A tweet from Eden Spodek caught my eye the other day:
“Am I in the minority in thinking consultants should disclose when tweeting about clients?”
Now, I’ve written about disclosure plenty of times in the past, but given the recent introduction of disclosure rules by the FTC down in the US (check out Louis Gray’s fun post… is it just a matter of time until we have them in Canada?) and the growth of promotional postings on Twitter, it’s worth revisiting – especially in light of the new contributor function within Twitter.
From my perspective, I don’t think it matters if you’re being paid to talk about a client, if you’re just doing it yourself or even if you’re writing about a client’s competitor (a risky task). Either way, trust and relationships you’ve developed online are at play.
Here are seven reasons I think you should take those extra few keystrokes to disclose your client relationships:
- Undisclosed posts can be revealed – nothing is secret on the web.
- Social media is all about trust (it’s why Technorati did so well for so long (authority rankings) and why Google is doing well now). Failing to disclose your bias can contribute to losing trust.
- Most clients (Kanye excepted) won’t thank you for stirring-up controversy.
- Every string of characters you post can either build or damage your reputation. Which would you prefer?
- Your reputation is worth more than eight keystrokes – “(client)”.
- The benefit you’ll get from better conversions may be negated by the people who complain about you – to regulators, to the media or to others online (and those groups may overlap).
- Content exists online over a long period time thanks to Google (all the more so if Twitter fixes its ridiculous two-week search limit). If rules around disclosure get tightened down the line, you’re better off safe than sorry.
Opinions often vary on this – what’s your take?
(Image credit: margolove on Flickr)
Twitter Comment
Seven Reasons You Should Care About Disclosure on Twitter [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @davefleet: Seven reasons you should care about disclosure on Twitter: [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
An awesome post about disclosure. [link to post] written Mr. @davefleet
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Indeed. “Seven Reasons You Should Care About Disclosure on Twitter” [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Seven Reasons You Should Care About Disclosure on Twitter [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @davefleet Seven Reasons You Should Care About Disclosure on Twitter [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
A few really good reasons you should always disclose from @davefleet [link to post] (with a nod to @edenspodek)
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Seven Reasons You Should Care About Disclosure on Twitter | davefleet.com [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Seven Reasons You Should Care About Disclosure on Twitter [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @martinwaxman A few really good reasons you should always disclose from @davefleet [link to post] (with a nod to @edenspodek)
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @martinwaxman: A few really good reasons you should always disclose from @davefleet [link to post] (with a nod to @edenspodek)
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
[twitter] Seven Reasons You Should Care About Disclosure on Twitter | davefleet.com [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @arikhanson: 7 reasons you should care about disclosure on Twitter from @davefleet (#2 & #4 sum it up for me): [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @arikhanson: 7 reasons you should care about disclosure on Twitter from @davefleet: [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
arikhanson
RT @arikhanson 7 reasons U shd care about disclosure on Twitter by @davefleet (#2 & #4 sum it up for me): [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Louis Gray: Seven Reasons You Should Care About Disclosure on Twitter | davefleet.com: [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @louisgray: Seven Reasons You Should Care About Disclosure on Twitter | davefleet.com [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @LenKendall: RT @arikhanson: 7 reasons you should care about disclosure on Twitter from @davefleet: [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
7 reasons you should care about disclosure on Twitter from @davefleet (#2 & #4 sum it up for me): [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @Knieriemen: RT @louisgray: Seven Reasons You Should Care About Disclosure on Twitter | davefleet.com [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @bkmacdaddy: 7 Reasons You Should Care About Disclosure on Twitter – [link to post] #fb
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
7 Reasons You Should Care About Disclosure on Twitter – [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @bkmacdaddy: 7 Reasons You Should Care About Disclosure on Twitter – [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
SEVEN REASONS YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT DISCLOSURE ON TWITTER [link to post]) via @davefleet
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Seven reasons you should care about disclosure on Twitter: [link to post] @davefleet (good post)
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Seven Reasons You Should Care About Disclosure on Twitter: [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Great article on client-related disclosure via social media from @davefleet: [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
7 reasons you should care about disclosure on Twitter [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @purplehayz 7 reasons you should care about disclosure on Twitter [link to post] | howl. yes.
– Posted using Chat Catcher