I just created a disclosure policy for Profitable Mommy Blogging. The blogging powers that be (whoever they are) say that having a disclosure policy is the right thing to do.
Why Disclose?
The idea is to be totally up front about the fact that you’re trying to profit from the content you share on your blog. (Or to proclaim that you’re not trying to.) By being transparent about your motivations, readers can make a smart decision about how you may be influenced by your desire to make money and whether they should trust what you say about products, services and people that you have a business relationship with.
I used DisclosurePolicy.org to create my policy – but maybe I should write my own original disclosure policy?
It would go something like this:
I like to write for free but I also like to pay my bills so sometimes I write for pay – but I promise you three things. I won’t say I like something I don’t, I won’t say I like someone I don’t and I won’t say I used something I haven’t. Any opinions shared on Profitable Mommy Blogging (good, bad or just plain aggravating) are those of the individual writers no matter who gets paid what.
What do you think?
Do you have a disclosure policy? Why or why not?
About Kelly
I’ve got one. I have the little button at the bottom of my site and it links to this post. http://www.solutionsforbusymoms.com/blog/2007/7/5/full-disclosure-or-i-hope-youll-still-respect-me-in-the-morn.html
As you can see, I modified the language that Disclosure.org offers.
Sarah Zeldman´s last blog post..A Brief Video On "Eat For Health" — My Favorite Healthy Weight Loss Solution!
Interesting question. When it comes to the internet, most searchers are looking to learn something or solve a problem.
I think people attract the products or information they are looking for. And they can tell, even if it’s on a subconscious level, whether the product or info is going to be helpful or not.
Whether or not I endorse it may – or may not – influence their decision to use it and in the end, they are the ones that get the credit (or the blame) for whether it was a good decision or not.
So, if someone buys something from a link found on my website and they have good results, they get the credit for their good decision. If they buy something and they don’t get good results… well, they just found out one thing that didn’t work for them, so they can still get credit for getting closer to the solution they were looking for.
I am all for self-responsibility and not blaming someone else for whether my decisions were good ones or not.
That’s my opinion and other people’s results may vary!
Pat
Pat Graham-Block´s last blog post..3 Big Secrets that Truly Can Change Your Life
I don’t have one, but I do (usually) disclose in my posts when they are sponsored, or I’ve received goods in exchange for a review. It’s been something I’ve been thinking about, but it keeps getting pushed to the end of my to-do list. If I don’t do it before, I’ll do it as part of my blog makeover in early ’09. thanks for the reminder!