Comments on: Sponsored Ensight Posts? http://www.ensight.org/2004/08/06/sponsored-ensight-posts/ I'm The Boss @ netmobs, past CEO of b5media, author of Blog Marketing and a hardcore Canadian Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:46:26 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Kat http://www.ensight.org/2004/08/06/sponsored-ensight-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-2715 Kat Thu, 12 Aug 2004 18:37:08 +0000 /?p=1258#comment-2715 I agree with VodkaFish <i>"This is no different then magazines and online magazines doing reviews."</i> I think its a great idea (might even try it myself down the road). I say go-for-it! I agree with VodkaFish “This is no different then magazines and online magazines doing reviews.”

I think its a great idea (might even try it myself down the road).

I say go-for-it!

]]> By: Lord [at] PulseToday.com http://www.ensight.org/2004/08/06/sponsored-ensight-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-2670 Lord [at] PulseToday.com Tue, 10 Aug 2004 03:14:09 +0000 /?p=1258#comment-2670 Jeremy! I already had voted yes for this thing... I have personally tried it and found it effective. Give it a try. Jeremy! I already had voted yes for this thing… I have personally tried it and found it effective. Give it a try.

]]> By: Heather's http://www.ensight.org/2004/08/06/sponsored-ensight-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-2669 Heather's Tue, 10 Aug 2004 00:18:02 +0000 /?p=1258#comment-2669 <strong>re: </strong> re:

]]> By: Peter Davis http://www.ensight.org/2004/08/06/sponsored-ensight-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-2666 Peter Davis Mon, 09 Aug 2004 19:36:01 +0000 /?p=1258#comment-2666 This reminds me of the infomercials on late at night. They pose as real TV shows, but they do admit at the beginning that they're paid advertising. Perhaps you can call these paid blog posts "blogomercials" (now you have to cite me if you use that term, lol. This reminds me of the infomercials on late at night. They pose as real TV shows, but they do admit at the beginning that they’re paid advertising. Perhaps you can call these paid blog posts “blogomercials” (now you have to cite me if you use that term, lol.

]]> By: VodkaFish http://www.ensight.org/2004/08/06/sponsored-ensight-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-2665 VodkaFish Mon, 09 Aug 2004 18:18:14 +0000 /?p=1258#comment-2665 This is no different then magazines and online magazines doing reviews. I think you should take on some of their mentality. For one thing, cash is needed, and when it's not "needed" it sure as hell doesn't make things harder. Another is - you don't always have to do it for cash, you can do it for product. "Want me to review your product? Send it". Think of video game reviews from all the major sites. They send them multiple copies of games, and some bonus toys. Games can still get canned, but hey - it got reviewed. It got some press, some people read about it, and they might be curious enough to try it now no matter what. If I manufactured something tech-related I'd probably send out a whole bunch of products to many magazines and sites to let them review and get my product name out there. I'm not in the position, but I'd assume I'd possibly even pay a few places for it if they were large enough; or I'd just tell them to put it on Ebay later ;) Good luck! This is no different then magazines and online magazines doing reviews. I think you should take on some of their mentality. For one thing, cash is needed, and when it’s not “needed” it sure as hell doesn’t make things harder. Another is – you don’t always have to do it for cash, you can do it for product. “Want me to review your product? Send it”. Think of video game reviews from all the major sites. They send them multiple copies of games, and some bonus toys. Games can still get canned, but hey – it got reviewed. It got some press, some people read about it, and they might be curious enough to try it now no matter what.

If I manufactured something tech-related I’d probably send out a whole bunch of products to many magazines and sites to let them review and get my product name out there. I’m not in the position, but I’d assume I’d possibly even pay a few places for it if they were large enough; or I’d just tell them to put it on Ebay later ;)

Good luck!

]]> By: Jeremy C. Wright http://www.ensight.org/2004/08/06/sponsored-ensight-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-2663 Jeremy C. Wright Mon, 09 Aug 2004 16:48:56 +0000 /?p=1258#comment-2663 Except that Fark wasn't telling people it was advertising. To me, that's the key. I've just solicited a test round of 2-3 advertisers, so we'll see how it goes. Based on the feedback of users during and after this will decide if I continue to do it. Except that Fark wasn’t telling people it was advertising. To me, that’s the key.

I’ve just solicited a test round of 2-3 advertisers, so we’ll see how it goes. Based on the feedback of users during and after this will decide if I continue to do it.

]]> By: Rich...! http://www.ensight.org/2004/08/06/sponsored-ensight-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-2656 Rich...! Sun, 08 Aug 2004 13:22:45 +0000 /?p=1258#comment-2656 Just look at the trouble it got farc.com into...! Just look at the trouble it got farc.com into…!

]]> By: Nathan http://www.ensight.org/2004/08/06/sponsored-ensight-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-2652 Nathan Sat, 07 Aug 2004 18:25:38 +0000 /?p=1258#comment-2652 Someone offered $2500 for Ensight? Isn't it a personal blog though? Sorry to off topic ;) I think the ads are fine. Offer a paid service that removes the ads, if people want it - but don't make some posts paid... I like reading your blog, I don't mind ads, and I wouldn't want to pay. Just my 2 cents. Someone offered $2500 for Ensight? Isn’t it a personal blog though? Sorry to off topic ;)

I think the ads are fine. Offer a paid service that removes the ads, if people want it – but don’t make some posts paid… I like reading your blog, I don’t mind ads, and I wouldn’t want to pay. Just my 2 cents.

]]> By: Jeremy C. Wright http://www.ensight.org/2004/08/06/sponsored-ensight-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-2633 Jeremy C. Wright Sat, 07 Aug 2004 03:10:49 +0000 /?p=1258#comment-2633 One thing I'd like to make clear: the charity spot isn't an ad. It isn't paid for. It's not for sale. It's me supporting charities I feel are worthwhile. Charities are free to drop me an email if they want to be considered... But ultimately it'll be the charity I feel is most 'deserving'. I've already got the next one picked. As far as this issue... I'd really like to hear from more readers. It's a new thing. I understand the dangers, but I also feel they can be avoided. It wouldn't be "my opinion for sale" as I feel I'd only be doing it for companies I believed in who's products or services I had tried or used. The posts would be clearly marked and linked back to an informational "what is this" type of post. I guess a good analogy is this. My new hosting company. I love them. I've already helped sell half a dozen accounts because I believe in them. If they approached me for one of these I'd say yes because they fit all the criteria. But... Even if they didn't I'd probably write about them at some point. I can't say every advertiser will have that level of glea. Hell, some I might even outright criticize. But when you're paying for a blogger to give his opinion on your product... You get his opinion. I guess that's what this idea boils down to. Not telling someone what to write, what angle to take or how to drive traffic... But paying a blogger to give his opinion (something I know I'm quite happy to do). Not sure if that drivel made any more sense though ;-) Again, thanks for your ideas guys, and keep them coming! I'm planning to keep posting light this weekend so this doesn't get buried quickly. One thing I’d like to make clear: the charity spot isn’t an ad. It isn’t paid for. It’s not for sale. It’s me supporting charities I feel are worthwhile. Charities are free to drop me an email if they want to be considered… But ultimately it’ll be the charity I feel is most ‘deserving’. I’ve already got the next one picked.

As far as this issue…

I’d really like to hear from more readers. It’s a new thing. I understand the dangers, but I also feel they can be avoided. It wouldn’t be “my opinion for sale” as I feel I’d only be doing it for companies I believed in who’s products or services I had tried or used.

The posts would be clearly marked and linked back to an informational “what is this” type of post.

I guess a good analogy is this. My new hosting company. I love them. I’ve already helped sell half a dozen accounts because I believe in them. If they approached me for one of these I’d say yes because they fit all the criteria.

But…

Even if they didn’t I’d probably write about them at some point.

I can’t say every advertiser will have that level of glea. Hell, some I might even outright criticize. But when you’re paying for a blogger to give his opinion on your product… You get his opinion.

I guess that’s what this idea boils down to. Not telling someone what to write, what angle to take or how to drive traffic… But paying a blogger to give his opinion (something I know I’m quite happy to do).

Not sure if that drivel made any more sense though ;-)

Again, thanks for your ideas guys, and keep them coming! I’m planning to keep posting light this weekend so this doesn’t get buried quickly.

]]> By: Andrew Tomaka http://www.ensight.org/2004/08/06/sponsored-ensight-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-2631 Andrew Tomaka Sat, 07 Aug 2004 02:50:27 +0000 /?p=1258#comment-2631 David makes a valid point. The reason that blogs differ from other sorts of news media is that they aren't tip toeing through the tulips. The opinions represented here, tough biased, are those from an individual. Once you start bringing on sponsorship posts, you're stepping in the direction of those larger media companies that do have to watch their steps at every turn. It's really an interesting idea though and if I were in a place to make a decision like it, I'm not sure which way I'd go. If you think you can make it work, go for it! David makes a valid point. The reason that blogs differ from other sorts of news media is that they aren’t tip toeing through the tulips. The opinions represented here, tough biased, are those from an individual. Once you start bringing on sponsorship posts, you’re stepping in the direction of those larger media companies that do have to watch their steps at every turn.

It’s really an interesting idea though and if I were in a place to make a decision like it, I’m not sure which way I’d go. If you think you can make it work, go for it!

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