Aug 11 2008

Bloggers Selling ‘Sex’ Like Prostitutes

Browsing several blogs I’ve noticed many are using images. That usually is a good thing, images can really compliment a post. However, the going trend has been adding “hot chicks” and celebrities to posts.

Bloggers Selling ‘Sex’
No Sex Images
I’m not sure how making money online has to do with Carmen Electra or Paris Hilton. I’m not going to display the images as it would kind of defeat the purpose, but if you’ve seen recent MMO bloggers you’ll know what I mean. It’s kind of offensive for readers trying to learn about the latest plugin or the newest affiliate program, and have a huge picture of an almost naked woman posing at the beach.

Although there isn’t as many women MMO bloggers as there are men (althought that number is increasing) I’d have to imagine it would be a turn off for women to read those blogs. If I was posting men in speedos every other post, I’d have to imagine I may lose some readers. I lost a read over the mention of adult images, how would it effect readers by actually posting them? And yes, some of these bloggers images are, in my opinion, ADULT.

Hot bikini models and cars fell together (somehow), so is making money online and models/celebrities next? Or am I just overreacting?

Has anyone else noticed these images and felt they were innappropriate as well? Or is it a good marketing tactic to include these women?

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18 Comments on this post

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  1. Weekly Search Buzz (17 Aug 08) wrote:

    […] Bloggers Selling ‘Sex’ Like Prostitutes: Worth reading. […]

    August 17th, 2008 at 8:00 am
  2. Internet Marketing Watch Tuesday 12 August 2008 | AffiliateDragon.com wrote:

    […] Matthew Henrickson is concerned at the number of photographs of “hot chicks” being used to promote the latest internet marketing products. [Blog About Your Blog] […]

    December 8th, 2008 at 9:46 am
  1. AffiliateObsession.com said:

    I don’t think you are over reacting at all. While the information on the blog is a good read, what’s the point of the picture? While most people complain about linkbait titles, why wouldn’t this be any different?

    No big deal, the “rest” of us just keep doing what we do!

    AffiliateObsession.coms last blog post..EPN/Traffic Stats for CollectIronman.com – July

    August 11th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
  2. Matthew Henrickson said:

    Thanks for your comment, if anything, the images seem distracting and take away from the articles.

    August 11th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
  3. Lisa said:

    I agree with you. I don’t get the point. If you are looking at the picture, then you aren’t reading the content. And if I see a picture like that, I click off taht blog.

    August 11th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
  4. Robert said:

    Sex sells… it’s that simple. Personally I’ve never got the bikini clad babe with the car theme. But hey, it must work if they keep doing it. Much like spam, it would stop if it didn’t work. Or maybe I’ve missed something.

    August 12th, 2008 at 2:06 am
  5. Internet Marketing Uncut said:

    Anyone who clicks on a hot chick link to learn about internet marketing probably needs to go back to surfing for porn.

    August 12th, 2008 at 7:09 am
  6. Jennifer said:

    I’ve been reading that more and more new bloggers lately are women. I know I am less likely to to go to a blog for advice on making money that is covered with pictures of half clad women. I would be less likely to take them seriously and I think that most women would feel the same way. So they should stop treated the blogging world as made up of men that want their advice with a sideshow.

    Jennifers last blog post..UR Votes Count: Teens can stand up and be heard

    August 12th, 2008 at 11:02 am
  7. Katherine said:

    Sex sells, and it trickles down to every aspect of life. True it doesn’t really have anything to do with making money online, or photography in my instance, but the images trigger interest and extra brain activity, stimulation in the topic, so maybe it works? I should put some hookers on my website and see if traffic picks up 🙂

    August 13th, 2008 at 8:37 am
  8. Matthew Henrickson said:

    On the sphinn post Miriam also left a great comment

    http://sphinn.com/story/64996

    They wrote

    “I appreciated your post. You can stand back and let these uncivilized bloggers shoot themselves in the foot, as they are clearly declaring that their intended audience does not include you or any other woman or man who finds a disrespectful attitude towards human beings to be unacceptable.

    So, no links from us, no feedreader signups, no professional respect from us.

    As I see it, you’ve got two options when someone offends you. Walk away from it shaking your head, hopefully back to the decent people with whom you’ve surrounded yourself, or, confront the blogger and explain exactly why their content is offensive to you. There is some chance…albeit small…that your personal response might expose the blogger to feelings they don’t know exist. It might make them think twice about whether they want to publish hurtful or unsavory content. Or, they might just dismiss you with a snort.

    Sometimes, people aiming for higher, more civilized standards in both business and in life CAN make changes happen by walking into the situation. Not often, but sometimes.

    At the very least, I am sorry that you have been offended by such unenlightened content. I know the feeling.

    Miriam”

    August 13th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
  9. Ami said:

    I agree. I would be pretty annoyed with the pics like that and frankly, I wouldn’t go back to these sites. But that’s just me and those who think otherwise will continue to go to the sites. Guess it also boils down to what you want from your target audience; if your readers love the content they will continue to come back and hence you don’t need a ‘sex sells’ pic to lure them in. But if the pic is one of the main reasons someone accessed the site, how long will they spend reading the content?

    Amis last blog post..Women bear the brunt of it all in South Africa

    August 14th, 2008 at 8:15 am
  10. SexySEO said:

    What a revelation. Take it easy 😉

    SexySEOs last blog post..Let public be public

    August 14th, 2008 at 10:24 am
  11. Matthew Henrickson said:

    earth shattering I know 🙂

    August 14th, 2008 at 10:31 am
  12. Ami said:

    Oh dear, with my last blog title too … unfortunate and funny at the same time. 🙂

    Amis last blog post..Women bear the brunt of it all in South Africa

    August 14th, 2008 at 11:08 am
  13. Lee said:

    Good post, and I agree with your sentiments, especially the bit about if you were posting pics of men in speedos hehe.

    I think some sparing judicious use can be slid in, if it somehow fits the tone of the post – but a random pic of a bikini clad female simply doesn’t increase credibity, in fact the opposite.

    August 14th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
  14. Hicham said:

    No You are not overreacting and I find this attitude very disgusting even if I’m a man because women are not babydolls only from my point of view.

    August 16th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
  15. Russ said:

    It’s all about choosing your market and then advertising to that market and getting their attention. MMO sites would be aiming for the male market. What attracts males? Scantly clad females. It really is that simple.

    You are obviously not their target market. Hence it didn’t work on you.

    August 16th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
  16. Malte Landwehr said:

    Sex sells and if their posts don’t have any information value, why not distract the reader with some hot chicks?

    Malte Landwehrs last blog post..Hitwise Top 20 Web 2.0 Websites im Vergleich zu anderen Webmetriken

    August 21st, 2008 at 12:20 pm

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