Do You Disclose?
Two months ago, the Federal Trade Commission announced new guidelines requiring bloggers receiving products or payment in exchange for reviews disclose the relationship or risk hefty fines. While I think transparency in blogging is important, I admit to being uncomfortable with the government regulation. You can read my original reaction and also perspectives from both Izea's Ted Murphy and Wired with my commentary, of course.
Whatever we might think about the guidelines, they are here. The rules went into effect on December 1, 2009. Now is the time to make sure your blog complies.
I have always had a disclosure policy on this blog generated at DisclosurePolicy.org, a free service of Izea. My personal blog got it's unique disclosure policy today.
As a blogger who does accept payments for sponsored content and product reviews, adding a policy is a given. The guidelines directly apply to me.
I would argue bloggers who do not accept any payments should also add a disclosure policy. Better safe than sorry. I don't know any bloggers who don't plug various products and services. Those opinions are the stuff of everyday living. I have been questioned about posts adjacent to my sponsored content because they looked like potentially paid posts. A note from an employer is one thing. Contact from a government official would make a fun hobby stressful. Even though the FTC claims they are not planning to go after bloggers, I say piece of mind is priceless.
DisclosurePolicy.org is a great place to start as they do offer options for bloggers who don't make money with posts. And, for the record, I have no been compensated for this post.
Even though I do not accept paid advertisements in my content, I still made a post about my blog's policies and will be posting a disclosure policy. I often post about new products and services, and I want to make sure that my intentions are not misunderstood.
While I am a bit sceptical about this entire ordeal, I do think that it could be a good thing. Imagine disgruntled consumers going after a blogger if they disagree with a paid opinion on a product.
At any rate, even those who do take paid advertisements in posts can refuse to do so for products and services they really wouldn't endorse. I just hope that everyone comes out better because of this, and that they don't end up going after any bloggers.
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I'm glad to hear you've adding a disclosure policy. I do think it will make the internet better for the honest.
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