Boo Box to Help Bloggers Sell Products They Write About

Like it or not, a lot of us bloggers make a living blogging. My blog brings me big-time consulting assignments on a regular basis, sells my reports (updates coming soon,) and provides revenue from ads.

Brazil-based Boo Box is about to launch a set of tools that will allow bloggers to sell items they write about. Let's say I write about my new iPod, and I happen to love it. I could make money if my readers thought they'd want one too. So a little box would come up over the name or photo of the iPod with links to amazon or another site where you could buy it.

As TechCrunch points out, conflicts of interest could be an issue with sites discussing/reviewing and taking a cut of sales. But mainstream sites including CNET already have links to purchase items in their reviews. Boo Box would make it simple and user-friendly for blog readers to buy products.

I think it's a cool idea, as long as bloggers behave ethically with this tool. And Boo Box will need to make sure there is secure checkout.

As a blogger, I am suddenly incentivised to write positive reviews that sell so I can generate more income... Therefore as a review seeker, I am suddenly incentivised to look elsewhere for genuine unskewed reviews. Ethics v. economics.

Joel: I certainly understand what you are saying. But many times I read about something and then go buy it.

A blogger who reviewed crumby products favorably would soon lose his/her credibility. And they're not being paid to write about the products. Maybe I didn't make that clear. They're just adding a link to buy a product that they've written about. Readers will surely make up their own minds.

On a site like CNET's, where reviews have high credibility,I often go from a review to a purchase.

Gizmodo and other blogs that review new gizmos would IMO be providing a service by connecting one to a place to buy.

However, few of us buy without price comparisons, so there are details for booBox to work out before they get out of beta.

This sounds an awful lot like affiliate marketing (probably because it is), pioneered by the likes of Be Free and Commission Junction, now retooled for blogs. So, this sort of thing has been done a long time on personal and professional Web sites.

I won't repeat B.L.'s point about the ethics except to agree-- build trust with honest content, win readers. I have seen other companies doing similar things, like Chitika (and no they are not my client) that are doing something similar to Boo Box. Ok, that's one other company, but you get my point.

BL: Let's say I write about my new iPod, and I happen to love it. I could make money if my readers thought they'd want one too.

So a little box would come up over the name or photo of the iPod with links to amazon or another site where you could buy it. ______________

So you then become the Middle-person? Are you going in the business of selling iPods, ditital cameras and dog food next?

More links,and ethics, and objectivity and 'let the buyer-beware' sales pitches and disclaimers?
pshaw! Next thng you know, there will be SPAM blogging? What will they think of next?
Bob:~)

Bob: I don't happen to write about a lot of products. But occasionally I do say that I love or hate something. Maybe if i love a product some of my readers will want to know more about it and maybe buy it.

What reason is there for me not to take an affiliate commission if the company makes a sale because of my post?

When I write about Marketing Sherpa's reports, and recommend them, and someone buys one, I get a commission. I wouldn't write about a report I didn't think was worth buying.

So am I a middleman. Yes. But what bothers you about that?

This isn't like pay per post where bloggers are paid to write about a product or service. I find that blatantly unethical and lacking in credibility.

But I have no problem when Gizmodo or CNET reviews a product and includes a link to a site where you can buy it

OK, BL I agree with you to an extent, AND you defend your criteria very well! I guess I was listening to Clark Howard the other day, and also thinking of the Consumer Reports business model. There is NOTHING wrong with your idea, and this new BL capitalization opportunity. This is after all - America! So I commend you.

This is yet another "business play" for Blogging as a media, and a medium. Much like Google and Ebay...models, and their cross - selling efforts? OK you got me there...

My underlying point is still the proliferation of selling on the internet! Now there's a novel idea!