Paying Bloggers and Social Bookmarkers?
Ben McConnell over at Church of the Customer Blog wrote an entry yesterday exploring the idea of paying top participators in online content/social bookmarking creation. A close look at the Jason Calacanis offer is fodder for the debate. Ben describes what might happen if you start to pay someone for something they currently do for free…
“The One Percenters do it because it’s fun. Hobbies are supposed to be fun (except maybe latchhooking). It frees them from the expectations of labor. Their only expectations are of themselves or the community to improve their skills as hobbyists. So it follows that paying a hobbyist turns social bookmarking into labor, and probably eliminates the fun.”
As a hobbyist blogger myself I think Ben is on to something here. Ben even writes a bit about my blog:
“For instance, when Michael Marx was asked why he spends his free time running the Barqsman Blog, a fan site dedicated to the root beer from Coca-Cola, he said, “To keep the brand alive.”
I continue to blog about Barq’s simply because I love the brand, I love the product, and I’d love to see the world drinking Barq’s. You couldn’t pay me to do it. If you did, I would lose my independence and independence is the best part of blogging.
On the other hand, isn’t getting paid to do what you love something that people aspire to? What about all those people who have monetized their hobbies? World class chefs, adventure tour guides, professional athletes? Is it still fun for them? Or is it more about the money?
This issue can be argued both ways, but I do believe that where there is money, there is obligation. And with obligation independence is reigned in. And in the case of this Barq’s blog, the fun is in the freedom.
I’m glad you responded to the post from Ben McConnell. Your comments bring some more reality to the topic. I imagine that each blogger will have to weigh his options; complete freedom to say what you want vs. some sense of obligation. I read Calacanis’ experiment a little differently. It seems to me that he’s effectively looking for people to foster a community around a brand. A person’s job as a paid blogger could transform into one of community organizer. They bring up topics that will inspire others to respond and they ways to keep the conversation going in a positive direction.
↓ Quote | Posted August 6, 2006, 7:21 pm