Strong online presence is important for businesses (even individuals) in today's high-speed and competitive world. Blogs have already become fifth ‘P’ marketing mix. Marketers and PR people are blogging for their concerns, organizations, products, ideas and or for other organizational goals and achieving. They are also using army of free lance bloggers (external bloggers ) to write about them and or their concerns through sponsorship; paid blogging, sponsored conversations. Controversy still surrounds sponsored conversation though.
There’s also an argument that bloggers (and other social media users) sell out their audiences by accepting advertising and not producing content that is clear and free of undue influence.
US Federal Trade Commission’s recent proposed updates to the “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” (to both protect consumers and ensure free market competition) has regenerated the discussion around paid blogging or sponsored conversation as Ted Murphy (of IZEA) rightly call them. The proposed updates include examples and language that directly affect anyone working with bloggers who write for a fee.
Comparing the cost of marketing, exponentially growing users’ base engaging in reading blogs, and streams of affordable sponsored conversation gives and buzz they create in online world, chances are that promotion through paid blogging will stay. Chances also are that sponsored blog writing model will mature and rules will evolve over time.
That said; tell me what you think of paid blogging as an authentic promotion tool for corporate sector?