When I posted my enthusiasm over Microsoft’s Office Workspace freebies, I worried I’d be viewed by you readers as selling something. Worse, when an MS employee stopped by to thank me, I felt like a real heel for even bringing it up, despite the fact that I was thrilled to pieces with what I’d found. I like these new products, so I went overboard in telling you guys. It does look advertorial, but I did warn you it would.
But it brings up a point about writers and other professionals who “sell out” – who join forces with companies or services and then start evangelizing or worse, feeding those companies clients. I brought up the MS stuff because it’s free. If it wasn’t, I’d tell you. I also think I mentioned my ongoing frustrations with Microsoft, which has resulted in a few Microsoft Sucks posts in the past. And more in the future, guaranteed. Frankly, if my husband weren’t anti-Apple and if it weren’t so damned complicated to switch, I’d be on an iMac. So I think I’m good.
But lately I keep coming across people who have indeed sold out. It makes me nauseous to see it, too. One blog, which used to be devoted to helping a writers avoid content mills, now accepts ad revenue from one and has softened the message on what’s acceptable pay. And the blog owner is taking a thrashing in the blogosphere for it. Another takes a “live and let live” stance, since the blog owner clearly works for one or two mills. So those in defense of lower-paying gigs may be doing so for a reason.
It’s why I’m thrilled that the FTC has put some parameters around such writing, requiring full disclosure (as well it should be anyway). It’s like that advertorial that pops up looking like Google News, when in fact it’s a company trying to sell its work-from-home scam. It’s framed to imply that Google is informing you, and maybe they are, about something that sounds mighty shady to this writer. When I saw writers posting “Hey, check this out!” I couldn’t believe someone would buy that crap. Then I had a disturbing thought – perhaps these “writers” are working for said company. In one case, I don’t believe so as it was posted on a closed writing forum. But in others, I wonder?
When you allow your opinions, your writing, or your actions toward your readers to be skewed by advertisers, free samples you’ve received, or anything that’s could be construed as a payoff, you lose your credibility. Your reputation, which is hard won and easily lost, is history. How can I believe anything again from someone who says one thing but does another?
I have a fashion-related blog. Recently I received jewelry from a manufacturer. I gave an honest appraisal, including the bad stuff, and mentioned the free gift in my post. To do otherwise is to cheat the reader. It’s why I won’t work for magazines that use only advertisers as “experts” to quote. Those aren’t magazines – they’re revolving advertisements that deceive their readers.
What instances of selling out have you seen?
I worry about paid reviews. It’s hard to tell if the person really believes in the product or if they’re posting only good things so they’ll get more paid review gigs or other benefits down the road.
I want to know the good, bad and the ugly about whatever product, service or company that I’m thinking about taking on. I’ll weigh in everything and make my own decision, but I don’t want to be led down the wrong road just because someone else makes a little dough off me.
That's what I worry too, Wendy. It's why the Consumer Reports model has worked so well for so many decades. They buy their own stuff and review it candidly. No advertisements, either (at least back when I subscribed). I feel the opinions there are the most objective. It's how I work, too (even though I've had to review dozens of software programs that were indeed sent to me for free). I want someone telling me the truth, not the paid version of some distant truth.
Yeah, I'm sick of these sites who claim to support fair pay for writers and then accept not just listings, but sponsorship from mill content sites. Can you say "hypocrite"? It has nothing to do with the writer having the right to make the choice of work — it's the same as the insurance industry paying lobbyists and congressmen to block health care reform – only at a higher rate.
I know lots of people are having fits about the FTC rules, but I'm glad for them.
As far as reviewing: I'm a paid reviewer for a major publication. They pay me to be honest.
I don't accept pay from individual authors or publishers to review their books. I've been approached, more than once, by someone who paid me to edit their manuscript to review the published book on Amazon and I refused. I was paid to work on it – it's a conflict of interest for me to then review it.
That's exactly how I would view it, Devon. If you're paying me to edit, fine. If you're paying me and expecting me to give your book a good review, forget it. I'm not compromising my integrity so you can sell a damn book.
I think the example you mentioned of the freelance writing blog owner who now accepts revenue from a content mill is the most obvious one I've seen lately.
The owner's defense is that this site is different because it pays a "livable" wage. So is that the best writers can expect now? If we're lucky enough to be hired, we can earn the same livable wage as a fast food worker? What ever happened to the idea that writers should be earning professional wages?
Well, we can expect her to defend her reputation yet again after one particular newsletter came out today. I don't know about you, but it made my day.
I'm not into bashing anyone. I certainly wish no harm to people who do this. I'm questioning the practice of selling out one's interests and loyalties to advertisers. While I don't condone it in the least, I don't know the motivations behind a move like that.
Krista, that's where these types of blog owners and writerly types and I part ways. I will never understand how $5, $10, $20 / article jobs is EVER a livable wage. In my opinion, it's not even ANY type of wage.
Devon and I discuss this topic offline a bit. I have to say I'm taking her stance on this more and more. Those who want to waste their time and talents working jobs clearly intended to benefit not the writer but the employer can do so. I'm opting for higher-paying work and more respect.
Hi Lori,
I agree with you. Those rates are terrible. I guess I interpreted "livable wage" to mean one that could provide you with the basic necessities of life. But, on second thought, a $5/article job probably wouldn't even keep a roof over your head in many parts of the world!
I have never done any paid reviews on my blog. I don't like my posts looking like a storefront. I will review concerts of friends etc…
I had heard on my local new the other night that bloggers are going to have to start disclosing the fact they are posting paid reviews or they will be fined. Now I cannot remember the exact amount but I think it was in the thousands of dollars.
I just saw a blog I visit daily which normally posts poetry, that's why I visit. Today they were selling a product for the holidays. So, I left without even commenting.
I have to say though I do have an affiliate program on my sidebar in addition to my own artfire shop, I don't like the affiliates in posts. I think readers run from those blogs.
One thing I'd never thought to disclose that now must be disclosed according to the new FTC guidelines is receiving a free book (or even an advance reading copy) to review. That is so standard in the industry, I just thought everyone knew reviewers are generally sent books for free.
Consumer Reports make its money from subscriptions, but my blog doesn't make me any money. I don't think it's a sell-out to accept a free book. However, I always post honest reviews. I don't write many reviews, but when I do, I give my honest opinion, both good and bad.
I wouldn't write a totally negative review, though. When anyone asks me to review a book or a product, I tell them I will write an honest review or if I absolutely hate it, I won't write a review at all. I don't like to trash books or products.
Only once have I ever declined to write a review. I received software that was supposed to make searches easier and more effective. I tried the product, and I didn't like it. I wrote the person who sent me the review copy and told him why I didn't like the product, but I did not post a review on my blog.
But now according to the FTC, I have to disclose I received that software. Of course, print publications are exempt from this FTC requirement. That doesn't seem quite right to me.
Lillie Ammann
A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye
Lillie, I agree with you. With books, it IS an industry-accepted practice to receive free books for review. And in my opinion, you are above reproach. 🙂
To comply with the requirement, you could maybe put a disclaimer at the top of your blog – something to the effect of "Any book reviewed here has been received for free by this writer and in no way does receiving the book guarantee a good review." I don't know if that's acceptable to the feds, but it's disclosure.
To be honest, I think we can smell it when someone's received something for free in return for a good review. At least I hope we can. I'm in the same conundrum – I review software. It's free to me, but I have no contact with the company beyond the PR person asking for my address. But if I review these online, I have to disclose that.
I don't think print publications are far behind this. In fact, it's been a practice for years that advertisers and editorial keep an arms-length relationship. Most (emphasis on not all) editors would defend to the death their right to objectivity. There's a bit more accountability to an editorial group than to an individual blogger. Not that deception doesn't occur in the print world, but that it's still shocking when it happens. That's an indicator. If someone were shocked that a blog post was biased or deceptive, we'd call them a fool.
Poetic Shutterbug, I wonder if the new rule will require us to take great care in writing our blogs? See, if an ad for a company pops up on my blog and I've written a post that puts that company in a positive light, not knowing that ad was showing up, am I breaking the law? That's quite a dangerous gray area, isn't it?
Gosh, I hope the reviews and contests I host on my site haven't made me lose my credibility. So far, I haven't come across anything I've reviewed that was truly awful. I've always shared with readers when I'm doing a sponsored review and I openly thank the company for sponsoring the review/contest. I've received books, foods, drinks, DVDs, etc. I have been approached to review products that I either don't believe in or feel that they don't have anything to do with the theme of my blog and what I'm trying to share with readers. I politely decline those offers.
I've never been paid to write a review, though. I've just received samples. And if it wasn't something I'd truly buy myself, I either wouldn't review it or I'd say so. The only thing I've found to be a "negative" on some of the things I've reviewed is that some readers might not enjoy the taste as much as I do. I'm used to taking strong, liquid herbal tonics and drinking earthy herbal teas so some drink powders or foods that I might enjoy, might taste odd (or even bad) to some of my readers who have been used to eating donuts or other processed foods, ya know? I just say something like I've just said about the fact I'm used to such tastes and that some of my readers may not enjoy it as much as I do.
Sorry for the lengthy comment!
But I do understand what you're saying about the writing sites. 😉
*smiles*
Michele
Michele, I think you're fine. In fact, I wonder how this will change things for publishing, which is an industry that often receives freebies to review? I think disclosing it as a general disclaimer at the top of the blog is a good idea. Such as this – "Products and services reviewed on this blog are free gifts received by the author, but are in no way meant to be payment for a good review. Nor will they ever be."
I'd also repeat a disclaimer in ever review post.
Phew! LOL
Well, I do include a disclaimer at the top of each review/contest post that it was sponsored (by so-and-so) and I thank them. And I do believe pretty much every time, I've also repeated myself at the end of the post and thanked the sponsor for sending samples, etc. So, I've tried to truly be open and honest about it all. I'd never, ever, consider hiding the fact I get samples to review!! I'm the type of person who shouts it from the rooftops across Social Media sites and on my blogs. hehehe 😉