Comments on: Building a Blog vs. Building Trust

By: writerchick

writerchick — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:23:22 +0000

You make an interesting point and I suppose it depends on how the information is presented and what type of blog (for example) it is. For instance, business blogs presumedly present factual information on specific topics. On the other hand many blogs are personal or opinion blogs – and it is the person’s opinion that the reader likes and the blogger is presenting. I know of few bloggers who promote their opinions as truth. I do however, know of a few who focus so specifically on one point that there appears to be no other facts in the matter, which yes, I’d have to say is dishonest.

As for bloggers who make a habit of trashing others, I think their appeal is largely shock value and though there is an audience for it – I don’t think someone looking for facts is going to visit such blogs more than once.

In the end, any writer who has a website or blog should write truthfully, whether it is a personal truth, a true opinion/view or in presenting facts. Readers aren’t dummies, they know when you are faking it.

Writer Chick
writerchick´s last [type] ..Sunset – Theme Friday

By: Your Freelance Writing Clients Know You’re Lying : Freelance Writing Jobs | A Freelance Writing Community and Freelance Writing Jobs Resource

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:53:59 +0000

[...] again or make up lame excuses to cover for your original lame excuses, because now you breached the trust factor. If your client doesn’t dump you might, try offering some sort of reparation. Chances [...]

By: Package Deals: Will Freelance Writing Clients Look for One Stop Shopping? : Freelance Writing Jobs | A Freelance Writing Community and Freelance Writing Jobs Resource

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:35:03 +0000

[...] 2010 trust is a major factor in hiring and keeping freelancers. Most clients would rather hire one trusted [...]

By: The A,B,Cs of Freelance Writing : Freelance Writing Jobs | The #1 Online Writing Community for Freelancers

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:23:16 +0000

[...] clients and your readers want to trust you. They come to your blogs, or buy what you’re selling because you’ve proven to them [...]

By: Tania Mara

Tania Mara — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:01:07 +0000

Talk about a sensitive topic.

What seems to be trust-breaking for some people may be acceptable to others. I, for instance, don’t mind undisclosed product reviews, as I’m naturally skeptic and don’t believe everything I read. But I know many others feel differently, and I understand their reasons.

I believe blog readers should never trust anyone blindly. After all, bloggers are human, thus they have flaws like anyone else.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:02:41 +0000

The question isn’t whether I trust someone, but how much I trust that person and in which areas. Good experiences with a person will raise my level of comfort and trust. Lies and errors will reduce it. Lie to me and your trust index will drop like a stone. Mess up and I’ll probably check a little closer next time before taking your advice. Get little things right consistently and I’ll trust you with something bigger.

By: Alex Lim

Alex Lim — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:44:26 +0000

There are risks when we trust others, maybe that’s the reason why it is difficult to obtain it. Trust is a subjective decision, and we have different levels of standards when trusting a person. I believe nothing is absolute, so sooner or later, there would be an end to everything. I guess we should be prepared enough to face the consequences of our actions.

I have my own reasons why I trust a blogger. I’m pretty selective with the things I believe in. In the long run, I won’t get frustrated if I found out some anomaly over him.

By: Freelance Writing Jobs for Friday, October 16, 2009 : Freelance Writing Jobs for Web and Print

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:28:56 +0000

[...] Building a Blog vs. Building Trust [...]

By: MJ Ray

MJ Ray — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:10:43 +0000

I don’t think I put too much trust into our favorite bloggers. I’d do my own research and make my own decisions. In god we trust – all others must bring data. So abuse of trust doesn’t come into it, but if I spot a blogger reposting garbage too often, I’ll probably unsubscribe.

I like the mention of the Basic rule of journalism in the comments above – it’s a dying art! See http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/14/starsuckers-tabloids-hoax-celebrities

By: Kristine

Kristine — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:37:40 +0000

Bloggers, however we trust them, still have their own sets of biases and prejudice. As a reader, I usually research on more information.

Sure, trust is hard to build. You may have your own blog, but do you even have readers who read it, or trust you for that matter? But if my favorite blogger would abuse that, then my trust gets less.

By: Randy Pitzer

Randy Pitzer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:39:15 +0000

I work for Edelman and the topic of trust is very near and dear to us as we put out the annual Trust Barometer, a study of the topic each year. Interestingly, in the last 2-3 years, bloggers have been one of the least trusted groups identified by the study, even though social media is considered important to a communicators arsenal.

Trust is important — online and offline.

By: Damaria Senne

Damaria Senne — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:07:34 +0000

Back in the days when I worked as a fulltime journo, I used to get very upset when I attended seminars and/conferences and i’d see someone blindly quote an article or report I did. I did my best to present accurate info, and my readers trusted me to do so. Nonetheless, sometimes I missed a tiny detail that had vast implications in the first drafts, and needed trusted sources to catch it. And because I knew I was capable of missing something important, I firmly believed that I had a responsibility to double check my facts, and my readers had an equally big responsibility to do their own research and not just take my word for something.
I also learnt that most sources of information have an agenda. An advocacy group would give me a certain viewpoint, because they want to push for change. They don’t exclude certain information because they are lying. It may just happen that they don’t think the info has enough relevance/impact for them to change their viewpoint.
And an analyst would try to be balanced, and present some researched facts. Still, I learnt pretty quickly that they too have their own biases based on a number of factors.
Even confidential sources who give you leads for breaking news stories would have an agenda- a disgruntled employee who wants to create problems for an employer; a former client who feels cheated over a deal; eevn a scorned lover sometimes dished out biz info to get even with their partner. Writing the story, I’d start out with the most explosive, controversial aspect of the story and move on from there…
So no, I don’t think the media, or any blogger or online personality tells me the whole truth. I think many of us present information that is shaded by our biases and as a reader,it’s my responsibility to understand this and search other sources of information before I make an important decision.

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:11:24 +0000

I usually do my own research and take everything anyone says with a grain of salt. I take what I can use and toss out the rest if it doesn’t jive with my research or personal beliefs. That doesn’t mean I won’t consider what’s been said – I do – but I think it’s inadvisable to trust blindly on the internet.

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:46:34 +0000

If you endorsed something (say wordpress vs. blogger or the other way around), of which I have no or few other reference points, I would likely follow-up with a lot of questions if it was something I was truly interested in. I may seek out a second source, if readily available. If you told me a person was good in a particular area (i.e., PR placement), I would consider that endorsement heavily, but would still communicate with the person myself.

Endorsements are great, but independent confirmation is important.

Basic rule of journalism: “If your mother says she loves you, confirm that with another source.”

The problem is when other reliable sources can’t be found.

If someone abuses my trust, which I don’t grant easily, they are persona non grata forever.