Blogging has become a popular communications medium for publications, corporations and individuals and can be a great way to showcase an individual or company’s expertise, connect with constituencies and build a following.  New regulations are emerging on this popular medium, however, as PC Magazine noted this week in its article, “Web Ad Group Pushes For Ethical Blogging”. Chloe Albanesius reported that while the FTC is currently investigating fair blogging practices, The National Advertising Review Council (NARC) has also come out against certain practices.

The Electronic Retailing Self-Regulation Program (ESRP) within NARC, for instance, recently found that the company, Urban Nutrition, did not mention that products it highlighted via blog posts and its own award designations, on its weknowdiets.com and other sites, were owned and sold by the Web site.  Writers were also paid for submissions, and the company did not offer unbiased reviews of products as it claimed.  It was determined that by not revealing this and other information Urban Nutrition violated FTC’s Guides on Endorsements and Testimonials, according to ESRP.

Urban Nutrition has since provided greater disclosure on its sites and made other concessions to help rectify the situation.  This case, and greater interest from the FTC and ESRP on blogging overall are reason to take note on a company’s own blogging policies.  Does your company provide full disclosure?

Zenzi Art Director Rachel Znerold blogs in Elephant Journal about celebrating her first Easter in San Francisco with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence…

How Transvestite Nuns and Hunky Jesus Taught Me The Spirit of A Mindful Easter

No company can go through its existence without being in involved in some sort of a crisis. However, a single incident can destroy years of strong customer and shareholder relations. Competitors will also take full advantage of the situation. While it’s tough to predict when a crisis might occur, it is critical to plan for one in advance. Companies that incorporate effective crisis communications strategies into their disaster recovery plans have a greater chance of mitigating negative media and public perceptions and enhancing their long-term credibility. Tips for designing an effective crisis communication plan:

Determine in advance who needs to be involved:
The plan should include two spokespeople and two assistants to handle media issues, which will ensure at least one person is always available. The plan should enable the team to quickly and systematically increase the number of key people involved in case the crisis should escalate.
 

Many of today’s top business leaders are successful at getting media coverage simply by stating their opinions of the market.  They talk at length with reporters about industry trends and make predictions about what the future might hold, but they never pitch their new product or company specifically.

It’s a Subtle PR Ploy:
The fact is, these executives are promoting their companies, just in a very subtle manner.  Positioning a company as a thought leader can enhance credibility and establish a reputation as an industry expert.

Like the seasons, product announcements can move in like a lion or out like a lamb. Some bound out of thin air, leaving marketers and PR pros with little time to prepare; others trudge on and on, extending the deadline for weeks on end. How can you prevent a sneak attack and ensure that you are ready for the next major product announcement? Here are some tips to make sure your kickoff kicks butt.

Staying ahead of the Curve:
Timing is the hardest, yet most critical part. With long publication lead times, it is easy to underestimate the amount of time needed to make a splash. Executives in your organization may have no idea, and it’s your job to tell them, that some magazines require as much as six months advance notice. With three months for monthlies, two for bi-monthlies and one for weeklies plus the time it take to get information ready and build relationships with reporters, the more time, the better.