Comments on: Marqui's

Marqui's

HifiToaster — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 08:39:06 -0800

Marqui's "Blogosphere Program" pays bloggers for product placement under the guise of a "social experiment". That reminds me of a funny about the delicious new juice flavor from Fruitopia...

By: HifiToaster

HifiToaster — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 08:41:20 -0800

The above link was found via a news search after first reading about it on J-Walk.

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 09:07:09 -0800

But transparency and integrity are the order of the day, King said. Information about Marqui's "Blogosphere Program" is posted on its corporate Web site, and bloggers are urged -- but not required -- to disclose the relationship. This is interesting, and not on the same order as PepsiBlue-- just a sort of clear-cut "and now a word from our sponsor" interjection. I can imagine this being a positive thing for bloggers, and we'll see if Marqui gets any business out of it.

By: adamgreenfield

adamgreenfield — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 09:56:57 -0800

I rarely if ever have cause to agree even slightly with Dave Winer, but the whole idea of monetizing personal blogs fills me with revulsion. (I said "personal": someone like Matt has burdens associated with the maintenance of this site almost no personal blogger can imagine.) I cannot help but think that the slope we're on is a little slippery, and while it's still a long way down to the bottom, thing are picking up speed. (I don't like, e.g. ad-laden RSS feeds, and wherever possible will forego them. I find that it's generally *very* possible.) If i mention a product on my site - and I do all the time - I want it crystal-clear that the genesis of the comment is purely in my own delight or frustration, and hasn't been influenced by anything outside that. A decent number of readers have bought things because I mentioned them, and I feel a real responsibility to them. This is just pernicious.

By: drezdn

drezdn — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 10:03:21 -0800

When I'm reading posts like this, I enjoy a sip of Old Thompson's Whiskey. The taste is really satisfying. That's Old Thompson's Whiskey, look for it in your local liquor department.

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 10:05:43 -0800

This is just pernicious. I'm still not convinced. I loathe a bought-and-sold opinion just as much as you do, but as long as it's made crystal-clear that it's paid advertising, I don't really see the problem. Then again, I'm not a blogger, and your code of ethics may be stricter than mine.

By: homodigitalis

homodigitalis — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 10:08:21 -0800

Hey, finally being a blog-prostitute pays! Actually I think it's a GOOD idea, since it brings some money into the blogosphere. Maybe some more sensible business deals will follow ...?!

By: adamgreenfield

adamgreenfield — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 10:09:15 -0800

...like last time, you mean?

By: malevolent

malevolent — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 10:11:02 -0800

A lot of bloggers are a far too eager to plaster advertising all over their sites. I suppose just the idea that someone wants to advertise is very flattering to some, even if it doesn't bring in much cash to "cover hosting costs". I'd happily put the right kind of ads on my company weblog (openly commercial by its very nature, if not in tone), but have kept my personal site ad-free even when it could've brought in a tidy sum from big surges in traffic. Ads would've changed the nature of the site (you always pay a price, whether in terms of trust, credibility or even just the site's design), and I didn't feel comfortable with making a long-term change for short-term reasons.

By: Goedel

Goedel — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 11:15:21 -0800

Ads would've changed the nature of the site (you always pay a price, whether in terms of trust, credibility or even just the site's design), and I didn't feel comfortable with making a long-term change for short-term reasons. But bandwidth and hosting cost money, a lot of money if you're popular enough, and not everyone can afford to pay the costs out of pocket. Besides, there's an opportunity cost to blogging, and I see no reason why those who are good at it shouldn't receive some payback for the effort they put in, beyond the occasional words of thanks.

By: wendell

wendell — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 13:09:09 -0800

That ship sailed the first time a blogger wrote "I just read the coolest book" and attached an Amazon Associates link to it. Cha-ching.

By: mek

mek — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 13:12:43 -0800

Eventually it's up to the blogger to be honest with their readers; if they're not up to that challenge, we probably shouldn't be reading what they have to say. I read Penny-Arcade to hear their opinions on recent games, etcetera, and despite the fact that they make their living off advertisements, they avoid endorsements like the plague. They have avoided "selling out", at least in my opinion, and continue to be very picky with what advertising they accept on their site - every game you see a banner for is one they consider worth advetising for.

By: adamgreenfield

adamgreenfield — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 14:00:58 -0800

Disagree, wendell. Of course, we all draw the line in different places, but that strikes me as innocuous, in that it's not forced exposure. Oh, and Goedel, if you're popular enough, you should be able to arrange some kind of free hosting deal. Above and beyond that, I'm not so sure I buy the idea that there's an "opportunity cost to blogging," except in the weak and general sense that there's an opportunity cost to any activity one undertakes. But we'd never say there's an opportunity cost to playing pro basketball, right? I mean, blogging at even a moderately high profile confers a great many benefits on its practitioners.

By: stevil

stevil — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 14:45:56 -0800

Pernicious? I think you mean pernilicious!

By: breath

breath — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 15:01:40 -0800

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By: chicobangs

chicobangs — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 17:04:54 -0800

This is all part of the settlement of the wild west. First there was nothing, then there was the land grab, and now there are enough people wandering around that advertising is starting to crop up. As long as the web is largely USA-based, then the capitalist model is going to play into part of it. Since everyone has a different threshold of obtrusiveness, we'll see ads in some places and not others, and those of us who are real sensitive to ad clutter and visual noise (myself definitely included) are probably just going to have to find ways to deal.

By: Goedel

Goedel — Mon, 29 Nov 2004 03:39:52 -0800

Oh, and Goedel, if you're popular enough, you should be able to arrange some kind of free hosting deal. Oh really? It's just that easy? Then how come this very site isn't being hosted free? I'll file this remark in the "if you build it they will come" cabinet of wishful thinking.

By: adamgreenfield

adamgreenfield — Mon, 29 Nov 2004 07:08:57 -0800

Have you asked, Goedel? I've been hosted free since 2000, and must have gotten a few offers per year from reliable providers since then. In my experience, yes, it is just that easy.

By: Secret Life of Gravy

Secret Life of Gravy — Mon, 29 Nov 2004 09:00:11 -0800

Oh man! I mention scrumptious Tabasco-Flavored Cheese-Its all the time and I've never even gotten so much as one measly cracker mailed to me in a Jiffy bag. (Might have something to do with the fact that only 3 people and a parrot read my blog.)