Comments and Advertising

Does anyone else have any type of "policy" (even if it is only in your on mind) regarding companies posting advertisements as comments on your blog?

Lately, every time I post something that details trouble we have been having a specific tool, or detailing a problem, in jumps one or two companies who, of course, are just trying to be helpful (feel the sarcasm?) by leaving suggestions that we try their products.

In my mind, it is different when the recommendations come from other individuals, but when the companies themselves begin posting what are basically advertisements masquerading as comments, I've been deleting them.

It's my space. It's my right. But I do want to ask if anyone else has thoughts on this issue.

Tags: comments, advertisments

Comments

[Graham Wegner]

Give 'em the flick. User testimonials are very different and we need the independent evaluations. I've occasionally had someone from the tool that I've blogged about post a comment regarding more feedback and I've let them stay.

[Jo McLeay]

Totally agree with you and Graham here. I have a strong feeling about no ads on my blog.

[Heather Ross]

Delete, delete, delete.

If I wanted advertising on my blog I'd add some ads and make a little extra cash.

I do agree with you about suggestions from individuals, but companies are different.

[Jason]

I wouldn't want any adds on my site especially in my comments. I haven't experienced that problem yet. I think if there is money in it for them then they need to explore other avenues of advertising. This makes it look like a personal endorsement of the product. If I feel that strongly about a product I would talk about it.

[susan funk]

Delete away. I think we need to take back advertisement free zones. This is a strange mix of private and public space. It is a commons - I think the commons is a very important and almost extinct concept. We need to have spaces for open discussion and exchange of ideas, advertising comments harm that free exchange. I'd love to see more spaces with less advertising, wouldn't it be nice to walk in a park or go to a concert hall without the ubiquitous commercials. Make your space, our space as advertising free as you want it.

[susan funk]

Delete away. I think we need to take back advertisement free zones. This is a strange mix of private and public space. It is a commons - I think the commons is a very important and almost extinct concept. We need to have spaces for open discussion and exchange of ideas, advertising comments harm that free exchange. I'd love to see more spaces with less advertising, wouldn't it be nice to walk in a park or go to a concert hall without the ubiquitous commercials. Make your space, our space as advertising free as you want it.

[Brad Wenger]

You're doing the right thing! The intentions of what we do and the intentions of these companies are obviously not the same. If educators or other visitors leave comments about products that have been helpful to them, that is one thing (a valuable resource). However, there is no place for the 'help' of these companies simply to push a product...not on our watch!

[Cathy Nelson]

I am not under attack, but I detest vendors who lurk in my network circles to bob there little heads in. In SC, we (SC Assoc. School Lib) have two so called vendors "who always have JUST what we need" who lurk on our blog, at our conference, and on our list serv. I have told them many times I will NEVER buy from them even if they have the lowest price b/c I will not reward the foxy, spy-like behavior. Once of them even ap[roached me about helping him build a blog & podcast. Of course I said NO WAY. They are worse than fleas in my opinion--ants that visit the picnic.

[Kyle Lichtenwald]

I have a marketing background, it was my first degree. This is not a black and white issue. Although my blogging has been infrequent lately, I have deleted a few spam posts that were simply links that referenced my blog. Clicking on the link connected me to aggregator sites full of ads upon ads. I have no problem blocking these comments.

On the other hand, I have had posts where I ask about or reference different programs and tools. The posts have had replies from sales folk suggesting their product (the "helpful" comment Clarence describes) which I have not deleted. These posts give the reader and myself another option if it interests us. Some view it as clutter, but I think that it is also another strength of connections. It is targeted advertising with rifle precision, it is not as though we are being lamblasted with the spray of machine gun fire. The blogger is the gatekeeper.

[TeachingSagittarian]

I'd delete. It's unsolicited. If it was from the people whose software/hardware I was talking about, then I'd leave it.

[Clarence Fisher]

Geez. This short post really hit a note with people didn't it? I want to make sure that everyone understands that I am not against advertising completely. I would be a hypocrite if I said that as this blog carries two ads completely by my choice. What I do have trouble with though is vendors who want to post something in the comments, purporting just to have showed up with a helpful piece of information at an opportune moment.

Puhhleeaazze.... Give me a break....

Kyle your point is well taken though and I understand the value in placing a comment on a relevant post that may be found by others. This is why I am often torn in deleting them. But what I am finding is that, as this blog gathers a larger community of subscribers to it, the advertisers, spammers, etc. all come with the general public and I don't want their voice to be along side the suggestions of education professionals.

A quandry and I thank each and everyone of you for your thoughts.