Discussing Blogger Ethics with Joe Hackman
Blogger ethics and transparency is quite a big thing around here, as well as many other places online. I’ve written about the topic a few times, and read/commented on other posts around the web on it as well.
As someone who both blogs and uses bloggers as part of client outreach programs, making sure the blogger is ethical is paramount. Making sure the blogger is also honest about our campaign is also key.
Yet there’s much more to blogger ethics than simple transparency when writing as part of a PR or promotional push, and it’s something I’ll be discussing with Joe Hackman tomorrow night (Wednesday, January 12) on his BlogTalk Radio show.
Titled (simply enough) Blogger Ethics and Transparency, we’ll be looking at how blogging has become a big business, and why ethics, transparency and more are key (especially with the likes of the FTC and ASA becoming involved on both sides of the Atlantic).
It’s a late show – it starts at 10.00pm Eastern – but I think it should provide an interesting topic, so if you’re free and have time to pop along, you can find the show here. Additionally, you can ask questions in the live chatroom under the radio channel, or call in with your own (the number is on Joe’s page).
You can also leave any questions you have about blogger ethics, legal requirements, blogger programs, where you fit in and more in the comments below, and I’ll let Joe pick some of the best to cover in the show.
If it’s too late in the day for you, the show is recorded and archived, so you can listen to it or download it later to listen at your own leisure.
Blogging ethics and transparency is always a question that raises great points on both sides of the debate, so would love to see you there with your take.
Cheers!
image: kristiewells
I do have a question for your show tonight. I'd like your thoughts on when its okay and not okay to delete blog comments.
Of course, we all know to delete spam, but sometimes you get people who have an ax to grind, want to use your followers as a new marketing audience for their product, or they may be abusive to your other followers.
When should you try to talk your way through things and when is it right to just delete a comment (and possibly ban a user)?
Thanks, I am looking forward to the show.
Hi Danny
Will have to listen to it after the event as time zone differences work against us here in Perth. They don't call us the most isolated city in the world for nothing!
What a great topic. I have heard some bloggers try and justify dodgy practices on their site. They really either can't see it or they have decided the grey areas are actually okay. Not for me. Moving on to where honesty, integrity and ethical practices are the norm.
Patricia Perth Australia
Transparency in the web will not mean you're exposing even the smallest detail of what your website is but it will make it appear you're letting the users to feel at ease and secured.
Let's get this party started!
If you're still up you better call in and say hi. :)
I do have a question for your show tonight. I'd like your thoughts on when its okay and not okay to delete blog comments.
Of course, we all know to delete spam, but sometimes you get people who have an ax to grind, want to use your followers as a new marketing audience for their product, or they may be abusive to your other followers.
When should you try to talk your way through things and when is it right to just delete a comment (and possibly ban a user)?
Thanks, I am looking forward to the show.
I've got this in my notes for the discussion tonight, thanks so much Drew.
This came up two falls ago for me with Social Media. When I first got on Twitter for more than studying it so I can consult clients on Twitter's value based on the hype in 2009 it hooked me as a networking tool.
I started as a Noob following people from AdAge or Ad Week's 5 to follow each week. One Was Guy Kawasaki. I got a DM from Guy saying if his feed spammed my feed to follow AllTop. So I did. Then a month later Business Week did an article on Paid tweeters. That Kim Khardashian gets $10,000 for a tweet and Guy Kawasaki gets $800. So I tweeted to Guy asking him how do I know which posts were Paid and which not? Didn't get a response so I unfollowed him, refuse to go to his sites or re-tweet anything. And I love teasing him when he comments on a blog I might read asking who he is.
The point is we all know Tiger Woods doesn't drive a Buick. Notice it was a not a Buick he crashed when his wife chased him with the golf club. But Social, including Blogs we don't just assume its a sponsorship and we think maybe this is real. And I believe the US FCC or FTC handed down rules about this. And for good reason.
I remember there being a big hoo-ha when it was reveled Kawasaki used ghost tweeters for his account. It got a lot of people pissed off, since how did you know whether a recommendation was from Kawasaki, or one of the three people tweeting on his behalf.
Like you say, I read and follow people for their opinions, not some intern or student (and I say that with the greatest respect for our interns and students).
Promises to be an interesting topic.
Interesting post. I had a similar experience with Guy Kawasaki. I also ended up taking him off the lists I pay attention to in Twitter (although I didn't unfollow him).
Recently, I read his "Art of the Start" book...an excellent read, and posted a tweet about how much I liked it, with no response.
I don't know if I'd rather receive a canned response from an intern or no message at all. Both seem hollow and against the idea of "social."
In the old days, I actually sent an email to Mitch Albom telling him how touched I was by his book "Tuesday's With Morrie." I didn't receive any acknowledgement back...it does leave a sour taste in your mouth.
I guess I understand why my mother always told me to write "thank you notes!"
My friend knows Guy personally and says he is a really nice person. So my issue was the transparency not if he is a jerk or not since obviously he isn't. But my friend also told me of the tweet team he pays for his feeds. Just because he is paid for a tweet doesn't mean I won't click. I just want to know.
Danny I give you a ton of credit because there are some very impressive people in marketing like yourself (and Gini Dietrich, Mark Shaefer, Mitch Joel) who answer almost every single commenter even if you have 100. I know it is a lot of work. It is why I laugh when I bomb your blog with a bunch, not trying to work you, but I know you are gracious with your time. As you said the impact comes from the person you seek insight from not their intern.
Plus we all know some people on Twitter who follow way too many people yet seem to respond when we mention them. Others are a bit more snobby in who they respond too.
Excellent comment.
I am going to bring this up tonight Howie, thanks for this excellent subject matter for the episode!
Joe
Interesting post. I had a similar experience with Guy Kawasaki. I also ended up taking him off the lists I pay attention to in Twitter (although I didn't unfollow him).
Recently, I read his "Art of the Start" book...an excellent read, and posted a tweet about how much I liked it, with no response.
I don't know if I'd rather receive a canned response from an intern or no message at all. Both seem hollow and against the idea of "social."
In the old days, I actually sent an email to Mitch Albom telling him how touched I was by his book "Tuesday's With Morrie." I didn't receive any acknowledgement back...it does leave a sour taste in your mouth.
I guess I understand why my mother always told me to write "thank you notes!"
Hi Danny
Will have to listen to it after the event as time zone differences work against us here in Perth. They don't call us the most isolated city in the world for nothing!
What a great topic. I have heard some bloggers try and justify dodgy practices on their site. They really either can't see it or they have decided the grey areas are actually okay. Not for me. Moving on to where honesty, integrity and ethical practices are the norm.
Patricia Perth Australia
Once stayed at Perth for three weeks about 10 years ago, Patricia, when I was backpacking around Australia. Great place, but yeah, holy where are you??? :)
Hope you enjoy the show afterward and feel free to offer any feedback or points on it. Cheers!
Danny,
Looking forward to this. It is an important topic. Hope you don't mind, I did remind our group of mutual friends about this too. Be nice...
If you lot turn up with pitchforks and rotten tomatoes... ;-)
Danny, thanks for sharing the upcoming event here on your blog! I am really looking forward to our chat because I know you are very passionate about the subject and candid in your assessments. Chat with you soon! - Joe
For sure, sir, looks set to be a great topic. :)
Hey, DB and Joe. Would love to hear your thoughts on paid relationships with bloggers. What's ok and what isn't? Are most things fair game as long as they are disclosed? I'm talking paying for posts (not a fan personally), gievaways, paid integrations, etc. Thanks for the thoughts.
You're on Justin, I've added this to my notes for tomorrow. Thank you for your question.
I make a lot of my money from paid posts, or sponsored posts, and will listen to the show to hear your take on them. :)
Think that'll be one of the key topics, and one that could cover so many things. Cheers for suggesting, Justin. :)
The non-transparency of websites was a selling point to a lot of entrepreneurs and business owners, who wanted to appear "bigger" than they were. Transparency will be a scary word to many of them.
I'm glad you're getting the message out. I look forward to hearing the show.
Nothing wrong with making yourself appear bigger, Drew, but agree, doing it the right way is key. Look forward to seeing you over there. :)
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kristi Hines and others. Kristi Hines said: Discussing Blogger Ethics with Joe Hackman http://bit.ly/g8AMCI via @dannybrown [...]
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[...] I’ll be chatting live tonight on Blogtalkradio with Danny Brown about blogger ethics and transparency. I know that many people are passionate about this subject so I’d love to hear your opinions and enlist your support in the form of questions I can bring up in my discussion with Danny. Here is Danny’s post about it, you can leave your questions here, on Twitter or on his blog. I will be checking all three locations, thanks! Clipped from dannybrown.me [...]
