Grow Your Audience with Microsoft Start

With the help of Microsoft Start, WordPress.com creators are getting access to an all-new tool to increase their audience.

August 15, 2022

Mindy Postoff

We’re all looking for ways to grow our audiences for our sites. Sometimes, we change our content to optimize it for search engines. Other times, we find ways to reach new people, such as using tags so our blog posts show up in the Reader. 

Now, WordPress.com creators are getting access to an all-new tool to increase their audience. 

Originally released as Microsoft News, the revamped Microsoft Start is a global news and information feed that currently syndicates content from over 4,500 premium publishers to about a billion people! In an effort to expand and diversify this network, Microsoft has started an exclusive pilot program — and is looking for 500 highly qualified, independent creators in the U.S. to apply. 

Yes, this means you.

Using the Microsoft Start plugin to connect your site to the platform, you’ll be able to build your brand and gain exposure by delivering your content throughout Microsoft Start’s ecosystem, which includes MSN, Bing, and Microsoft Edge. Additionally, you’ll be able to earn ad-sharing revenue via the platform, as well as 100% direct support through readers and your affinity links. Creators on the Microsoft Start platform act as their own syndicator and will maintain 100% ownership of their content. Even better, previously published posts can be repurposed as evergreen content using the built-in WordPress.com feed functionality. 

Do you qualify?

Desired applicants are reputable topic specialists publishing content at least 5 times per month. Priority will be given to the following genres: food and drink; travel; health and wellness (which includes nutrition and fitness); relationships; parenting; demystifying science and tech; career and personal finance; the craft of writing; and DIY how-tos. Ideally, you also have an archive of at least 25 blog posts.

If you’re interested in applying, Microsoft will sweeten the deal by paying 500 accepted candidates a $100 bonus upon publishing regularly for 60 days. (To qualify, candidates must submit their application by 11:59pm PDT on Sunday August 28, 2022 and enter “WordPress” as your referral.) Please note that there are terms and conditions all participating publishers must agree to in order to work directly with Microsoft Start. This opportunity is not an affiliate program between Microsoft Start and WordPress.com; it’s simply a special, limited-time opportunity we’ve helped to leverage for WordPress.com creators.

Apply Now

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46 Comments

Comments are closed.

  1. David Bennett Aug 15th at 4:33 pm

    “…and is looking for 500 highly qualified, independent creators in the U.S. to apply.

    Yes, this means you.”

    Alas, it doesn’t. I am not in the U.S.

    Liked by 13 people

  2. JC home Aug 15th at 8:41 pm

    WhT is the cost?

    Liked by 7 people

  3. G D Ogilvie Aug 15th at 9:35 pm

    Will this be available for UK bloggers in the near future?

    Liked by 6 people

  4. delunasofia Aug 16th at 10:33 pm

    What a cool program! I applied!

    Liked by 4 people

  5. franklinezemonye8974 Aug 17th at 5:32 am

    when is this gonna commence!!!!

    Liked by 4 people

    • JC home Aug 27th at 12:01 pm

      Don’t know when it starts, but we should all follow each other. That way we all get new readers, views…We all grow and help each other in the process.

      Liked by 2 people

  6. admissionproviders Aug 17th at 8:15 am

    Thank You

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Catch and Cater Aug 17th at 2:10 pm

    Please CLARIFY ” IF this is ONLY FOR Bloggers in US ” and Does Not Apply to Bloggers outside US…

    Liked by 2 people

  8. siqinisekohadebe2 Aug 17th at 5:44 pm

    Great opportunity

    Liked by 2 people

  9. DSIV_Divine Success International Ventures. Aug 17th at 7:20 pm

    I am interested but unfortunately not in USA

    Liked by 3 people

  10. ritadevirajesh Aug 18th at 1:22 pm

    Is this available in india

    Liked by 3 people

  11. abdirahinshire Aug 18th at 2:15 pm

    Thanks

    Liked by 1 person

  12. KitchenGadgetLab Aug 21st at 7:30 am

    What a cool program!

    Liked by 2 people

  13. JC home Aug 23rd at 2:07 am

    Love to do it but still have not gotten any response…What is the cost?

    Liked by 4 people

  14. Samantha Aug 24th at 2:42 pm

    ‘Regularly posts 5 times per month’ whelp, that rules me out. I’m just blogging on the side so that makes money earning opportunities very difficult

    Liked by 2 people

  15. Keylee Sandra Aug 25th at 7:48 pm

    Thanks

    Liked by 2 people

  16. peterlotterhos Aug 30th at 8:16 pm

    I didn’t know about microsoft start. Great opportunity for sure

    Liked by 2 people

  17. Alhassan Dauda Sep 3rd at 10:37 am

    Wow that’s awesome 👍

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Hamdan Mohammed bin rashid Al Maktoum fazza Sep 5th at 9:29 am

    That’s awesome 😎

    Liked by 1 person

  19. fasanya monsurat Sep 9th at 9:39 am

    Just seeing this. Interested but opportunity gone

    Like

  20. Empish Sep 9th at 10:17 pm

    Hi Mindy,

    I need to get some clarification on this Microsoft program. I applied and just got my acceptance letter today. But now that I am reading the information again this is a plugin that I need to install on my site. But, if I am correct, plugins are not available on the premium plan, right? If that is the case do I have to resend this great opportunity?

    Empish

    Liked by 1 person

    • Jerry B Sep 11th at 8:33 pm

      I would check with Microsoft directly to see if they offer a non-plugin option just to be safe. If they require a plugin then you would need our Business Plan to be able to participate, since plugins cannot be be added under the Premium Plan, thanks!

      Liked by 1 person

    • JC home Sep 12th at 2:21 pm

      I am still waiting for mine but a question if you don’t mind. Did their response come from microsoft or from WordPress? I’m having some trouble understanding this whole deal. It sounds great though. And, good luck to you!

      Like

      • Empish Sep 12th at 7:07 pm

        JC,

        The response about the plugins came directly from WordPress. I reached out to them on Friday, the same day I got the acceptence letter from Microsoft. I hope that clears up things a bit.

        Liked by 1 person

  21. JC home Sep 12th at 12:01 am

    So, okay. After you fill out the form, how do you know you are accepted, and, what else do you have to do to start?

    Liked by 1 person

  22. encounters Jan 19th at 3:01 pm

    Having problems with my WordPress Login, I hope I can get some help. thank you, Mabel.

    Like

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