I clearly don’t have a problem with disclosure – and while I typically disclose within my post, I am in the process of updating the site to include a complete disclosure policy. I like Jessica’s idea of doing it on every page!

Thank you so much, as well for mentioning Spin Cycle – you know I’m going to hold you to jumping on WebCam with me this time!

Thank you for your feedback, I working on writing more about PR/Social Media/Blogging issues as this is what my new blog is going to focus on, I wonder if there is a way to import just this post over.

I am too going to type up a disclosure that I am going to put on my new blog and my personal one which will stay here. I saw a disclosure on another bloggers site and she got the language from a specific site that I believe has sample disclosures on it. I will have to see if I can find it again, I don’t think that I marked it on my favorites.

I think it is easy to get caught up in the numbers, I am statistics and numbers person, so it came naturally to me to look at the numbers. I do think they go hand in hand, you stick true to your voice and provide your readers with useful info and I think everything else will kind of fall into place.

I am glad to hear that I am not the only one, I pretty much assume they got the product for free too, unless it is stated otherwise in the post.

There are a lot of great bloggers out there, and I am thankful for the ones that support new bloggers. My move over to my hosted site is going to happen I am thinking within the next 2 – 3 weeks, so it is good to know I and other bloggers have a support system.

Talk to you soon.

Because of all that has been talked about this week, I’m working on adding a disclosure statement to blog now. Thanks for the reminder and good idea, Jessica…I’m going to add it to the footer. Do you add it again to any review post or is just having it in the foot enough?

I love your statement about not focusing on traffic. Recently, I got all caught up in the whole traffic thing and forgot about why I blog. To write, teach and share. It wasn’t fun anymore. I had to take a break and think about why I do this again and then it started to fall into place.

And supporting fellow bloggers is definitely a must.

I do think that being honest about any money, free products, etc that you received for the review is necessary. I would not think any less of a review if I know they got the product for free. As a matter of fact, in most cases, I assume they did get it for free. I do think we should be compensated for our time.

When first starting out, I think content is important. Finding your voice and setting a tone for your blog. I’ve done a few reviews of things I use all the time. I have signed up for some things when I see on a website about a company giving away something in exchange for a review. That gives me the opportunity to get started.

Being out there and involved and listening and taking it all in while continuously adding content is a great way to start. There are so many more bloggers out there will to help and support new bloggers.

Thank you for the feedback. I do like the idea of reviewing products that I already know and love to give companies and the PR pros an opportunity to see what type of products I already like.

It also make sense to have a plan that you can execute before pitching a company. I am all for being proactive, but it does make sense if you are providing good content and showing others where your passions are that the right companies will come to you.

Hope to see you at the next Spin Cycle.

In my tweet, I was referring to blogging, not consulting. However, after further thought, you could apply the same advice to consulting as well.

The best way to get PR folks to reach out and ask you for a review is to start by reviewing things you already know and love. This lets PR firms (along with your readers) see what you’re passionate about, get an insight into your lifestyle and that of your family’s and household, so that they can pitch effectively.

Sometimes it’s hard for PR pros to know which bloggers are going to give them a warm reception, we all know that. But bloggers face the same dilemma when wanting to reach out to the brands they want to work with.

If you can identify the right person, I definitely think it’s A-OK to reach out, let them know your interest in partnering, and even come up with a campaign idea to suggest (just make sure you can execute it!).

I started http://buzzcooperative.com so that blogger members could have access to my rolodex of PR contacts and so that my PR contacts could have access to my network of PR-friendly bloggers. It’s worked out really well so far.

As far as disclosure goes, my advice to everyone is to have a disclosure policy on every page of your blog (mine’s in the footer) AND to always disclose and be transparent about when you’ve been given the product or have been paid to post. It’s really very simple.

Great post and I had not known about Spin Cycle! I’ll have to check that out!

Subscribing to your blog now…