Sponsored Link
9Sep2003 Filed under: Geek OutRemember this discussion: Blogs & PR?
I’ve recently been offered $20/month for a sponsored keyword link. It would be over there under “recommended” and would be listed as a “paid advertiser” and would just be two words linking to a Pay Day Loans thinger.
Do you think I should do it? Is that selling out? $20 is less than one hour of my time by any other measures, yet somehow accepting that much a month for a product I don’t really care about or necessarily support seems weird. Thoughts?
[Update: I've elected not to accept the sponsored link. Thanks for your feedback!]
- Previous: Of Airplane Food
- Next: Mirror Project
9 Responses to “Sponsored Link”
Leave a reply
Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
You're reading a page from the archives. Check the homepage for current content.
Anna
September 9th, 2003 at 2:48 pm
Hmm, tricky question.
I’d go for it only if the product/service advertised can in some way relate to the site’s philosophy. Then again, some extra money always comes in handy…
heidi
September 9th, 2003 at 4:15 pm
call me a cynic, but in times like these, $20 is $20.
if you need a cause for justification, you might make a donation to the “Help Fund Andreas’ in his Career Search” Foundation.
i say take the money and run.
suz
September 10th, 2003 at 7:10 am
no…down with pay-day loans and credit pushers. People need to take responsibility for their $ and quit using these crutches thinking that “next month I’ll get ahead”. Loans and credit are destroying/defining our society. I know it sounds dramatic, but i’d say you could make 20 bucks hooping in the park with a hat turned up for the onlookers:)
Ariel
September 10th, 2003 at 8:18 am
Hmm. Susannah has a good point. As someone who’s STILL trying to pay off debts I accrued as an innocent 21 year old in San Francisco, what she said definitely resonates with me.
Then again: Suz, aren’t you making payments on a car loan?
leblanc
September 10th, 2003 at 9:50 am
i’m with suz. if the sponsored ad did somehow connect to other things you write about, sure. like an ad for some music magazine site or something. but payday loans? that’s just ghetto.
sarah
September 10th, 2003 at 1:43 pm
don’t do it…..good vibrators, good music, good books, and sketchy pay day loans don’t mix.
I think it compromises your stamp of approval….
kim
September 10th, 2003 at 7:17 pm
i’m in the don’t do it camp. i have $2,000 in credit card debt and a lot of it is due to me doing a “pay day loan” type advancement to myself.
suz
September 11th, 2003 at 6:55 am
Indeed, I have a car payment and a mortgage payment! Personally I see the mortgage as working for me as I gain equity, but the car payment…ugh, wish I could get rid of it asap. It is definitely an extra mental weight, but at least I have the peace of mind knowing I have a safe car. Kind of a trade off?..maybe?
Ariel
September 11th, 2003 at 7:40 am
Yeah, I intentionally didn’t mention the house payments, because those TOTALLY build equity. But car payments are the worst. I hate car payments. Thankfully, I don’t have any right now. Sadly, the trade-off for no car payments is driving that ugly purple THING in the garage. Sigh. Sacrifice.