Some bloggers see paid posting sites (sites where a blogger is paid by a company to review a product or service) as a way to pick up some quick cash when the ad revenue from their sites is in short supply or completely non-existant. While it is, in fact, a way to get some cash in the short term in can really jeopardize your chances of making money through ad partnerships in the future.
It is not something that most site managers or bloggers think about at the time that they sign up on the paid posting sites, when they put up the disclosure policy or even when they make their posting. Its about the perspectives of your advertisers and how they want to be seen. Lets take a look at a few of the thoughts that your advertisers may have when they see that disclosure and the paid postings.
Your Potential New Advertisers Point of View: I don’t want to have my ads associated with those shady sites.
Advertisers have to consider the impact of where their ads are placed. This means two things. First is the likelihood of reaching their customers, which is not much of your concern in this case, but the second one however is your concern. That is how the placement of their companies ads have an impact on their brand. There are some people and groups who see these paid posting sites as shady, or in poor taste. As a general rule they are suspect because you are being paid by the company to hype the product which does not lend itself to a fair and unbiased review. While many companies and brands have a (or want to have a) unique identity, shady is probably not on the list of desired traits.
So, if you plan to have a future in making 1 on 1 advertising agreements in the future think long and hard before you get involved in a paid posting site.
