PayPerPost causes an uproar- that’s a good thing

PayPerPost is a new blogging service that helps connect advertisers and bloggers to engage in conversations about products and services. Is this a good or bad thing? Well, it depends on who you ask.

Scoble notes that he won’t use PayPerPost (or if he does he’ll disclose) and goes on to talk about the blogger/journalist payola that has become so common in the industry (free phones, A/V equipment, computers, etc.). I think Shel Israel (Scoble’s Naked Conversations co-author) goes over the top in wishing that PayPerPost fail without seeing the results of the new service. Still, there is a lot of interest and debate surrounding the service. TechCrunch reviewed PayPerPost but notes that the site “does not accept payment for posts”. The buzz abounds.

I think that PayPerPost can be a very good thing if people disclose what they’re doing and provide genuine feedback on the products and services. Why not get the benefit of advertiser support to write about a product, service, or issue that you care about? In this case, I’m testing the PayPerPost service and disclosing that fact as part of the post. I’m doing this for two reasons- first to be above board with respect to the nature of this post and second to see if disclosure disqualifies me from receiving credit from PayPerPost. I can assure you that I’ll post an update soon.

I recommend that anyone interested in monetizing their blog go check out this service and form their own opinion.

UPDATE- PayPerPost paid me today for this entry.

Integrating Office with LOB applications and other services

Software for the Enterprise and the Web: LOBi and enterprise architecture- what are the implications?

Fresh pavement

Sam Ruby: Repave Periodically

Scoble’s Exit Interview

Scoble has posted his own “exit interview” on his blog. Go comment and ask him the really tough questions that journalists and colleagues have yet to ask him.

Which technology companies are taking the risks- the old or the new?

Business Week: “Indeed, for a generation of managers weaned on the rigors of Six Sigma error-elimination programs, embracing failure — gasp! — is close to blasphemy.”

Microsoft often talks about our willingness to let people fail and take big risks. I know it is part of our history, but it makes me wonder about what big risks we’re taking today and where we’re likely to succeed (or fail) in a spectacular way. When I look at the other “big” companies in software and on the Web today, I don’t see anyone doing anything particularly risky or disruptive. Am I missing it, or is this innovation driven by smaller players with less to lose?

On the web today, business models are driving innovation as much as new technology. New ways of connecting with customers and enabling them to leverage your tools and services are just as important as the technology you build on, your APIs, and your unique use of new technologies to deliver your solution. Will the big companies on the Web embrace new ways of doing business and monetizing their work to drive the innovation, or will we be waiting for the next Microsoft or Google or Yahoo to come along and show us a new way?

With the rapid rate of change that we’re seeing on the Web, will companies have time to adapt and evolve their businesses to keep up or will the cycle continue to be driven by the new players?