For the past few years, have been quiet about issues even if already attacked (directly or indirectly) because of the belief that each one of us are entitled to an opinion.
However, things are now reaching a point where an increasing number of blog posts and feedback are being sent to me by industry peers for comment and clarification. Most of these looked down upon on bloggers - especially the new ones and those who get paid to blog.
Have also helped out blog communities and partly affected when the main players, whom I have met personally, get into a stage of misunderstanding where those who are not involved or unaware (such as newbie bloggers, supporters, and sponsors) get dragged.
To relieve me of stress and heartaches, yes it hurts, this is a post that I shall update and send whenever I get asked to comment.
1. Identity building
It takes time for bloggers to build their identity. Most of them don't know anyone popular who will tag them along and give them link love. The effort of going out of their own way to establish an identity should be recognized or appreciated. This is done by joining contests, attending events, among others. That is also how link love is earned naturally.
If you give them a story, they can write about it. At times, surprisingly, there are events that have no story value at all or failed to get the point. Then we have to work harder to make sure the output desired is achieved.
2. Freebies and giveaways
In 1997, I decided to become a freelance writer, web publisher, and start attending media events where I got tagged or found about. Stories get published in my Microsoft-Word created Infotech site (blogs were not really high tech yet then). All I get from attending were free food and give-aways. Today, yes, I still love freebies and giveaways. And yes, I look forward to them. By attending these events and writing stories, was able to start getting stints to contribute to publications. The work I post in my Infotech site eventually paved the way to cover international events in U.S., Spain, Malaysia, among others. All expenses paid but no pocket money provided. I write the stories for free because I love it. Had a lot of bloopers, mistakes, and intrigue as well.
Bloggers don't get paid at all unless they are affiliated with a network that pays them. Or they have regular advertisers in their site that pays on a monthly basis. Attending blogger events is an expense. There is nothing wrong if they will get excited receiving a nice freebie or give-away.
Although some brag about it, you can't blame them. The least we can do as peers is just remind them not to - avoiding misinterpretation by readers.
Apart from the good story, the food and freebies make it also worth the while. Of course, there are some who attend events for their own agenda and don't need your free food and freebies especially those who are well-off and has a blog for an outlet of their thoughts.
At the end of the day, bloggers can't be generalized and no one has any right to say who is superior and who is not. Even this post, take it with a grain of salt. Don't count on it. Use your own practical judgment.
I'm biased as I knew how it felt to start with nothing - that when you go out for the day, the only money you have is good for transportation. Where the only source of meal is the event that you will attend for the day. So if you believe those who frown upon bloggers who are just beginning to attend events and excited with your freebies, then you are no different from them. (and I'm reminded to be thankful for not being discriminated during those times)
3. Blogspots, Multiply, and other free domains
Just because a blogger doesn't have its own domain, uses a free hosting site, and with a simple template, it doesn't make them any less of value. The same goes to those who have a domain, PageRank, custom template, brand, and traffic. It doesn't make them righteous to look down on others.
You have to give newbies time to evolve, grow, and reach their potential. Supposedly, bloggers help each other and give link love to those they meet in events. We are here to pull each other up and not to drag anyone down.
It hurts me when I get clients who seek consulting advise for plans that immediately rules out newbies for what they read or were told. It is so unfair especially if I knew how these people started (and lucky for being affiliated with the famous ones or have a popular name to begin with) or don't need a blog to earn a living or to make a name for themselves. Some would even have the nerve to refer to themselves as role models.
4. Paid post bloggers (updated 5/27/2009)
There are some who bash bloggers for non-disclosed paid blog post and even try to teach their audience on how to spot it as if something sinful was committed. I find that to be very arrogant and blind self-righteous for the following reasons:
- Most paid blog post are basically paid for the link (contextualize in a feature). The opinion of the blogger is still theirs and is not swayed to the point of lying to the readers.
- On the issue of disclosure, that is the discretion of the client and the blogger accepting the assignment. We can debate about it forever but in the end it is a private transaction agreed by parties. It is even more straight out in my opinion.
Why? Do bloggers who claim not to engage in paid blog post declare the expensive meals, gifts or tokens, travel, sponsorship, and give-aways that they got (and compute its equivalent value) in relation to the events or topics they write about? Majority don't. Worst, some even attend the event and/or accept all the gifts / tokens/ give-aways without writing about it because they believe "it is not an obligation". But in the end, companies didn't spend that much money not to hope for something in return (usually at P1500 - P3000 per blogger).
Some have consulting stints and are already advertisers in their site, then they write about it. Do they say, "by the way, this entity is my client" or "this entity has given me a (gadget)"? Some also get paid P4k up to do one blog post and promotions.
Who is much fairer now? What is transparency really about? Or in the end, as long as we write truthfully and do not mislead our audience (even if some got paid or received expensive tokens) is the one that really matters? Again, we can debate about it forever.
It can lift them up or bring them down. It's their risk. It's their choice. No one has the right to pass judgment on such practices. I believe in the concept of "mind your own business". It is sad when some can't just seem to respect that and to think that they are well-to-do with their income stature in the first place.
Those who are well-off with advertisers lining up for their site, then all the best to you. Bravo. But please don't insinuate your practice that such is the only right way to do it. Don't impose your standards to others.
This is the reason when I hear negative comments on blog marketing and paid post, I take it with a grain of salt. Especially, if I'm aware on how those who lambast upfront or through blind item earn from this space.
Due to competition and recognition of market to more players, an advertiser now has more choices than before. This affects those who commands a hefty fee for campaigns, events, and post that they do on their site or for the projects they run. In short, it is eating on their income and therefore hurts.
They can either become more competitive, or create intrigues, or worst take the industry down with them. Although I think for the majority who are spectators in these instances, tend to be amused - seeing these actions as inevitable consequence for not evolving.
Practical tips in becoming an influential blogger by Janette Toral
View more presentations from Janette Toral.
5. Group politics (updated 8/1/2010)
As bloggers get more organized, groups or communities are also formed. Some are open enough to let anyone join while some have a screening process. As groups grow, politics comes with the territory. Arguments and misunderstanding arises resulting to fall-outs. Some do so quietly while some flaunt it publicly.
Being part of a group requires members having trust in one another. Ground rules are established right from the start that includes your do's and don'ts to avoid subjective point-of-views clashing later on.
Encountered bloggers from certain locations and when asked, "why aren't you a member of this group?" Answers received includes:
- "It is too elite. Parang sila-sila lang."
- "Ayoko masali sa away-away nila."
- "Attended a meeting and they started lambasting a specific blogger whom I have high respect for."
(The phrase "we're friends" is oftentimes taken lightly. But real friendship survive conflicts and help one another even at their weakest point. This is my bias on group politics.)
6. Name calling and exclusion
It is sad that we have reached the point of discriminating bloggers based on the platform they use, putting a collective name to newbie bloggers attending events (who are still finding their way in the blogosphere), and those who get paid to blog. It is different when it is just a joke and when it gets micro-blogged or blogged. Regardless of your perceived peers' weaknesses, no one has the right to give labels to anyone. Of course, there are some who enjoys (even if they don't admit) being tagged as belonging to the "elite".
I guess this is the compounding result of letting one blog post (or microblog update/discussion) after the other pass, for the past years, without giving any solid counter-reaction that may have implied the negative assumptions as valid. Then others pick-up and catch-on resulting to chaos.
Blog Marketing Panel at the Digital Ripple: 4th Internet and Mobile Marketing Summit 2010
View more presentations from Janette Toral.
7. Blog marketing industry competition (August 22, 2010)
This segment is currently evolving. Some challenges:
- Early and current blog advertising networks combined display advertising, public relation story pitch, one-on-one, contest, events (big or intimate), blogger management (some are exclusive) as part of their blog communication strategy.
- Players who may have dominated the market earlier were outperformed by competition. Some closed, move on, realign, while others reinvent or evolve.
- Big number of bloggers will be boasted by blog networks (whether it is Nuffnang, Blogbank, Mad Crowd Media, Red Sight Media). Although in most blog networks, only 10% to 20% are getting 80% of the display ads or campaigns and getting paid.
- Companies offering blog marketing will find themselves up against new entities and individual blog consultants bidding for projects. Because at the end of the day, I observed it is about the size of one's network, service fee, turnaround time, and your relationship with the influential players in it.
- Individual bloggers-turned-to-consultants who are focused, determined, and invest in their assets can evolve and form their own formal or informal blog network.
- Those who are savvy in harnessing social and gaming resources online where target readers can be attracted, offer unique campaign experience, will have greater chances of success.
I have more to say but I will just update this post as the need arises.
