Comments on: FTC Clarifies Disclosure Guidelines for Bloggers http://www.informing-arts.biz/blog/ftc-clarifies-disclosure-guidelines-for-bloggers/ Content, Strategy, Marketing & Business | A consultant’s view » Christine Thompson Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:50:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christine http://www.informing-arts.biz/blog/ftc-clarifies-disclosure-guidelines-for-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Christine Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:37:49 +0000 http://www.informing-arts.biz/blog/ftc-clarifies-disclosure-guidelines-for-bloggers/#comment-8 Yes, because so many traditional PR people have seen their role as "getting ink" or influencing perceptions, providing free products or tickets to events (or the sky box at a big game) has been a not-so-unusual tactic. When you look at it from the advertiser or the brand's perspective, these tactics have proven to be effective. When you look at it from the consumer's POV, the lack of disclosure about potential sources of bias makes it even more difficult for consumers to discern fact from fiction, legitimate product claims from fantasy. I think adopting the FTC guidelines will be good for the marketplace, even if it throws a monkey wrench into the typical marketing promotion engine. This could have the result of accelerating the shift toward true conversational marketing. Yes, because so many traditional PR people have seen their role as “getting ink” or influencing perceptions, providing free products or tickets to events (or the sky box at a big game) has been a not-so-unusual tactic. When you look at it from the advertiser or the brand’s perspective, these tactics have proven to be effective. When you look at it from the consumer’s POV, the lack of disclosure about potential sources of bias makes it even more difficult for consumers to discern fact from fiction, legitimate product claims from fantasy.

I think adopting the FTC guidelines will be good for the marketplace, even if it throws a monkey wrench into the typical marketing promotion engine. This could have the result of accelerating the shift toward true conversational marketing.

]]> By: Melanie http://www.informing-arts.biz/blog/ftc-clarifies-disclosure-guidelines-for-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Melanie Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:23:31 +0000 http://www.informing-arts.biz/blog/ftc-clarifies-disclosure-guidelines-for-bloggers/#comment-6 Rachel Maddow talked about exactly that a few days ago, in her segment "Confronting Rick Berman," about a suspicious link between many grass roots campaings funded by non-profits headed by the president of a public relations firm. They both did a great job in the interview that followed, equally exemplifying how to try and steer a conversation. Rachel Maddow talked about exactly that a few days ago, in her segment “Confronting Rick Berman,” about a suspicious link between many grass roots campaings funded by non-profits headed by the president of a public relations firm. They both did a great job in the interview that followed, equally exemplifying how to try and steer a conversation.

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