Google punishes bloggers for not telling they’re paid…

Today’s news on the Internet: PayPerPost bloggers get punished by Google for not telling they’re paid for their recommendations.

Their sin? NOT being up front that they’re being paid for their opinions and recommendations.

Bloggers are individuals who have a point a view. They presumably don’t have it because they’re paid for it like a sales person, but because they have a point a view, period.

Blog readers expect they’re getting genuine opinions about things from other individuals – not secretly-paid-for opinions and recommendations. The real ads are in the side rails.

However, the PayPerPost (PPP) bloggers are paid for their recommendations. All write their opinions BECAUSE they are being paid. Which makes their posts advertorials.

(An advertorial is an advertisement written in the form of an objective opinion editorial, and presented in a printed publication — usually designed to look like a legitimate and independent news story. See here. )

Problem: most readers didn’t know that. Virtually no one told.

The worst sin for PPP? Even after hearing from hundreds of other bloggers that they should MAKE their bloggers put a disclaimer at the top of all posts, they did not do so.

We all know a paid advertorial doesn’t get the same weight as a genuine, unpaid for opinion from a fellow human. That’s why genuine advertorials have, at the TOP, some verbiage like [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][Advertisement] etc. Because they’re often made to look like genuine editorial content.

Many people, me included, want to know when an opinion’s paid for before reading or hearing it. So I can put on my mental “sales” listening aid.

Aren’t we, as networker marketers, walking, talking advertorials?

Should our friends know that – before we start “recommending” our products? There are quick and fun ways to do that. See my free download, Friends, Lies and Network Marketing piece here.

Recommending products and business to friends is NOT like recommending a restaurant or movie. You’re getting paid for it and the listeners usually don’t know that until AFTER the little recommendation has been made. That’s why these approaches are little trust busters.

Techcrunch.com concludes that PayPerPost got slammed by Google because:

“Your typical PayPerPost blog distorts the line between truth and paid advertorial.”

Just tell up front that you are selling it. People will STILL listen, because we all want to know about new products or a way to make some extra money.

Think?

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