the intersection of life and grace

Following months of deliberation by the Federal Trade Commission and rumors throughout the social media marketing world, the FTC this week released it’s “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” to much buzz.  And, a little panic, I think, for bloggers, twitterers and facebookers who like to talk about their favorite goods and services, wondering what this all might mean for them.

It’s an 81-page document, in rather complex legal-governmental language.  You can read it by clicking here if you like [opens PDF document in a new window].

First, because I’ve fielded a few questions about this from the reviewers I work with on content for clients, I want to define what the new regulations say about bloggers – as I understand it. Disclaimer:  I’m not a lawyer, this isn’t legal advice, and if I learn something new about it, I’ll update this post.

Disclosure

If a company gives you product or money or any other kind of award or compensation in return for your posting about them or their product on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, or any other social networking site, you (the blogger) need to say so clearly.  The consequence for not doing so includes potentially hefty fines, but the report does not delineate what to expect for certain infractions, nor how specifically it will be enforced.

Now, if you review books, resources or music for another outlet, such as YMX, and repost your work on your blog with link attribution (as that site has permitted), you need only be clear that you were given the resource to review for that outlet.  It is pretty clear that product is given to media outlets to review, and you’re (in the case of YMX) reprinting with permission with link attribution.  If you link to your work on another commercial site from your  personal Twitter/Facebook, etc, it seems clear to me that you got something in return for the work (product or  some other consideration).

If you are an affiliate marketer – say for amazon, or referral link prizes, and the like – you need to say so under these new rules.  If you make money on it, you need to say so more clearly than ever.  Here is a good overview of the new guidelines from the corporate marketing point of view.

About this blog

Most reviews on this blog are reprints of my work for hire, primarily at YS/YMX. Those include links back to the original publication page.

A few times publishers or companies have given me books to review, or something to give away. While it was clear enough at the time, I will be more specific about that going forward.  I have never been paid cash for any post on this blog, or anything I’ve posted on my personal social networking accounts.  I intend to add a disclosure page to this blog to acknowledge affiliate relationships so there is no confusion.

All very formal, but I have no problem disclosing this if it prevents confusion on the part of others. Clarity is good, and assuring readers that my thoughts and opinions are my own even if I got a free book is something I’m happy to do.  It’s necessary to help people who research purchases on the internet tell the difference between advertising and customer opinion, because the line had become blurry. Ethics are important.

Now, if we could just get the same kind of clear public disclosure from politicians and lobbyists, I’d be thrilled.

First, thanks to each of you for sharing a glimpse of your passion to share the Gospel with children!  The stories are great!

Now, let me get the process stuff out of the way.  To choose, I used a cyber version of putting your names in a hat.  In the order of the posts in the comments here, I made a list of containing each entrant’s name for each initial comment and each instance of a twitter update, facebook update or personal blog post.  That generated a list that looked like this:

Doug
Doug
Doug
Doug
Jeff
Michelle
Jill
Mary Beth
Leena
Leena
Leena
DJ
DJ
DJ

Using the list randomizer at random.org resulted in the list in the screen shot below:

Congratulations to DJ, who has won the 2 registrations to Group’s How 2 Conference.  I emailed him at the address you provided in his comment post form. DJ, respond to that and we’ll get those passes on their way to you!  Congratulations!  This was fun!

Group Publishing wants your Children’s Ministry to win 2 registrations to their How 2 Children’s Ministry Conference!  From the people who bring you Children’s Ministry Magazine, as well as a wide array of resources for ministry to youth, children and adults, comes this generous offer!  Thanks, Group!

To make this fun and interactive, here’s how we’ll give these registrations, valued at $199 each.

Step up to this cyber microphone, and tell us your BEST children’s ministry moment.  It could be about why you’re in ministry to children, it could be an interaction with one of the kids or volunteers, anything that makes ministry to children the BEST to you. You get one entry into the drawing for posting your story here in the comments OR on your own blog/Facebook note.  You can get  additional entries for telling about the contest and conference on Twitter or via your Facebook status.  Remember to put a link here in the comments for each time you do that (and use the links in the top right sidebar of the blog to connect with me on Facebook or on Twitter so I can verify).

What one of you will win:

• 2 registrations, valued at $199 each, to the How 2 Conference in 1 city of your choice. (click here to see dates/cities) Transortation, lodging, etc are not included.

What you have to do to win:

• Initial entry into the drawing for posting your story here, your own blog or Facebook note linking to this post by trackback or link posted in the comments.
• Additional entries for tweets and status lines on Facebook, connect with me so I can see them.
• Winner will have to provide a valid email with their comment (not publicly), and be prepared to choose a date/location and give the names of the 2 people attending the How 2 Conference to get their passes.

All of this needs to take place between now, 9 am ET, Friday, Jan 9, and midnight ET, on Wednesday, Jan 14.  The winner will be chosen at random and posted here on Thursday, Jan 15.

So, step up to the mic and lets get this party started!

Why do I love tomorrow?  In general, because I haven’t messed it up yet.  Specifically, regarding Friday, January 9, I love tomorrow because I have just been given 2 registrations for Group’s How 2 Conference for Children’s Ministry.  I spent a little while looking at the cities and the program & schedule for the day, and it looks like a fantastic time of training and networking!  And you can win them for your church!

So, now is the time to send a link to whomever does children’s ministry for your church.  I really want to bless a ministry with this nearly $400 worth of training.  You’ll get to choose the city (there are 17 options!), and everything beyond the registrations themselves would be up to the winner.

Come back tomorrow and enter!

Today was the end of my design contest at 99designs.  In all there were 74 different submissions from 28 designers over the 7 days, each working to represent the business I described to them.  If you click here you can see the winning design, and many of the others (some were withdrawn before the end).

The design I chose fit the fun and professional look I was hoping for. And I’m looking forward to putting it to use on cards, documents and a new website.  Thanks to all of you who shared your preferences and input with me!

YSJay posted about the video below on twitter, saying

Wow, talk about being gifted – Great video to talk about our gifts & abilities with teenagers- Thanks Steve Case.

I have to confess, I’m not a reality TV fan so when I saw the video was from the April 12, 2008 edition of Britain’s Got Talent (the UK version of American Idol, complete with Simon), I almost didn’t watch. I’m glad almost doesn’t count, this is a fantastic story. And, yes, it will preach volumes of good things about living for Jesus through all that life brings.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-j9B-eqJpo]

You go, Andrew, give Him all you’ve got!

Today is the Mets first game in New York this season. It’s the last “opening day” at Shea Stadium. It’s also against the Phillies – the nemesis, the rival, the keepers of the strangest looking mascot in baseball. Oh yeah, thanks (at least in part) to the Mets 2007 spectacular end-of-season collapse, the Phillies are the ::cough::NL East Champions::cough:: as well. Such are the ups and downs of being a Mets fan.

Just for fun, I have a taken a little wager proposed my YMX friend Brian – who is a Phillies fan. If the Mets win the NL East, Brian will sport their logo on his profile on the YMX forums. However, if the Phillies with the division, I will display their team logo on my forum profile. I don’t think we sorted out for how long, though, so we’d need to establish that. Of course, while neither of us wants to admit it, there is the possibility that another team could win the division. We shall see.

Game time!

Ever gone on a trip that didn’t go so well? I knew you had; there are a million travel horror stories! YMX is sponsoring a contest that you are eligible to win as long as you 1. have a travel nightmare, 2. aren’t me or Adam. Here’s the info:

Every one of us has had a road trip that went bad. Maybe it was a trip with a church group or perhaps it was a family vaction. And since all of us have had a trip from hell, what better way to exorcize the metaphorical demons of that trip than by sharing that story with others?

The giveaway: Tell us your road trip horror story! Either leave your story as a comment or post a link to a story you wrote on your blog/website and leave the link in the comments section. It can be a short story (25-30 words) or as long as you like.

Who can enter: This contest is open to anyone with a road trip story! Keep them rated PG-13 or better. Make sure you leave a valid e-mail address so that we can contact you if you win.

The deadline: Entries must be posted by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on February 25th, 2008.

The prize: There are two prizes! We’ll do a random drawing of all the comments with stories or links to stories for a $25 gift card from Amazon.com. Additionally, we will pick our favorite road trip from hell story and that person will recieve a CD from our bookstore of their choice.

Go here to leave your story, or a link to your story, on the contest page at YMX. Remember, it’s open to anyone, not only youth workers or YMX members.