I write sponsored reviews from time to time, I dont hide it. When I write a sponsored blog post, I always disclose that the blog post was sponsored and I wouldn’t accept a review proposal that required me not to disclose that the review is sponsored. The 2 "pay for review" services that I mainly use is Reviewme.com and Sponsoredreviews.com. They both have what I would call a "marketplace" style review system. That is where there are a pool of proposals and if you’re interested and qualified, you can either bid on writing that review, or as with Reviewme.com, you accept the proposal.

The other day I was wondering about how those services work from an advertisers point of view. I was planning to use both services and blog about my experience with each service. To start with, I created an advertising campaign with Reviewme.com. I ordered 10 reviews for the Reviewme.com’s version of the review marketplace for Jonzee.com. I wrote up the proposal, and away I go. There was a review written the first day, The website didnt really meet my requirements (which was stated in the proposal) but I was like big deal, its the first one. Then today I get home from work and like I do often, I checked my referrals for today.  I don’t get tons of traffic, but I do get enough to where my daily referrals are too many to go through each and every one. One referral caught my eye, Im not going to give this website any link love or free advertisement because I completely disagree with what this website was doing. But let me explain what this website was all about.

At this website, you can sign up to become a member. With that membership, you can now write sponsored reviews for this website. The website list sponsored review opportunities and a price for writing the review, which is anywhere from $2-$10 bucks per review. The members will then comment on the blog that they are accepting the review. They write the review and that website pays them the $2-$10 bucks…..Simple enough. But…

Why was my Reviewme.com proposal listed on this website?

Yes the referral that showed up on my website stats was the actual blog post that was listing my Reviewme.com advertising proposal.

They are reselling Reviewme.com reviews!!!

I couldn’t believe it. At first I looked at the page and tried to remember if I somehow signed up for this website and forgot about it. But I didn’t. That Reviewme.com advertising proposal was stolen and being resold. 

I proceeded to look at some of the other opportunities listed on that site, and guess what? I have seen other advertising proposals listed that were also originally listed at Reviewme.com in the past.

Let me make this clear. This website owner is re-listing paid review opportunities from Reviewme.com, the members are writing the review and submitting them to the bogus website, the bogus website is then submitting the links to Reviewme.com, getting paid and giving the original review writers a small cut of the money.

He is basically stealing advertising money from me (and you)

Want to know why I say that? Why I use the word "Steal"? Here is a quote of the requirements from my review proposal, the one I wrote.

I’m not really looking for a review per say, but more o a buzz builder. help get the word out about Jonzee.com.

-I would like to have reviews from PR 3 sites or higher (using your own domain, no free sites ala myspace or blogger)

-Review must be 200 words or more.

-Link to http://www.jonzee.com at least 3 times. one with the anchor text "Jonzee". but any text anchoring the other 2 or more links.

Now heres how my requirements are listed on the bogus website.

Link Text
Jonzee

Guidance
Reviews must be at least 200 words. Use whatever length you feel is appropriate aside from the minimum of 200 words. You must use the "Link Text" and "Product URL" at least THRICE in your review exactly as it is listed above. Review must be original and not copied.

What happened to my PR requirements? What happened to my requirements of having your own domain? Why is it required to use the same anchor text 3 times when I only required it to be used once. And the price they were getting paid for that review was $2 bucks.

No disrespect to the web site’s that end up accepting the bogus sites review offer, but chances are what I will get is not what I am paying for. And the whole reason why someone would use Reviewme.com to have a sponsored review written about their product or website is because they respect Reviewme.com’s qualifications. I know it took me months after Reviewme.com launched to be accepted, now anyone can come along without any of the criteria that you expect and get paid by you?

How is  this ok to do?