Style Post: Good Blog Etiquette

While we're in the business of recommending fun fashions (and affordable ones at that), there's always the question of what makes "free" okay. If you're a fashion blogger, a professional blogger, or an adventurous soul getting ready to embark on a new blog journey, here's what you need to know about blogging etiquette.

My inspiration for this post came from something I ready over at Independent Fashion Bloggers, and include excerpts from their informative post here.

• If you accept something for free, know that you don't need to feel bullied about providing a good review. Some agencies (only a free that I have personally encountered) will try to get you to sign a contract stating that you will only publish a positive review. Don't sign it!

What IBF Says:

If you have any questions, or if you are asked to do something you feel uncomfortable about, talk to your community, your blog friends, or you can always post your question in the IFB forums. Whatever you do, don’t feel alone, because there are lots of bloggers with experience who can help you.

Disclose Your Relationship

• Be honest and make your own policy for accepting goods. If you are honest with your public, then there won't be any drama, accusations, or unnecessary claims of journalistic integrity being compromised.

IBF Weighs In:

While no one is required to post just because a free poduct was involved, if a post and a free product is involved, so should a disclosure. It doesn’t have to be in big pink letters, but it can be worked into the body of the text. “I received this from____,” or “_____ sent me this lovely gift” is fine.

Do not accept bribes.

• This can include presents that "come out of nowhere" or seem to good to be true. If you're going on an all-expenses paid trip to Monaco, wouldn't you feel the pressure to find the good about the worst?

  IBF's Opinion:

  In traditional media, the line of trust is defined by a clearly laid out code of ethics as there is no personal relationship between the journalist and the readership.

  Always have a policy on which to fall back.

• Let's say that someone calls you out or questions your integrity.Wouldn't it be good to have a clear policy on which to fall back?

Comments

[HotWomen]

I have the same opinion as yours on this. What you said is true.