No, I agree with you 100%. It just makes you want to scream ‘Enough with the sneaky marketing tactics already!’ My only point is that it doesn’t take long to recognize the nasty ones from the real ones when you read their blog every day. Studies, and even many bloggers I’ve talked to, admit that it takes a long time for blog readers to convert. I honestly feel the amount of slimy marketers out there is one of the biggest reasons for this.

Angie

No, you’re not. For now, I have a less expensive website platform, because that is what I can afford. It has NO advertising options, really, so I support it with my blogger blogs and adsense, and by writing free-lance articles for upfront payment. One step at a time, but I’ll get there. Any bloggers time, efforts, talents, knowledge, and expenses are worth earning them a living.

I’m with you, though. I hate the shady advertisers. Be honest!

Karen

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ghostandaspiringwritersandadvice/

I hope it at least makes this stop since that does make up a third of Movies, TV, and Big Business Music industries, most of it done online. It’s sad, I know, all of it is.

There’s no excuse for people who find it problematic. It’s a free service. Why would anyone feel distress when something they are benefiting from occasionally derives monetary profit? Ludicrous? Yes.

Thank you for bringing this issue to the forefront.

Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..Addicted To Blogging – It’s No Joke

A while back I was looking into signing up as an affiliate for specific self-development products. However, I’m not using them and couldn’t promote them. Recently I did start reading an amazing book called “The Five Things We Cannot Change” by David Richo and am promoting it on my blog. I have a series of posts coming up for the month of May where I will be promoting another product (but not as an affiliate).

I agree with you about where the “recession” is taking us. We are becoming more aware of how and what we are spending our money on

Davina’s last blog post..Letter from a Proofreader with Edits

Thanks for that Yeah, I know what you mean. The money kind of makes you really look at what you are doing and why. Believe it or not, I felt almost a guilty feeling the first time I wrote a piece for someone else. It’s odd, but I had to really think it through. IMO, you are right — as long as you are honest, you have nothing to fear.

Angie

Yes, I agree with you. Marketing these days all seems to be going back to the ‘mom and pop’ type way of thinking and if you blow that, you’re doomed. Your post (http://dannybrown.me/2009/04/09/tipping-the-scales/) brought up a lot of great points from a different angle and a great read for anyone reading this post.

I still can’t believe bloggers would take X amount for a positive review…that’s disgusting, but I guess it was bound to happen eventually.

Thanks Danny!

Angie

Thanks to Danny for sharing the link to this post on Twitter, and to you Angie, for writing it!

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I’m 100% behind you on this. I’ve had numerous discussions about this topic in the past and the very recent present (and you kindly commented on one of these recent posts). I encourage bloggers to make money from their passion.

Where it falls down (and where you clearly mention) is the lack of transparency. Your readers, if you like, are YOUR currency. If you’re receiving hard currency for your reviews, make sure it’s not at the expense of your personal currency.

And, of course, be honest. If a brand just wants a positive review, tell them that’s not how you play. They either take a negative review and work on improving the product, or they don’t take a review at all. The good brands will work with you – the bad ones? Well, they weren’t worth working with in the first place.

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