Comments on: Mom Bloggers and PR Peeps – Don’t Waste My Time

By: Krista Swan

Krista Swan — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:49:37 +0000

As a consumer who reads reviews, I’m relieved that Best Practice for bloggers is to not accept compensation for reviews. I worry that the review is not authentic if it’s been paid for. Thank you, Christy, for such an enlightening post.

By: Christy

Christy — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:09:19 +0000

I believe that blogging is a business, just like being a freelance writer (which I am as well) or a contractor. Taxes associated with the costs of doing business fall on the business owner. I don’t think it’s reasonable for companies to pay our taxes, but I also think that generally blogging isn’t a viable business. It’s what comes from your blog (consulting opps, speaker fees, etc.) that makes it worthwhile.

By: Lauralee Hensley

Lauralee Hensley — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:47:45 +0000

I’m not a blogger, but I don’t understand how companies can want you to do a review of their product without a certain amount of monetary compensation, not just product compensation. I write this because you have to pay taxes on the products you receive to do a review on for the company. I mean the companies should at least off-set that by providing you an equal amount of money equal to the price of the product they want reviewed/advertised via your blog/site. That way you could put the money in a savings account and have it there when you have to pay taxes on the stuff they give you to review. That’s the only way I can see where the items you review for companies won’t come back to bite you in the behind at tax time.
Just a thought from a reader who isn’t a blog owner or reviewer.

By: Christy(MorethanMommy)

Christy(MorethanMommy) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:09:11 +0000

Just to be clear, I do not think that reviews should be compensated. Reviews are content for my site and that is a value to me. A compensated review (beyond the cost of the review product) is an ad and holds no value for a reader beyond any other ad on a site. Consulting is participating in focus groups, speaking about the product in public, hosting events for the product, handing out product to others, etc. That adds no value to my site. I hope that makes sense. Giveaways (separate from reviews) are a mixed bag. I do not currently charge for them because I consider them to be a gift to my readers. Then again, I don’t do THAT many of them to have it be an issue.

By: Becca

Becca — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:50:53 +0000

I am honestly appreciating people’s posts like this. I am just starting to do reviews/giveaways and have put up a few things for no compensation. Never again lol

By: Sandra

Sandra — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:16:21 +0000

Your post is very on point. There is nothing worse then having you time wasted.I as novice blogger and a freelance publicist I know this too well. Your last point about expectation is a conversation that I think everyone should have. Often times expectation are not explicitly explained then there is room for error and disappointment.