Allen Stern over at CenterNetworks shakes up the disclosure tree (Gawd there are a lot of chestnuts up there), and asks whether or not blogs linked by a common denominator (which directly benefits everyone) such as an ad network, should actually mention, or disclose the existing relationship before pimping another blog on the same network.
Translation: Should FM blogs disclose that they are part of the same network when they pimp each other? (meta-translation: pimping being used in the congratulatory sense, not the “where’s my money” sense)
Answer: Like everything else in life, its up to the blog authors/owners. They’re welcome to *not* do it, and incur the results of a tarnished brand that stains everyone in the network (and likely the wrath of the blogosphere while they’re at it). But I’d like to hope that they’re smarter than that. And if they’re not, well, at least Allen’s keeping an eye on things. ;)
2 Comments
LOL Tony – I am not keeping an eye on things. Just pointing out things I notice along the road that are worthy of discussion.
Innovation and testing new ideas is good.
I think Allen may have been hit on the head by one of those chestnuts from the disclosure tree he’s been shaking. Using the same ad network service isn’t the same thing as being part of the same blog network. I don’t get the fuss being made. It’s not like you have to declare a relationship with every blog you mention or link to just because you both use Feeburner’s ad service or Adwords for that matter.
If an FM severed blog links to another FM served blog, there’s nothing in it for them, except the usual hope of a link back — at some point — in return. This applies regardless of the FM relationship.
I don’t get it.