Thanks
Misbah Mumtaz

I can understand the dilemna here. The trust of your readers is more likely to be tested when you are obviously being paid for your opinion. If people don’t know you, they could perceive anything else you do or recommend as dodgy and question your real motives.
I think, stick with your gut and it is telling you to only review things honestly and that you feel give a real benefit! I know I can’t sell stuff I haven’t tried and personally like!

He only benefit from actually reviewing the product.

If we can tolerate “affiliate links” review, I think sponsored review should be ok.

It’ll be great if you could leave a comment of what you feel about paid blogging based on what google feels about it coz i just ignored this idea even though i get $35 review requests from PayPerPost which is a good fee considering i get only around 50 visitors a day to my blog.

If you refuse to ever buy blog advertising, your going to be stuck with options like PPC.

If your low on cash and exist in a expensive PPC industry, life won’t be easy.

As long as you can convince your readers that you’re being honest and that you’re not selling them out, then I’d say you’re in the clear.

I wonder if anyone would pay for a bad review or post one?

Best of luck in your decision

On the negative side you have readers perceptions. Everyone is going to have their own opinion and some are not going to like what you are doing.

As an aside I have also noticed bloggers doing this for themselves. Essentially selling posts on their blog without the third party. There does seem to be a market for this.

But – I wonder if I will even see those downright awful and rejecting type and “really hate this” type of reviews .. I personally don’t think so.

BTW .. I initially signed up a few blogs (2), but when I got rejected on the third and most popular blog (because i.m.o. technorati OUTED me) .. I deleted everything and will not be participating. While this may be like a cash debit card to some bloggers .. I think time will tell of its success in 3 months after the credit card purchases from XMAS is due.

If you disclose that you’re being paid, you generate good content, and users trust you already, I would hope that any sane human being realizes that even the honest require food and creature comforts. I could be wrong.

Accepting opportunity and taking hold of it responsibly, in my opinion, is the best example you can pass down to your readers. That’s what this is really about.

I’m probably the minority opinion, but it bugs me that we have to “justify” opportunity, instead of taking hold of it and showing the world we can be responsible.

Not even going to go into the social parallels of this issue.

I think if advertisers are keen enough to get a review, then they’ll probably have a degree of confidence in their product. So, most of the reviews done should be pretty truthful. Whether the readers perceive this – I can’t vouch for it. I’d be extremely skeptical if I read a sponsored review.

In a sense though, I also believe that if a company can afford to put out a bunch of reviews then they must be doing something right.

Finally, I think that if you abuse your relationship between you and your readers, they will get up and go – and it won’t be a good thing for the reviewee (is that even a word?) either.

I really think your review of ReviewMe was down-to-earth and truthful and you’ve held my respect all the way through. Let’s just hope other blogger will follow your lead.

Rob.