Do you think bloggers have obligations to reveal a paid local advertorial?

15JAN

I have been writing paid posts for US companies for two years and usually, I crapped my way out because I never do any hard sell on the paid posts unless some stingy advertisers twist my arms.

Usually, I try not to ass lick the advertisers too much because I feel that the purpose they are paying me is not to spread the news but rather to gain search engine exposures. Most paid post companies allow us to just write anything as long as the keyword with the link are included.

Unless the advertisers pay me USD100 and above, I do not normally give them a thorough review. If it is only USD20 to USD60, I would write a regular post almost related to the product, give a sneeze and squeeze in a short mention and that’s it.

However, it is not so with local Malaysian companies. I find it hard to lie through my teeth to my blog readers about something just to trick them into buying/using it. For local companies, it is even harder to ass lick because I do not like all the things I was assigned to. Usually, I will be beating around the bush, write imaginary stuffs and suggest to my readers to check out the site if they are interested.

I have written many advertorials and my regular blog readers do know when it is an advertorial. However, whether I am paid or not, it is not important because for each post, I will still engage my readers into the story line, ask for their opinions and give a passing mention about the product/service. So, I feel I have not short changed any of my regular readers whom I treat as friends by faking it.

I never reveal a paid advertorial from local companies before. I do not see why I should because it is not part of our Malaysian advertising policies. Heck, do we even have any policies? It seems that every dumb, stupid, gory, moronic ads get through the filter on our airwaves, TV and newspapers. So, why make life difficult for me or the advertisers? Moreover, it is not like I charge my readers a subscription fee. They are reading my darn blog for free, so why should I care? Unless of course, bloggers have crossed that moral boundary and it will be of concern and public interests.

However, what do you think of this approach? Do you think we should reveal and warn our readers when a post is a sponsored one?

Post Author: lilian

7 thoughts on “Do you think bloggers have obligations to reveal a paid local advertorial?”

Shah

(January 15, 2009 - 3:07 pm)

i think we should blend the words within the written advertisement review indirectly…

people will then know whether it is a sponsored one by reading and judging your style of writing.

hmm..only to those familiar to you will catch that

Audrey

(January 15, 2009 - 9:26 pm)

Really, if you’re doing the right thing for your readers, and that’s the whole point of having a blog, you need to either give a genuine review (even if it’s not particularly favorable) or let them know it’s a paid review. The most important thing is not to lose credibility with your followers.

Bryan

(January 16, 2009 - 12:08 am)

I think not mentioning it’s advertorial is okay, don’t think there’s such policy in Malaysia. I also don’t like to reveal but denying it might not be good idea loh.

Kate

(January 16, 2009 - 6:36 pm)

I think it depends on your blog, a lot of blogs are personal ones just about their day and interest but people do have specific blogs that promote things in which case I would assume that you don’t need to announce. Having loyal readers that you don’t annoy is important for your own success.

Ernie Small

(January 17, 2009 - 11:58 am)

“They are reading my darn blog for free, so why should I care?”

good point there, however i have seen at least one blog with a “plug-amount” stat displayed at the end of each article (for example, if the article contained one product reviewed for cash it says: “plugs: 1”). i found this refreshing to see, and i felt more like reading the article because it was clearer to me what was “really” going on.