ebuzzing network UK review
February 11th, 2008 10
ebuzzing is a new pay-to-blog service from France, just launched in the UK. Their man Dan dropped me an email asking me to give it a look see, so here’s what I thought of it.
As a rule, I really don’t like pay-to-blog (P2B) sites as they’re usually really restrictive on what you can write about. Why would you write a review on a product you don’t own or particularly care about? Selling your integrity to the man has never been high on my agenda with this site, but Dan insisted that ebuzzing was different…
They basically have two ways to feed the blogger content - Network and Direct.
Network is the regular fare I’ve come to expect from P2B sites - there’s a big list of products and services that people want you to blog about with a price they’re willing to pay for you to do so. I say big list with some trepidation, as currently the ebuzzing UK site only has a request to review their own site (cue this review). Dan assures me that the French network is much bigger and they’re working hard to bring across some of their French partners as well as some big British advertisers.
Direct is what makes ebuzzing somewhat different. When you sign up for an account and add in your blog you’re given a recommended price per article (or you can specify your own). This is based on several things (technorati rank, inward links, etc.) but it looks like it’s mainly based on your Google page rank.
As far as I understand the idea behind this is - Advertisers that have a particular product or service they wish blogged. They are then presented with a list of blogs that write about that sort of stuff (via a number of tags you specify). I actually really like this idea - it means (at least if it works like it says on the tin) that you’ll only get offered the sorts of stuff you’d normally blog about anyway. And, if they’ve got any brains, the advertisers will have read a bit of your blog and know that what they have to offer will be well received. That way - less selling out and a nice little earner for you - just for writing about the stuff you normally would anyway.
If this actually works remains to be seen - but at least ebuzzing have thought outside the box a little.
The only other thing I’d like to say about their service is their website. Good idea, slightly rickety website. It’s still a little rough around the edges (for instance, some of the Javascript popup alerts are still in French). The whole site needs some serious interaction re-design. It’s not really intuitive or easy to use. But I think once they’ve sorted that out they’ll have a potential killer service.
In summary - ebuzzing is a great idea that hinges on them getting some big blogs together with some decent advertisers. Do that, and they’re in the money.
This is a sponsored article
10 Comments (+0 in the moderation queue).
#1 On February 11th, 2008 at 12:01 pm Paul said...
…and with that, Jon lost any remaining moral integrity (if it hadn’t already disappeared with the inclusion of text link ads, and promotions for casinos).
This sort of thing is second only to pornography if you ask me. With all it’s potential, the web is slowly becoming just another platform for marketing. How sad.
#2 On February 11th, 2008 at 12:17 pm Jon said...
Thanks for your (as ever) supportive comment Paul. Let me explain.
The promotion for Casinos was admittedly a mistake. But one which I have corrected. Do you see it anywhere on the site?
Text Link Ads do vet their links according to your stipulations - so no fear of them linking to anything nasty - it’s just content related to what I write about.
And ebuzzing - well, as I explained in the review (I’m assuming you’ve read it?) - they should only offer me things that I’d normally write about anyway. If they don’t - then I won’t write. You should be happy! More content on this blog is what you’ve always wanted.
I fail to see what’s wrong with making a little extra cash from this blog - I work hard to make it the best it can be and have done everything to ensure that any sponsored content in relevant and wholesome.
I’m summation - it’s all very well being high and mighty, but sometimes I think it’s indignation for indignation’s sake with you.
#3 On February 11th, 2008 at 1:02 pm Paul said...
Possibly, but I stand by my (rather abrupt) response. Lets look at your review:
- ‘Currently the ebuzzing UK site only has a request to review their own site’.
- Website is ‘not really intuitive or easy to use’
- Conclude that it’s ‘great idea that hinges on them getting some big blogs together with some decent advertisers’.
So, a well rounded review, but had you not been paid to write this, would you a.) have written about this in the first place, and b.) given that you have been paid, how do I know that your review isn’t biased?
How much have you been paid. I’d imagine you aren’t able to say as part of the service terms, but that fact alone would provide better clarity as to your bias.
Essentially you have reviewed a product that you point out isn’t fully formed, and has a number of flaws, and yet still conclude with a reasonably favourable review.
This is all part of a trend on the web to simulate ‘conversational marketing’, which those of us without MBAs would simply call ‘world of mouth’. Problem is, world of mouth works by building great products that people want to talk about, not building half-arsed services and then essentially bribing people to talk about it for you.
Indignation indeed.
#4 On February 11th, 2008 at 1:36 pm Jon said...
Alright my friend, keep your knickers on. I feel I’ve sparked somewhat of a legendary Lloydy rant - that if nothing else was worth writing the post for.
Whether or not I gave an unbiased review in little down to the amount of money I got paid for doing so, and more about my personal ethics. You should know that despite being a little keener to try the methods that would make me a little pocket money, my stance on things is almost as stalwart as yours.
I would not ever write a positive review about a service that I thought was crap. The very fact I’ve chosen to sign up and get as far as actually publishing this article on my blog perhaps suggests that I see something in this company that others simply don’t have.
I think by your comment you’re bringing into question my choice (God forbid it be my choice to do something) to promote this company and make money from my blog - you’re actually questioning my moral ethics in so far as hocking shoddy products for a bit of easy cash.
I resent that.
#5 On February 11th, 2008 at 5:35 pm Jon said...
Anyway - personal issues aside. Has anyone got any comments about the future of ebuzzing?
#6 On February 13th, 2008 at 11:55 am Kris said...
Jon,
I admire you for being open and willing to try out new things. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
Some people are just completly stuck in their ways and always see the potential negative in every situation. We call them ‘the class is half empty’ folk.
Give it a go, what you got to lose……
#7 On February 15th, 2008 at 10:50 am Paul said...
Obviously the spelling class was half full, and you were one of it’s absentees…
Besides, dare me present an opposing argument, or a different side to the story. You can pretend the world is a beautiful place, and everybody is happy or you can deal with reality. I prefer the later.
#8 On February 16th, 2008 at 11:38 pm Kris said...
So did Hitler….
#9 On February 17th, 2008 at 10:12 pm Paul Lloyd said...
Congratulations Kris, you just invoked Godwin’s Law.
#10 On March 11th, 2008 at 7:14 am George said...
ebuzzing issues guidelines and writing techniques to teach bloggers how to inform and meet the needs of the consumers. Bloggers may meet their reader’s needs by giving honest transparent information to be able to determine how people feel about the product or company through comments made on each blog post.