They aren’t “sponsored posts” because a sponsor makes an already existing initiative possible. Like a conference, charity event or a newsletter. But that conference, charity event or newsletter could exist with OTHER sponsors and they are NOT part of the core content (or, in this case, 100% of the content).

These are pay-for-posts because the entire post is about the company that pays for it, instead of an ad that’s separated in a newsletter or a logo of a sponsor at an event. I just want to be clear so that we don’t start using marketing messaging that’s not true. Maybe when IZEA renamed from Pay Per Post it also started calling them ’sponsored posts’. I’m honestly not sure; I just know that this is the first time I’ve started hearing the words “sponsored post” and it doesn’t ring true to me since the “sponsor” is actually the entirety of the core content–and the only reason the post happens is because it is paid for… as every time I see one it's the first time I've seen the blogger write about the company.

[...] Social Media. Chris is, by far, a much larger brand in Social Media than KMart. The buzz that was generated had little to do with KMart and it’s faded since then back to the same levels it was at [...]

Jonathan Mac
Social Focus VP
Social Networking Software

[...] couple of months ago an uproar arose because, by working with a company called Izea, Kmart had paid some prominent bloggers including [...]

[...] Understanding Sponsored Blog Posts [...]

[...] Media.  Chris is, by far, a much larger brand in Social Media than KMart.  The buzz that was generated had little to do with KMart and it’s faded since then back to the same levels it was at [...]

[...] is this topic? very. In fact, I previously highlighted both the opportunities and risks when I twittered and blogged about Kmart’s sponsored blogger hit the social sphere, which resulted in a flurry of [...]

[...] Chris Brogan har valt att göra det flera gånger och jag tycker att det är både modigt och smart – eftersom han faktiskt sätter fingret på ett antal problem med sociala medier som marknadsföringskanal men Jeremiah Owyang2 visar också problemen och farorna. [...]

[...] his post was part of an Izea campaign for Kmart, Forrester analyst Jeremiah Owyang posed some legitimate questions about sponsored posts , and a Twitter storm [...]

[...] the sponsored blog posts controversy, initiated by Chris Brogan’s sponsored K-Mart post and Jeremiah Owyang’s response. What are your thoughts on sponsored blog posts? (Editors Note: Additional information has emerged [...]

[...] Understanding Izea’s Sponsored Blogging Service – A lengthy post on a controversial topic. [...]

[...] with the furore over Chris Brogan’s sponsored post. For those unaware, Jeremiah Owyang has a comprehensive overview of the situation. I think Chris Brogan defended his position well (for the record, I have no [...]

[...] bloggers, who would then blog about their experience. Jeremiah Owyang wrote a great piece about how sponsored blog posts are becoming more [...]

As I see it this is just another useful marketing/social media tool. Nothing more (it’s not suddenly going to solve the overall goals of bloggers / brands) or nothing less (as long as bloggers remain authentic).

Bloggers / brands who abuse this tool might enjoy short-term gain but, in the long-term, it will affect their reputation.

So keep it authentic, and it’s just another useful marketing / social media tool.

Like Chris, Loren, Tamar, Liz, etc . . . I participated in this for a set of reasons entirely my own which I’d be glad to share with you if you send me an email. It might be enlightening.

Again, not a dig against the article but in times such as these when people’s knee jerk reactions can cause people lots of damage, I prefer to keep that top of mind.

Change or don’t change that portion as you see bit, but those are my ten pesos.

[...] the part of devil’s advocate (not fully but he points to good drawbacks) is web stratgist Jeremiah Owyang (local SF resident) [...]

[...] Understanding Izea’s Sponsored Blogging Service [...]