Marketing Roadmaps

Latest Lands’ End Contest on Facebook DOES comply with new rules

January 6, 2010

In my post earlier this week, I mentioned Lands’ End’s after-Christmas contest, which let Facebook users enter simply by becoming a fan. I know, because I did it.
Unfortunately, it’s a violation of Facebook’s new promotion guidelines to use “become a fan” as a way for people to enter a contest. You can require that someone [...]

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See ya, 2009

December 31, 2009

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
2009 has not been a banner year. The economy really impacted my business, as it has so many. Among other things, the competition for projects got quite fierce. When full-service agencies slash their fees to the bone, it is pretty hard for an independent to match [...]

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Radio silence

December 20, 2009

I’m officially going dark on the blog until after Christmas. Book deadlines looming and I’d like to enjoy my family over the holidays a bit too. When I come back, I hope to have some updates on the Blog with Integrity webinars for next year. I’m also going to be digging into whether companies doing [...]

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Gaze into my crystal ball: Predictions about impact of new FTC endorsement guidelines

December 1, 2009

The new FTC guidelines for commercial endorsements and testimonials take effect today. How will that impact social media outreach programs?
Here are my predictions.
Companies and agencies that practice good blogger relations will continue to do so. They achieve excellent results by building close relationships with bloggers and developing targeted, relevant programs for their communities. They probably [...]

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Companies’ obligations under FTC endorsement guidelines

November 24, 2009

As I noted in last week’s post, companies using social media marketing tactics have an equal, if not greater obligation, than bloggers under the revised FTC guidelines. It just hasn’t gotten as much media coverage. In part because the story isn’t as provocative as “Bloggers are Shills! Big fines!” and in part because it’s not [...]

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Blog with Integrity goes to Washington

November 23, 2009

We are fortunate to have a top notch pair of Washington lobbyists, Elizabeth Frazee and Sharon Ringley of TwinLogic Strategies, helping Blog with Integrity on a pro bono basis. They made the initial connection to the FTC for the Town Hall webinar on the 10th, and earlier this month when I was in DC on [...]

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Once More, with Feeling: FTC guidelines, bloggers and companies

November 16, 2009

Every time I post about the FTC’s guidelines for endorsements and testimonials, I hope that, this time, the misinterpretations and disinformation will stop. So far, I remain disappointed, but ever optimistic, here I go. Once More, with Feeling.
Last week, Blog with Integrity hosted a webinar featuring Mary Engle from the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. [...]

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A brief diversion: the LOL Bad Pitch of the Day

November 11, 2009

Marketing Roadmaps has been pretty serious of late, and likely will be so again as I continue to dig into topics related to the FTC endorsement guidelines. But today, my friends, I received an email pitch I just have to share with you.
Here’s the pitch:

And here’s the accompanying picture:

I guess someone thinks I’ve got a [...]

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"If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there." - Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland