the intersection of life and grace

This weekend I’m at the Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Convention in Cincinnati. I’m serving on the event team doing social media work, which is a fancy way of saying that my volunteer job is to update twitter and facebook and take notes in the Big Room sessions and post them on the YS blog.

I’ve posted at youthspecialties.com/blog twice today, one for Reggie Joiner’s talk on change and systems (which was far more fascinating than it sounds by that description!), and again for Tony Campolo’s talk on the omnipresence of God and abundant life. You can read those by clicking on the links.

I’ll post some photos at the end of the event, internet connection is scarce, which makes this social media gig a challenge.

A personal highlight of the day was meeting up, or rather tweeting up, with about 20 youth workers I’ve been connected with via twitter, plus a few new friends and connections. We enjoyed dinner together, and some non-cyber conversation.

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.

As a woman with all the challenges of family and working life, I selected this book from the Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers program out of curiosity. I also brought a healthy dose of skepticism to a book about increasing success in women’s lives written by a man.

Being somewhat familiar with Buckingham’s work via other books and a recent experience hearing him speak at Shift prepared me for his upbeat, research-based approach and conversational style. “Find Your Strongest Life” begins with an analysis of extensive research about both men’s and women’s happiness which explains that women’s sense of happiness has declined steadily even as more and more choices became open to us. The opening dispels the popular quote of the feminist movement which says “You can have it all” and continues to provide the means for introspection by which an imbalanced, but full, life takes the place of striving for the impossible.

“Find Your Strongest Life” examines the elements and feelings Buckingham’s research has shown to be the key feelings, or SIGNS of a strong life. Each chapter explores means by which women may discern their strengths in different areas of life and put them into play by overcoming myths and misconceptions that may be standing in the way. It does not make promises of wealth or fame or quick-fixes, but it does offer information and questions to guide you toward self-revelation.

I found the self-examination useful, and can see why Buckingham has gained popularity from his books and workshops. If you are in a place of dissatisfaction with life, this book would be a useful method for discovering why and what life changes may put you on track to being more satisfied, and more happy with the life you choose.