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Rockstartup top search on Technorati today
Written by Allen Stern - December 20, 2006
Disclaimer: I did NOT get paid anything for this post and I do not belong to Payperpost.
I was checking out my stats on Technorati this evening and noticed the following top searches:
- Rockstartup
- Britney Spears
- Studivz
- "person of The Year"
- Iphone
- Britney
- "britney Spears"
- Video
- Leweb3
So basically what they are doing is paying $7.50 to any blogger who will write about Rockstartup. And that's how they got to the top of the list. $7.50 gross is let's say $5 after taxes. That's a nice value meal at the Arches or a large frapalatte at 'Bucks. At what appears to be 400 blogs ends up at just under $3200. Did they get their money's worth? Remember these links will help their organic rankings as well.
Here are the first 4 links that shows up on a Technorati search for Rockstartup:
She states that she does disclose, so should we assume that she didn't get paid for this post? I bet a dozen donuts she did get paid.
Clair puts a note on her site about receiving payments, but that note is in a tiny font on the bottom of her right menu, nowhere near the post.
This one again shows a disclosure policy button on the right but its off to the side.
No disclaimer listed anywhere.
COMMENTS - Add New Comment
Thanks for the free publicity.
"This one again shows a disclosure policy button on the right but its off to the side."
This wasn't a sponsored post therefore I didn't need to disclose in the post.
"Diana" didn't get paid because there was no link for an opportunity, merely a link to the technorati information.
Boston Creme filled are my donuts of preference.
The last blog you featured, they do have their disclosure policy on the front page of their blog, which they do need to fix so that it shows up on the post pages.
:-)
Hey Marcus! You got your first pimp on the internet. I'm so proud of you!
Too bad the last two aren't even paid posts.
Well, first of all, thank you for taking the time to write about me and my little 'ol blog.
And secondly, you assume too much.
I'd like 6 filled long johns with chocolate frosting and 6 glazed (for my daughter).:)
And also, thanks for the laugh. The blog post I wrote in response to this was a fun write. And I hope you take it in the spirit it was written.:)
So, I guess I've been pimped. Thanks!
Hey, isn't Britt a beauty?:)
Oh, and I love Rockstartup. It's fun and it at least shows me some of what goes on. And my intuition tells me that what we actually see is just a touch of what really goes on. And I don't believe it's all play and no work. I just think they actually enjoy what they do even while they are working hard. But, that's just my opinion. Which is coming from the heart.
Hi all you ppposties :) Welcome!
Let me try to reply to all here...
Marcus - that to me is the problem - how do I know which are and are not paid? Some of the pppers seem to note it each time, some use a blanket disclaimer. So how can I tell when you are paid and when you aren't?
Lisa - sorry, donuts only for Diana... but in this case, I did not see the home page, so how do I know if this was paid or not?
Julie to Marcus - woo for first pimp! I can put on my bling bling for full pimpin!
Jennifer - that's great but how do I know as a casual reader when some others are paid and there is a big ppp graphic sitting on the right?
Diana - I am happy to send you some donuts... well make that a gift card for some donuts - not sure they would make it all the way! I assume because that is all there is to do in this case. Why should I have to hunt down to figure out if a post is paid or not?
See I am all for advertorials (here and there). I just think the post needs to start and end with a disclaimer that the post is paid and that views might be adjusted because of it.
I will say I struggle with some issues. For example, just taking a shower this morning, the 3 djs on the radio pimped a doctor, a breast enhancement place and a laser clinic. They didnt say "this is an ad" but I guess it is assumed? But 5 minutes later they talk about other products that are not paid... so how do I know?
Diana, please email me your snail mail address to allen@centernetworks.com and I will get you the donuts card straight away.
And maybe we can all do a conference call discussing ppp and we can post it here. let me know if you are interested in this idea.
Sigh...Allen, I'm very disappointed because you were not clear in your post that the donut bet was only open to Diana. That was very poor disclosure on your part that it was not an open donut opportunity.
:-)
So true, Lisa.:)
Allen, I'm surprised at you.:)
Oh, and Allen, thanks for the offer of the donuts. I actually didn't take you very seriously.:)
"I assume because that is all there is to do in this case." Well, actually, that's not all there is to do. You could just let go. Not let it bother you so much. But, that's your choice.
"Why should I have to hunt down to figure out if a post is paid or not?" You don't have to. Again. Your choice. Not everyone puts so much emphasis on the importance of knowing whether someone is getting paid in any way on their blog or not.
If it's that important to you, you could also ask. But yes, since it is such an issue for you, it would mean asking for each and every post that doesn't have some type of disclaimer on it. I wouldn't want anyone to go to that much trouble. Even if it's their need to know.
People have different opinions about this. If I were to cater to everyone, each with their own opinions, someone would probably be disappointed. So, if you think that a disclaimer should be placed at the top and the bottom of each post, then you will be disappointed with the way I handle things on my blog. But, we can't please everyone, can we?
I understand what you are saying about disclosure. I've thought the same way myself even before I knew about getting paid to blog. I always wished there was a way that I could. And now there is. I didn't think about radio advertising in this way until afterwards, however. Blogvertising has changed the way people think, hasn't it?
Of course, there's always going to be someone to complain about something no matter what we do or how we do it.
I have to admit, the reason I didn't always disclose on each individual post was pure laziness. And it just got monotonous. But, I think I can fix that so it'll be there automatically for me. On the top. Not the bottom. If someone reads it and then forgets that it was there, well, I can't help that. They can always take another look.
I will also be making some changes to my disclaimer. I've been meaning to do it, but I've been struggling with the wording. Should I make it formal or informal or a little bit of both? I don't know. I need to work on it.
Hey, if you want me to write in a certain way, I may... for a fee. I'll be glad to put a disclaimer on the top and the bottom then. Oh my, I can't believe I just said that.:)
Unfortunately, I don't have a donut shop anywhere near me. Nor the transportation to go very far away from home. So, it would be better to send me some money for the donuts. How about through PayPal? If not, then, you can give the gift card to Lisa.
I've never been on a conference call. Are there long distance charges? I don't like using long distance unless it's absolutely necessary. But, I will consider this either way. Might prove to be educational.:)
Ok - since it appears my donut message was not clear, and even though I said one dozen donuts - not one dozen per person, I will stand by my message.So for all 4 of the examples I used above, I will send each of you a card for a dozen dunkins.Glad I didn't put the 20 I was going to! I would be making donuts for a week!:)
I replied to this one on Marcus' blog, but I'll reply here as well.
I love donuts. I just know that I won't be able to use the gift card. Unless I give it to someone else. Yeah, I can do that. So, I'll leave this up to you. Would you mind sending me the amount of the gift card in my PayPal account?
It would make things easier for me, but are you able and willing to do that? Or would you rather send me the gift card? I hesitate to give my home address to strangers. Although, I'm sure it could be found quite easily online.
This is a very nice gesture and even more so since the offer was supposed to be for me. I was wrong when I agreed with Lisa about it not being clear, because actually, it was, at least to me. But, this is so sweet of you. Thank you.:)
Yep - I can Paypal - just send me your paypal email.
Hi Allen,
I sent the message when you asked me to. Perhaps you haven't read it yet? I haven't heard from you, so that's why I'm asking.
Just in case you didn't, the email is simplywriting81(AT)yahoo(DOT)com.
Thank you. I hope you enjoyed your holidays.:)
ok the donut money should be there now Diana.
The final post you have copied regarding the brilliance of Rockstartup--is mine. It was NOT a paid post, I was amazed at how brilliant the "suits" were at PPP. About the blog--there is a disclosure policy off to the side--but you must not have read directly under the title of the blog. It says, (and I quote) Wild and Crazy Ride
"This blog covers the daily happenings in our world. At the same time, we do accept monetary supplement to post on various items. The opinions given on these items are true to my experience with the item itself or items of similar value. Or if there is an item that I haven't tried-but would like too--I will post that opinion honestly as well! Thank You!! If there is a link in the post that takes you to a business homepage--chances are you're on a paid post!!"
Now I'm sorry, but to me that's a pretty big disclaimer! Yes, I know--it's not good enough for you, you want one on every post. But listed as the description of a blog on the first page any reader will ever see and telling you that if there's a link--it's an ad--only REALLY dumb people won't catch that!!! But yes--thanks for the quote!! I'm happy to see people are reading it!!