Comments on: Are “paid for” evangelists harming blogging?

By: On classifications and typologies (3) — Shefaly Yogendra

On classifications and typologies (3) — Shefaly Yogendra — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:19:29 +0000

[...] Pat Phelan asks the question ‘Are paid-for evangelists harming blogging?‘ [...]

By: Flixwagon pay bloggers, non disclosure from bloggers or Flixwagon

Flixwagon pay bloggers, non disclosure from bloggers or Flixwagon — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:30:51 +0000

[...] give me permission to post and I wrote a very general post on the subject where the overwhelming response was one of outrage. Sarah has also been overheard by numerous sources at the recent Summermash [...]

By: Roon

Roon — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:23:24 +0000

I have put some comments into some of the blogs that you would be familiar with, explaining/describing my true experiences of a certain mobile network only to find them not posted. I think it is taking the libel issue a tad too far.

By: John Dalton

John Dalton — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:21:08 +0000

Are they that clever?
Are we so dumb?
I don’t think so. I think your average blog reader has a highly developed nose for being hussled.
I think we demand to be entertained and engaged and most importantly get a sense of reality from a post. By that I mean that there is a real person expressing a real opinion about something they have are real feeling about.
You can tell pretty quickly when that s not happening.

By: peter donegan

peter donegan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:35:04 +0000

i’ve been asked to write [blog]; for an architecture mag – i said i’d do it for free – others will pay however for the honour [?]. I write anyway for a few publications – but the difference is again between an advertorial/ self promotion and simply writing for those who wish to read –

I doubt anyone could suggest that i take it to the extreme that it might be considered an overhead or a method of achieving sales. Here is where Pat using Qik driving the wrong way through Cork and the illogic versus fun makes this post worthwhile and warranted.

By: tom

tom — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:10:12 +0000

a while back i was asked to contribute an occasional post to a VOIP related blog. at first i was quite interested. when i was told that i would receive half of the google advertising income i was a bit surprised; as i had never really thought much about the click ads on the site and had never thought of it as a ‘for profit’ operation. i was not motivated one bit by the idea of profiting. i decided to turn down the offer.

By: peter donegan

peter donegan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:06:42 +0000

thanks ronanob – to put it back in contex… me pimping ride on mowers versus my favourite plant or a good childrens gardening book. [book shops are generally quite poor with regard to 'good' horticultural books apart from the big sellers] I was her only customer that sunday! shes no multinational – and takes pride in what is simply a great shop. The only other great one I know is a second hand one in donegal

Back to the point – nespresso away Pat – but it does come from the heart and paid or unpaid it is without subliminal messages

By: Shefaly

Shefaly — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:06:42 +0000

Surely the issue turns on honest, full declaration of interests. In the absence of such declarations being universal currency, readers of blogs are entitled to treat every blogger with equal contempt and cynicism. As usual, caveat emptor applies.

By: ronanob

ronanob — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:33:28 +0000

After thought – I wonder will posters who disagree start to ask if a post is for vested interest sake?

One of the blogging rules is never sensor a negative comment.

By: ronanob

ronanob — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:29:49 +0000

I agree anything decietful in blogging is bad. As peter said though, there is a grey area where some people become evanglists for people they know and have a vested interest in without money changing hands. Do me a favour and ill do you a blog post. I like to blog about people i know and like doing well, but always try to keep it honest and factual as possible.

I reckon with time people will become “street smart” and look twice at who they are taking advice from. At the moment a lot of paid posters do so very badly, “here’s why this is the best” etc – followed by an affilate link at the end of the article, but unfortunately with time they’ll get even more cunning.