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Can you write blog posts?

by richie311
7 replies
Can you write blog posts about a business without actually visiting them? I mean I'm sure you can write an about post about a business but can you recommend or not recommend them without actually visiting them just based on reviews? I'm starting a blog about local businesses and don't want to do anything that is going to get me in trouble or can I basically write how I please? What kind of topics could I write about specific local businesses?
#blog #posts #write
  • Profile picture of the author lotsofsnow
    Newspaper reporters do that all the time. That does not mean that you should do it. Newspapers have a legal department to handle that stuff.

    You should go out and visit the business and then ask the owner whether you may publish something about them on your blog.
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  • Profile picture of the author richie311
    What if you've been to the place are you free to say what you want? I mean it is a blog isn't that the purpose of a blog? Also how is anyoen going to know if you've been there or not?
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by richie311 View Post

      What if you've been to the place are you free to say what you want?
      Within reason. As long as you delineate what parts of your post are facts and what part is opinion, you should be on solid ground. That doesn't mean that the subject of your post won't give you static if they think it's harming their business.

      Originally Posted by richie311 View Post

      I mean it is a blog isn't that the purpose of a blog?
      If the purpose of your blog is to say whatever you want about local businesses, why are you worried about whether you have to actually visit them or not?

      Originally Posted by richie311 View Post

      Also how is anyoen going to know if you've been there or not?
      Sounds to me like you've concocted a scheme to sell either positive or negative sham reviews that look like blog posts. And now you want someone to pat you on the head and tell you that it's okay to post phony reviews - after all, it is a blog, isn't it... :rolleyes:
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  • Profile picture of the author Oliver Williams
    You can but you leave yourself wide open if you don't have your facts verified.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by hpgoodboy View Post

      Newspaper reporters do that all the time. That does not mean that you should do it. Newspapers have a legal department to handle that stuff.
      Legitimate newspaper reporters do NOT write recommendations or reviews of local businesses without visiting them. If they don't have personal experience, they cite the source of whatever they used to form an opinion. If they have a decent editor, they won't make any kind of recommendation; rather, they'll offer a summary of their findings and leave the decision up to the reader.

      Originally Posted by hpgoodboy View Post

      You should go out and visit the business and then ask the owner whether you may publish something about them on your blog.
      You're half right here. He should go out and visit the business. But there's no obligation to obtain permission to post about the experience. If there were, you'd never read a negative review...
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  • Profile picture of the author sidfromla
    A visit to the business would make your information a lot more indepth and reliable which in turn would be of more use to your readers. So probably a better idea to visit the business before hand for quality purposes at least.
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