We are still in the dark ages.
Of blogging, I mean.
We are fighting to emerge, grow and expand toward the light.
We are trying to claw our way to the opening of the tunnel.
Fill in whatever cliche you want here that depicts what bloggers are trying to accomplish.
We keep being held back.
As bloggers, we are NEVER going to be taken seriously if we keep giving ourselves away for free.
It’s NOT OK anymore to do reviews if there isn’t some sort of compensation for you, the blogger. Even if it’s just tickets (which, I guess counts as something) to the event your pimping out for free on your blog.
OK, listen up.
Your blog?
Let’s say it’s the movie screen before the movie comes on. You know what I’m talking about, right? When local dentists advertise wide white smiles and the local vet says he’ll neuter for $89 during the summer months.
Let’s consider for a moment that your blog is a billboard on the side of a widely traveled part of the highway or even a not so widely traveled part. But whatever.
Let’s pretend that your little web real estate is a commercial or radio ad.
Only, our blogs have the potential to reach more than any of those avenues. Because, the billboard is only seen by those who drive by. The radio or tv ad, only if you’re viewing at that particular moment. AND…the pre-movie ad…well, you get it now, right?
Excuse me while I yell this…
NOT ONE OF THOSE ARE FREE RESOURCES.
Not a single one.
Advertising costs a pretty penny and it has fairly limited reach, or so it seems to me in my laymen life.
Blogs? Reach farther. Yeah, it’s pretty proven. Why do you think our PR friends are knocking so loudly on our doors?
Your ad or blog post…it stays on your blog forever, unless you happen to delete it.
Your link? Is tweeted, retweeted numerous times, shared/liked on Facebook.
Let’s face it, we’re limitless.
We expand the globe.
We roar and everyone trembles.
WE CAUSE EARTHQUAKES.
OK, so maybe I’m being dramatic.
It comes down to this question.
Why are you giving away such valuable advertising space for free?
I don’t get it.
It’s almost like you don’t respect yourself enough. Well, that’s how it translates to me.
I respect you though. I do.
I get giveaways, SORT OF. Because you get a tangible product that you can use…sometimes. Listen, I have a shoebox FULL of vibrators. BTW…anyone want them? But, my point…back when I was doing reviews, those were my payment.
I thought it was cool at the time. Now? Not so much but that will be a post for the other place.
It’s time to put our feet down.
If your proud of your blog and stand by your writing…
Think like Stuart Smalley…
You’re good enough. Your reach is far enough. Your blog is awesome. You write well enough. And goddamnit, people should pay you.
Stop doing it for free.
It’s ruining it for those of us who consider blogging their business.
Let’s prove that our worth is the same as traditional means.
Say NO MORE to FREE ADVERTISING.
Be the cow. Not the milk.
Thank you.
I always get something out of what I review or giveaway. The only time I’m resentful is when PR folks act like they’re doing me a favor by providing me with the OPPORTUNITY to do a giveaway, when it’s actually quite a bit of work and a pain in the butt. I am so glad to see more bloggers being choosy about what they will do on their blogs and what they will accept.
Mary@Everyday Baby Steps´s last blog post ..You Could Win a 1000 Walmart Gift Card From Salsa Senations
Loved the SNL reference back from when it was actually funny. lol.
Lady Estrogen´s last blog post ..Tuesday Tunes- Shake Tramp
Yes. Right on, Melissa. I won’t do it, not even once.
MomZombie´s last blog post ..I am …
I am the cow! Hear me mooooooo!
Seriously, beautiful post and very much what a lot of us have been needing to hear for a long time!
Audrey at Barking Mad´s last blog post ..Trying Something New – Question of the Day
Why is the product you are reviewing not good enough compensation? I ask simply because I do reviews, and most of the companies I write for don’t pay me a dime. I just get said product for free. It never occurred to me that I should ask for monetary compensation.
I have had this conversation more times than I can count. If you have ever worked for yourself or in any sort of position where you bill for your time you view things very differently.
There are products that are worth enough to me to serve as compensation, but that is a case by case basis.
Jack´s last blog post ..Post Superbowl Sunday Reading List
Loved this post Melissa. I think it is especially great for those who are right on the cusp of taking their blog one step further.
Shana´s last blog post ..A day out & about
Amen! I have a high fee and you get what you pay for. If you can’t afford me 1. Don’t ask 2. You don’t want the best 3. You don’t take my services seriously, and so, perhaps, you don’t take THEIR value to YOUR business seriously, and by that you are not serious about your own business.
Why is the product not enough? It is, but only for a review. Not for REAL PR. Like – do my Facebook page or website for free, Can you change this on my Twitter for me? Can you help me place an ad for my website on this other site? Can you do this thing on my computer? Will you update this for me every week? Do you know how to yada yada for me.
The product is fine ONLY for the honest review.
And of course with the blogger must reveal it was given something in exchange for the review it does not always do the product any good. It used to when people thought it was an honest opinion. I review things on my site that I actually use and have not been asked or compensated to review. So no reveal necessary.
If I say go here or use this or read that then I actually spent my time and money and enjoyed whatever it was.
Now having said all this – I do barter trade services occasionally and I still help out friends, but not often, and if I offer it is usually once and if you don’t take me up on it and appreciate it then it “won’t happen again”.
Juanita´s last blog post ..If you teach someone critical thinking they might question………… via @jchronowski47
I was recently asked to do a review. I told the person my price. The person responded that I was expected to do it for free because my blog was little. Okay, so, yeah, my reach isn’t huge…but that’s why I don’t charge very much. But I *do* charge, because *I* still have to put work into it. My time is still worth something, and my blog, while comparatively small, does have reach.
If you’re a small business, sometimes you do some work for free to “get your foot in the door,” or to have something to add to your portfolio. That’s different than schlepping big brand’s stuff for free on your blog. What do you get in return? You don’t have anything to add to your portfolio, and it isn’t a foot in the door to something bigger. Instead, you’re just letting someone take advantage of you.There’s no business savvy in that.
Michele – The Professional Family Manager´s last blog post ..Why We Need to Sweat the Small Stuff
Ha! I have a post in draft about the milk and the cow and blogging!
Yours was great…will need to go take mine from a different angle!
gigi´s last blog post ..Questioning Your Blogging
Great article.
What type of traffic flow are people looking for to consider being a sponsor on a blog, or compensating you for reviews? I just started my blog four months ago, but am gaining a lot of momentum. I don’t want to appear foolish and approach someone too early.
Also, what about giveaways? If you are giving away a creative bloggers work, should they offer it for free, or should you buy it in return for them promoting your giveaway?
Thanks!
Angela
Angela DiGiovanni | Living Out Loud´s last blog post ..Regular Flirting Brings Magic Into Marriage
You know, I’m glad that bloggers are putting on their business hats and I’m glad that they are providing enough value that they can ask for payment – and get it. But I don’t like it that you are trying to tell me how to blog lest I ruin it for everyone else. On my blog, yea, MY blog – I’m going to publish what I want to publish and I’m going to do it for free…or not. Cause I don’t wanna be the cow. I want to be me.
Heather´s last blog post ..Are Consumers Stupid Why is This OK
Here’s the thing: a review isn’t an ad. We earn money…through ads, through sponsored contests, running events, ambassadorships, etc. But a real review is your objective opinion, not an ad. If you are posting an advertorial with text from the advertiser, then yes, you should definitely charge.
If you want to charge a fee to review, that’s up to you…but reviewing for “free” (I make money from other sources) isn’t the same as advertising for free.
And to the person who asked if samples are compensation… IMO, no. They are samples for review, not payment.
Candace´s last blog post ..What Mom Wants- A Good Night’s Sleep
Uhm. No. A REVIEW should NEVER be compensated (receiving a product to review is technically not compensation – it’s a TOOL to allow you to write your review). Reviews are content for your site. Content brings in readers. Readers allow you to bring in advertising, paid campaigns, and ambassadorships. A compensated review is merely an ad masquerading as content. It’s the sort of thing that ruins our credibility and makes the FTC take notice. The flip is that you can’t REVIEW something if you haven’t experienced it. So if you’re writing about an event that you aren’t attending, yeah, you should be paid. That’s just plain advertising.
Christy @morethanmommy´s last blog post ..Happy Valentine’s Day to Me and You from the Disney Store
If there’s budget enough for the publicist there’s budget enough for the blogger.
Jessica´s last blog post ..I Taught My Daughter to Park the Car
Loved reading this. I’m a somewhat new blogger and have been trying to think about what I want to charge for PR on my blog. I have done giveaways, reviews, things like that. But those have been smaller companies and I like getting some free stuff. But if a big brand name came to me and asked me to promote their goodies, you better believe I’ll be charging.
What I don’t get is how some bloggers are all hush hush on the whole charge things, why not help people out, especially us little bloggers.
MOOOOOOOO!!!! Thanks for empowering me to charge!
Well said! I’m getting ready to put ads on my blog soon. 🙂 it’s a step.