Comments on: The Blogging Sponsorship Scandal http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html Vancouver Blog Miss604 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:20:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Boston Rack http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4992 Boston Rack Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:03:08 +0000 http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4992 By having sponsors at any contest is a great privilege to the organizer. Both are benefited to each other by acquiring both strengths. I really admire to those people or a particular organization that had helped to the event promoter. Thanks for sharing your Social Marketing Playbook. By having sponsors at any contest is a great privilege to the organizer. Both are benefited to each other by acquiring both strengths. I really admire to those people or a particular organization that had helped to the event promoter. Thanks for sharing your Social Marketing Playbook.

]]> By: Marginalized Action Dinosaur » The blogging sponsorship scandal, http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4991 Marginalized Action Dinosaur » The blogging sponsorship scandal, Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:39:48 +0000 http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4991 [...] http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html [...] [...] http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html [...]

]]> By: Cinci Csere http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4990 Cinci Csere Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:56:52 +0000 http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4990 Wow, great talks here. As the organizer of Casecamp Vancouver 3, I have had a very disappoint time finding sponsors. I have been shut down by venues, publications, newswires, printing companies etc. All I can say is they have bad business sense. Having your company exposed to 'marketing specialists'..Rebecca your right, it's a dream come true. I don't ask for $$$$, just some $ for a drink and a snack for participants..Is that too much to ask? In reality $100 sponsorship is not much, esp. when people blog, discuss the product online and even use the product. An ad in a publication could cost a company about $1000.00 or more! I have one sponsor and so happy that he made the decision to put some money into CCV3, just a little goes along way ;) It's the whole experience at the end of the day, as a 'marketer' I will not use the services that I have tried for sponsorship in a marketing campaign, I will use other services hence, I am the customer too :) Wow, great talks here. As the organizer of Casecamp Vancouver 3, I have had a very disappoint time finding sponsors. I have been shut down by venues, publications, newswires, printing companies etc. All I can say is they have bad business sense. Having your company exposed to ‘marketing specialists’..Rebecca your right, it’s a dream come true. I don’t ask for $$$$, just some $ for a drink and a snack for participants..Is that too much to ask? In reality $100 sponsorship is not much, esp. when people blog, discuss the product online and even use the product. An ad in a publication could cost a company about $1000.00 or more!

I have one sponsor and so happy that he made the decision to put some money into CCV3, just a little goes along way ;)

It’s the whole experience at the end of the day, as a ‘marketer’ I will not use the services that I have tried for sponsorship in a marketing campaign, I will use other services hence, I am the customer too :)

]]> By: Morten http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4989 Morten Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:53:23 +0000 http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4989 @fotoeins: I'm not necessarily saying European bloggers are better off than Canadian ones (they're not) but it is easier for European websites in general (easier being a relative term) to sell advertising because businesses have a better understanding of what web ads can do for them. I used to work for a Norwegian music magazine which was struggling because of lack of income. When I suggested we re-brand the magazine to an "online music paper" and sell ads that way everything turned around and the ads came flooding in. All that was missing was a deeper understanding of what we were doing on the part of the clients. Like I said, the problem here in Canada (I fight with it every day) is that businesses don't get it. The big ones do, but small ones just don't understand. I keep hearing things like "doesn't everyone have a blog?", "noone reads a blog" and "what's a blog?" over and over again. And even if you present great numbers they still don't understand how it will benefit them. In my experience the only thing that really works is sitting down with a potential client and actually show them how their brand will be presented on the site and how a simple click will lead the visitor directly to them. But who has time for that? There's also one other problem that lies at the heart of blogging: Bloggers, by definition, write for free. So many businesses don't understand why they should pay when they get the advertising anyway. Finally there's a problem of time. For many bloggers (us included) it becomes a question of creating content vs selling ads. They just don't have time for both. We recently redesigned www.dabbler.ca to answer a request from potential ad clients of a stronger presence on the site. Since we do a lot of video content incorporating pre-roll and other video ads is a possible source of revenue and we are now starting to pitch the idea. Other ad-zones we've built include graphic ads in viral players and sponsorship banners on the main player on the front page. It remains to be seen if this will actually make a difference but we've had positive response so far. If only we had more time for direct sales... @fotoeins: I’m not necessarily saying European bloggers are better off than Canadian ones (they’re not) but it is easier for European websites in general (easier being a relative term) to sell advertising because businesses have a better understanding of what web ads can do for them. I used to work for a Norwegian music magazine which was struggling because of lack of income. When I suggested we re-brand the magazine to an “online music paper” and sell ads that way everything turned around and the ads came flooding in. All that was missing was a deeper understanding of what we were doing on the part of the clients.

Like I said, the problem here in Canada (I fight with it every day) is that businesses don’t get it. The big ones do, but small ones just don’t understand. I keep hearing things like “doesn’t everyone have a blog?”, “noone reads a blog” and “what’s a blog?” over and over again. And even if you present great numbers they still don’t understand how it will benefit them. In my experience the only thing that really works is sitting down with a potential client and actually show them how their brand will be presented on the site and how a simple click will lead the visitor directly to them. But who has time for that?

There’s also one other problem that lies at the heart of blogging: Bloggers, by definition, write for free. So many businesses don’t understand why they should pay when they get the advertising anyway.

Finally there’s a problem of time. For many bloggers (us included) it becomes a question of creating content vs selling ads. They just don’t have time for both.

We recently redesigned http://www.dabbler.ca to answer a request from potential ad clients of a stronger presence on the site. Since we do a lot of video content incorporating pre-roll and other video ads is a possible source of revenue and we are now starting to pitch the idea. Other ad-zones we’ve built include graphic ads in viral players and sponsorship banners on the main player on the front page. It remains to be seen if this will actually make a difference but we’ve had positive response so far. If only we had more time for direct sales…

]]> By: The Blog According to Buzz » Blog Archive » What To Do When Ads Don’t Work Anymore http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4988 The Blog According to Buzz » Blog Archive » What To Do When Ads Don’t Work Anymore Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:04:02 +0000 http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4988 [...] So the blog as personal advisor works far better than the blog as advertiser. Local blogstar, Miss 604 is running into the same issue, how much is a blog worth? … when a Vancouver blogger wants to promote restaurants and businesses in the city, what does it take to get a company to hop on board? For example, I’ve personally been told by at least thirty people that my (unsolicited) blog post recommendation to visit a certain butcher shop/deli turned them into faithful regulars of the establishment - score! Blogging equals links equals customers.[Miss 604] [...] [...] So the blog as personal advisor works far better than the blog as advertiser. Local blogstar, Miss 604 is running into the same issue, how much is a blog worth? … when a Vancouver blogger wants to promote restaurants and businesses in the city, what does it take to get a company to hop on board? For example, I’ve personally been told by at least thirty people that my (unsolicited) blog post recommendation to visit a certain butcher shop/deli turned them into faithful regulars of the establishment – score! Blogging equals links equals customers.[Miss 604] [...]

]]> By: Jaime http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4987 Jaime Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:26:51 +0000 http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4987 Hello Rebecca, I'm so glad I found your blog. I have been researching the blogosphere in Canada (mostly as it relates to domestic and international tourism). I am also a blogger and online entrepreneur. Getting sponsorships/advertisers is always a struggle. What I have found in my experience is that networking (developing relationships with potential clients) and presenting a strong value proposition are the best ways to achieve the goal. When it comes to blogging or Web 2.0 (or even Web 1.0/static websites) advertising we are all competing against Google - a formidable opponent. However, there may be hope for the best blogs out there, depending on their focus. I can tell you that the buzz in tourism in the last year or so has been Web 2.0, i.e. blogs and social media. The tourism business works in partnerships (private sector/public sector, provincial tourism orgs and federal tourism org, etc). Perhaps we can similarly partner in some way so that we can increase our opportunities to find advert and sponsorship dollars. My business is a small business (though with high traffic sites) and I can tell you that I am interested in advertising in your blog. As for sponsorships - depending on what's required I would like to know more about the events and opportunities. Cheers. Jaime (Toronto) www.vancouverenespanol.com Hello Rebecca,

I’m so glad I found your blog. I have been researching the blogosphere in Canada (mostly as it relates to domestic and international tourism). I am also a blogger and online entrepreneur. Getting sponsorships/advertisers is always a struggle. What I have found in my experience is that networking (developing relationships with potential clients) and presenting a strong value proposition are the best ways to achieve the goal. When it comes to blogging or Web 2.0 (or even Web 1.0/static websites) advertising we are all competing against Google – a formidable opponent. However, there may be hope for the best blogs out there, depending on their focus. I can tell you that the buzz in tourism in the last year or so has been Web 2.0, i.e. blogs and social media. The tourism business works in partnerships (private sector/public sector, provincial tourism orgs and federal tourism org, etc). Perhaps we can similarly partner in some way so that we can increase our opportunities to find advert and sponsorship dollars. My business is a small business (though with high traffic sites) and I can tell you that I am interested in advertising in your blog. As for sponsorships – depending on what’s required I would like to know more about the events and opportunities. Cheers. Jaime (Toronto)
http://www.vancouverenespanol.com

]]> By: fotoeins http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4986 fotoeins Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:12:26 +0000 http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4986 Morten, it would be interesting to see (and for us to read about) how Europe was ahead of the curve, and how they continue to benefit from having seen and continue to see the light. Morten, it would be interesting to see (and for us to read about) how Europe was ahead of the curve, and how they continue to benefit from having seen and continue to see the light.

]]> By: Morten http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4985 Morten Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:57:02 +0000 http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4985 I think the main problem is that people just don't understand the web let alone blogs. Working as a designer I've realized people in general (and business owners in particular) just don't get what the internet is all about. To them a website is usually a catalogue of their products or just a show piece. They have no strategy and no understanding of what a website can do for them or their business. This ignorance is proliferated when it comes to blogs. It's quite simple really: If they don't understand what a web site is and they sure as hell won't understand what a blog is. To them it's a weird website with all sorts of random stuff - a diary of ramblings. The problem here in Canada is that businesses just aren't used to online advertising. In Europe all the major papers went online for free over a decade ago and online advertising has become a huge business. Now the bloggers can mooch off the papers and get the tech savvy advertisers on their sites. Here the newspapers still don't get it and online ad sales are dismal. It's a nightmare really because advertising on a popular blog could easily be the best investment a company has done. But getting them to realize it is a different matter. They see a blog as a fleeting medium, the site visitors as random people with vague interests and the advertising (even if it's just $50) as a wild gamble that could easily end with nothing. As a result the only blogs that really earn any money on ad sales are tech blogs and how-to-make-money-online blogs because they pander to a market that "gets it". We the blogging community need to educate the rest of the world on what we can do for them. Until they understand it's going to be an uphill battle. I think the main problem is that people just don’t understand the web let alone blogs. Working as a designer I’ve realized people in general (and business owners in particular) just don’t get what the internet is all about. To them a website is usually a catalogue of their products or just a show piece. They have no strategy and no understanding of what a website can do for them or their business.

This ignorance is proliferated when it comes to blogs. It’s quite simple really: If they don’t understand what a web site is and they sure as hell won’t understand what a blog is. To them it’s a weird website with all sorts of random stuff – a diary of ramblings.

The problem here in Canada is that businesses just aren’t used to online advertising. In Europe all the major papers went online for free over a decade ago and online advertising has become a huge business. Now the bloggers can mooch off the papers and get the tech savvy advertisers on their sites. Here the newspapers still don’t get it and online ad sales are dismal.

It’s a nightmare really because advertising on a popular blog could easily be the best investment a company has done. But getting them to realize it is a different matter. They see a blog as a fleeting medium, the site visitors as random people with vague interests and the advertising (even if it’s just $50) as a wild gamble that could easily end with nothing.

As a result the only blogs that really earn any money on ad sales are tech blogs and how-to-make-money-online blogs because they pander to a market that “gets it”.

We the blogging community need to educate the rest of the world on what we can do for them. Until they understand it’s going to be an uphill battle.

]]> By: nancy (aka money coach) http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4984 nancy (aka money coach) Thu, 17 Jan 2008 07:35:43 +0000 http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4984 Hi Rebecca - I have a couple thoughts both as a business owner and as a blogger. 1. I know when I hear about sponsorships available, I have no clue at all about the size of sponsorship. My budget is pretty small, and I assume that I likely can't play in that game (yet). Maybe I'm wrong. 2. Like Derek said, I think this channel is still at best only a dim light on the radar of larger companies (and I work part-time for one as well). The world of analytics and click-throughts etc simply isn't something we're used to yet. I know for those inside, like you (and a teeny bit me) that seems incredible, but honestly, the vast majority of people in my crowd (professionals over 40, with money) still only have a vague idea about blogs period, much less look at them, much less consider them an advertising channel (I'm sure the awareness of pro marketers is higher than my cohort). 3. I still owe you $75 for my advert on your blog! Send me an invoice, already ;) Hi Rebecca – I have a couple thoughts both as a business owner and as a blogger.
1. I know when I hear about sponsorships available, I have no clue at all about the size of sponsorship. My budget is pretty small, and I assume that I likely can’t play in that game (yet). Maybe I’m wrong.
2. Like Derek said, I think this channel is still at best only a dim light on the radar of larger companies (and I work part-time for one as well). The world of analytics and click-throughts etc simply isn’t something we’re used to yet. I know for those inside, like you (and a teeny bit me) that seems incredible, but honestly, the vast majority of people in my crowd (professionals over 40, with money) still only have a vague idea about blogs period, much less look at them, much less consider them an advertising channel (I’m sure the awareness of pro marketers is higher than my cohort).
3. I still owe you $75 for my advert on your blog! Send me an invoice, already ;)

]]> By: Liz http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4983 Liz Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:05:44 +0000 http://www.miss604.com/2008/01/the-blogging-sponsorship-scandal.html#comment-4983 I must admit I appreciate that your blog is Vancouver related. That's how I found you. Good 'ol GOOGLE and "vancouver blog" brought me to you! I'm a Vancouverite who now considers herself a "Canadian Expat" having lived in Cancun, Mexico for the last 5 years. I've got my own blog and know that the network between blogger friends is immense and often the best way to get entertaining information, when it's most convenient for you. I've missed Vancouver and felt out of touch so I searched the internet for blogs....not newspapers, or local news networks. I can get the 411 on the 604 and I can get it in a way thats most entertaining to me. Thanks and keep up the good work! I must admit I appreciate that your blog is Vancouver related. That’s how I found you. Good ‘ol GOOGLE and “vancouver blog” brought me to you!

I’m a Vancouverite who now considers herself a “Canadian Expat” having lived in Cancun, Mexico for the last 5 years.

I’ve got my own blog and know that the network between blogger friends is immense and often the best way to get entertaining information, when it’s most convenient for you.

I’ve missed Vancouver and felt out of touch so I searched the internet for blogs….not newspapers, or local news networks. I can get the 411 on the 604 and I can get it in a way thats most entertaining to me.

Thanks and keep up the good work!

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