I received an e-mail earlier this week from a representative of Yardbarker announcing an agreement between them and Fox Sports. Much like Ball Hype, Bleacher Report and other open resource sites, Yardbarker allows bloggers to post links to specific content.
The press release from Yardbarker stated in part, “Fox has agreed to publish select content from our (Yardbarker) growing network of publishers.”
The deal calls for articles to be published in their entirety as opposed to posting a link to specific sites as we do at Yardbarker.
I tried this with Bleacher Report and it failed miserably. In fact, it was at Bleacher Report where the article I speak of being hijacked in my Copyright blog occurred. That event led me to have my content legally copyrighted and is a subject I take very seriously.
On the surface the Yardbarker-Fox agreement sounds like a great deal for bloggers, but in reality it isn’t.
When I queried the Yardbarker representative about copyright tags, links to our sites, listing the author and compensation, I received a reply stating, “please feel free to participate if you change your mind, but unfortunately those terms do not fall within the parameters of the partnership at this time.”
Let me get this straight. Yardbarker wants bloggers like me to participate in a program that would drive traffic to Yardbarker and Fox based upon the use of my content. Neither is willing to help me protect my legally copyrighted material and neither is willing to compensate me for my time. Neither is willing to post a link to my site but they sure would like it if I participated so Yardbarker and Fox can generate revenue off of me at no cost to either entity.
Not that the reply came as a surprise but my interpretation of that comment is an example of my experience with open resource sites. It never ceases to amaze me how so many recognize bloggers as an important element of the Internet yet Yardbarker, and everyone else I’ve encountered, places no value on our time, our intellectual property and our proportionate worth in the marketplace.
I don’t work for free; do you suppose the people at Yardbarker and Fox that came up with this idea work without being compensated? Moreover, unless your work is purchased, you own the copyright and no one can prevent you from placing your copyright tag on an article you’ve written.
The selling point Yardbarker and Fox are hoping you’ll fall for is the exposure will potentially drive traffic to your site, thus giving a blogger an opportunity to establish a presence in the blogosphere. I’ll grant you that may be true for someone just getting started, but for those of us that have grown beyond a sprout, site’s like Yardbarker are just a part of the total package.
I’m not here to tell anyone what to do and I can only share my experiences. If you really want to get your name out there, increase your exposure and potentially your revenue, I’d suggest the following.
- Consistently write articles that are worth reading. Don’t be afraid to write about controversial subjects. Be true to yourself, write from the heart, do the research and do it ethically.
- Visit other sites and post comments.
- When other sites recognize your work, thank them publicly and return the favor.
- When a site lists you in their blog roll, return the favor.
- Continue to improve upon all of the above.
- Be relentless! Be imaginative! Be resourceful!
As you can clearly see, I’ve grown weary of those that purport to support bloggers make an effort to exploit our presence in the marketplace for their own profit. If sites like Yardbarker, Fox and Bleacher Report really want to highlight bloggers and earn my respect, they’ll formulate a plan that includes copyright protection and compensation.
I realize there are many bloggers who write for the sheer enjoyment of doing so without thought of monetary gain. I support your efforts as I would any other blogger and I would ask that those of you who don’t write with the intent of generating revenue respect my reasoning.
Like any site owner, I’m paying to cover the cost of running my site and I don’t see anything wrong with trying to recover those costs. Moreover, have you seen the price of gas lately?
Before any of you agree to have your content posted on another site, give thought to what I’ve said before you make a decision.
Putting your content on another site is one of the worst ideas, if you are trying to build a blog readership. It is a really bad idea if you would like people to visit your site and click your ads etc…
It is a good idea, if you are blogging to be heard. It is a good idea if you are blogging to get your name out there.
Now you can get your name out there with your own blog, but you have to be a good blogger. You have to know the ropes. If you put your name on your syndicated content, you just have to be a good writer.
Enough of the devils advocate.
I do not like it. I think you should learn the blogging ropes and have people come to your blog.
Good points all-around. We all have our reasons for what we do, but everyone should take those suggestions you have and run with them.
Take care.
Hey MoonDog, it’s Pete, the CEO of Yardbarker. I’m glad you posted this and I want to try to clear some things up and keep the conversation going.
Our goal with this program is completely transparent: we’re trying to increase traffic on the blogs in the Yardbarker Network. This is financially beneficial to the bloggers in our network and to Yardbarker since blogs like yours earn revenue from ads that Yardbarker sells for your site. I see that you have three of our ads up on this very page.
When FoxSports.com publishes your content, they WILL link directly to your site. We fought to get this included in the deal and Fox understands the importance of it. Their users will come to your site, generate ad impressions, and increase revenue for both of us.
We designed the Yardbarker Network to align our interests with yours. We make our money by helping you make yours. This deal with Fox is structured to distribute value evenly among Yardbarker and the bloggers who choose to participate.
I hope that helps address your concerns about financial incentives to participate. I definitely want to hear more about your concerns about copyright. Please email me at pete@yardbarker.com if you have a minute to discuss further.
Moon Dog
I don’t if it’s a win all for all those who wish to participate. But it’s my belief that the only parties that’ll be profiting from this outright will be both Fox and Yardbarker in particular.
tophatal ……….
Seems like you have some very legitimate concerns regarding this shit, wonder if Jai was offered this same type of deal for LWS. Have you talked to him, Thomas and Joel at YMSWWC, or Erik at DSS on where they stand on this?
I’m TDY starting tomorrow for a while, take care man.
Ethan – Good points all-around. You essentially paraphrased what I said. Whatever means to being attention to their blog is fine with me, but I don’t consider posting articles in full to be a wise choice.
Thanks for chiming in.
David – Thanks for commenting. As I made not of in the article, I’m not necessarily trying to prevent anyone from doing what they think is best. I’m sharing my experiences and what’s worked for me.
Peter – Thanks for commenting. I’ll address my reply to you privately via e-mail.
Top – As a current Fox blogger, and I a former blogger at that site, we know the score.
Thanks for commenting.
3rd Down – I don’t know if those guys you mentioned post at YB. If they do I haven’t seen any of their stuff.
While you’re away we’ll be sure to make fun of you, considering you won’t be around to defend yourself.
Be safe and we’ll chat when you get back.
I agree with you moon dog. Sounds like a rip off. I’d stay away from that garbage.
Moondog,
I am confused. Do you get a link to your site from Fox or not? You say you don’t and Pete says you do. I completely agree with you that posting full posts on Fox is stupid unless you are trying to get noticed or recieve traffic in return. I would like to do another post on this so clarification would be great.
When I initially spoke to the YB representative I was told no, although it was a blanket statement and perhaps he wasn’t addressing that issue specifically.
I sent Pete an e-mail that went deeper into this subject. My problems with the deal surround the copyright protection of the content and compensation.
If an article isn’t purchased, the copyright belongs to the writer – period. By suggesting we can’t put our copyright tag on our content is absurd.
Pete addressed the compensation question by stating the amount of traffic that we could receive as a result would generate revenue.
The amount of traffic we receive would be marginal at best as would the revenue. In order to prove this point I’d have to divulge specifics regarding the revenue I generate from ads – you understand why I’m not going to do that.
I got a little worked up when I saw the post at your site. No offense intended – I take this issue very seriously and I admit I went a little overboard. Sorry about that.
Thanks for commenting.
No problem. I can understand that. I think some bloggers will be happy seeing traffic coming from Foxsports even if its not much. Only the lesser established ones though. Keep in mind that Fox Sports is an authority site and if you get a link back from Foxsports, it will help your page rank as well.
Moondog- As someone who Foxsports promotes but never pays (Miller pays me with Hot passes but I get nothing but exposure for Hot or Not) I will say you do need to be careful about these copyright issues…and who it really benefits and what you are willing to do for exposure. Everything costs something!
I appreciate you always having informative info out there about bloggers v. the rest of the media world.
Your newest article about the blogger getting sued is pretty scary stuff and I hope everyone is watching that! GOod stuff man…
PS. I clicked on one of the YardBarker blogs today off the nascar page and I must say I am irked by FOXSports for making this deal in a sense b/c they are takign away exposure from our Foxsports bloggers now.
See what I mean? I knew damn good and well what was going to happen. This is all about Fox and their agreements with Yardbarker and Bleacher Report.
Those entities are making money off the sweat of bloggers and they insult my intelligence by suggesting otherwise.
I swear I don’t understand anyone that wants to blog at Fox. You’re getting nowhere with them.
Oh well…personal choice I guess. Whatever floats your boat.