Ben Cowgill has a two part expose (here and here) on a new era of stock content (and stock links) in blogging.  David Giacalone reminds us that he addressed the issue of ghostblogging (wondering whether it will ruin the authenticity and personality of blogging); David also notes Joel Schoenmeyer’s post here (arguing that bloggers who don’t reveal their alter-ego ghostbloggers are liars).

Questions like whether ghostblogging unethically deceives readers (though not sure how it’s any worse than the senior partner who takes lead billing for an associate-written article) or destroys the authenticity of blogging are interesting, but they don’t really get me all that riled.  Here at MyShingle, I blog for love and to spread the gospel of solo practice; if a bar association ever decided to start a blog with canned material on starting a firm, I know that it would never duplicate my passion.  And even though I do blog for love, I’m also thrilled that this tool that gives me personal pleasure can be used by other solos to make money.

If you buy into blogging, you have to take the whole
package, both the benefits and drawbacks of immediacy.  Many of the
early generation bloggers whom Ben cites in his post fell in love with
blogging because of the immediacy of the medium, the fact that we can
convey information and insights to the public as easily as drafting an
email.  With blogging, ideas stream constantly, 24-7, never standing
still – which means, inevitably, that the blogging experience is always
changing, so quickly, in fact, that it leaves no time for nostalgia.
Perhaps that’s an unintended consequence of blogging, but for those of
us who love to blog, it’s a reality that we need to accept.

16 Responses to Blogging: For Love or Money?

Thanks for noticing my posts, Carolyn.
Please note that the real issue is not whether a blog has been created “for love or money.” Rather, the issue is (a) whether the content of the blog is misleading or deceptive in any respect; (b) even if it is not misleading or deceptive, whether the content of the blog still runs afoul of any advertising regulations (including prohibitions against referral networks). The fact that we have entered a “new era” of blawgs which exist primarily to “make money” by marketing the practices of their owners does not mean that we are now in a “Wild West” era where no professional standards apply.

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Thanks for noticing my posts, Carolyn.
Please note that the real issue is not whether a blog has been created “for love or money.” Rather, the issue is (a) whether the content of the blog is misleading or deceptive in any respect; (b) even if it is not misleading or deceptive, whether the content of the blog still runs afoul of any advertising regulations (including prohibitions against referral networks). The fact that we have entered a “new era” of blawgs which exist primarily to “make money” by marketing the practices of their owners does not mean that we are now in a “Wild West” era where no professional standards apply.

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A person is “blogging” or is a “weblogger” when she or he actually writes the contents of a weblog. If there is no personal voice or someone else supplies the content, you are merely the owner or sponsor of a website that happens to use a weblog software platform.
Yes, there are degrees, but suggesting that you are in the weblogger category when you are actually just a website owner purchasing content is misleading — even if the ruse is easy to discern by any knowledgeable observer.

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A person is “blogging” or is a “weblogger” when she or he actually writes the contents of a weblog. If there is no personal voice or someone else supplies the content, you are merely the owner or sponsor of a website that happens to use a weblog software platform.
Yes, there are degrees, but suggesting that you are in the weblogger category when you are actually just a website owner purchasing content is misleading — even if the ruse is easy to discern by any knowledgeable observer.

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I know this is not squarely on topic but have you heard this song? It’s called “I’m Billing Time” and it is sung to the tune of Cyndi Lauper’s song “Time After Time”.
At a time in my career where I am continually accosted with requests for free advice, this song is particularly pertinent.
I’m not certain how to link it but you can listen to it here:
http://media.putfile.com/The-Billing-Song
And here are the words.
I’M BILLING TIME
(sung to the tune of “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper)
Sometimes you call me up,
and beg me for free advice.
You’re stealing from me,
and wondering why I’m not nice.
My mind and my time
are my merchandise;
Don’t make me say this twice.
(chorus)
If you come to my office or call my phone,
I’m billing time.
If you stop me at parties to whine and moan,
I’m billing time.
You say you want the best,
but then you don’t pay the fee.
Motions cost money,
but you think they should be free.
You cry, “Oh why
is my bill so high?”
Well, let me clarify:
(chorus)
If you come to my office or call my phone,
I’m billing time.
If you stop me at parties to whine and moan,
I’m billing time.
If I think of you when I am all alone,
I’m billing time.
If you’re late for appointments,
I will be waiting.
…and billing time.
Still billing time.
I’m billing time.

Reply

I know this is not squarely on topic but have you heard this song? It’s called “I’m Billing Time” and it is sung to the tune of Cyndi Lauper’s song “Time After Time”.
At a time in my career where I am continually accosted with requests for free advice, this song is particularly pertinent.
I’m not certain how to link it but you can listen to it here:
http://media.putfile.com/The-Billing-Song
And here are the words.
I’M BILLING TIME
(sung to the tune of “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper)
Sometimes you call me up,
and beg me for free advice.
You’re stealing from me,
and wondering why I’m not nice.
My mind and my time
are my merchandise;
Don’t make me say this twice.
(chorus)
If you come to my office or call my phone,
I’m billing time.
If you stop me at parties to whine and moan,
I’m billing time.
You say you want the best,
but then you don’t pay the fee.
Motions cost money,
but you think they should be free.
You cry, “Oh why
is my bill so high?”
Well, let me clarify:
(chorus)
If you come to my office or call my phone,
I’m billing time.
If you stop me at parties to whine and moan,
I’m billing time.
If I think of you when I am all alone,
I’m billing time.
If you’re late for appointments,
I will be waiting.
…and billing time.
Still billing time.
I’m billing time.

Reply

I received an email from an attorney the other day wanting to sell me their web pages (ie content). His site comes up number 1-2-3 across all search engines for this particular niche practice area. I have known about him for the last 18 months and envied his rankings. I figured he was driving a ton of new clients from his site.
It turns out he knows nothing about the subject area of law and does not return emails or phone calls from people who contact him about those issues. He has offered to sell me his web pages (ie content). I was shocked!
Herein lies the danger. As a sophisticated attorney, I had no idea this guy wasn’t THE expert in the field. It turns out he was only posing as an expert in the field. Now, he insists he never signed up any clients from the site (presumably because he did not know how to service them). But how hard would it have been for him to do so? Any would the clients have been able to tell that he IN FACT did not know what he was doing…..

Reply

I received an email from an attorney the other day wanting to sell me their web pages (ie content). His site comes up number 1-2-3 across all search engines for this particular niche practice area. I have known about him for the last 18 months and envied his rankings. I figured he was driving a ton of new clients from his site.
It turns out he knows nothing about the subject area of law and does not return emails or phone calls from people who contact him about those issues. He has offered to sell me his web pages (ie content). I was shocked!
Herein lies the danger. As a sophisticated attorney, I had no idea this guy wasn’t THE expert in the field. It turns out he was only posing as an expert in the field. Now, he insists he never signed up any clients from the site (presumably because he did not know how to service them). But how hard would it have been for him to do so? Any would the clients have been able to tell that he IN FACT did not know what he was doing…..

Reply

By the way, I can’t resist plugging anonymous bloggers who have no commercial aspects to their web sites. Ben notes: ” The fact that we have entered a ‘new era’ of blawgs which exist primarily to “make money” by marketing the practices of their owners …”
Too true, but not for me. My site has no commercial value. It makes me feel warm inside to know that all of my rantings about the law are motivated by free speech, not money.
For those of you who walk the commercial interst line, you might want to give anonymous blogging a try. Being anonymous sometimes feels really good, especially when a controversy like this one starts to swirl!

Reply

By the way, I can’t resist plugging anonymous bloggers who have no commercial aspects to their web sites. Ben notes: ” The fact that we have entered a ‘new era’ of blawgs which exist primarily to “make money” by marketing the practices of their owners …”
Too true, but not for me. My site has no commercial value. It makes me feel warm inside to know that all of my rantings about the law are motivated by free speech, not money.
For those of you who walk the commercial interst line, you might want to give anonymous blogging a try. Being anonymous sometimes feels really good, especially when a controversy like this one starts to swirl!

Reply

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