There's a lot of controversy surrounding sponsored posts and advertising in the blogging world. And I wasn't sure where I stood on it until recently.
I was quite indifferent about it all. If someone chooses to have ads on their blog, that's great. Whatever. A sponsored post here and there, a giveaway now and then - all good.
But for me? I didn't really want those things on my own blog until I'd made up my mind about where I stood on the subject.
And now I have.
So, you'll see the occasional sponsored post popping up here every now and then. (And you may have already noticed a couple.) I'm also seeing if Nuffnang ads are worthwhile - hence their logo on the right-hand sidebar.
These posts will by no means form the majority of my blogging; they will be just a small part in between my usual posts.
Maybe I've sold out, but I don't think so. If ever I feel my integrity is being jeopardised or I'm being pushed to be dishonest, I won't take part in the campaign. But for the most part, I think if I have an opportunity to promote something worthwhile, or to be paid for a small part of the time I spend blogging - well, it doesn't make me a bad person.
I hope you don't mind me trialling a few things like this. I look forward to sharing it all with you and seeing how things go.
What are your thoughts on blog ads and sponsored posts? Feel free to leave a comment below or email me.
I don't see it as selling out. I do sponsored posts as well and only accept ones that I think will interest my readers and that I feel I can write a good post about.
ReplyDeleteI very much respect the fact that my readers trust my opinion. I therefore won't do anything that will harm that trust. Like you they form only a small part of my blogging and I am happy to have them like that.
To be honest, I tend to skip right over them. Or look and see what kind of product it is and if I have any interest at all in it I'll read it. I have to say I'm the same about giveaways on mummy blogs. I'm not interested in that stuff. I'm interested in what other mums have to say about their kids, their lives, and juggling it all. I think it probably has a place in mummy blogging, but if a blog I followed was to start pushing products every week I'd probably stop reading. My 2 cents woth...
ReplyDeleteI have ben thinking a lot about this too lately. I also joined nuffnang recently.
ReplyDeleteI have said no to a few offers, and will continue to do so, but I've also been able to have a small voice in matters I really believe in.
Part of it for me it to help me develop writing skills. I find it much harder to write about things that I have been specifically asked to. Writing just for myself is so much easier than when there are set parameters.
I don't think it's selling out. I trust you to only write about things you believe worth while. Sponsored or not.
They can actually be a great writing challenge for you, a new topic that you need to write about and hope that your readers will still read.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest some bloggers get all high and mighty about not having advertising or sponsored posts, then you see them pop up in comps for top bloggers and all of a sudden there are some posts that may not be sponsored or paid for, but are certainly providing product placement or mention.
I look forward to discussing whether you think it is worthwhile in a few months time.
Yeah I'm another one, not quite sure about it all. Not because I think it's selling out, I'm just trying to get my head around how I want my blog to be. I'm a slow burn.
ReplyDeleteAre magazines sellouts?
I don't even know exactly what nuffnang do so I really can't comment.
Your blog, your rules.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
I've been wrapping my head around all this too and actually making decisions and setting some guidelines for myself and my blog rather than just seeing what happens as I've done in the past lol.
ReplyDeleteAs a blogger I think it is important to be upfront and write honestly. As a reader I'll read what interests me regardless of whether someone was paid to write it or not. Your blog ticks both those boxes for me
Definitely a case of what supports your own beliefs and goals for your blog.
ReplyDeleteI started my current blog with the intention of including reviews/giveaways etc very regularly, interspersed with my usual rambling. I know that will cost me some readers, but I think it will draw others as well.
That said, there are items and companies I would never promote. My blog is an extension of myself and if i wouldn't use something in my life, or if I'm opposed to the workings of a particular brand, you won't find it in my space.
I hope you have fun with it! That's the main thing, to enjoy it whatever you're doing (or not doing).
Each to their own on such a personal subject, I say. Just as your blog is for you, so is the decision how you wish to run it. I have no bias at all to either side. Good luck with it all xx
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI'm a UK based blogger and I found your blog via Louisa Claire, who I'll hopefully meet in a few weeks when she comes to Cybermummy!
I've done a few sponsored posts. I like to blog from personal experience so I limit them to ones where I feel I can include things about my life or things I've done. I don't write stuff that isn't relevant to me or I think that my readers won't read. What I do though is be very clear about the post being sponsored.
I also do reviews - but I balance them out so that my blog is not overrun with them. I've been paid to write a couple of those too - but not by the people making or selling the product, Netmums (a parenting website) paid me to writ them and I could write what I wanted about the product. I do giveaways but not very often.
I think it's all about balance and integrity. I certainly don't enjoy blogs where you struggle to find the actual content but the ones that write their reviews and sponsored posts as well as their actual content and balance it so that you can get the flavour of the blogger writing the blog across all their posts work well with me and keep me coming back.
I have also been invited to and attended a few blogging events. Normally, I'm not paid for those - tho they give us goody bags and occasionally pay travel expenses if it's a long way away. (One PR company paid my expenses to go to London to interview a TV chef recently). We're normally not obliged to write a post but I do if I have a relevant point to make. My nutella post got some interesting comments.
As I said, integrity is important, not least because in the UK, the OFT have been looking into advertising and sponsored posts on some blogs. Recently, some UK bloggers were approached to write sponsored posts but not say they were sponsored. I hope everyone told them where to get off. Then, last week, I read a post on a blog that was obviously just a copy paste of a press release and didn't state it was sponsored. Put me right off going back to the blog.
Ultimately, it's your blog, your rules but I think you can do a lot to ensure transparency and maintain the goodwill of your current readers.
Good luck, and sorry for the essay!
Great post. I will only review a product once I have tested it out and am 100% happy that is satisfies what I believe is important. fun, safe, value for $. I'm new but have had a lot of requests and slowly working through them. As work with children and have my own , I also get them to test the product out, as I have been mainly receiving toys and educational goods. I have returned some apologising that I really coldn't see the benefit, after attempting a few times to use it with kids,even adding my own angle to it, to see if I could say yes this is great. if It's not great, then no review.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand why you would want to trial this. Blogging is kind of like a part-time job anyway: why not get paid for it?
ReplyDeleteWe do trust your opinion, you're a very straight (as in, not crooked), trustworthy gal, and you'll soon know if it's not for you.
I don't do sponsored posts. My blog is my little soap box on the web and I need it to be unattached for me to speak my mind.
Good luck :)
I'm probably not the best to comment but I'm obviously comfortable with sponsored posts. I'm lucky I get to write them in my style on topic that have relevance to my readers.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you are selling out. I do think that it is amazing that you have written this post, how could we ever doubt your credibility when you are so honest with us all about what you are doing? I don't have a problem with sponsored posts at all. I will be interested to watch your progress on this. Love your work, Megan!
ReplyDeleteMegan, you can probably guess my thoughts on the matter.
ReplyDeleteI do reviews and sponspred posts.
I could fill my whole entire blog with them, but choose not to. I stick to one review/giveaway/sponsored post a week at a maximum.
I turn down 10 for every 1 that I chose to do.
I only do sponsored stuff if it is win win win. And obviously I only accept stuff that I can treat with 100% honesty.
If readers decide they don't like a post, they can flick away, or unfollow. Simple as that, for me.
You have a huge amount of integrity Megan - I say well done on experimenting a little.
xx
I don't mind at all! As long as I get to win a prize occasionally ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't mind doing sponsored posts but I try doing them in a way that is amusing for the reader and for me to write.
ReplyDeleteI tend to skim right over posts that are copied straight from PR copy or are boring eg. they sent me some soap and I cleaned stuff! Oh and complicated giveaways for cheap products. I just saw a post where they wanted readers to follow and blog about the giveaway...to win a bottle of sunscreen!
I've had a few nuffnang ads, whether they earn any actual revenue remains to be seen.
I am unsurprisingly, at the same place myself! Look forward to seeing what you are approached with and blog about sweet. x
ReplyDeleteI read posts because I like it, doesn't have anything to do with sponsors etc. People are clever enough to decide for themselves. I don't think you're selling out :)
ReplyDeleteYou're not selling out at all. This is your blog. Your space.
ReplyDeleteI don't advertise on my blog for a few reasons, but I don't have a problem at all with blogs that have it.
I accept products & write about them if I like them and want to share them. I turn down posts and products I don't feel will suit my readers. Some products I trial and don't particularly like, so I don't bother writing about them. I do giveaways sometimes if I think it's something a reader or readers will love!
See how you go. Do what's right for you.
Xx