Comments on: Blog to win? Blogger beware!

By: Jodi

Jodi — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I hate posting widgets unless it’s an ad. For these pitches, I usually respond back with my ad rates.

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I don’t post for a chance to win. I have much more valuable posts to be writing. As for widgets with thier code, not a chance. If you want on my blog, we’ve had to have already built a relationship, worked out a deal, and yes, I must be getting paid. My blog is my space, and it isn’t free.

By: Lindsay @ Just My Blog

Lindsay @ Just My Blog — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I have to say…I got this same pitch yesterday and I was turned off by it. I will sometimes post a sponsored post if I’m getting paid for it. But, I’m not posting anything that is “Sponsored” unless I KNOW I’m getting paid (no chances here) and I’m not taking up that real estate in my side bar with a flashy widget. I don’t like moving things on my site…It detracts from the content and looks cheap, in my opinion. Also, I would imagine if it’s moving, it’s taking longer to load than a set graphic. Thanks for writing this.

By: Sarah B

Sarah B — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve personally gotten over $250 in gift cards from these type of promotions. It’s worth it for me. I’m a smaller blog, without a lot of other advertising opportunities. That’s essentially how I view it: They are paying me to put up an ad on my site for a certain period of time. You are able to look through the code before you post it on your site, to see if there’s anything that would make you uncomfortable. I usually leave the widget on my site only as long as it takes for the campaign to run, and then I remove it after I am notified that my blog was approved. If I don’t make it within the first 50 bloggers then that’s ok, at least I’ve added new content to my site. If you don’t have time or the space to do the blog post, don’t do it, but from my personal experience it can be beneficial. The widget doesn’t bother me.

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

@Jodi @Jen @ Lindsay – Glad we’re on the same page. I have trouble finding time to post when I am being compensated, never mind when I’m likely not. I was also concerned that bloggers aren’t aware of the tracking devices that are often inherent in those widgets. I know that until recently, I wasn’t.

@Sarah – If it works for you, that’s great! Just be aware that often you are giving up site info that you might not wish to divulge by posting a code-filled widget. Only you can decide what your blog is worth and if you are benefiting from the chance to win campaigns, then keep on keepin’ on.

Happy Friday!!

Jill

By: Ember

Ember — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Great Post! Thanks

By: Marcy Strahan

Marcy Strahan — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

For me there are too many was to enter sweeps & win things without putting widgets on my blog!
I do not think it’s worth it !
I tried just one …long time ago & it about crashed my blog & my computer.

I will follow, subscriber & put them on my blogroll w/url links.

NO BUTTONS OR WIDGET FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Odd Dad Out

Odd Dad Out — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Jill, not that I want to sound contentious here because I really like your blog and it has great information, but isn’t it a little ironic to be discussing the value of time in relation to payment via gift cards on Mom Central–a company that does exactly that?

And yes, the widget thing is something to be extremely leery of. As ROI continues to be the buzzword in social media marketing, brands are experimenting with all the ways they can track numbers for this. Furthermore, I know of one situation, where an service company was handing out html badges, which had a code embedded in it that Google had red flagged along with the blog’s url.

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

@Odd Dad Out – Glad you like my posts. If you read this post, you will notice that it refers to participating in blogger programs in return for a **chance** to **win** a gift card. At Mom Central, every single solitary person who blogs for any of our campaigns receives either a sample of the product or a gift card and about 90% of the time. they receive both. I’m talking EVERYONE.

It’s not a chance to win. It’s GUARANTEED.

It bears mentioning that we are super diligent about the give/get alchemy, and exactly what the blogger receives in exchange for a post. As the resident “mom blogger”, I’m constantly consulted about this very issue because we want our bloggers to feel satisfied when engaging with us.

Thanks for reading.

By: tiffany

tiffany — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I hadn’t thought about the code of those widgets before, so thank you. But those “blog for a chance to win” campaigns are SO obnoxious to me! I feel borderline insulted by them, to tell you the truth.