Sponsored Post Evangelism

I don't consider myself an evangelist for sponsored posts (paid reviews, etc.). I will, however, defend anyone's desire to write them. It doesn't matter whether they write them to make ends meet or they write them for mad money.

There are some bloggers out there with a holier-than-thou attitude attacking bloggers who write sponsored posts, accusing them of selling out. Those same bloggers have other forms of advertising on their own blogs. In the end, what's the difference? Blog purity can only be claimed by bloggers who advertise absolutely nothing.

I have advertising on my blog and I write sponsored posts. I think I do a very good job with the sponsored posts. As long as real effort is put into writing something you know or care about, why not make a little extra money for doing so?

Some people have no ads on their blogs while some people have a lot. The rules for a legitimate blog haven't been written yet and I seriously doubt the blog purists will make a difference. I could be wrong but until then, those bloggers need to take their attitudes and stick them where they'll do them the most good.

November 7th, 2007 By RT Cunningham | Categories: Advertising | Tags: sponsors |

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hari on November 7th, 2007 at 7:10 pm (Reply)

I entirely agree and it's a good follow up to your "blog snobbery" post which touched on the same issue.

Ultimately as long as you own the content, it's nobody's business to tell you what advertising to put alongside it or even sell your content for a bit of money.

(By the way, what's up with the clip-art graphic on each post? It makes very little difference to the post content itself. Personally I preferred your sticking to images only when absolutely needed, but it's just a minor issue.)

RT Cunningham on November 7th, 2007 at 7:33 pm (Reply)

I'm toying with the clip art. It's not something I intend to keep doing.

HMTKSteve on November 7th, 2007 at 8:51 pm (Reply)

Sponsored posting is no different than a commercial and they are all over network TV and radio. In fact, many advertisers pay radio jocks to do their commercial for them. What is the big deal?

RT Cunningham on November 8th, 2007 at 4:51 am (Reply)

It isn't a big deal for you and I, and others that think like us. For some reason, there's always those that can't comprehend anything outside of their little box.

Stephen Cronin on November 7th, 2007 at 10:49 pm (Reply)

Hi RT, Thanks for the link - but I'll just make it crystal clear to people not reading my entire post and the accompanying comments, that I was the accused and not the accuser!

I totally agree with your views and I think most other people do as well. Also, I think everyone agrees that you do an excellent job with sponsored posts.

Blogging Mix on November 7th, 2007 at 11:21 pm (Reply)

Sponsored post are usually the better posts. These are well written posts otherwise they won't qualify as sponsored post.

I don't see anything wrong with sponsored post. I even believe that because of sponsored post, bloggers tend to write better posts. People who hate sponsored post or any form advertisements failed to realize the signifcant role of advertisements in shaping a better blogosphere.

Chris Lodge on November 7th, 2007 at 11:48 pm (Reply)

Damn straight RT.

Given the choice between reading a blog with a sensible number of disclosed, well written, paid posts, or one smothered in flashing banners, adsense etc. I know which I'd choose….

MrCorey on November 8th, 2007 at 10:26 am (Reply)

"Some people have no ads on their blogs while some people have a lot. The rules for a legitimate blog haven't been written yet"

I couldn't agree more. I've had advertising on my blog before. The advertisers that I had matched up with ended up not being a good fit for me after all, so I got rid of their services. My blog has no advertising and I don't think that my writing quality is different either way (I have the good posts and the cruddy ones). Yours does have advertising and its a quality read. I don't know if the adverts or the "seeds" provided by the sponsors makes it easier or harder for you to write quality posts. I just see that you produce at a certain level consistently, regardless of what is motivating your writing.

There are, however, some bloggers out there who take many sponsored opportunities that they should leave well enough alone, as they're spewing pure bullshit. They tend to be the ones who overdo it as well, though. So, their frenzy of falsity becomes a flash in the fire.

Taking a sponsored opportunity can either improve or destroy a site, depending on how you end up handling it.

RT Cunningham on November 8th, 2007 at 10:40 am (Reply)

You said what I didn't want to say. There really are some crappy blogs writing crappy posts and their sponsored posts are no better than their regular posts. This is what the purists are probably seeing and thinking we all write them that way.

Sueblimely on November 8th, 2007 at 10:55 am (Reply)

Well said. The most important thing is quality content. Those authors that make any real gain from paid for content must, in most cases, be those providing the most valuable content anyway.

Those that make a living from blogging are also able to spend much more time on researching and providing useful and interesting information.

Anything that discourages them from blogging is just not right.

As MrCorey says, those who overdo it and cannot provide value to readers are not going to make much monetary gain nor retain their readers.

RT Cunningham on November 8th, 2007 at 11:12 am (Reply)

Unfortunately, some bloggers think that quantity == quality. I wish I could write less and write better. I'm willing to bet I'd get more readers!