I was reading a post by Sam Harrelson (who I really enjoy reading) entitled PayPerPost is Now Blackhat. I’m only picking on this particular article because it does list a lot of good information and give some fair quotes from both sides of the issue.
But I want to address the overall assumption that PayPerPost sponsored blog posts are just advertisers trying to get high ranking links. If that were the case, why would so many PayPerPost adverisers be using the PPP ranking system to pay bloggers with 0 page ranks but high traffic ranks to blog about their products? They are getting virtually no SEO benefit out of the links. But they are banking on at least a few of the blog readers clicking on those links.
What is the difference between this scenario and an affiliate who reviews products only so that she can put in an affiliate link to the product. It’s crazy to even argue that a good number of affiliates are not putting up “reviews” just so that they can make money off of the affiliate links in the reviews. In fact, hundreds of affiliate sites are built around this exact concept.
I just don’t understand how there is a difference between these two scenarios. You can argue about who made the better deal–the blogger who got a lump $20 for the article or the affiliate who put up a link that could have infinite earning potential. But you can’t argue with a straight face that what the blogger did was “wrong.” And the advertiser has the same motive in either case–get someone out there talking about their product and compensate them in some way.
I’d love someone to explain to me how Google is justified in lowering the rankings of the blogs for the PPP links only and not the affiliate links. Maybe it is Google’s system that is broken instead?
1 response so far ↓
1 Sam Harrelson // Jan 20, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Thanks for your thoughts!
Here’s my point of view on the PayPerPost issue (I’m very idealistic)… blogging or content creation should be about personal expressions or adding something meaningful to the web.
When this isn’t done, you’re causing web pollution and should be punished by Google etc (and definitely ignored by people looking for information using the web) whether you’re doing paid reviews or loading a site with rehashed press material for affiliate money.
Remember that most affiliate marketers who are doing content creation are doing much more than just posting reviews so that they can throw in affiliate links. They’re not making millions, but they are increasingly finding a way to pay for their bandwith and make a few extra bucks every month writing about things they are already interested in or passionate about.
Truth be told, the best way to make money if you’re making content online is through affiliate marketing that helps your readers solve problems with links to products, services, etc. that are relevant to the content of the site.
BTW, being from South Carolina, I’m a huge sweet potato fan, so thanks for that video in your previous post!
Sam
Leave a Comment