I have officially given up on Blingo as my primary search engine. A few months back Blingo switched from the Google search algorithm to a combination of Yahoo, Ask.com, and MSN. This has resulted in inferior search results. I was hoping that I would not need to switch because I really enjoyed winning prizes every once in a while for doing my regular web searching. So without further ado I introduce (drum roll)
Swagbucks uses Google and Ask.com for its searches. Having the Google search as its backbone makes it a much more useful service than Blingo. There is a small difference with the way this program works when it comes to prizes. Each search you do gives you an opportunity to win Swag Bucks. I have earned as many as five at a time but usually I get one or two. These bucks accumulate and allow you to “purchase” prizes. I have been using this service for a couple of weeks now and am up to 20 swag bucks. you can get a $5 gift card to Starbucks for only 50 Swag Bucks and a $50 gift card to Best Buy is 408. So when it comes down to it each swag buck is worth between one to two cents. Not a bad deal for just switching to a search engine that gives you the same results as Google
I feel that many of your blog posts, such as this one, are deceptive. You fail to disclose that you receive referral points everytime one of your readers clicks that link and signs up. It is a conflict of interest to your advise and reporting. I don’t think anyone minds you making money, which is why people read your blog despite half the page being ads. But in the spirit of good, ethical reporting you should disclose that you are basically getting kickbacks by recommending this service (and cashduck).
This was actually something I questioned when I started this site. “How often should I inform people that I receive some benefit to them signing up for a service?” I consulted a few other webmasters (who have MANY more readers than I do) and the general consensus is that if you are asking someone to purchase something and you are receiving a commission for the sale you should disclose that you may be biased. In the case of services like swagbucks or cash duck where the person is not purchasing anything and the only benefit I get is a referral credit I do not feel I should have to say every single time that I gain some benefit.
The reasoning behind this is that these little boosts to my income pay for this site and for the time I spend researching these types of programs for my benefit and the benefit of all the readers.
As far as honesty I do not recommend programs that I do not use and am satisfied with myself. This site is all the ways that I save make and spend money on a regular basis. People are free to signup or not signup as they like.
And as for you insulting commission sales people I am disheartened at how cynical you are Kevin. Just so you understand, commission sales people make our economy work. When it all comes down to it nothing happens until somebody sells something; NOTHING! There would be no industry or anything without people who can sell. Have you ever gone into an electronics store with people who are only on hourly? It is an awful experience. I am not saying to buy into everything salespeople tell you but a little trust with the right person opens up a world of savings to you.
[...] If you are not aware I no longer use Google for my search engine. Instead I use Swagbucks, which gives you the same results but has rewards points for searching. Check out my previous post here. [...]
[...] I love it when my favorite rewards programs are all paying out at the same time. Just last week I earned my first gift card with Swagbucks. It came lightning fast. It was the fastest I have received a gift card from any program that I have been a part of. So props go out to Swagbucks (to learn more about Swagbucks click here). [...]