Comments on: Freelancedom and Moral Ambiguity http://www.freelancedom.com/2009/05/04/freelancedom-and-moral-ambiguity/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:02:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jenn Mattern http://www.freelancedom.com/2009/05/04/freelancedom-and-moral-ambiguity/comment-page-1/#comment-1009 Jenn Mattern Tue, 05 May 2009 12:28:56 +0000 http://www.freelancedom.com/?p=575#comment-1009 It's definitely an interesting discussion. It's a hot topic at the moment in the PR industry as well - how much disclosure is enough, whether or not sponsored posts are okay, and what constitutes sponsorship (only cash payments, or do freebies have the same effect). All in all, I don't have a problem with sponsorships. For me it comes down to the ethics of the individual bloggers I read, and I think we're all capable of making choices as to whether or not to trust someone's reviews. My bigger issue is with companies to hand out freebies under the guise of blogger relations rather than calling it the content marketing / sponsorship that it is. I have a post on that topic at http://nakedpr.com/2009/04/27/want-to-buy-my-opinion-just-try-it/ which stemmed from Chris Brogan's recent piece on sponsored posts: http://www.chrisbrogan.com/i-support-the-future-of-sponsored-posts/ It's an interesting topic for sure, and one that seems to drive people to one side of that line or the other. I haven't quite lost my balance yet. ;) It’s definitely an interesting discussion. It’s a hot topic at the moment in the PR industry as well – how much disclosure is enough, whether or not sponsored posts are okay, and what constitutes sponsorship (only cash payments, or do freebies have the same effect). All in all, I don’t have a problem with sponsorships. For me it comes down to the ethics of the individual bloggers I read, and I think we’re all capable of making choices as to whether or not to trust someone’s reviews. My bigger issue is with companies to hand out freebies under the guise of blogger relations rather than calling it the content marketing / sponsorship that it is.

I have a post on that topic at http://nakedpr.com/2009/04/27/want-to-buy-my-opinion-just-try-it/ which stemmed from Chris Brogan’s recent piece on sponsored posts: http://www.chrisbrogan.com/i-support-the-future-of-sponsored-posts/

It’s an interesting topic for sure, and one that seems to drive people to one side of that line or the other. I haven’t quite lost my balance yet. ;)

]]> By: Steph Auteri http://www.freelancedom.com/2009/05/04/freelancedom-and-moral-ambiguity/comment-page-1/#comment-1003 Steph Auteri Mon, 04 May 2009 17:59:17 +0000 http://www.freelancedom.com/?p=575#comment-1003 Hey there Jenn! :) Sorry to oversimplify your thesis. I thought your topic -- and the discussion it generated -- were fascinating, and brought up some excellent points about credibility and the creation of content that benefits your readers. Sometimes, it feels like a fine line to walk. Hey there Jenn! :) Sorry to oversimplify your thesis. I thought your topic — and the discussion it generated — were fascinating, and brought up some excellent points about credibility and the creation of content that benefits your readers. Sometimes, it feels like a fine line to walk.

]]> By: Jenn Mattern http://www.freelancedom.com/2009/05/04/freelancedom-and-moral-ambiguity/comment-page-1/#comment-1002 Jenn Mattern Mon, 04 May 2009 17:52:32 +0000 http://www.freelancedom.com/?p=575#comment-1002 Just want to clarify - my post wasn't actually about whether or not receiving freebies as a blogger is wrong. It was specifically about whether or not bloggers should join a network solely for that purpose of actively saying "give me free stuff," and what that says to readers about a blogger's overall motivations. ;) There's a huge difference in my book between those bloggers who feel entitled and who cover things for freebies while never investing in review material on their own if they think it will be of value to readers, and those who have simply done a good enough job to attract PR folks with review copies on the merits of their blogs. Like I said in my original post - "If you want people to respect you and your opinion on your blog, build it up. Promote it. Build an engaged community of readers. Frankly, as a blogger, that’s your “job.” When you do your job, and do it well, you’ll see the perks." Just want to clarify – my post wasn’t actually about whether or not receiving freebies as a blogger is wrong. It was specifically about whether or not bloggers should join a network solely for that purpose of actively saying “give me free stuff,” and what that says to readers about a blogger’s overall motivations. ;) There’s a huge difference in my book between those bloggers who feel entitled and who cover things for freebies while never investing in review material on their own if they think it will be of value to readers, and those who have simply done a good enough job to attract PR folks with review copies on the merits of their blogs.

Like I said in my original post – “If you want people to respect you and your opinion on your blog, build it up. Promote it. Build an engaged community of readers. Frankly, as a blogger, that’s your “job.” When you do your job, and do it well, you’ll see the perks.”

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