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Title:

Can They Buy Your Voice? Blog Disclosure Ethics

Your vote:
Yes No
Organizer:
Sheila Scarborough, Writer
Description:
Most bloggers haven't figured out how to make money online any better than mainstream organizations. If the answer is at least some paid or sponsored content, then accusations fly that accepting freebies undercuts that vaunted blogger independent voice (and there's the FTC and Google to worry about.) What's your answer?
Questions
Answered:
  1. What is considered sponsored content (includes actual $$, freebie products & services)
  2. What are "best practices" for disclosing sponsor help in a blog post?
  3. How to disclose sponsorship beyond blog posts: tweets, Flickr photos, Stumbles, Facebook announcements, etc.
  4. What is the "no follow" tag on a link and why does it matter for sponsored/paid content?
  5. What is the FTC doing with the issue of bloggers and paid content?
  6. How do search engines treat sponsored posts?
  7. How can companies reach out to bloggers ethically with products and service demos?
  8. Are there alternatives to sponsored content that provide more of an "air gap" between bloggers and companies desiring coverage?
Level:
Advanced
Category:
Advertising, Blogging, Branding / Marketing / Publicity, Business / Entrepreneurial / Monetization, Community / Online Community
Type:
Panel
Event:
Interactive 2010
Christine Lu
on 17/8/09
hey sheila!
a topic you know well. :) just voted. ^_^ good luck!

fyi, here's mine:

http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/3256

and Director, Jim Whitaker's Project Rebirth that i'm involved with:

http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/3258

appreciate having a look and them. @christinelu
Brooks Bennett
on 17/8/09
Seems like a great contrast to:
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/4436
Sheila Scarborough
on 17/8/09
Hi Christine, Hi Brooks -

Thanks very much for your support. I've dealt with this issue personally as a travel blogger on press trips; the handouts make me uncomfortable. It's relatively easy to disclose clearly in a blog post, but what about tweets, Flickr photos, video, Facebook posts, Stumbles, Delicious bookmarks, etc.?

The more I dug into the disclosure topic the more I found that there are wildly varying opinions about appropriate ways to be transparent about freebies. The recent "Blog With Integrity" campaign makes the discussion even more interesting.

If accepted, I'd like the panel to include thought leaders like Roxanne Darling plus Google, FTC and WOMMA (Word of Mouth Marketing) representation.
Kami Huyse
on 17/8/09
This is a GREAT idea, there are a lot of landmines here. Would love to attend this panel.
Becky McCray
on 18/8/09
Talk about a hot topic! Here is one panel that could present real discussion, not just, "me, too" agreement.
Sheila Scarborough
on 19/8/09
Thanks, Kami and Becky. Your support means a lot. I promise an enlightening discussion!
Sarah Page
on 20/8/09
Sheila, this topic is long overdue. Should be a healthy debate about a very worthwhile and needed conversation. Thanks for putting this out there.
Julie Tereshchuk
on 22/8/09
If anyone can talk from real world experience on this topic, then it is Sheila. And with her at the helm, hang on for a fast and furious ride!
Connie Reece
on 26/8/09
This is a must-attend session -- very important topic. Big thumbs up for Sheila and this panel.
Roxanne Darling
on 26/8/09
Love it and it could not be more timely. We have a great opportunity to educate ourselves, bring some consciousness to the topic, and upgrade the whole relationship between advertisers and authors, regardless of the medium.

ALoha,

Roxanne

@roxannedarling
Liz Strauss
on 30/8/09
Great topic! Great speaker!

Time we talked more about this.
Sheila Scarborough
on 30/8/09
Thanks so much for all of your supportive comments!

Any time anyone talks about "ethics" it can lead to minefields (but those are the most thought-provoking panels, right?)
Paul Walhus
on 30/8/09
This is a highly relevant topic, being a blogger I have been hoping for a panel like this.
Tim Hayden
on 30/8/09
Good on ya, Sheila! I voted for both of your panels, as this is a defining hot debate for 2009-2010.
Dylan Wilbanks
on 4/9/09
This panel is overdue at SXSW. Very relevant.
Carla Young
on 4/9/09
Sounds great!!!!!! Would ovev to hear about how to handle this on my blog.
tiffany jewelry
on 20/10/09
Good idea for a panel. Case studies ARE good. :)
Games Online
on 3/11/09
Another hilarious panel name...
iphone ringtone maker
on 13/11/09
I'd be super into learning from Kris. Dig it!
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