Here’s a question – if you talk about a product, be it web app or book, and you link to it using an affiliate link, is that in the same ethical territory as pay per post or paid reviews?

I’m not sure where I stand on this issue. I actually like reviews on blogs when they are well written and by people who’s opinion I trust. And, when I’m talking about a site or a product I really do think is great, I will post a link to the site and put an affiliate code in it. Is that bad? Should they be “disclosed”? What about when you write a post to optimize google ads or SEO? Do you ever find yourself writing based on keywords you know(or hope) are good sellers?

A few years ago, anyone who posted google ads on their blogs or tried to earn money from them in any way was a sellout. How times have changed.

You know what REALLY freaks me out? BzzAgent. Now THAT is just messed up.

Latest blog post from Anne: Recycle Your Gadgets For Cash

On the other side of the coin, I hate Pay Per Post. It may be the biggest farce on the Internet. I have watched more than one blogger sell out their own opinions to hawk something in a post, presumably because that happens to be what is offering the most for a post at that momment. There is nothing real about it, and have as a general rule stopped linking to anybody that offers PPP “reviews” or posts. (And at one time, had a number of people mad at me over it).

Then when I became a mom, I started researching everything endlessly and sharing all that info with anyone who asked on bulletin boards, etc.

My friend suggested we start a review blog and so Mamanista was born.

My original intent was to save people the trouble of buying the wrong playard for them or some such…but then people started sending products for review. My partner and I went back and forth on PPP and Advertorials briefly and then decided we did not like them. It just did not feel right for us. I don’t give a positive review to something I do not like.

At the time, I did not realize how many great review blogs were already out there and probably would not have jumped in if I had known how glutted the market was. I searched and looked, but it wasn’t until I really started networking that I realized there were thousands…and dozens of really good ones.

As to why someone might read these–there is an element of trust. Personally, I skip the PPP…but the ones that are genuine, I find more reliable than Amazon–as Izzy mentioned, Amazon reviews are suspect IMO. If the review is positive, I wonder if it is a plant. If it is negative, I wonder if the person is just brain dead and couldn’t figure it out.

I agree that at some point it will all become noise, just like the Amazon reviews…but a few top ones will be left standing. I think there are a couple of niches. I really like the new Suburban Oblivion one for its “everyday product” reviews…not a lot of affiliate money in that, but I wish those ladies the best in getting tons of ads. A lot of the best ones really gravitate towards the more expensive and unique items…and now I understand why! Those are the companies that send products for review (Graco or Fisher Price just doesn’t seem to do that the way an independent company might) and if you use an affiliate model, that’s where the money is.

Anyway, great topic and one I spend a bit of time thinking about.

I enjoyed reading all the comments so far!

I understand your position, and I don’t begrudge you your opinion. We started Suburban Reviews because Jen, Heather and I wanted to do a collaborative project that might actually be halfway useful. We love trying new products, and it’s been exciting to have people report back saying “I went out and bought this after reading your review, and I loved it too!” We have gotten asked to do a couple of product reviews by different companies, and we do them, but they are treated as honestly as things we buy and try on our own. We do not under any circumstances take financial compensation for our reviews, and PPP or it’s likes will never step their foul feet on our blogs, period.

That said, the purpose of any blog is to gain readers, and I think we have managed to strike a pretty good balance between reviewing for the purpose of entertaining *and* getting information out there. It’s fun for us, and if others get something out of it, great If not, they are free to move on.

Good topic btw!

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That being said knowing a blogger is being paid to write a review, I take a more cynical look at what they say. If you are blogging about a product because you like it and want to share I appreciate it. I wouldn’t read just a review blog though.

I guess if you don’t like reviews then be happy people are taking them out of their regular blogs? That way you don’t have to be bothered by them.

Especially if it is relevant.

If PPP or whatever begins to take over the blog, however, I’m likely to unsubscribe.