Paid Blog Post Scam (is there such thing?)

by adribabe

Posted: 12 years ago 10 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

My website covers all things motorcycle. It's not unusual for me to get emails asking me to review products or inquiring about advertising. I really love it when a company writes an awesome unique article for me that's a perfect fit for my audience (motorcyclists), and then sends me a few bucks. But this last one was a bit... weird.

I received an advertising inquiry email. The individual said he was working for an advertising company looking for media outlets for its clients in the motorcycle industry. They were looking for advertisements on websites like mine with an interesting and unique personality and approach to the world of two wheels.

I sent my pdf media kit, which contains info about the site (intro, visitor stats, details on geo-targeted advertisements, sample ad placements, and rates). I received an email back offering to write me an article plus give me $100 to publish it.

Sounds great, right?

Here's the catch... the rate on my media kit for an article is about 1/10th of what they offered me. Even the highest advertising rate on my media kit is still less than half of what they offered me. I was promised I would be Pay-Pal'd once the ad was up.

Is this a case of my media kit being ignored/misread, or is this some kind of blog scam?

#blog #paid #post #scam #thing

glowworm Banned 12 years ago

Surely just ask for payment/part payment up front. This would call the bluff of any would-be scammer.
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Adie 12 years ago

Yes, ask for the payment first. You have everything to lose if you do the job first without payment. Although the offer seems legit, just try to convince them to pay first and explain to them that you can't run away with their money because you have your identity with your blog - but if they are not going to pay, you lose time even if you remove the post.
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- cjreynolds 12 years ago
  
  Haven't had experience with it online, but offline the only times I've been offered more than what I was asking for a product or service there was a scam involved...
  
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  I just added this sig so I can refer to it in my posts...
  
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adribabe 12 years ago

Well... I haven't heard anything back from that gig, but I did book another $100 ad post and advertisement which I'm awaiting payment for. I'm willing to give them 3 days to pay. After that I'm closing the post. Fingers crossed...

Anyway, thanks for your input guys. I'll probably post another thread asking for some feedback on my media kit, unless you guys have any examples you would like to share with me here?
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rosetrees 12 years ago

My guess, and it's only a guess, is that you are going to receive a casino/gambling related article. I know some of my bed and breakfast website customers have received offers of adverts for up to $150 a year.

I always ask up front what the subject of posts/ads will be.

Just be aware that you may end up with a useless article and have to refund their money.
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bvna80 12 years ago

Such emails 9 out of 10 are scam!!
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sbucciarel Banned 12 years ago

I've seen threads like this a couple of times but don't know the answer as to whether it's a scam or not. No one ever posted back to tell us, but whenever someone offers you more money than you've asked for ... I'd assume it's a scam and proceed with caution.
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adribabe

12 years ago

Well, I'm following up and telling you it wasn't a scam!

That being said. I received their post, and could clearly see the keywords in there. It was still a "quality" unique content article. Not oozing with personality and attitude as my posts usually are, but one out of one hundred posts isn't going to kill my readership.

Two days after posting I received my $100 as promised for 6 months of post-life and a link to the article from my front page.

In six months when renewal time comes I'm asking for $150/ 6 months on account of readership growth - I've been seeing at least 400% increases for the past few years.

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rosetrees 12 years ago

Originally Posted by adribabe

Well, I'm following up and telling you it wasn't a scam!

That's good to hear. It's always following these things up as you have nothing to lose. If payment doesn't appear you simply remove the post.
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