Sadly I am ashamed about being a blogger in the blogging industry as it is today. I’m reminded of the SEO industry a few years back, between 2004 and 2009, where the SEO industry attracted a number of questionable characters. Shady SEOs turned to shady tactics to make a … [Read more...]
How Brands Can Vet Bloggers: An Interview with Annie Singer
Brands (especially brands with tight budgets) need to choose wisely which bloggers they work with. It shouldn’t just be about the blogger with the largest social media followers and most comments on their blogs or what they boast their traffic is because it is way too easy to … [Read more...]
One Classic Mistake Naive Bloggers Make When Working with PR Firms, Brands, & Affiliates
You get an email from a PR firm, brand, or affiliate complimenting you on your blog and requesting you publish an article written by their team on your blog. You think, “Wow! This brand, affiliate company and/or PR firm likes my blog!” It might be prudent, however, to ask why … [Read more...]
Blogging Laws – California Laws for Giveaways and Prizes. Are You Complying?
It pains me to see how many Californian bloggers are not following state laws when doing giveaways. These are actual laws that carry an average fine of $2500 per an offense for failure to comply, and some offenses can land you jail time. When I have taken the time to point out … [Read more...]
Best Practices In FTC Online Advertising Disclosures For Bloggers
In a previous article, available here, I addressed the main issues bloggers should be aware of in the March 2013 Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) guidelines regarding if and when disclosures must be made in connection with online advertising (the “Guides”, which are available … [Read more...]
What Every Blogger Needs To Know About The FTC Guidelines
There has been a great deal of confusion among bloggers since the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued updated guidelines in March 2013 regarding if and when disclosures must be made in connection with online advertising (the “Guides”). This article will summarize some of the … [Read more...]