Getting Paid for Personal Blog Whilst Living in Thailand

[fabman]

is it ok to have an affiliate program on a personal blog and get paid for it, while living in thailand ?

the money ( if any ) would be paid into a uk bank account

would this mean working illegally in thailand or not ?

cheers

[kendo]

is it ok to have an affiliate program on a personal blog and get paid for it, while living in thailand ?

the money ( if any ) would be paid into a uk bank account

would this mean working illegally in thailand or not ?

cheers

I think this is a completely separate issue that i wont comment on, the Lese Majeste protocol is in black and white and in every guild book and abundant on the net respect where respect due in this very different land.

I would rigorously defend our royal family, Britain is a bit screwed up now but i am very proud of our royal family and heritage we are all a bit to PC here some people slag Britain off but are quite happy to live here and milk the system one suggestion of disrespect and i would show them the first plane back from where they came from to sum this up don't like our nation its time to leave in the first instance.

Kendo

[STEVE G]

is it ok to have an affiliate program on a personal blog and get paid for it, while living in thailand ?

the money ( if any ) would be paid into a uk bank account

would this mean working illegally in thailand or not ?

cheers

The actual definition of work in Thai law is "to engage in work by exerting energy or using knowledge whether or not in consideration of wages or other benefits", which means that technically it's illegal even if you're not getting paid for it!

[GLCQuantum]

The actual definition of work in Thai law is "to engage in work by exerting energy or using knowledge"

So the actual unemployment rate of Thailand must be huge!

... lol. I don't really mean that.

[PeteC]

The actual definition of work in Thai law is "to engage in work by exerting energy or using knowledge"

So the actual unemployment rate of Thailand must be huge! ... lol. I don't really mean that.

It's a catch all phrase that they can use to fit any circumstance they want. By the letter we would need to hire someone to accompany us as a toilet paper bearer and operator. Pete

[hhfarang]

You don't have that now Pete?

[bapak]

You would just be joining the other thousands of foreigners in Thailand who are doing it. It cannot be policed.

[Pleng]

is it ok to have an affiliate program on a personal blog and get paid for it, while living in thailand ?

the money ( if any ) would be paid into a uk bank account

would this mean working illegally in thailand or not ?

cheers

The actual definition of work in Thai law is "to engage in work by exerting energy or using knowledge whether or not in consideration of wages or other benefits", which means that technically it's illegal even if you're not getting paid for it!

I guess it all boils down to are you actually working 'in' Thailand or not. If your blog is hosted on a uk/usa server, and everything you type is sent to that server are you really working IN Thailand?

As bapak says, there's plenty of people doing it. Just don't try and promote your blog to the people at immigration

Mods, perhaps we could split this topic into two? The work stuff is well OT.

[Takiap]

You would just be joining the other thousands of foreigners in Thailand who are doing it. It cannot be policed.

That's correct, and if you ask me, it would only be a corrupt official that would attempt taking any sort of action because strictly speaking, you are not working in Thailand.

Some on here might recall that when Hua-Hin was getting free Wi-Fi installed, the mayor himself said one of the reasons for having it done was so that foreigners can manage their work/business matters while they're here.

Perhaps if you were marketing Thai goods or services, that would be a different matter, or perhaps if your were marketing mostly to a Thai audience.



Anyway...................

[fabman]

thanks guys , i sounds ok then as long as i keep a low profile

[Uktom]

I play online poker and have done for 6 years, 3 of those being in Thailand. I make a percentage of my keep here via that. I would also like to consider something like the OP suggested. I have some pretty interesting stories to tell lets just say. Of course, I would consider my spelling and grammar lol. I also was considering trying to setup some sort of monthly magazine local to Hua Hin for expats, I know there already is one, but seeing as I have a good education in editorial/graphic design, there would be no hangups in actually producing the thing, rather the legalities and printing/distributing it.

Pom Kor Hi Khun Chuck Dee OP

[johnnyk]

I play online poker and have done for 6 years, 3 of those being in Thailand. I make a percentage of my keep here via that. I would also like to consider something like the OP suggested. I have some pretty interesting stories to tell lets just say. Of course, I would consider my spelling and grammar lol. I also was considering trying to setup some sort of monthly magazine local to Hua Hin for expats, I know there already is one, but seeing as I have a good education in editorial/graphic design, there would be no hangups in actually producing the thing, rather the legalities and printing/distributing it.

Pom Kor Hi Khun Chuck Dee OP

I have started and run both a magazine and a weekly entertainment paper.
This is what I learned from it:
1) Determine if there is a market for it.
2) Design/Production/Printing is an easy straightforward process.
3) Getting good copy is a challenge. Lots of people fancy themselves as writers. They aren't. Read the local expat-oriented publications and you will see the content is dire. Its not easy even if you are willing to pay. Good luck if you are dependent on free copy. If you don't pay you can't demand deadlines and you will be begging for something, anything to put between the ads.
4) Distribution can be a pain. It has to be placed where readers can get hold of it. This means going all over town yourself or paying someone to do it.
5) Production/distribution costs are front-loaded (see next point).
6) The hard part is selling the ads and getting the money in. Without a subscription base how do you convince advertisers of the readership?
They want to reach potential customers. Number of copies printed and number of readers are not the same.
7) Expat-oriented publications already exist. How can you persuade advertisers to switch ad buying to a new unproven publication? Its the same small target audience, made smaller by the fact not all can read English.

[Coldmike]

The actual definition of work in Thai law is "to engage in work by exerting energy or using knowledge whether or not in consideration of wages or other benefits", which means that technically it's illegal even if you're not getting paid for it!

I badly need this translated into Thai script for presentation to my wife

[lomuamart]

To the OP,
STEVE G's quote from the law is spot on. That's just the way it is here and it's best to keep your head down - especially if you get successful.
I know this is a bit off topic but the following serves as an illustration.
On Phuket and surrounding areas, after the tsumami, there were numerous disorientated westerners without passports, without money or access to it, without a roof over their heads, without clothes, without communication and who nevertheless volunteered to collect dead bodies and try to help with identification.
The then Mayor of Phuket went on record as saying that he wanted those illegal workers to be arrested for working illegally.
He was given a firm slap on the wrist from the Prime Minister (can't remember who that was at the time) and the idiot shut up.
So, the moral of the story is that if "they" want to deem that you're working here, they can make life difficult.

[Takiap]

So basically, if your home is in your wife's name or a company name, you're forbidden by law to carried out any repairs. If a policeman sees you leave your home alone in a car, and you return with your wife, you've broken the law since you cannot offer taxi services. All little and garbage must also be thrown over the wall onto the street, rather than taking to the nearest bins, since you are forbidden to do such work, you're you're being paid to or not.


OP, I think what others are trying to tell you is that they have written the law in such a way so that they can you any time they wish, whether you're actually "working" or not. Hey, technically they could even arrest you for singing at a karaoke joint since you're working as an entertainer the minute you pick up the microphone.


In a nutshell....................stay out of their way, don't step on any toes, and if your venture becomes successful, never allow it to show. If you all of a sudden start splashing out, someone's going to start asking questions, and the minute they realize you're making more money than them, they'll stitch you up.

Of course not all Thais are this way inclined. I would also be just as weary of foreigners who may be in competition with you.



Good Luck