When you read a post on this blog, how much confidence do you have that I’m not trying to sell you something? Hopefully, a lot. In case you weren’t sure, that is NOT the point of this blog. I’ll even go to lengths to avoid anything that could be interpreted as selling. If a topic might relate to a product my company offers, I’ll disclose that to you up front.
I mean, shouldn’t that be “blogging as usual”? Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Have you ever seen an article which discusses the risks or advantages of a certain approach? “Mobile device engagement” or “3 Steps Towards a Leaner Organization”. They seem honest enough, and even appear to have a lot of good ideas, yet you can’t help but feel there is a vested interest at play. Being the informed and pragmatic reader you are, you run a quick search online. Low and behold, the author is a principle at a company offering the services mentioned in the article. How weird is that?!
“Joe, obviously they will write on what they know…isn’t that what we want? Someone giving advice from inside their own industry?” Yes, you are 100% correct. My issue is when that relationship or potential conflict of interest is not disclosed.
My company focuses on helping credit unions boost their auto lending volume. Therefore, any post which mentions auto lending in some fashion will have a disclosure that my company may benefit (even indirectly) from the suggestions I make.
In October, I read an article discussing mobile payments and their importance (or lack thereof) in the world of tomorrow. It was well-written and amply researched, yet something did not sit right with me. So I checked the author. Turns out, they were a marketing executive for a firm that has a vested interest in the traditional payment methods. This was not disclosed in the article. I believe it should.
We have learned the Internet can teach us a lot, some true, some not. The more difficult part is separating the true from the “true for me and my business”. Any time you read an article or blog (including mine…hold me to it!), check if they have an ulterior motive. They might make an alternative option look undesirable while framing the discussion around their own positives. Or, they might leave out counter-points. Most importantly, be informed!
