We’ve been turned down for lack of budget on some projects, but it’s ok. We have our bills to pay and deserve to make a living like everyone else.

Naomi Niless last blog post..Featured in Most Inspired

You can consider what ever you like as advertisement, and yes, if a blogger posts something, it is “like” an advertisement. However, one thing must be understood, with out the products that you write about, you would have no blog. It is that simple. The thinking that you are being exploited is just misguided. You may feel that way but you are not. Writers do not get paid to write, just because they write. And, they do not get paid to write by their subjects.

Figuring that a blogger is taking compensation for their writing, is actually misguided. There are thousands and thousands of blogs, and essentially you are working for yourself, as such you have to figure out some way to make money – but simply because you write one, is not enough. That is not blurry.

Yes, PR firms consider an article, a post a review, a feature “like” advertisements, however – placements like you are talking about, are never ever, never paid for by any PR firm. And if they do, they are a sketchy kind of firm, not one you would want to work with regardless. That is not foggy.

If you charge companies to put up a post about their items and the like, will you ever have a bad review? And if so why would someone approach you for that? As such are you only willing to review things that you are paid for? If so that somewhat tarnishes your credibility as a reviewer.

Go pick up a copy of any magazine, Lucky, Glamour, Elle, even Consumer Reports. Check out a website about your local town ( like a time out ny) they will write stories about new stores, new products, a new restaurant. Same thing, no one pays for that. The items written about are something a writer/editor had to find, or a publicist approached them, or an individual etc. It is not ever something a writer or a magazine ever pays for. Just because you are a blog on the internet, that is not where the differences in mediums rests. Again, no products no blog. No blog, the products still exist. Your “customer” is your reader, you need to find a way to keep them coming back. In some ways if there is exploitation, it would be towards the crafters/small business, (many of them underpaid moms) to charge them for posting their products.

Of course companies think your site is worth it, that is why they are approaching you, they are not taking advantage of you. If you have a site reviewing products, you need them. In turn, obviously they want to be on your site so they can reach your readers.

Think of it as a cycle. You need something to entertain and provide to your readers right? As such you need content. With out the content of the items you find, or the items that people “clog” your email box with – you would have nothing to provide your readers with. That is where the value of your site comes in. Give the people something they want to come for, then you can attract advertisers who pay. Those “rules” are no different, just because you are posting something on a web site.

You have a mention in a New York Times article, did that bring traffic to your site? Did you pay for that? Web, or print, that is the same thing. That is PR. You posted your site on this on this posting, that is PR. You are not taking advantage of anyone, you are wisely posting your site in a place where you think people will look.

If you want to have featured items on your site that people pay for, go for it. Sites like Shefinds.com has a blog where they review items, or you can pay to have featured items of the week. But even that is different than what you are discussing.

You should be asking people what it is worth to have something posted on your blog, then you can charge them for an actual advertisement. But if your site turns into a daily list of paid for reviews, the value of your credibility is pretty much shot.

Go to any magazine rack, pick up any magazine, Lucky, Glamour, Elle, etc. ANY piece, pick article written about an item, is not advertising, it is called an article or a pick. The items featured in those magazines, were placed there by a writer, who either received a tip, a release, or they found it. They were not paid to write an item. That would almost be bribery. Look at those magazines, if you see a page of items that seem like and advertisement, they will say so at the top of the page.

A blog that contends to write about items, is exactly the same thing. If you start to only write about things for which you were paid for, then you are in essence being “bought.” As such your reviews lose their meaning. Will you give a bad review to someone who paid you? No, of course not.

It is understood that you want to be compensated for your time. However, think of it as a cycle. You would not have a blog, with out the items you write about. That is almost the end of the story. But, as such, you need something to “review” to discuss. The service you are providing is for your readers. Yes of course this is “advertising” for the product, that is no secret, but face it, no product, no blog for you.

It need not be blurry. If you only write about things for which you were paid, you simply have no credibility. Look up any fashion blog, product blog, the things that are discussed in the actual blog, are not items that the author was paid to write about.
And you are correct, PR firms do consider those placements “press” and “advertising” though technically promotion. However, NEVER ever ever do they pay for it. A publicist for a band, does not pay a blog writer, paper or any kind of reviewer a fee to review that album. Instead you have to write about things, that people want to read, just like Oprah has to write about things you want to read, just like Rolling Stone has to review albums you want to know about. As such, people go to your blog, people buy your magazine – AND then companies PAY for advertising. Then you make your money. Yet again, no product review, no blog.
A blog in that sense is not different.

Your posts are valuable to your readers and your advertisers and yes the product creators that you review…but it is the products you need, and you have to be good at it, in order to get those stats.
If every person who has a blog reviewing items is waiting to get paid like that….they would be misguided.

If you want to feature an item and have a fee for that kind of feature, go ahead – that happens all the time. But to just be on your site. No.

I’m sorry but that is just a kind of common sense.

YES IT IS considering an “advertisement” however it is not an advertising item. It bears repeating again, no items, no blog. Maybe you should consider charging your readers for the valuable time you take to review, find, and write? Just like a magazine? Not likely but in essence it is they that you do the work for.

http://blog.stylehive.com/index.php – no fee blog

http://shefinds.com/blog/ – no fee
http://shefinds.com/content/advertising/ advertising opps vs. press placements

Kristen’s last blog post..Guest Post By Social Media Dad, Jeff Quipp, From Search Engine People

Writer’s don’t get paid by the people, or things they write about, so whether you are a mommy or a daddy blogger is a irrelevant. If a blog is so great and worthy to be on, then show us, why it is worth it to pay to be on your blog. It is not the freelance that is the issue, it is what are you doing?
Advertising pays people. Just because you write something, does not mean I or anyone should pay you!

Just because a professional or non professional writes a blog – if you have zero stats that anyone reads your blog, then it is great that you are doing it, but should you get paid for it?
That is a different point that being undervalued or underpaid. Let’s be clear about what we are asking to get paid for!

Many people are underpaid for doing far great things ( nurses, social workers, teachers etc)

I have to wonder about this in the blog market though. A post is much more valuable then an advertisment button. A post on a successful blog is advertisment. It stays in the search engines, it can be linked to, blogged about and continually read. A banner or a button for three months doesn’t get nearly as much attention and after three months it is gone.

I wonder if a successful blogger should be asking you, what is it worth to you to have us post about you on our blog?
If PR get sent to our inbox and we can choose to post about them or not and comment on them all we like, good or bad…why can’t a blogger consider that advertisment? PR firms and companies sure the heck do. I think that this is where the traditional form of advertisment, marketing and PR are getting all mixed up. It is different on a blog. If a blogger has the stats and has the readers and great content their posts should also be considered very valuable, that’s why the PR was sent!

I’d love some clarification on all of this, if someone has it. It all seems blurry. I just know that if I love a blog and trust the author I value their post whether it is paid PR or not. I figure that they took compenstation for their time to write that post (which they probably going to do for free anyhow), promote that post and their blog. I read more posts than I click on banners or buttons and companies know that…that’s why we get so many PR in our inboxes. Aren’t we being taken advantage in this respect too?

Sommer’s last blog post..Crayon Recycling

MM’s last blog post..Gulp.

Just because a professional or non professional writes a blog – if you have zero stats that anyone reads your blog, then it is great that you are doing it, but should you get paid for it?
That is a different point that being undervalued or underpaid. Let’s be clear about what we are asking to get paid for!

Many people are underpaid for doing far great things ( nurses, social workers, teachers etc)

Sommer’s last blog post..BabyLegs sprinkles some green love!

Yet… what are your thoughts about raising rates in relation to the current economy?

Lynette Chandler’s last blog post..Where To Find Music You Can Use For Free

It’s tough to be a freelancer today because of the increased competition worldwide. Still the same people that complain about writers charging cheap rates have no problem using free photos or $1.00 istock images. Wordpress templates can be found for free, leaving artists struggling to compete the same way writers are.

In the end, offer a good product at a reasonable price and sell, sell, sell. Carve yourself a niche and find your own little corner of the business world.