How to Write a Blog Disclosure Policy

With all of the methods that have become available for blog monetization, there has been much discussion about disclosure of paid advertising and links. Some feel that not disclosing that a blog accepts payment for links is unethical. Including a disclosure policy on your blog can help protect you from scrutiny. It can also serve as a preventive measure against legal troubles that could arise. Read on to learn how to write a blog disclosure policy.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. List the activities that you participate in to make money from your blog. This could include advertising, sponsorship and payment for including specific links or writing about certain topics.

2. List the specific types of compensation you receive. This could be cash, free products or services or advertising on other sites.

3. State how the compensation you receive may influence the content of your blog. Are your post topics influenced by the opportunity to receive payment for them? Do you link to certain sites with certain keywords for money? Let your readers know.

4. State whether or not individual posts that have been done for compensation will be identified. If they are to be identified, include how readers can differentiate between paid and non-paid posts. If not, simply state that content that you have received compensation for may not be individually identified.

5. Let readers know if there are any potential conflicts of interest regarding your blog. These could include employment by a company in the industry you write about, political affiliations or relationships with people that you blog about.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to make your disclosure policy’s language fit in with that of your blog. Although it’s important to make sure you have all of your bases covered, it’s not necessary to write in incomprehensible legalese.
• Some paid blogging companies have specific requirements regarding bloggers’ disclosure policies. Be sure to brush up on them before writing or modifying yours if you are a member.

[MsCecily]

on 9/22/2008 This info is good to know for my blog. Thanks.

[joyful327]

on 4/16/2008 Interesting. If I ever start a blog, I'll refer to this :)