New Blogcritics and the Advent of "free stuff for bloggers"

Perhaps you remember the original concept of Blogcritics.org: "free CDs for bloggers".

Blogcritics celebrates its 2nd anniversary in August, and as it turned out we were way ahead of our time: the concept that record companies, DVD distributors, book publishers, etc., would provide review material for bloggers was met with slack jaws from the companies, who barely knew what blogs were, let alone saw them as valuable marketing outlets.

Now things have changed - blogs are hot, people are aware of them. We have a system in place whereby review material from dozens of labels, publicists, publishers, concert promoters, DVD distributors, movie studios, etc are now available to our members, free of charge. We only ask that they be reviewed. Our review material database has hundreds of items listed and only about half of them have been claimed at any given time. New material is added daily.

We truly now do provide "free stuff for bloggers." We are actively looking to increase our membership. We would love for you to join Blogcritics and/or tell your readers about our new review material program. Free stuff is good - everyone wins.

We cover music, books, film, TV, video, politics, technology, the Internet, just about everything. We can always use reviews, news (with some thoughts of your own) and commentary on any of these subjects.

About the only stipulations we have are that you maintain a blog of your own and that you give a good effort: we are, after all, "a sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, and technology."

We would also like you to try to contribute at least once a week - the more you contribute, the more you get out of it, but this is a suggestion, not a rule. Blogcritics is an excellent way to get wider exposure for your blog, your writing, your ideas, and now to get free CDs, DVDs, concert tickets, books, etc.

I look forward to hearing from you. Just send me an email (see the front page) with your name, blog URL, and your primary areas of interest and we'll get you signed up. Thanks so much for reading and for your interest.

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Article Author: Eric Olsen

Career media professional Eric Olsen is honored to be the founder and publisher of Blogcritics.org, which, quite frankly, rules - as do his wife and four children.

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Article comments

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  • 1 - Tom

    Jul 29, 2004 at 1:15 pm

    Give me free books. I want free books. DVDs too. I don't listen to music much.

  • 2 - Eric Olsen

    Jul 29, 2004 at 1:20 pm

    hae you joined the Yahoo group? There are plenty of books and DVDs available

  • 3 - Tom

    Jul 29, 2004 at 1:38 pm

    I joined, but haven't been approved by the moderator yet.

  • 4 - TDavid

    Jul 29, 2004 at 2:23 pm

    There's nothing "sinister" about this offer ;)

  • 5 - Eric Olsen

    Jul 29, 2004 at 2:26 pm

    thanks TD, Tom, when did you apply? I don't see it pending. If you reapply, I will approve it instantly.

  • 6 - Tom

    Jul 29, 2004 at 3:00 pm

    I applied earlier today.

    I will do it right now.

  • 7 - Eric Olsen

    Jul 29, 2004 at 5:25 pm

    now is good

  • 8 - James C. Hess

    Aug 08, 2004 at 9:00 am

    I don't know if my blog meets your standards, but all the same: Hello! I enjoy your efforts here.

  • 9 - Jason Nelms

    Aug 11, 2004 at 10:13 pm

    I was wanting to join. How do I do so?

  • 10 - bynaryhex

    Aug 18, 2004 at 4:11 am

    I question why Senator Kerry doesn't authorize the release of all documents pertaining to his service. The events were so long ago, I don't think they'll be able to piece together the facts unless Senator Kerry authorizes full disclosure of all his military records. I'm more curious about Senator Kerry admitting that he committed war crimes, yet he was not subject to a courts-martial. Do any of you question this absence of justice? I reviewed the congressional record on this matter, and found nothing to indicate that he was offered immunity in return for his testimony about war crimes in Viet Nam.

  • 11 - Eric Olsen

    Aug 18, 2004 at 9:50 am

    is this a veiled request by Senator Kerry to join Blogcritics?

  • 12 - Hal Pawluk

    Aug 18, 2004 at 9:59 am

    Why does the right persist in saying that Kerry has not released his records? You can find both Kerry's and Bush's records at AWOLBush.

    The side-by-side comparison is interesting.

  • 13 - Joe

    Aug 18, 2004 at 10:05 am

    Kerry's records are incomplete. I think what people are asking for is the supporting documentation, ie. for award citations there are corresponding award recommendations which are absent from the material that has been released.

  • 14 - Mac Diva

    Aug 23, 2004 at 5:21 pm

    (Snickering.) Depend on Mr. So Far Right He Makes the John Birch Society Look Leftist to crack me up. If Kerry's military records are 'incomplete,' what does that make George W. Bush's?

  • 15 - Joe

    Aug 23, 2004 at 5:35 pm

    Is that me you're referring to? I hold conservative opinions on some things and liberal opinions on others. Please choose another subject which you know little about to comment upon. Thanks!

  • 16 - Bryan McKay

    Aug 31, 2004 at 9:21 pm

    Eric, I know you want to draw revenue to the site, but since when did we enter the flatbed trucking market?

  • 17 - Eric Olsen

    Aug 31, 2004 at 9:47 pm

    diversification, Bryan lad, diversification

  • 18 - Bryan McKay

    Aug 31, 2004 at 9:52 pm

    Now that the spam has been deleted, we look a bit foolish here, don't we now?

  • 19 - CS

    Sep 23, 2004 at 10:28 am

    sorry for being a noob, but I can't seem to find the way to join this blogcritics. Do i have to go through the yahoo group or what?

  • 20 - Eric Olsen

    Sep 23, 2004 at 10:40 am

    "I look forward to hearing from you. Just send me an email (see the front page) with your name, blog URL, and your primary areas of interest and we'll get you signed up. Thanks so much for reading and for your interest"

    mailto:ecolsen2003@cs.com

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