If you’re a blogger and you get free loot (merchandise, products, books, whatever…) then it’s now law (courtesy of the FTC) to disclose it publicly on your posts:
Beginning today, bloggers, Twitterers, and others who write online reviews or endorse products using new media must disclose it when they receive free merchandise or payment for writing about an item.
The guidelines update the FTC’s 1980 guide addressing the use of testimonials in advertising, remapping marketing rules for the digital realm, where it’s hard to know if the exclamatory musings of fashion hounds and best-disposable-diaper posts by suburban moms are inspired by a great product or a free product.
I don’t have a problem with this at all. Although I can understand how some bloggers may feel burned, I honestly don’t understand how that’s really all that big of a concern.
We talk about transparency, honesty, authenticity, blahblahblah all the time. Why wouldn’t you be honest to your readers? Seriously?
The Church should be a champion of this. I get free loot all the time. Luckily for me (and you) most of it is pretty much garbage so I don’t bother writing about it nor wasting your valuable time either.
But, my commitment to you is that when I do get free loot you will be the first to know.
I wonder how this applies internationally. I am located outside America but occasionally (eg once every few months) get books from American publishers to review and my site is registered with an American web host. Maybe I should just disclose my source anyway.
i think it's just good practice to do so anyways, regardless if it was \”law\” or not, right?
Yeah, probably. Will start doing it next time i get a book.
I think that generally thinking is that if a company GIVES you a product/book to review, you'll feel compelled to give it a rousingly wonderful review. Some would, I suppose. I don't have a problem saying "Don't buy this one, it sucks." — So far, the closest I've come is to say something about if you don't have a problem with such and so, you'll like this book. It wasn't bad, but didn't gel with my thinking.
I think there is a natural tendency to be nice when someone gives you something for free. Worse yet, I think some bloggers are afraid to give bad reviews because they're afraid the gravy train of free stuff will end. But as bloggers we have to keep in mind that our credibility is on the line every time we do a review.
yeah. i try to be nice.
Yeah, I'm curious how that applies to me…. I review music on my site, rockthecross.net, and publicists send me the music to review monthly. I agree that disclosure is good, but I think that its going to cause an awful lot of confusion. I'm considering just making a blanket disclosure on the about us page saying that we receive music monthly from record labels, artists, etc. and then write the reviews based on the music we receive….
GO GOVERNMENT!
i like that.
you know what would be good? is perhaps to build it into the design of the blog…
that would be neat.
John, thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention. I agree full disclosure is a good policy. Now I just have to try to remember to do it.
dude. you got it.
great series, btw, on your blog.
Well, one can always speak the truth, and not do it offensively. Almost everything has some redeeming quality. I prefer to write reviews from the standpoint of: this is MY opinion, I don't like this, I do like that — you decide for yourself.
I know when I read reviews like that, it gives me a better feel for whether or not I want to spend my money on the purchase — more like full disclosure.
And when it comes to spelling & grammar, I'm totally OCD. Matter of fact — I've been known to contact the publisher to let them know where a mistake is in the book — doesn't matter if it's Lucado or Dekker. I'm calling them on it.
Thanks. I hope you'll stop by and post your thoughts. I'm guessing you and the NPonline team discussed a lot of the topics we're hitting.
I agree that we should all disclose our free loot, however, it is interesting that these same rules do not apply to traditional media: http://bit.ly/50PMMs
That is my only hang up with the new law. It targets bloggers only.
eh. i'm not upset at the callout. i think it's a good practice regardless…!
I wish I got free loot in the mail.
I have nothing to disclose so i guess i do not have to worry about the FCA