LISTEN:
I love to leave comments on other blogs and 99% of the time they are simply adding to the discussion, providing positive encouragement, or asking a question. I try to avoid “getting into it” with other readers who leave comments because 1) it’s usually futile, and 2) there’s just not enough time in the day.
But once in a while a comment gets my attention and I can’t resist. This happened the other day over on my friend Danny’s blog – FirePole Marketing where the question was posed: should blogs charge for guest posts? Would you pay to guest post?
A lot of comments were left but one in particular caught my attention and ended up in several exchanges. The text of that thread is below. After you read it, leave a comment and let me know:
- What do you think about big blogs that charge for guests posts?
- Would you pay someone to let you guest post?
- What is your opinion of the discussion below?
I’m a big boy… if you disagree with me, tell me why.
The Topic:
Should blogs charge for guest posts? Would you pay to guest post?
The Comments:
Jeremy wrote:
No. And I would stop reading any blog that did this.
Such a tactic screams of money-grubbing-self-important-too-big-for-their-britches bloggers.
Blogging and writing needs more honesty and humility, so that people who make it to the top of the pile actually help those who are trying to climb up, rather than come up with schemes to get rich off of all the “little people.”
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Brent Riggs wrote:
“Such a tactic screams of money-grubbing-self-important-too-big-for-their-britches bloggers.”
No, such a “tactic” screams of someone who owns their own blog and has the freedom to do with it as they please.
If they have worked their butts off for years, built up an audience, and choose to charge for guest posts, it’s only the “little people” (little in free market and business intelligence) that jump to arguments of class warfare and call them egotistical and greedy for choosing to do what THEY want with THEIR blog. When a blog reaches a certain size and status, it becomes a product and commodity in and of itself, a result of hard work, commitment, and sacrifice.
If you want to create a successful blog solely for altruism and not business, go for it. That’s your freedom. Best wishes to you. But if a successful blogger decides they want to charge for guest posts (which is simply now a product they offer) it serves two purposes: 1) they profit from THEIR hard work and perseverance, and 2) they will typically get people who are willing to invest in their blogging success. It is typical class-warfare nonsense to say they climbed to the top on the backs of the little people.
Who built the blog? Who did the hard work? Who made the sacrifice? You want to benefit from their blood, sweat, and tears by getting FREE guest posts, but HOW DARE THEY want to benefit from their years of hard work! That kind of thinking truly is little. No matter what thing you charge for on your blog, including guests posts, it is up to that blog owner to make sure they are willing to accept payment only for that which is high quality, relevant, and valuable to their audience. If they turn their blog into a “pay to play” to the detriment of quality and integrity, they will quickly lose audience. If it is a “pay to play” blog that results in even more and better content/products, do you think the audience will cry “greed”? Hardly. They’ll be clamoring to learn the secrets of the success.
It is the freedom and choice of the successful blogger to decide if they want to charge for guest posts. It is the freedom and choice of the guest-post submitter to determine if they want to pay. It is the freedom and choice of the blog audience to read it or not. Who gets to choose which of those three don’t get that freedom? It’s called the free market, a concept that is getting buried today in class warfare. Today the simple process of doing honest business and choosing what to do with YOUR OWN BLOG is a “scheme” against “little people.” Ridiculous.
I can prove the hypocrisy of most nay-sayers on this topic: if you could pay $100 to guest post tomorrow on CopyBlogger or Seth Godin, would you do it? That’s what I thought.
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Brenda wrote:
I agree with you, Brent.
As long as the blog owner continues to pursue quality content and refuse trash, what’s the problem? It is the joy of the free market. I think the complaints boil down to jealosy. If they’re not in the position to charge or to pay, some people choose to attack. I believe in supporting the success of other writers. We all benefit in the end.
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Jeremy wrote:
Would I pay $100 to guest post on CopyBlogger or Seth Godin? Absolutely not. I wouldn’t pay $10. I wouldn’t pay anything. So, no hypocrisy here.
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Brent Riggs wrote:
I propose that someone who would not pay $10 to guest post on Seth Godin’s blog or Copyblogger is not serious about their own blog for ANY reason, altruistic or monetary.
If you are trying to change the world, leave a legacy, or influence humanity with your writing and ideas, why would you pass up paying $10 to reach hundreds of thousands of people? I call B.S. on that… or, you don’t really care about making a difference.
Either way, there is no high-road reason that passes muster in this situation. It’s just an emotional feel-good argument. If you did truly care about making a difference, $10 or $100 or even a thousand would be worth reaching hundreds of thousands of people with your inspiration. We aren’t talking about Larry Flynt’s blog… we’re talking about honorable and decent bloggers.
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Jeremy wrote:
Brent, It is very strange. You say that bloggers should be able to do whatever they want with their own blogs, but when I suggest that I have a different strategy and approach than yours and so would not pay money for a guest post, I get blasted for being hypocritical and full of BS? Really?
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Brent Riggs wrote:
I said I called B.S. on THE POINT YOU MADE. And I do for the reasons stated and I stand by it.
We aren’t children. Don’t exaggerate what I said to make it sound personal when I addressed the POINT you made, not you personally. I’m sure you are fine person and good guy.
When did we lose the ability to have a healthy discussion without it getting personal or defensive? This post is debating two positions. I’m addressing your POSITION, not your character.
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Jeremy wrote:
I am not taking it personally. I am defending my point. It’s not BS or hypocritical. It is my blogging strategy.
I would never pay any blogger, no matter how much traffic it might get me, to publish anything of mine. If others want to do that, fine. But it is not MY strategy, and therefore, is not BS or hypocritical. And as it turns out, my blog is doing just fine, by the way. Is it perfect? No. Do I hope to get more readers? Of course. Am I doing what I can to expand my audience? You bet. But one thing I have never done and will never do, is pay for a Guest Post.
Even if it was only $10 for a post with Seth Godin. These are my principles and values, and I stand by them. What I might do is PAY someone to write a Guest Post as Cindy Brown suggested in the comments below. That sounds like my kind of blogger! That sort of approach reveals a spirit of generosity and humility that I like to see in the bloggers I read and follow.
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Brent Riggs wrote:
Fair enough. Point taken… BR
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Okay, your turn:
- What do you think about big blogs that charge for guests posts?
- Would you pay someone to let you guest post?
- What is your opinion of the discussion? Was I wrong? Right? What’s your opinion?
PS: WHAT ARE YOUR QUESTIONS FOR ME? Ask here. Want to book me for training, speaking or business consulting? Go here. If you benefitted from this post, would you be so kind to share this post with others by clicking one of the SHARE buttons?
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26 Responses to “Gue$t Po$t Controver$y”
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Any blog can do as they like – I do not give a second glance at “ads” which want me to pay only to post on their blog, that answers the 2nd point – no I will not pay, I would rather put the money towards an actual advertisement of my blog on Facebook or some other social media {reaching millions, not thousands} – your last question – I do not believe in right or wrong entirely, you had made your point, which is your right, any person can go with it or against it. I am not into blogging for the money, but even if I were, I would not pay or charge for guest posting.
Okay, if I’m understanding all this right personally I wouldn’t pay anyone for me to guest Post on their blog. If I have something to say I have my own blog to put it on or one of my friends. I’m sure they wouldn’t charge me. Don’t you think that would be rather snobby? I do! I’m not a prejudice person. I don’t care what you believe in or what color you are,,, pink, green, white, yellow or black! BUT I AM PREJUDICE when it comes to a FIRST CLASS SNOB! Okay, sorry got a little carried away there!
I think what all this boils down to is the idea that a person’s blog belongs to them. If they decide to do something on their blog for profit after years of hard work to make it successful, it’s ridiculous to call them greedy and accuse them of stepping on little people to get where they are at. The blogger should have the freedom to do whatever he wants with his successful blog and if he makes stupid choices that puts profits over genuine value to his audience, then he’ll pay for it by losing audience. The person who wants to guest posts has the freedom to say no if they don’t want to pay. And if readers were put off by guest post that were paid for then they have the freedom not to read. I just get really fired up and tired of the mentality of people who automatically assume that anyone who has had success has done it by climbing up the backs of other people with greed as their primary motive. It’s ridiculous. People who are successful and know how to do business well drive the economy and give jobs to the “little people” as Jeremy likes to call them. I would prefer to refer to them as people who are on their way up themselves. BR
Yes, I totally understand what you’re saying. You see I remember when I was the little people, and I believe I still am at heart. I go back & read my first couple of blogs that I did almost three years ago now & I remember how it was. I was the new kid on the block, but my neighbors came to greet me & they were wonderful people. My first blog consisted of two words. “Start here”. My second blog consisted of “What will tomorrow bring? Lose or not lose???” No, I didn’t know what I was doing, but comments came to the rescue. There are some nice people out there, and I was bound and determined to meet every one of them. I didn’t charge & they didn’t charge me. Right now there are follower wars going on to Post Give-Aways & you get 2 free, but if you want bloggers to follow any more of your links you do have to pay, and I have paid just to keep up with the Jones’ if you catch my drift. So that’s my opinion and I’m stuck with it. You shouldn’t get me started!
Have a great weekend.
Well, I don’t know if I would pay to post on another blog. My genre (homesteading) doesn’t really fit in to the ProBlogger realm, I don’t think. If I had more money to invest, and my theme fit in, I would at least consider the possibility…especially if it was a deal like $10 for a big name blog.
Would I stop reading another blog because they charge to guest post? (As Jeremy has decided) Not at all. I have no problem with others charging a fee, especially when they have worked hard to get where they are. If anything, it might make me start to think about new ways of monetizing my site when I feel that I have grown my audience and authority to the point of being able to charge for such services.
Thanks for the stimulating conversation.
Thanks for adding to the discussion Lisa. It really boils down to people having the freedom to benefit from what they’ve worked hard to create. This whole class warfare thing is not only gotten out-of-control it’s getting downright dangerous. There is a large segment of our population now that assumes that anyone who has a profit motive is automatically greedy and stepping all over other people to accomplish their goals. BR
obviously Mr. Jeremy did not REALLY read what you said, because you explained it beautifully.
Keren, Sadly I think the truth is he actually did read those comments. It is becoming way more common in our culture to badmouth anybody who has success and wants to profit from it. We used to admire people who worked hard and were successful and profited from it. Now we assume they must’ve done it by being greedy and stepping on the “little guy”. We hear this kind of mentality and culture constantly promoted and used in the national discussion today. So it’s no surprise that it showing up on the Internet as well. BR
Hi Brent,
I don’t see anything wrong with guest posting (paid or unpaid). Both parties have to weigh the potential value and the consequences. Once a blogger has built a successful blog, he/she has the opportunity to reach lots of people. Advertisers pay to get their message in front of lots of targeted people. In a similar way, a beginning blogger has the opportunity to pay to get his/her message in front of a larger audience via the successful blogger. I view it as an advertising transaction. Everything we watch on TV or listen to on the radio is paid for by advertising.
In the end, the successful blogger assumes all the risk, putting a different voice with a different style in front of the readers. It could certainly backfire (leading to a decrease in readers). Also, the blog owner has to take the time to read and evaluate the guest blog content to make sure it is well-written and a good fit for the blog (again, taking the risk for posting another writer’s content). If both parties agree to the terms and it’s a win-win situation, I don’t see a problem.
You got it. The blog belongs to the owner and they have both the freedom and the consequences. BR
Brent – I will give you $100 to guest post on your blog! You bet! Your 25 years of building a loyal community of friends and contacts….Instant credibility for me! Sign me up on the guest post list…….!
I might have to take you up on that! But… Jeremy would quit reading my blog, so I’ll have to think it over.
I have paid for a combination of ads (image of book cover) and guest posting on big blogs. I did this because of the traffic to the blog and my belief that I was getting the word out about my book and me as an author. Also, the price seemed reasonable (usually running $15-$30).
However, I no longer pay to do that because I saw no actual benefit from doing so. No additional likes to FB, Twitter, or my own blog. No additional signups for my newsletter. No increase in sales. Usually, not even a comment from someone who wasn’t already following me. Most of the time there were no comments at all. I’ve tried several combinations from big money ads in high traffic print and ezines (100K plus members) to coordinated blog tours with interviews and guest posts on blogs with a minimum of 1,000 members. It seems to me that no amount of paid advertising seems to work.
Is it possible people saw my book, was attracted to the ad, read my post, and many months later remembered it and began following me or bought a book? Sure, it’s possible but unlikely. It is repeated positive impressions, followed by numerous reviews, and people one trusts making a recommendation that appears to make the biggest difference.
What I’ve discovered is that word of mouth, one friend to another, based on building relationships with readers is the only thing that consistently works for me. That means taking the long view of sales instead of the short-term reward. When I help other authors and readers to achieve their goals, they in turn help me by introducing me to their friends. In the end, Karma seems to win out.
Maggie, I’m glad you made your last point lest we lose perspective. Guest posting on a big blog paid or not can be helpful, but it is no magic pill. The hard work of building your own blog, taking care of your audience and giving them value is the only sure fire way to grow.
The other thing you are correct about it is that this is no moral “greed” issue… you tried it, it didn’t work for you, you don’t do it now. Freedom to do business the way you want. Thanks for your great input. BR
Personally, I think paying to guest post is like paying to have your own book published or having your dad donate a library to get you into school. You didn’t earn it. No matter how well written, it goes from potential great treasure to mere advertisement. It is kind of sad actually.
I’d have to disagree with you on that Kathryn even though I appreciate you voicing your opinion. About 1% of authors are paid to write books. Everyone else pays to publish. Self-publishing has stripped the power from a few hands and put it into the “little people’s” hands (since apparently little people now means average people). Also, if a father has worked hard and earned tons of money and can donate a library got get his kid a college education, why isn’t that a reward for his hard work? Why is a paid guest post an “advertisement”? If CopyBlogger said “Brent, you can pay us $500 and write us a post about ‘online business’… if it’s good enough and fits our audience, we’ll publish it, and give you a link back to your site and short bio”. That automatically makes my post content an “advertisement? If a non-paid guest post gets a link and bio, why isn’t it an advertisement? BR
It’s a fair business transaction so what’s the big deal? Who gets hurt? No one.
But Jeremy opened himself wide when he said: “money-grubbing-self-important-too-big-for-their-britches bloggers”. Now that sounds personal, in my humble opinion.
I agree. That comment showed his mindset: class warfare, anyone who makes money is greedy, no one is successful unless they do it unfairly on the back of others. It’s the message we are hearing from the top down in America today so it’s not exactly a shocker comment.
I don’t care if they pay for someone or not, that would be like only reading about someone if they wrote their own bio instead of someone else…I don’t really care about who writes what or if they got paid to (unless I am the one getting paid and I do most my writing for free)…I care about WHAT the blog is about, HOW it can relate to me and WHEN it’s written…to me it’s annoying if the information is about autumn and it’s spring…or something along that line.
Good point Juls. If the information is relevant, helpful and beneficial to YOU, the reader, who cares if the blog owner was paid for publishing the post, or paid the writer for writing it. Amen. BR
While I had never even had a stray thought about paying to guest post, I guess if I was really serious about making money from my blog, I would try it a time or two. When I started blogging, I had no idea there was money to be made doing it! Definitely didn’t do my research before starting! I also made all the probably typical beginner mistakes and now I don’t know how to handle the overload. I have chosen a temporary retreat…as in, I just can’t face reading and commenting on most of the blogs I am subscribed to. Wish I had found you the first day!
Well, I’m glad you did find me and I look forward to having you around for a long time. Yes, I blog professionally as a business but I consider it a noble pursuit and you don’t do it on the backs of other people, you do it along side them.
I started my food blog as a great way to share the TONS of recipes I’ve been trying that I’ve found on the Internet! It’s only been about a year since I’ve been blogging and I’m hooked! It’s such a fun and rewarding experience! If i can make money doing what I love then that’s just the cherry on the sundae! Thanks for sharing your history with us!
Whipped cream and a cherry… BR
What are the potential risks with Google?
Frankly, this is the exact same thing as a paid review or a paid advertising. The problem that I see with it is the same I see as a paid review. If people know you do them, they skip right over those posts. (How many times have you read something that you know is a straight up advertisement? I guess that’s like asking how many people watch infomercials …)
This, of course, degrades the value of what you are offering to your blog readers. This is a finicky business. I’ve followed great blogs, but when they get too commercial for my tastes, hasta la vista, baby.
Wow! Didn’t know that could be such a hot topic. lol
As to your questions about it:
What do you think about big blogs that charge for guests posts? – As you pointed out, it is their blog and they can do whatever they want with it. I personally would not visit it much because then it is not a ‘guest’ post. It is a paid post. To be, again my opinion, that is a big difference.That would be like having a guest in my house and then charging them. If I had a hotel, then they are paid guests and everyone would know that it was the nature of the business.
Would you pay someone to let you guest post? – No, I would not pay. First of all, I’m so low on the pole that I hardly have the money to pay for such. A guest post is a way to help someone out while they help you out promoting their own post. It is a way to help each other out.
What is your opinion of the discussion? Was I wrong? Right? What’s your opinion? – I think any discussion is a good one as long as people can discuss it politely. I don’t like it when people cannot do that. You have your opinion and I have mine. They might flow alongside each other or they might clash but we can still move in a polite manner. I don’t think you were wrong in stating your opinion. It’s my blog, and I’ll charge if I want to. Then again, it’s my money and I don’t have to pay it. Don’t like it? Don’t do it.
Just my humble opinion. lol You did ask, after all.