I agree. I stopped reading blogs like that, too. Ads, I don't mind ... if they can profit from it, great. But yes, constant sponsored entries, no thanks. It just becomes a commercial then.

I used to be an avid reader of many decor blogs about 4-5 years ago but have found that those with any talent (at least from my perspective) found other ways besides blogging to monetize their design skills. The sponsored blog posts are so transparent--once these start cropping up, I stop reading and find other resources to view.

Blogging takes a lot of work. It's a great way to start out, but if, a few years later, you're still blogging about changing up your DR or how you're decorating for the holidays, you're just like any one of us here except you have a URL address and a lot of spare time. (Admittedly, there are a few decor bloggers who have a passion for blogging and don't mind the time and effort it takes, but those are few and far between.)

I do visit one particular blogger for amusement because her aesthetic and advice are usually so off-kilter. She recently described soapstone countertops as "scratch resistant."

If it's a blog I generally enjoy reading and she throws in a few sponsored posts, sure, I'll keep reading. If it turned into daily sponsored posts, that would be something else all together. There are some bloggers who actually earn a good living blogging, to them it is a job. By doing a sponsored post, they often get items or income.

I read one blog in particular that often features products that are provided to the blogger by the manufacturer. I actually find her work even more fascinating because some of the products are not at all to my taste, but she makes them look updated and less taste specific. I guess I'm saying that as long as the blogger is honest about the product sponsorship and you still enjoy the content...win-win.

When someone new posts here with a link to a blog site, it's usually spam to try to drive people to click on the link. Administrators will remove the spam post if it is reported. So, please report spam!

No, sushi, don't worry, it wasn't spam, it was a link to a style of decorating a long time back, very fun thread.

Fun2behere, if it had anything to do with her blogging topic, I don't think I'd have minded. Or if it was "this company sent me their product to try and talk about it", because those bloggers seem to be pretty honest about what they liked and didn't like. But this is a decorating/crafting blog, and the post was about a food, sponsored by a food company (said so right at the too of the post). And the comments were all "oh, yes, I love that soup, too" so you know they are "placed", too.

I did check back today, and she's back to the charm. I can't fault her for making more money, and I suppose if the company wanted to sponsor the post the blog gets enough traffic that they think it's worthwhile, but I don't have to like it, either. Like 30-minute infomercials.

I never saw the link... what was it?

I'd love to read your blog, Rococogurl. Is there a way you can share the link and not be reported? Perhaps some key search words, since I'm outright asking for it and you're not promoting it?

People who write content for the Internet have to get paid somehow (said as someone who makes a living partially writing content for the Internet- although not this kind of content).

Personally, as long as it is made clear the post is sponsored, it doesn't bother me at all. I'd rather have sponsored content than a bunch of annoying ads all around (I use ad block software). I can just skip over the sponsored posts if I don't want to read them. If it is a product I might be interested in and they actually give an honest review, it doesn't bother me at all.

Lisa, it was a good year ago, I think, the thread was about favorite online home tours; the blog is Confessions of a Plate Addict (and I really like her home tour!)

Beagles, I think the biggest reason I mind is that it takes a while for the blog to open on this old tablet, must be all the ads, so when I get there to find a sponsored post I feel like I wasted some time and effort.

Rococo, thanks for the explanation!

@lisad82 - I'm honored you would ask and since you have I'm happy to give you a link.

@bpathome - Glad to. I don't think the blogger's perspective is explained very often. Some people think we're all raking in huge amounts of money. Certainly, Houzz is. But some of us are just one person doing everything which is about 5 jobs really. So no matter how hard we work it never seems we're doing enough. And we're told that the more new stuff you have the more people will come. Why something like a pre-written sponsored post can become attractive.

I didn't know that the hosting site had so much control over its bloggers! I follow some that have minimal ads, and some with none at all. Does it depend on your host site? Or is it broader than that.

@bpathome - Everything depends on what's called the platform. If you have a no-cost blog on a hosted blogging platform there are rules. They are giving you a blog for free, essentially.

If you are self-hosting there is more leeway to take whatever type of add you want. You have basic costs, of course, to cover. Ads can go on blogs in a variety of ways that are technical and depend on where they appear.

Google basically wants 4 ads and not much else that they don't get revenue from.

bpathome, thanks for adding more explanation. I'm glad your blogger went back to her roots. Maybe the sponsored blog was an experiment on her part.

rococogurl, just wanted to say I really enjoy the new blog format and my eyes thank you for the larger font. I've been a regular reader for a couple of years now and hope someday to be able to put your rug advice to good use.

I do appreciate the bloggers who prominently tag sponsored posts.

Bpathome and Rococogurl, thank you for the link and resource. I'm looking forward to exploring them further.

ETA, love your blog, Rococogurl. Probably not a good discovery for me at this time of year with all on my to-do list!

I shared a comment on your encaustic tile post, and here's a pic of what I'm referring to in the restaurant bathroom. I couldn't post the photo on the blog, but this... I fell in love with it the moment I walked in the bathroom and awkwardly returned to several times during the meal to admire the floor. ;-)

@oaktown - Thank you so much! I struggled for a long time trying to find the right format and tech person to make the changes I wanted. It was a significant investment so it means a lot to me to hear you approve.

@lisad82 - Just saw your comment. Thank you. LOL expect you know I am obsessed with tile. It's sick. I may be expanding our powder room to include a shower and I would love to do encaustic tile as it's so beautiful. Still checking it out. Love the restaurant bath and the tile -- thanks for posting this photo (I will test how to put it in a comment box on AM but I believe there may be a way). I spent a lot of time on the Cement Tile Shop site. I really liked the tile in that second bath just need to be sure it can be used as the floor of a shower.