November 2, 2011

我寫Blog不收錢

能將自己的興趣變成事業,有誰不想?情況有如很多蛋糕店老闆都是從興趣開始,從友儕間漸漸建立口碑及人脈,最後踏上開店之路。不過要知道,興趣和生意真的是兩碼子的事,興趣是閒餘活動,有時間可做,沒時間可停,閒來做一點自己感興趣的事,調劑生活,有益身心。一但發展成為事業,難免要為銷量和客路錙銖必較。興趣做得好可換來掌聲,做得差無人在意,但做生意再好,也難免當中夾雜批評,因為你的產品總不能滿足全世界的人。

博客可以用同一種模式來發展嗎?

自問Blog齡淺,但承蒙各方公關愛戴,近年收到不少出席活動的邀請,適合自己的而且有時間的會樂意出席,本來情況好健康的,對我來說出席Blogger Event就同出席Press Conference一樣,只是身份不同,我去接收資訊,然後用自己的媒體去講食後感、用後感,文中亦會註明是否受到邀請。

最近出現了一些千奇百怪的邀請和公司,邀請信上寫明出席活動需要寫指定數目的文章,最後更提及金錢回報。又或者自稱是廣告公司,要求同你長期合作,去他們客戶的餐廳試食,然後寫食評。身邊人更收到電郵查詢,開宗明義問寫食評收費如何。

對於這些我非常反感。

或許天下間的人都會認為Blogger都會收錢寫文,所以公關才會來叩門。當我向那些公關解釋我寫Blog是不收錢的時候,他再也沒有回覆,其實個活動我想去的,想不到不收錢反而會被拒絕。

朋友說得對,在這個情況下,客戶買的是廣告,你收錢接Job就是賣自己的態度。雖然他們會跟你說好壞都可照寫,但收得人錢,你會說其壞話嗎?收得人錢,他們更有大條道理要求你重寫。

而那些自稱是廣告公司的公司,邀請你長期合作,接著會安排試食其客戶的餐廳,美其名讓你有試食機會,而同時又為你宣傳你的博客,他們根本是用一餐飯去買Copywriter的服務,即是說請人寫作廣告稿而不用出人工,寫作的人更是有名氣的Blogger,如意算盤打得真響。廣告公司收得客戶錢,要的當然是有讚無彈的食評,這個情況下你還可以本著良心去寫嗎?

如果我寫Blog收錢,的確可為我帶來豐厚收入,甚至變為我的副業,但我要出賣我的靈魂,Blog最終淪為一塊廣告版。一個無靈魂的Blog,還有人喜歡看嗎?

興趣歸興趣,這樣有選擇權的人生會過得舒服一點。

2 comments:

  1. The line between blogging and copywriting is definitely becoming finer. For me, my blog is about saying whatever I want, without any guilt or restrictions, but for some people, blogging is a business, like a one-man/one-woman magazine. I think that what makes a blog interesting is honest, unfettered, personal opinion, but maybe some readers don't think that way. (It's a bit sad if all they want to read are essentially advertorials) But anyway, it's their choice. It's also our choice, as owners and writers of our own blogs, to choose not to blog favourable reviews just for money.

    For years, magazines have written reviews and advertorials based on free meals and payments, without really disclosing the facts, and people continue to buy these publications. So if a blogger were to decide to go down that path, there is little we can do except hold our own. (I think you can tell that I have been through the same dilemma/frustrations!).

    As writers/editors in our real lives, I think our blogs can sometimes serve to give PR people examples of how much we love food, and if that leads to a paid job for another publication or project, I think that's great. But for now, like you, I'm keeping my blog 100% mine.

    Keep writing! Love your blog!

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  2. A great post. Quite a hot topic these days. I guess some customers/readers might still read advertorial blogs anyway simply to find out if there's any new place opening and what kind of food they serve, or simply adore the beautiful photographs. There's a market for anything and everything.

    Having said that, I am glad that you keep your integrity up high, it is something I greatly respect. Keep up the good work!

    (I only read using Google translate, hope I got everything right ^_^)

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