A few months ago we crossed the 200,000 blogger mark in PayPerPost. While I am extremely excited about that achievement the tremendous growth has also created some issues for us. Over the past few weeks we have been speaking to many of our advertisers, reading our boards and gathering feedback in general. The single biggest complaint has been as our network has grown the quality of blogs has suffered. I want to formally acknowledge our customers’ concerns and our intention to address them.
Tomorrow we are beginning the first stage of cleaning up blog quality on each of our networks, starting with PPP. We are going to manually audit every blog in our system. Our goal is to elevate the overall quality of our marketplaces and deliver more value to our advertisers. This will undoubtedly leave thousands of bloggers upset that they can no longer participate in the system and I am sorry to be the bearer of unfortunate news to those who will no longer qualify.
Much like a bonsai tree we must strategically trim our marketplace to control its shape and promote proper growth. While I am saddened that we will no longer be to able to work with some blogs, I am confident that we will be providing our advertisers with a better service which ultimately means more opportunities for those blogs that remain.
Every blog in the system is going to be reevaluated with a discerning eye. I want to point out that our TOS provides minimum guidelines, but every blog is ultimately approved or not at our sole discretion. Just because a blog meets the minimum requirements does not mean it is the right fit for us.
If your blog fails the audit you will receive an email notification and will no longer be able to use that blog to take opportunities. You will still be paid for any outstanding posts that are currently in process and pass review. You will not be able to resubmit your blog for inclusion at this time.
If your blog passes the audit you will also receive an email letting you know you made the cut. It’s going to take at least 30 days to complete the audit so please be patient.
I wish you all luck.
Technorati Tags: blog audit, payperpost
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2488636/32773712
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Blog Audit in PayPerPost:
Comments (RSS)
Jules said...
This is one of the greatest things I have read all month. One quick question though. Is this just PPP, or does it include SS as well?
Aug 26, 2008 3:21:03 PM
tedmurphy said...
We are starting with PPP as that has the larger user base but it will extend to SS as well.
Aug 26, 2008 3:25:46 PM
Jenn said...
This has been sorely needed for quite a while! Good luck to all the reviewers. Remember to take frequent coffee breaks! ;)
Aug 26, 2008 3:29:19 PM
corrin said...
I'm excited. I have five blogs in the system, three of which need to be removed. I'm hoping this purge means that the two blogs that I post to and enjoy the most will have a better shot at taking opportunities as they become available.
Aug 26, 2008 3:35:22 PM
tedmurphy said...
I hope that others share your thoughts corrin!
Aug 26, 2008 3:40:14 PM
Holly said...
I also have blogs that need to be removed as I don't use them at all anymore. I am really looking forward to the changes and hopefully they will help PPP out in the long run. This has needed to happen for a long time.
Aug 26, 2008 4:06:47 PM
skeet said...
Good news indeed! There are some blogs in the system that are an embarrassment to the more serious bloggers among us. It will be good to see them go.
Aug 26, 2008 4:21:36 PM
Cynthia said...
Wow interesting... I do hope that the junky blogs will be removed, and the good quality blogs will stay, and will get more opps!
Aug 26, 2008 4:36:47 PM
Cyn said...
This is very welcome news!
Best of luck to the reviewers in accomplishing this major endeavor!
Cyn
(Caprica)
Aug 26, 2008 5:08:43 PM
Ana Gore said...
What could be the basis of judging the blogs for quality? Number of visitors? Number of opportunities taken?
Thanks
Aug 26, 2008 5:24:20 PM
Elizabeth said...
I hope you have a special Cake Plow planned for the end of this project! I'm hoping all my blogs in the system make the cut but if not, I promise not to have any hard feelings :)
Aug 26, 2008 7:20:38 PM
Jerryg said...
Way to go, PPP et al. There's gonna be a lot of coffee consumption. This is a great idea. If I were one to prop, I'd prop you... :) ~Jerry
Aug 26, 2008 8:06:45 PM
Mrs. Mecomber said...
I wonder if the declining quality of PPP blogs coincides with the decision that was made to allow blogs as young as 30-days old to join?
Aug 26, 2008 8:15:54 PM
cherry said...
Really good news! It has been such a disappointment not having a good enough speed on my connection to get good opps and seeing those opps go to blogs that really don't deserve them.
Aug 27, 2008 2:24:26 AM
thebluestbutterfly said...
I put a lot of effort into my blogging...something I enjoy very much. I really hope I make the cut and I am glad to see that the company cares about quality. :-)
Aug 27, 2008 3:30:37 AM
dai said...
Nice move!
After the clean-ups are done; next wonderful move would be to make opps available according to the real rank not as the google PR. Otherwise it is of no use!
(People who are not commited/did not show solidarity with ITK are ok now; but people with ITK are suffering slashed PR)
Aug 27, 2008 7:49:49 AM
Jules said...
I can only say this...
YES!
Aug 27, 2008 10:47:03 AM
Michelle said...
It's sad though my blog isnt that long yet.
Aug 27, 2008 3:00:04 PM
Mama BoK said...
I have nothing against any bloggers or blogs. But i agree with Skeet totally.. embarrassing to be associated with such bloggers/blogs.
Aug 28, 2008 3:14:48 AM
Zertarash said...
I am happy to learn that PayPerPost is evaluating the blogs.I think that quality must be enforced strictly so that good bloggers get more opportunities.
Sep 3, 2008 3:54:50 PM
idogcow said...
Wish there was a way to learn why certain blogs were 'pruned.' Feedback is always welcome.
Sep 4, 2008 2:23:09 PM
Naveen Roy said...
Hehe, I knew this was coming. Bye bye PPP! It was good while it lasted. And as I have said, you are pruning all blogs outside of the US for sure!
Sep 4, 2008 2:39:20 PM
bigasssuperstar said...
Well, just got the mail. I'm cut. Oh well. Being in the PPP network nuked my PageRank anyway, so I guess it was good while it lasted. Checking my Google analytics, I still get a fair number of hits from some of the past opp. articles. All the best to the "quality" bloggers still in the flock. Onward and upward!
Sep 4, 2008 5:38:32 PM
Abstractmind said...
This is a big challenge for those who did not make it after the PPP assessment. I strongly suggest that you stop creating mediocre works for your blogs and start shelling out the best in you! I believe nobody is incapable of coming up with a quality blog, it's just a matter of hard work and dedication to our blogging.
Congratulations to all of us who made it to PPP. This is our reward for doing a good job and for loving our blogs!
Sep 5, 2008 7:30:40 AM
JMom said...
Unfortunately, my blog which I thought was of better quality was cut and the one that I had announced to be keeping solely for the 'ice cream' was approved. :(
Also, my fave blogs that I don't do sponsored posts on, just sponsored links, have been demoted to PR 0 from 3s.
Yep, great week for me.
Sep 5, 2008 9:11:16 AM