As many of my readers know, I do, on occasion, write up a post that I am paid for. Whether it be to review a website or product or just to help an advertiser get themselves seen, I have no problem doing this. I try and choose topics that are relevant to my blog and I also try to make the post interesting to my readers. It also helps that this helps me pay some bills - I consider paid blogging a 'part time job'
That being said, back in September I did a post for a beading company, Beads of Cambay - you can see that post here: Click to View
I have altered the post to take out the links because honestly, this company deserves nothing from me. I had to wait 30 days from the date this post went live in order to receive payment and fulfill my end of the deal per the paid blogging company's TOS - now that it has been over 30 days, all bets are off!
Here's what happened. I was banned from ever doing anything for this beading company because their post is on my blog, a Pagan blog. Now, no, I'd never do anything for them anyway but this bench leaves a black mark on my profile and other advertisers may choose NOT to work with me because of this. They don't get to see the reason for the ban so all they know is I've been banned by an advertiser and that just is not good.
This beading company chose these categories for their advertising, meaning any blog that fit these categories was eligible to take the opportunity. Hmmm, 'alternative lifestyle' mixed with 'religion and spirituality' I'd have to say this blog fits perfectly.
Here is the reason for the ban - yep, they don't like their client's to be advertised on a Pagan Community website. Now, this may very well mean the ad agency made this decision and not the bead company. That bead company may have hired someone to help with their ad campaign and paid blogging was one of the campaigns chosen.
Either way, I told the paid blogging site what I thought and how my blog clearly fit the categories chosen AND hey, there are lots of crafty Pagans and this company could have potentially gotten some sales but I would make sure that didn't happen.
Here is the reason I got from the paid blogging site:
Hello Lisa,I have reached out to the advertiser and advised that they should not use discriminatory practices in our system but they have still decided to keep the ban. I do apologize for this. They have been made aware that they may have now lost customers because of this.
Unfortunately, we cannot remove the ban without their consent.
Please keep up the good work and I hope that this never happens again!
Okay, fair enough but that doesn't mean I am okay with this. So, if you're a crafty Pagan, don't get your beads from the Beads of Cambay company - they clearly don't want your money. You Heathens!
This entry was posted
on Monday, October 20, 2008
at Monday, October 20, 2008
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