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Blog post: PayPerPost is a great new way to lose your credibility as a blogger

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mouser:
Interesting post about an issue we have discussed before here, companies paying people to write positive reviews.

This is of course a problem in all writing and review sites.  Everyone please remember as always to disclose any financial or reciprocal relationship you might have that is in any way related to any software or service you review or recommend!


PayPerPost is a great new way to lose your credibility as a blogger - the service will pay you to write reviews of new products and services. Advertisers post “opportunities” on the site - they can specify whether the post should have pictures, and even request a positive review. That last part really crosses the line, and it’s sure to destroy any credibility you have as a writer. PayPerPost will pay more if you have a high-trafficked blog, but anyone who has spent time building up an audience would be crazy to take part.

Ted Murphy, the founder of PayPerPost, has actually been at this for a while - his BlogStar Network used to contact bloggers via email and pay them $5 to $10 per post. Positive reviews were encouraged. He sees the new system as a way to streamline the process.

PayPerPost is a terrible, terrible idea and totally unethical. But I know this stuff has been going on for a long time. Every so often, you’ll see a spate of blog comments around the blogosphere that promote certain brands - they call them “buzz” campaigns. Paying for posts is a natural evolution. And while no serious content creators will take them up on the offer, I’m deeply concerned they’ll tap into the long-tail of unethical bloggers, polluting the Google results and fooling unsuspecting readers.

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http://mashable.com/2006/06/30/payperpost-bribes-bloggers-for-posts/

mouser:
techcrunch jumps on with some cleats as well:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/30/payperpostcom-offers-to-buy-your-soul/

and links additionally to:
http://jeremiahthewebprophet.blogspot.com/2006/06/mindcomet-launches-blogger-mercenary.html
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_28/b3992034.htm


again:
DonationCoder.com is based on the idea of people talking about software they love.  and we also welcome authors to talk about their work.  so there is nothing wrong with lavishing praise on programs you like.  but you MUST, absolutely *MUST* make clear any relation or appearance of conflict of interest that you might have with a company whose software you are writing about.  And we welcome authors telling us about their software and how great it is, they just have to make clear they are talking about their own work.

housetier:
Yes HONESTY is very important. Do what you have to do, but be honest about it.

mouser:
interesting blog defending payperpost:

http://www.prblogging.com/new-media-news/i-like-ted-murphy-or-why-i-still-dont-like-mike-arrington/

housetier:
Somehow that blogpost wasn't really persuasive... To me it sounded like "don't listen to that guy, because he is a dork" repeated several times. Maybe I was too sceptical in mind to listen to Mr. Krug's "reasoning".

But calling names in a non-humorous way disqualifies the speaker. It is so very easy to start a flame war; it's a good way to get attention. But it is also a cheap way. But maybe I am prejudiced and don't want to see his points beyond the ranting...

Point is:
Professional blogger or not, paid blogger or not: Name-calling does not carry much weight.

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