Have bloggers lost their integrity because they want free food? Or is there a happy solution to all of this?
Some of you may have read the Blogger = Palamunin post over at Exchange.ph, and perhaps you may have felt indignant over the way some companies “treat” bloggers.
Now let’s try a different perspective, ok?
Imagine a company sends you the following proposal…
Hello! We would like to give you a complimentary meal at one (or more) of our restaurants. In exchange, we request that you write a private review of your dining experience, which covers “the food, call center agent quality, rider quality, payment options, online order experience, etc.”
Please include in your private review (400 to 700 word article) a disclosure that [Name of Company] provided you the complimentary meal as part of its Continuing Improvement Program.
The company reserves the right to re-classify your private review as public, in which case you will publish the unaltered review in your blog or website. Please add references to the websites of the restaurant and partner sites.
So… if this is acceptable to you as a blogger, then go ahead and agree to the deal. If not, then simply walk away.
Who needs the aggravation and high blood pressure, right? 😉
Some bloggers will happily blog for food. Others blog for money.
But here’s a tip for interested Pinoy Online Virtual Assistants:
Don’t be a blogger. Be a marketer.
Here’s a practical and profitable tactic when it comes to promoting companies such as restaurants online. It’s so easy to do, there’s zero heartache, and your integrity will remain intact. Plus, you will not be called palamunin.
Ready for the secret? Here it is:
Before you know it, that company will find your blog post because they will search for their name online.
And when they see that you wrote about them online, some of them will show their appreciation.
Please note that you did not write any glowing testimonials. You simply made it easier for people to find those restos.
Take note also that when a customer is searching for the name of a restaurant online, most likely that person intends to visit that restaurant. And when they find the needed info (e.g., location) via your blog post, that customer looks at you as someone who helped them with their problem.
So it’s a double win for you. The resto likes you, and the customers also like you! 🙂
That’s not blogging. That’s marketing.
