The Rise of the Blogging Business


Initially, bloggers wrote blogs as a form of self-expression. The Blog Trend Survey conducted by Digital Marketing Services Incorporated for AOL showed that most people do not blog for fame or money. Over half of those surveyed agreed that blogging served as a form of self-therapy.

However, with consumers starting to consult blogs for insights about a product or a service, bloggers started to conceptualize how blogging can be monetized (BBC, 2007). As most blogs were the work of individuals, many believed that they were more honest and reliable than corporate or commercial websites because they were not subject to marketing pressures. Consumers are wary of marketing gloss and so their interest in blogs is not surprising.



Marketing, in constant search for ways to communicate with their consumers, saw the potential of blogs. Hence, “blog advertising / marketing” was born. Companies such as Nokia, Samsung and Microsoft started sampling their products to prominent bloggers in exchange for write-ups. Although there seems to be nothing particularly wrong with handing out products for review, there is a concern that bloggers will be placed in a situation wherein they have to come up with positive reviews for the company. If this happens, readers are denied their right to unbiased information.


Furthermore, product advertisements became present in blogs. Companies started placing their ads in famous blogs, giving a certain amount of money to the blogger. Hence, blogging is becoming a money-making enterprise and the blogger, an advertising medium.

Knowing these facts, would you would you continue trusting product reviews? Would you be tempted to click on blog advertisements? Share your thoughts!

10 comments:

  Anonymous

March 8, 2008 at 8:05 PM

I'm an avid fan of product reviews. I ALWAYS read before I purchase anything. I'll definitely continue trusting product reviews. I have enough faith in probloggers not to write biased reviews.

  Anonymous

March 8, 2008 at 8:06 PM

I'll continue reading product reviews although I'll be more careful. I'd like to think I'm smart enough to detect untruthfulness in their statements.

  Anonymous

March 8, 2008 at 8:07 PM

I HATE pop up ads. They're plain annoying. Ok lang banners but i never really click on them. Di ko na lang pinapansin.

  Anonymous

March 8, 2008 at 8:10 PM

I've been offered to write product reviews by different companies several times. I've refused precisely because I'd hate to be pressured to say something good about a product I don't believe in.

  Anonymous

March 8, 2008 at 9:51 PM

Maan, wara takon kamaan ka ja. puwede gali magnegosyo sa internet? Paanu ra kung indi kaw kama-an magsulat bai?

  Anonymous

March 8, 2008 at 10:55 PM

I like to read blogs more than websites because you see real people and what they really have to say and not some press release that you see in websites but off course you should be discerning in terms of the content of the blog you're reading. You should know right up when you read the one entry that this blog is pure is credible or pure bullshit.

and i don't look at web ads

  Anonymous

March 8, 2008 at 10:59 PM

Again..

I like to read blogs more than websites because you see real people and what they really have to say and not some press release that you see in websites but off course you should be discerning in terms of the content of the blog you're reading. You should know right up when you read one entry that this blog is credible or pure bullshit.

and i don't look at web ads

  Anonymous

March 8, 2008 at 11:03 PM

Thanks Ro. We linked you to our blog. hope you could link us to you blogs too.

  Anonymous

March 9, 2008 at 5:54 AM

It really is difficult to review products and saying everything good about it and hiding stuff that would not make it look. I can imagine the pressure on the bloggers and reviewers of product. BUT you know what? Toady, the center of businesses is the consumer. So, whatever one may write about the product, when a consumer tries it and feels disappointed with it, then the review just failed to tell the truth. But at the same time, reviews should careful observations. In that way, justice is served for both the business and the consumer.

  Anonymous

March 9, 2008 at 5:55 AM

It really is difficult to review products and say everything good about it and hide stuff that would not make it look bad. I can just imagine the pressure on the bloggers and reviewers of the product. BUT you know what? Toady, the center of businesses is the consumer. So, whatever one may write about the product, when a consumer tries it and feels disappointed with it, then the review just failed to tell the truth. But at the same time, reviews should careful observations. In that way, justice is served for both the business and the consumer.