Which of the following is NOT an example of paid media?
- Guest blog posts
- Boosted Facebook posts
- Google Ads
- Sponsored content
Explanation: The correct answer is ‘Guest blog posts.’ Paid media refers to promotional activities where a company pays to leverage third-party platforms or channels to reach its target audience. Options like boosted Facebook posts, Google Ads, and sponsored content involve direct financial investment in exchange for visibility and exposure. Boosted Facebook posts entail paying to increase the reach of a specific post on the Facebook platform, allowing it to reach a larger audience beyond organic reach. Google Ads involves bidding on keywords to display advertisements on Google’s search engine results pages and across its vast network of websites, reaching users actively searching for relevant information or products. Sponsored content involves paying to have content featured on external platforms or publications to reach a broader audience and promote specific messages or products. In contrast, guest blog posts do not involve direct payment for placement. Instead, they are a form of earned media, where a company contributes content to another website or blog in exchange for exposure and backlinks, typically without monetary compensation. Guest blogging provides an opportunity for brands to establish thought leadership, expand their reach, and build relationships within their industry but does not entail direct payment for placement, making it distinct from paid media options. Therefore, guest blog posts do not fall under the category of paid media, distinguishing them from the other options listed.