Using Bloggers For Pushing Products: A Good Idea?

There is an interesting conversation in the blogosphere. The discussion centers on using bloggers to push products and getting compensated in return. Should bloggers accept monetary payment or any form of remuneration for writing about certain products, services or events on their blogs?

Issues and Views

Now that blogging is spreading like wildfire, drawing large crowds of audience, business advertisers, sponsors and the like are one in advocating it as an effective means of advertising getting a companys message out. It is now everyday staple to see advertising on personal blogs. Leading companies like Microsoft, Nokia, and General Motors have even joined the blogwagon. Top management executives like Sun Microsystems president Jonathan Schwartz and Intel chief Paul Otellini now blog. It is a fact that word from a trusted source holds much water to consumers. Word of mouth is undoubtedly the most effective form of advertising. Marketing people put a lot of weight into pursuing free publicity. Aware of the massive growth of blogs and the increasing clout and its being a trusted medium, it isnt surprising that bloggers are being used to promote products, services...