Comments on: Ask the Readers: The Problem With Sponsored Posts http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/the-problem-with-sponsored-posts/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:15:16 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Tim Patterson http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/the-problem-with-sponsored-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-38115 Tim Patterson Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:48:37 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/ask-the-readers-the-problem-with-advertising/#comment-38115 Hey Ian - I'm out of the mountains and back in range of a wireless signal, as you could probably guess, so shoot me a mail with whatever articles need some love. Should we put our own unique spin on the ads? I dunno...this comment by Anon. rang true to me: I was put off by the “Can You “SideStep” An Expensive Plane Ticket?” article because it was an advertising piece actually written by a BNT writer/editor. I feel it compromises the independant voice of both BNT and the writer. Truth be told, I've had editors question my integrity after noticing that I wrote some sponsored posts. Yes, we can add some entertainment and perspective by writing the posts ourselves, but is it really worth our time and effort? Maybe. I'm not sold though. Isn't it great that we can have a n open, public discussion about this! Thanks to our great readers - you guys rock! -Tim Hey Ian – I’m out of the mountains and back in range of a wireless signal, as you could probably guess, so shoot me a mail with whatever articles need some love.

Should we put our own unique spin on the ads? I dunno…this comment by Anon. rang true to me:

I was put off by the “Can You “SideStep” An Expensive Plane Ticket?” article because it was an advertising piece actually written by a BNT writer/editor. I feel it compromises the independant voice of both BNT and the writer.

Truth be told, I’ve had editors question my integrity after noticing that I wrote some sponsored posts. Yes, we can add some entertainment and perspective by writing the posts ourselves, but is it really worth our time and effort?

Maybe. I’m not sold though. Isn’t it great that we can have a n open, public discussion about this! Thanks to our great readers – you guys rock!

-Tim

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]]> By: ian mackenzie http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/the-problem-with-sponsored-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-38109 ian mackenzie Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:15:43 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/ask-the-readers-the-problem-with-advertising/#comment-38109 agreed, thanks for the feedback everyone. as for using a ghost writer, the more i think about it, the more i think tim and myself should be writing the sponsored posts. after all, if all we're doing is just re-printing an advertisement, that adds little of BNT's own perspective to the product/service. i think it's ultimately more interesting to ourselves (and the readers) when we give it our own spin and make it an entertaining read. agreed, thanks for the feedback everyone. as for using a ghost writer, the more i think about it, the more i think tim and myself should be writing the sponsored posts. after all, if all we’re doing is just re-printing an advertisement, that adds little of BNT’s own perspective to the product/service. i think it’s ultimately more interesting to ourselves (and the readers) when we give it our own spin and make it an entertaining read.

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]]> By: Tim Patterson http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/the-problem-with-sponsored-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-38106 Tim Patterson Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:06:02 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/ask-the-readers-the-problem-with-advertising/#comment-38106 Awesome - thanks for all the comments everyone. It seems most loyal readers have no problem with sponsored posts, but would prefer that they be written by ghost writers / the company buying the ad - no problem from my perspective; more time to write about stuff that interests me! Awesome – thanks for all the comments everyone. It seems most loyal readers have no problem with sponsored posts, but would prefer that they be written by ghost writers / the company buying the ad – no problem from my perspective; more time to write about stuff that interests me!

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]]> By: Paul http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/the-problem-with-sponsored-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-37934 Paul Tue, 11 Dec 2007 04:45:05 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/ask-the-readers-the-problem-with-advertising/#comment-37934 I don't have any issue with sponsored posts, other than that they really should be clearly labelled as such (much in the same way that good newspapers mark sponsored content that is laid out as if it were part of the newspaper as "advertisement"). I don’t have any issue with sponsored posts, other than that they really should be clearly labelled as such (much in the same way that good newspapers mark sponsored content that is laid out as if it were part of the newspaper as “advertisement”).

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]]> By: Guylaine http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/the-problem-with-sponsored-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-37873 Guylaine Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:37:18 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/ask-the-readers-the-problem-with-advertising/#comment-37873 I don't have a problem with this. I don't see it as any different from "Paid Advertisement" material that you see in travel magazines that are laid out to look like editorial content. No big deal... although the term "paid advertisement" might actually be clearer than "sponsored post" because most readers are used to that term, right? Also, personally I don't feel they should have authors' bylines on them since they are essentially ads, aren't they? and again, we are not used to seeing writers' names on ads. If you want a name, then the name should be the name of the company sponsoring it. Just like the Paid Advertisements in the travel mags... they always have a line somewhere saying sponsored by the Department of Antigua Tourism or whatever. I don’t have a problem with this.
I don’t see it as any different from “Paid Advertisement” material that you see in travel magazines that are laid out to look like editorial content. No big deal… although the term “paid advertisement” might actually be clearer than “sponsored post” because most readers are used to that term, right?
Also, personally I don’t feel they should have authors’ bylines on them since they are essentially ads, aren’t they? and again, we are not used to seeing writers’ names on ads. If you want a name, then the name should be the name of the company sponsoring it. Just like the Paid Advertisements in the travel mags… they always have a line somewhere saying sponsored by the Department of Antigua Tourism or whatever.

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]]> By: Kango Orange Girl http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/the-problem-with-sponsored-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-37529 Kango Orange Girl Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:55:52 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/ask-the-readers-the-problem-with-advertising/#comment-37529 I don't find any problem with the posts, I regularly read them and I enjoy finding out about new products. As a writer, I figure that you screen any companies and their products before you let them have space on your website (no matter how much they pay) so they must be worth at least a read. Also, it's a good way to earn occasional extra income for your site and since I like your site and want it to remain I'd say keep it up. That said, I enjoyed it better when you used your own voice. I don’t find any problem with the posts, I regularly read them and I enjoy finding out about new products. As a writer, I figure that you screen any companies and their products before you let them have space on your website (no matter how much they pay) so they must be worth at least a read. Also, it’s a good way to earn occasional extra income for your site and since I like your site and want it to remain I’d say keep it up. That said, I enjoyed it better when you used your own voice.

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]]> By: Manzell http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/the-problem-with-sponsored-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-37291 Manzell Sun, 09 Dec 2007 01:44:17 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/ask-the-readers-the-problem-with-advertising/#comment-37291 My only issue with the sponsored posts is the relevance. the 'SideStep' post is my example here... there is no way sidestep would have been mentioned (other than a bullet point in a list of competitors) if not for the sponsoring, so in some ways there was some fraudulence there. A non-sponsored mention would have said "another place to look up (potentially) cheap plane tickets". My only issue with the sponsored posts is the relevance. the ‘SideStep’ post is my example here… there is no way sidestep would have been mentioned (other than a bullet point in a list of competitors) if not for the sponsoring, so in some ways there was some fraudulence there. A non-sponsored mention would have said “another place to look up (potentially) cheap plane tickets”.

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]]> By: Liz http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/the-problem-with-sponsored-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-37215 Liz Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:01:33 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/ask-the-readers-the-problem-with-advertising/#comment-37215 I'd be worried if you placed a sponsored post after every non sponsored post...but one every so often with complete disclosure...what's the problem ? Magazines do it all the time and we deal with it. I love BNT, love that Tim and Co are now able to pay their contributors, and if that's because there is advertizing and sponsored posts...so be it. We don't have to read the sponsored posts if we don't want to... Thanks BNT for the great work. It's been fun watching Brave New Traveler evolve. Cheers from New Zealand. I’d be worried if you placed a sponsored post after every non sponsored post…but one every so often with complete disclosure…what’s the problem ? Magazines do it all the time and we deal with it.

I love BNT, love that Tim and Co are now able to pay their contributors, and if that’s because there is advertizing and sponsored posts…so be it. We don’t have to read the sponsored posts if we don’t want to…

Thanks BNT for the great work. It’s been fun watching Brave New Traveler evolve.

Cheers from New Zealand.

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]]> By: MH http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/the-problem-with-sponsored-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-37058 MH Sat, 08 Dec 2007 05:32:08 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/ask-the-readers-the-problem-with-advertising/#comment-37058 If the sponsors and their products meet certain quality and ethical standard, as determined by the publisher (i.e. you), then I think it's acceptable to have sponsored posts so long as these are clearly identified at the beginning and end of the post. If there is no income, then BTN will not be able to survive and publish quality contents. Also you "DESERVE" to get compensated for your effort in creating and maintaining BTN. If the sponsors and their products meet certain quality and ethical standard, as determined by the publisher (i.e. you), then I think it’s acceptable to have sponsored posts so long as these are clearly identified at the beginning and end of the post.

If there is no income, then BTN will not be able to survive and publish quality contents. Also you “DESERVE” to get compensated for your effort in creating and maintaining BTN.

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]]> By: Eva http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/the-problem-with-sponsored-posts/comment-page-1/#comment-36983 Eva Fri, 07 Dec 2007 23:12:08 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/07/ask-the-readers-the-problem-with-advertising/#comment-36983 Hey Ian, Obviously as a writer I'm a little biased here, since I appreciate getting paid, but as a devoted BNT reader as well I've never been bothered or confused by the sponsored posts. I was a little surprised by the timeshare one, only because all the others seem to have been geared more to the BNT audience (we aren't really a timeshare crowd...are we?) but I certainly wasn't offended. Way, WAY better than the more obnoxious variety of ads, especially those new floating ones that practically chase your cursor across the screen! I'm contemplating a boycott of sites that use those ones. Hey Ian,

Obviously as a writer I’m a little biased here, since I appreciate getting paid, but as a devoted BNT reader as well I’ve never been bothered or confused by the sponsored posts. I was a little surprised by the timeshare one, only because all the others seem to have been geared more to the BNT audience (we aren’t really a timeshare crowd…are we?) but I certainly wasn’t offended.

Way, WAY better than the more obnoxious variety of ads, especially those new floating ones that practically chase your cursor across the screen! I’m contemplating a boycott of sites that use those ones.

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