Shel and Octavio have posted some interesting comments on my post last Friday regarding ‘blogvetorials’.
It’s definetely a grey area, but agreeing a “blog code of ethics” and then implementing it, would be probably impossible.
I think you have to put your trust in people who read blogs. People are intelligent. If a blogger is promoting products for cash, I’m fairly sure readers will spot it. Maybe not immediately but certainly over time.
The Internet provides a fairly democratic environment. If your blog is credible, has interesting or useful content and is providing honest opinions then there’s a good chance you’ll get a readership – whatever the size.
As Octavio points out, you have once shot at credibility. Should you lose it, then it’s gone. That’s a very dangerous threat for any blogger tempted to plug products for payment.
On the other hand, Google has shown us that as long as advertisements are clearly flagged as such, then audiences/users have no problem with them.
So, if you want to make your first million from blogging (you probably need help) then by all means include advertising on your blog, and mark it for what it is. You may find that the real cost of breaking your readers’ trust is far more expensive than any short-term revenue.
Murphy's Law 