The Ethics of Blogging for Money

Affiliate Marketing is often looked down upon by outsiders because of the unethical actions of a few bad apples. Bloggers who primarily Blog to promote Affiliate Ads are sometimes looked down upon for the same reason. Do they truly care about their niche or are they just blogging to make a quick buck? One of the first things you need to think about before you "Blog for Bucks" is your code of ethics - are you willing to promote a campaign simply for money?

It's certainly possible to throw ethics out the window and just focus on the bottom line, but is it the right choice for you? Do you want to create a real following and have a genuine connection with your readers? Or do you just see them as a means to an end? No matter what you may think, people will eventually see through to your true motives. Are you ready for the fallout when that happens?

Another thing you must think about is a disclosure statement. Do you have inappropriate or compromising relationship with one of the vendors you are promoting? It's wouldn't be fair to your readers for instance, if you ran a review site but worked for one of the companies you where covering. A full disclosure statement would be the right thing to do in a situation like this, and many reputable Blogs have one for the same reason I just covered.

I'm trying to be impartial as possible here, but I can't! The fact is I don't find any justification for pimping out your readership. You have to do right by your audience in order to last in any industry, and blogging is no different. Why churn through and "use" people to make a fast buck? It ruins your reputation and eliminates any chance of long term growth. Are you in it for the long haul or just for a quick buck?

I personally will not promote a advertiser simply because of a high payout - although I do favor higher payout offers in general. I prefer to research or trial use the high payout advertisers and promote their offers, if they have a real value to offer my audience. I've found this method let's me sleep comfortably at night and shows respect for the people have taken the time to read my blog or trust me with their email address.

Blogging for Money can be a slippery slope, but one that can be navigated correctly if you know your goals and motives. First you need to decide what your personal code of ethics is and adhere to it. I recommend prominently posting a full disclosure statement on your blog if you have any conflicts that you think may affect your view on a vendor or offer. Respect your readers too - don't simply post offers that offer a high payout for you with little or no ROI for them. You'll turn them off, and eventually word will spread that your full of garbage. Respect your audience and they will respect you back!

Quote this article on your site

To create link towards this article on your website,
copy and paste the text below in your page.

Preview :

The Ethics of Blogging for Money
Sunday, 04 January 2009