Disclosure – What’s Up My Apron.
Beginning December 1, 2009, the FTC requires bloggers to provide disclosures whenever there could be hidden interests or unspoken biases related to recommendations.
What’s really funny to me, is that Kelly Rippa doesn’t have to take 10 seconds at the beginning of her Electrolux commercial to say, “excuse me, but y’all need to know I’m getting paid to endorse this product.” Oh no … that would ruin the cool Bewitched music they’ve got playing in the background. It’s just assumed.
I don’t get paid one tenth of what Kelly Rippa does … so let’s not assume …
First, the obvious: This blog is for entertainment purposes only. I’m not a journalist, I’m a blogger.
I used to be an innkeeper. The Inn is Tremain Street Cottages. I reference it from time to time. If you’re an innkeeper too … awesome! Let’s connect. If you read my blog, think I’m cool, and then decide to come stay at the Inn … SWEET! Just don’t expect me to cook for you. They’re vacation rentals. Which is why I get my “apron on” for the blog.
Second, the less obvious: If I interview someone and they grab the bill for lunch, I would need to specify this. If I get some free groceries or foodie products in the mail, ditto. (What’s laughable is that any “goodie” I receive in the mail to try doesn’t even cover my grocery bill for the month for all my experimental cooking photography. But let’s just please the FTC, shall we?) If someone gives me a comfy t-shirt with a logo and I wear it in a photo, ditto. Disclaimers all over.
This would be tedious for me and a continual eye sore for readers. But rules is rules.
To cover my butt and preserve your reading experience, please assume that, for every recommendation, link, and product I use, the following all hold true:
I copied this from Tim Ferriss’ blog. If you’re a blogger too … please feel free to use the text and images on this page with proper attribution. There is no reason why each blogger should have to reinvent the wheel.
(Illustrations courtesy of Louis Gray and Jeannine Schafer)