The Blogging Goose That Lays The Golden Marketing Eggs

Just today, I read not one, but two articles about how marketers are turning to bloggers to hype products. Apparently, companies like Nokia are cutting back on flashy advertising and opting instead to investing their money in samples sent to bloggers to test and hawk in their blogs. These marketing strategies have come to pay off so much so, that websites have crashed because when one blogger writes, others will surely follow in their footsteps, giving way to way more exposure than any flashy, full-page ad in your Sunday newspaper could ever do. More and more companies are turning to niche bloggers to create a buzz about new products and technology companies have taken to hiring public relations firms that are targeting bloggers only to get the word out. Don't think that just because your blog is small with a small readership that you wouldn't be targeted. In fact, marketers are aiming towards smaller, niche blogs to create the buzz while bloggers get paid in merchandise, money and a surge in readership. Some bloggers feel that they are selling out by accepting offers from marketers as it will taint their honest opinions about products they wouldn't use or just don't care for, but as one marketer put it, even negative feedback can elevate a company's online presence just by sparking a debate. Apparently, engaging bloggers in a debate is still a great form of advertising. It just goes to show you that the age-old saying "as long as they spell the name correctly" still very much applies in the blogging world.