Thinking about sponsored blogging/tweeting
For the past few weeks, I have been playing with a few things.
One, I have let a few posts into my Twitter feed that are sponsored. This has been interesting-I dont see them come through, and they are marked as an ad. They are very unnoticable, and they make me roughly $1.50 per ad. It is not something that I will be doing on a regular basis.
Another story about paid blogging has caught my eye, and helped me solidify my theory that disclosure matters more than anything. Recently, a TechCrunch intern was fired for trying to get a free computer in exchange for a post about a startup.
Now, I know TC has had sponsored posts. Most blogs have. Hell, I even have a post about a Blackberry case that was provided to me for free.
If the intern had been in the open, he may not be looking for a new gig. Its even worse that he was billed as a tech wunderkind, and how has a pretty big tarnish on his reputation.
If you are open about these things, I see no reason for a community to be upset. However, dealing under the table is 100% grounds for consequences.
As bloggers, what do you think about relationships with companies?
As readers, do you care? Does a disclosed, but still compensated post help or hurt a blogger?
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about 6 months ago
It looks like you have over 1,500 followers on Twitter, so at $1.50 per sponsored tweet, you’re valuing your friend’s time at less than 1/10th of one cent per sponsored tweet. I hope your friend’s time is worth more than that.
It would suck to lose followers who value their time over something like this. They may be some of your best connections.
about 6 months ago
I agree. That is why I was doing it as a test, and not trying to do it to make money.