There has been a fairly large reaction to the recent launch of PayPerPost, a service that allows advertisers to pay for people to blog about their products. Each offer includes details on a specific product that the company would like written about, and among other things, whether they will only pay for positive reviews. Payouts vary but not surprisingly, the more heavily trafficked sites reap the bigger rewards.

I wasn’t able to find anything that requires participants to disclose their participation in the program which certainly raises some ethical issues and concern among some in the blogging community. As if the issue of credibility and legitimacy hasn’t already been an uphill battle for bloggers, it’s only natural that some people see PayPerPost as a potential cancer to blogging.

I don’t know that it’s going to be as catastrophic to blogging as some people seem to think. It’s a given that there will be a few hacks that jump at the chance to make a few bucks, but I would imagine that most legitimate bloggers (and those that do so simply because they enjoy it) will likely steer clear. Why risk alienating your audience by misleading them for a measly $10.00? Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t fathom selling out so easily (and cheaply), but I guess money (no matter how little) talks for some. I’d like to think that my allegiance (or perceived allegiance) is worth more and that a company should earn my loyalty by doing what they do, well.

If there was one thing that I think PayPerPost could do to appease the concerns of some in the community (and at least appear more ethical), it would be to require bloggers to disclose their participation in the program via the inclusion of a one line statement that says “this post was sponsored by ..” (or something along the lines of how Google AdSense is done).

With that in mind, I occasionally like to throw in my two cents about a product or service that I have experienced first-hand. I think it’s important and valuable to let companies (and consumers) know when someone “gets it right” and just as importantly, when someone drops the ball. Hopefully my posts come across as sincere and are seen as valuable to at least one person out there. That’s all I can ask for.

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