There is a MASSIVE debate raging on the internet over whether people should be paid to post blogs that are selling different items. Those on one side say that there is great money to be made, and those on the other side say that it is disgusting to see. Here's my take, pros and cons.
First of all, it is absolutely not easy to read. It's also not easy to write. At least not for me. Sure, I can turn them out quickly, but that doesn't make it easy. I battle with myself over whether I should try to find something positive to say about a company I don't care for. And that's where I draw the line. There are some that require you to write something positive about it. If I cannot find something positive, I will usually avoid it. There is one in particular that paid a lot, and they required that you write something positive. I thought there was nothing positive or redeeming about the company, so I refused to write on it. Some, fortunately, do not require that you write something positive. I still attempt to find something worthwhile about them, but I like these much better. More about this in a minute.
I also do not lie. I may use careful phrasing. Such as "I may sign up for this" or "I might have to download it." And because I'm not blogging about it if I can't find anything constructive to say, that usually takes care of it. Just because I have not gotten around to downloading the software or trying the product does not mean I wouldn't. I can think of one example. A company offered the most money I've ever seen if you've been to the Houston Rodeo. I really wanted to write about it, but the truth is, I've never even thought about going to the rodeo. So, there is someone out there that has and can use the money, or more likely, that is ok with lying about going.
Third, the money is good. I am a stay-at-home mom. If I wanted to get work, there are two places in town that are hiring. Both pay minimum wage, and I will spend more than that on daycare. Taking all of the family reasons, such as spending more time with my kids, out of the situation, and I CANNOT afford to go to work. The other solution is that I drive over an hour to make a couple bucks more an hour. Let's face it folks. I left college to get married and have kids. Someday I will go back, but for right now, my place is right here. And if you have never been in the situation of having someone else pay for your existence, it's a crappy situation. I make sure and clear it with my husband everytime I want to buy something, because he handles the finances, and frankly, because he makes the money. He doesn't require me to. It's a courtesy thing. But now that I'm making my own money, I am responsible for my own wants and needs, and also my own budgeting. In other words, I just got the best of both worlds. I'm home with my kids, and I'm making money. The readers who don't like it, I won't hold it against you, but I have no intentions of stopping either.
Also, there's a lot of people on here who have plenty of money. I'm not in that particular club. We are broke, and getting worse. Lately, the things I have wanted to buy are necessities, and paying debt. In one month, I have made enough to pay off a credit card and a half. Next month, I'll make even more. I can take the minimum payments I was making, and apply them to the other cards, thus paying them off even sooner. Some of you know that my husband has to live elsewhere during the week because of financial reasons. If it gets my husband living with me sooner because the money can go to rent instead of debt, I am not apologizing to anyone. I've considered much worse options than sales. And that's what it is.
Now, to the opponents, I understand. It's hard to read ad after ad. I'm not going to lie by saying they will stop anytime soon. But I will continue writing with as much integrity as I can, and not all of my posts will be ads.
Some people hail it as the end of the internet. Why? Because marketers haven't figured out how to do it until now? They make pop-ups, so others make pop-up disablers. Fair enough, but they are going to evolve. They are not doing anything that hasn't been done for centuries. Did you know that the Romans advertised? And no, I didn't learn that particular fact on HBO's Rome.
For me, it became a question of whether to fight them or join them. My personal choice of communication is not blogging. I make no pretense that anybody wants to read anything I say. In fact, I liken it to journaling. And when some teacher forced us to journal in school, I hated it. I came here to make money on Adsense. That's it. Along the way, I found good conversation, which is a great bonus, but it's not why I came here. I came to make money, so it's time to lay the crap aside and get started towards that goal.
Others have declared that paid blogging interferes with transparent writing. Transparent how?? And why?? I don't give you every thought to cross my mind. Why do you think I called myself Intricate Girl? There are pieces of me that nobody will ever discover. So it's as transparent as it can be when you are only getting a fraction. Furthermore, if you see a link in my blogs, you can pretty much use your imagination. For all the rest, they are probably my own thoughts, and I'm not paid to speak them. Especially not through Adsense, because it's going to be a decade before I hit that mark.
Others have said that it is not proper journalism. These people amuse me. First of all, why do they think magazines exist? The whole purpose has nothing to do with writing, and everything to do with how many people they can guarantee will see the ad. Second, I like to think I've written one or two decent blogs, and there isn't a single one I would call journalism. To my way of thinking, blogs are the anti-journalism. Third, most of the people making this argument are doing ghost-blogging for a CEO of a major corporation so that their website can see more cool. That is offensive to me. They are pretending to be someone else in order to make a product more marketable. I don't pretend. I'm a housewife that desperately needs some cash, so I plug products that I think others might find helpful.
So my honest opinion? I can write, I know how to link, and it pays well. I am offering links. If you buy it, I have done my job well. If you enjoy the stories along the way, I have also succeeded. Once all the bills are paid off, this is going to be the thing that pays for me to live out my dreams. So explain to me again how that's selling my soul.
In the meantime, more of my conversations will be in the comments section of other people's blogs.
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