Comments on: Review Bloggers, Testimonials, and the FTC

By: Step by step guide to writing good reviews. : The One Fantastical

Step by step guide to writing good reviews. : The One Fantastical — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:51:48 +0000

[...] Remember, there is no right or wrong way to format your review, you should just work the way you feel comfortable. Oh, and follow FTC rules and guidelines. [...]

By: The F.T.C and Bloggers | Build A Better Blog

The F.T.C and Bloggers | Build A Better Blog — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:10:56 +0000

[...] Review Bloggers, Testimonials and the FTC [...]

By: Donna

Donna — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:20:38 +0000

Trisha, I agree with you 100% and I think the way you do reviews… well it is a great model for everyone. Good post!

Btw, I have been gone/busy/sick over the last couple of weeks and am playing catch up here at MomDot and am having so much fun reading all the posts I’ve missed.

By: Monkey's Momma

Monkey's Momma — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:14:38 +0000

Great post Trisha! I have been thinking of how to write a review on a book that I received and frankly, I did not want to waste my time or my readers’ time (the book was THAT bad). Now I think I will just let the publisher know and ask them how they would like me to proceed.

And as far as reading posts or reviews by someone who is paid to do them, especially huge bucks like Dooce, I may read them, but will I believe they were written with integrity? Probably not.

I do reviews on my site. I review things I buy myself and things that companies send me. When a company contacts me, I ask myself if it is something that myself or my family would use. I have one child: a six year old son. So you won’t find baby products or hair bows reviewed on my site. How can I test or review those products?

By: Casey (EcOnomicalMom)

Casey (EcOnomicalMom) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:50:18 +0000

Thank you for sharing this post! Being new to reviews, I really appreciate having all of this explained and laid out before me. The comments helped too. Thank you everyone.

By: Shan @Last Shreds Of Sanity

Shan @Last Shreds Of Sanity — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:34:12 +0000

@ Trisha-admin: You're right, I do stand behind everything I write. But I was looking at it from the point of view of things getting overly regulated. For example, the CPSIA's blanket regulation on lead testing or the fact that a kid caught with a Tylenol at school can be expelled for drug possession. I certainly don't want to see that happen.

By: Trisha-admin

Trisha-admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:50:13 +0000

@ Shan @Last Shreds Of Sanity:
Laws dont outdo the constitution, so it wont take away a freedom of speech. But its never been legal to like badmouth a company or person if you are lying….its not freedom of speech if its untrue…thats what slander and defamation laws are for.

I really dont believe this legislation will remove the right to talk about what you like or dont, but rather be held accountable for false, written words from it…just like running a false ad, now the bloggers are running them and are accountable.

It doesnt bother me because I dont say words that I dont truly believe and i dont believe you do either.

By: Shan @Last Shreds Of Sanity

Shan @Last Shreds Of Sanity — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:46:17 +0000

Good post, Trisha. I agree with almost everything you said, but I fear that the FTC regulations will take away our freedom of speech on our blogs, period. Not just when it comes to reviews.

What if, say for example, I want to warn my readers about Dish Network and their horrible customer service? Will the FTC be able to stop me from relating my personal experiences and opinions?

I am all about ethics and moral character, in personal life and on my blog. I would welcome some way to make Mom Bloggers more reputable to the rest of the world, but what is the cost? Are they going to regulate all my content and opinions? It’s my blog. I built it. The posts are my words. No one has the right to tell me what I can write on my blog, or not. I do believe there should be standards when it comes to reviews, etc. But that is where the regulating should stop.

It’s just my opinion, of course.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:01:49 +0000

Great and timely post, Trisha. It gives all bloggers something to think about. When I first started writing reviews on Boutique Cafe, I was a new blogger and felt the pressure to stay positive, thinking maybe companies wouldn’t send product if they don’t like what I have to say. But I’ve grown up since then and don’t hesitate to point out things I don’t like or things that need improvement. I have found (and heard) companies actually rely on honest reviews to improve their product.

I have actually written a very negative review on Polliwogged before about a high chair that totally fell apart and was dangerous for children. I don’t think I said one good thing in that review and basically told readers NOT to buy it!

By: Allison aka Misadventurous Mommy

Allison aka Misadventurous Mommy — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:59:38 +0000

I agree with what everyone has said, especially Cat. I’m new to reviewing products on my blog but I’ve been with companies that I review products for and spread the word about for years. I think that the companies may see our posts as ads but to me when I review a product and post about it I’m doing the same thing that I would do when I tell my friends and family about a product I really like. I always give my honest opinions of the products and sometimes that means pointing out things that I didn’t like about them but if I were telling my sister who is a new mom about a product I’ve used I would tell her the good and the bad and I do no less than that when I post a product review on my blog.

Great article by the way!