Getting Paid to Unblog
Many bloggers have heard about getting paid to blog. You might get paid to write on certain subjects for someone else’s blog. Or, you might get paid to write a review of a site. Or, you might count selling ads as getting paid to blog.
But, would you take money to unblog?
Several weeks ago, I read about a blogger who was offered several thousand dollars to remove a blog post. I’d link to the article, but I didn’t save the link and don’t even remember where I saw it. At any rate, I think he was offered something like $10,000 to remove a negative review he had written about a company.
The review was ranking high in the search engine results for searches on the company’s name or keywords. I think it held a top spot in Google. Obviously, the company wasn’t too happy about that. I think they had tried several ways to get him to remove the post, and the final offer might have been the $10,000. He refused.
Would you remove one of your blog posts for $10,000? How about $25,000? Or $1,000? Or even $1,000,000? Would you do it?
Some might argue that it’s a matter of personal integrity, but is it? When it comes right down to it, isn’t it more a matter of how important the post is to you?
Let’s say that you bought an Turbo Whammy LE automobile from XYZ Motors, and you weren’t happy with it. It didn’t have enough cup holders for you. The steering wheel didn’t have a smooth motion. The seats were hard to adjust. And so on.
Overall, you’re pretty disappointed about your Turbo Whammy LE, and you blog about it. Well, XYZ Motors doesn’t like your negative review and comes along and offers you money to take it down.
How important is that post to you? Do you really think you’re informing others and helping others with your review? Or, were you just expressing your opinion? Was it just a matter of personal preference?
If you think you’re helping people, your personal integrity will come into play. If you just feel you were expressing your opinion, well, everyone has opinions, how important is it to express your opinion about your Turbo Whammy LE? You could express your opinion on many other things, so is it a big deal for you to not express your opinion on your car, especially if you can pocket some money for it?
If you needed $25,000 for a medical procedure for a loved one, would you remove that blog post for $25,000? Is keeping that blog post on your blog more important than getting the medical help your loved one needs?
Or, if $15,000 pays off all your debts, is keeping your blog post up more important to you than that?
Of course, if you’re warning people about a real scam, principles will probably come into a much higher level of play. For one thing, your post may be helping others not to fall victim to the scam. For another thing, would you even feel comfortable taking any amount of money from a con artist?
So, would you always go with integrity over all else? Or, would you evaluate the value of keeping that blog post up on your blog?
Interesting scenario. I guess a lot would depend, as you say, on what the post was about. My gut reaction is that I would take it down. It’s just a blog. Times are tough. I could use a chunk of cash, and I don’t think I’d lose much sleep over the decision.
Sadly, in this economy - HELL YES I would have accepted 10,000 to remove a post. Then I could go buy the new MacBookPro I want so badly and the iPhone and all of the other glorious appe products I so covet.
I would remove a post for a good taco! I would tend to believe this was a blog with a million hits a day, no? We “bloggers” are often comparing ourselves to magor sites. Kind of like taking Pro Bloggers advice thinkling you can be Pro Blogger without buying magor PR links. The biggest of the biggest are listed on Google news and such. I am listed at My Blog Log …. ha haaaaaaaaa !!!!!
So “YES”
OH … for 10,000 I would stop blogging all together for one year too.
……. but not commenting at DCR blogs
After thinking about this for hours, my guilt has been torture. I change my answer to UNPUBLISH for NO ONE ! …. unless my date said it sucked.
Hmmm I think I should start posting negative stuff. It sounds very lucrative.
If I post about how Twitter SUX - how soon do you think it will be before I get my check?
I concur with your percipient perception
ha haaaaaaa !!!!!!!!!!!
Well, I really don’t have enough clout to write a vitriolic article about some other site and have anyone care, so I doubt it would ever happen; however, I would remove an article for $10,000.00! I’d spend it all on whiskey and strippers in a really dangerous crime district
Good One!!!
I can be bought
If the price was right I would take the money and write more posts on other products that failed me in hopes to get another pay off. I would be sure to write an additional post stating that I was paid to remove the post per the ’subjects’ request and that my opinion has not changed. Is that lack of scruple nope not in my eyes, as long as no one is impending danger.
I’m with Bobby and Debo
What’s up Doc???