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Being a ‘Postie’ is just about the most fun I’ve had as a writer

A few months ago I heard about an online business called PayPerPost. I think I read about PayPerPost first in Darren Rowse's well-known ProBlogger blog, sometime in 2006. The concept intrigued me, because I come from a news writing and reporting background. I saw the idea as a simple way someone with the ability to write blog posts might make a bit of steady income.

I realized from the start the pitfalls such a business would have: It was open to ethical concerns on the part of both bloggers and blog readers. That is, would I be forced to write about products or services I knew nothing about, simply to put ad copy into my blog? Would my readers feel they were getting ads shoved at them when they wanted blog content? The answers I’ve found are "nope" and "nope."

In one way or another, all blogging almost always has been commercial. Unless you’re sitting around with a T1 Internet connection and a spare computer to use as a webserver of your very own, you have to pay the costs of setting up and maintaining a website, as well as pay in some way for the time and thought it takes to blog. In short, PayPerPost, I have found, is a nice way to help pay the rent, online and off-line rent that is.

The good folks at PPP (as they call themselves) are careful to screen their advertisers for legitimacy — and they have stringent requirements simply get a blog approved so that you can be a "Postie." They are looking for serious bloggers, not just folks to post one ad after another.

On the "up side" for me personally — I’ve discovered some useful products and services. I have no problem personally recommending any of the advertisers for whom I have blogged. I have either bought and used the product or service, or researched them and feel good about their product or service. Also, most of the PayPerPost "assignments" don’t require me to "pitch" a product or service, simply to tell about it. In most cases, I am encouraged to remain "neutral" -- it just happens that most PPP stuff I’ve done so far has won me over in the use of the product or service, or in my research!

I love you guys and gals at PayPerPost. You’ve given me a way to inform my readers about some good, useful products and services. At the same time, I’ve made enough to pay my webhosting account this month — and this is just about the most fun I’ve had writing in a long, long time!
[tags]blog posting for money, making money online, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]