Regan from Throng has done an excellent post on the way PR companies bludge off us bloggers in an attempt to get through to our high readership – all without paying a cent. If we were any other method of media then they’d expect to pay for the privilege. It appears blogs have become the new free media.
Internationally, brands engage with bloggers and pay for the privilege of engaging with their audiences. It becomes a win-win where content can afford to be produced and in many cases, audiences respect brands that help keep the communities they participate in alive. On the flip side, those who expect bloggers to work for them for free while others reap the rewards for their labour should expect a growing disdain for their brand. While it’s one thing to provide content that is a talking point, it’s a little useless if it can’t be monetised, and even worse if someone else is being paid in the process.
Yes, PR are doing their job in getting exposure for their clients but at some point the bloggers will stop being so helpful for free.
