviews are marked as Sponsored (FTC Guidelines Require This), and links within the reviews are set to the “No Follow” attribute (Google Requires This).
  • There are no exceptions for the sponsored label or “No Follow” attribute. Hiking with Shawn does not permit affiliate links in sponsored content.
  • Products and services must be related to hiking, backpacking, outdoor cycling, camping, etc.
  • We cater to Southern Illinois businesses, organizations, and events, even if not related to outdoor recreation, as long as it is family-friendly.
• Website Advertising: We accept advertising on the official Hiking with Shawn Website through the various pages and blog posts on the website.
  • According to Google guidelines, all links will have the “No Follow” attribute attached to themes.
  • Advertisements are presented in a way that is recognizable as advertisements. No ads will be created to mimic the actual website to conceal that they are ads.
  • Ads may be on any topic (family-friendly only) if directly related to Southern Illinois local businesses, organizations, and events.
  • Non-local advertisements must be related to hiking, biking, camping, adventure travel, or relatable outdoor recreation industries. Do note that we do not target a hunting or fishing audience.
  • Advertisers may request ads be displayed on multiple pages or just one specific page.
  • Ads must be in a banner form and no larger than 800 pixels in width and no larger than 600 pixels in height.
  • We do not use tracking components for the advertising behavior of the Hiking with Shawn advertising opportunities. We will not add third-party code or scripts.
• Social Media Blasts: A social media blast is where we endorse a product or company/service/event/etc. On one or multiple social media channels that we currently maintain.
  • All endorsements are labeled as sponsored, collaborations, or endorsements.
  • Local Southern Illinois blasts do not have to be related to the outdoors, but they must be family-friendly.
  • Non-local blasts must be related to hiking, biking, camping, backpacking, or related outdoor recreation activities.
  • Rates are for one blast per social channel. Blasts conducted on multiple social channels will have higher rates applied to them.
  • Social media blasts are limited.
  • Review blasts will only be made if Hiking with Shawn has reviewed the products/service.
  • Social media blasts may be written, graphic, or short-form video format on standard posts or stories.
  • The current social media channels available are Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
• Video Advertising: Video advertising is considered a long-form video format. Hiking with Shawn accepts review video requests and video advertising for local-related activities.
  • Review videos are filmed on private property in a wooded setting. Due to required permits, Hiking with Shawn performs no commercial filming on Illinois State and National Forest public land-based properties (i.e., State Parks, National Forest, etc.)
  • Some videos may be created on commercial or civic property with permission from official authorities, such as advertising a local event.
  • Local Southern Illinois businesses, organizations, and events do not have to be about the outdoors but must be family-friendly.
  • Non-local video advertising must be about hiking, backpacking, biking, camping, or related outdoor activities. Hiking with Shawn does not target a hunting or fishing audience, for your information.
  • Product reviews require the product to be tested by Hiking with Shawn. All reviews will be ethical, meaning honesty before profit no matter what.
  • Links to advertiser partners will be added to video descriptions/captions/blasts, but we do not allow affiliate links.
• Newsletter Advertising: Hiking with Shawn sends out a monthly newsletter to subscribers focusing on local Shawnee National Forest and Southern Illinois information. Ad space is available in text, banner, and full-section form.
  • Advertisements will be identified as advertisements or sponsored content.
  • Links are okay, but affiliate links are not allowed.
  • Content must be related to hiking, biking, camping, and related outdoor recreation.
  • Content may be related to any topic outside of the outdoors by local Southern Illinois businesses, organizations, and events, but it must be family-friendly.
  • Limited advertising space is available.

Unacceptable Advertisement/Sponsored Content

Hiking with Shawn advertising and sponsorship opportunities accept all requests. Certain types of content are never accepted. This content includes but is not limited to:

• Hunting, Fishing, and Game Harvesting – We’re not against these activities; we just do not target this type of audience.
• Activism, controversial social activities, political stances, religious stances, or anything to do with conspiracy theories.
• Products or services created in the Russian Federation. Hiking with Shawn officially supports Ukraine as a Sovern Nation.
• Products or services created in countries that are enemies of the United States or have been banned by the United States to the fullest extent of the law.
• Legal or illegal drugs, supplements, or medication.
• CBD products.
• Crypto, NFT, and Web 3.
• Tobacco or vaping products.
• Adult-rated content.
• Anything outside the scope of our niche.
• Anti-Illinois, Anti-Forest Service, Anti-Law Enforcement, Anti-First Responder.

Examples of Acceptable Advertisement/Sponsored Content

To give you an idea of what Hiking with Shawn Advertising and Sponsorship opportunities are accepted, we’ve created some examples below.

• Product reviews by Hiking with Shawn authors for hiking, biking, camping, and outdoor recreation equipment.
• Reviews for applications and services relating to hiking, biking, camping, and related outdoor activities.
• Advertisements for local businesses and events near outdoor recreational activities in southern Illinois.

Hiking with Shawn Advertising Stats

Below are some basic statistics and analytical data for those interesting in partnering with Hiking with Shawn for advertising or sponsored opportunities.

• Hiking with Shawn YouTube Channel overall average views in six months is 12,000 views a month. There are over 3,500-subscribers to the channel.
• Hiking with Shawn’s Facebook page, overall average views are 34,000+ views per month. There are over 9,800-followers on the page.
• Hiking with Shawn’s Instagram page, overall average views are 32,000+ views per month. There are over 4,200-followers on the page.
• Hiking with Shawn’s Twitter page averages about 1,000-impressions per Tweet. There are over 3,900-followers on the page.
• Hiking with Shawn’s Newsletter is sent once a month to about 57 email addresses with an average open rate of 56.1%.
• Hiking with Shawn’s official website gets 11,100+ views per month based on Q1’s results.

Hiking with Shawn Advertising Rates

Below are the current rates for advertising and sponsorship opportunities with the Hiking with Shawn brand. Do note that I give a 10% discount (flat-rate) if the advertiser/sponsor business is located in southern Illinois as my way of a local business supporting local businesses. These rate may increase as traffic and exposure to the brand increases.

• Sponsored Blog Post
  • For review items, there is no charge if products are sent to me to keep, use, and provide an honest review. Do not that the sponsor must provide the shipping payment. I will not do Amazon Reviews. We must agree before I review items. Items sent without an agreement will not be reviewed or returned.
  • Non-review blog posts are $40.00 USD per post. The cost is $36.00 USD for local Southern Illinois-based businesses with the 10% discount applied.
• Website Advertising
  • Per page per month: $20.00 USD
  • Per page per month with Local discount applied: $18.00 USD
• Social Media Blast
  • One blast for one social page: $10.00 USD (Local discount applied: $9.00 USD)
• Video Advertising
  • For review items, there is no charge if products are sent to me to keep, use, and provide an honest review. Do not that the sponsor must provide the shipping payment. I will not do Amazon Reviews. We must agree before I review items. Items sent without an agreement will not be reviewed or returned.
  • Non-review video advertising is $60.00 USD per video
  • Non-review video advertising for local Southern Illinois businesses, organizations, and events gets a 10% discount making the cost $54.00 USD per video.
• Newsletter Advertising
  • $10.00 USD per advertisement per month
  • Local Southern Illinois discount applied: $9.00 USD per advertisement per month

Payment Terms and Conditions

All payments will be paid using PayPal.com only. You don’t have to have an account. I will send you an invoice. I do not issue refunds unless a mistake was made, such as accidentally overpaying. I do not offer trial periods or rainchecks. Your payment must be made before your advertisement or sponsorship goes up. You are doing business with Hiking with Shawn, LLC if your purchase advertising or sponsorship opportunities on this website and our social channels. Reviews must be agreed upon before they are conducted. Sending me products without my knowledge will not get you a review. Hiking with Shawn is not obligated to return items sent without an agreement.

Interested in Becoming an Advertiser or Sponsor?

Please use our Contact Hiking with Shawn page and request advertising and sponsorship opportunities on the form.