Some other reasons people did not disclose that they were paid, and may not have even used products/services they were asked to write about: 1) greedy: they just like getting stuff. 2) they want to be seen as folksy and genuine 3) they may have been told not to tell that they received payment. Organizations with questionable products wanting lots of good link might do something like this. 4) they are inexperienced writers who don't know that you can endorse a product, say you've been paid to write about it, and still sound folksy, genuine, and like someone others can relate to. It's really that simple. Tish Social Media Strategy, Content, Community & Analysis TishGrier.com HighFashion, Average Woman LinkedIn Profile land: 413-203-1339 cell: 413-265-1500 ________________________________ From: Marcia Yudkin <yudkinyudkin at yahoo.com> To: Hidden-Tech Listserv <hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net> Sent: Friday, August 2, 2013 2:58 PM Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] Disclaimers on sites Tish Grier wrote: >>For instance, if a blogger runs particular kinds of affiliate programs, the blogger could say that he/she does not endorse the products and is only advertising them. << Forgive me, but what business does a blogger have joining an affiliate program and promoting a product that he or she does not believe in and is not willing to "endorse"? >>Disclaimers are also important if a blogger is writing a post about a product and has never used the product. Then, the blogger has to state that what they are writing is a "sponsored blog post." This is another FTC reg. << A blogger cannot imply that he/she has used a product when they haven't, regardless of whether or not a post is labeled as "sponsored." That would be flat-out lying and counts as deceptive advertising. Marcia Yudkin Copywriting mentor/author/consultant www.yudkin.com ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area. ** If you did, we all thank you. _______________________________________________ Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members page on the Hidden Tech Web site. http://www.hidden-tech.net/members -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.hidden-tech.net/pipermail/hidden-discuss/attachments/20130802/783c545e/attachment.html