DIGITAL
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Blogging ethics and this blog
I wanted to talk about it since few weeks, but somehow I felt I am not educated enough on the subject of blogging ethics. I read all the main books (Manifesto, Scoble, etc) and followed all the ethical and unethical issues coming up online to be able to express my own opinion. As some of you well know I work in WOM Marketing and my position is very much connected to marketing ethics (enough if you do a proper Google search) so I really need to separate my private life from the professional aspects of it. Nevertheless, I blog since 2004 and was always interested in social media to a certain extent, so it’s difficult to find the balance between work and private interest. I actually think it’s great to be able to work in a place where you can use your interest and enhance both your performance, as well as your own knowledge. As TechWag is putting it well, my blogging is about ambition and ‘talks about the things that are important to him (me:)), without advertising, and without an obvious money motive’. Even though some of the topics might correlate with my work, I always make it clear that it’s my private place. So…Today I was contacted by a very friendly blogger to take part in a project which – based on the first short (via Twitter) description sounded interesting. I like taking parts in different projects, especially when we talk about creativity, activism or social media. I cannot and I do not feel comfortable about taking part in projects involving any material reward and/or sponsored campaigns. I am glad that the approach taken today was personal, friendly and understanding and I am happy that I can use it as an excuse to make this statement.So yes, feel free to contact me, but be prepared I might have to say ‘no’ to keep my presence the way I want it to be:)
Blogging ethics is a complicated issue. Each of us has different incentives for blogging and we have different standards too. The gurus of web tried to put together different codes of conduct and we all learn and try to stay flexible with all the new technologies coming up. Our perception of privacy changes too. I personally think that the blogging ethics has, is and will always stay in the region of common understanding and respect, and will be based on a personal agreement.
I also hope we will all stay open for new ideas, and choose the ones we actually find suitable for ourselves.Talking of new ideas…
I am looking forward to seeing new publication on this topic, book titled ‘One Nation Under Blog’ described by Jason Falls here. I keep the track of political blogging in the US and I hope we will all come out of it with few learnings. I wonder what this book will suggest…Update: Just found this policy, good to see other bloggers -actually involved in pitching – state their ways online. Very, very clear!
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Twestival
What a great idea! It’s one of those events that makes me really, really sad that I cannot attend! Damn! It looks like few of my friends are going so at least I can be happy for them and have a chat afterward, but it really annoys me that I am stuck at home that night. (I feel like a bad teenager who needs to do the homework instead…that annoyed). Anyway, do have a look at their website, and do try to sign up for it. It really looks like a cool place to be for all Twitter and social media fans. And to meet people like @ihatemorningsdotcom: -
Ethics – interesting sites
For those interested in issues of ethical trade, there is an event happening in London soon.
Corruption is an ethical issue which is and always will be actual. I am glad that places like Transparency International educate the global audience on facts.Ethics Resource Center seems to be more focussed on US business ethics, still, you can find cool reports on UK issues as well.If you are interested in actual events and international ethics go to this site.But most of all I advise you to check the London based Institute of Business Ethics, where previous European Conference of Business Ethics was hosted. The site gives great insights into basics of implementation of ethical code and policy in a generic way – any business friendly. They link to great sources of Ethics studies, also mention upcoming events and most of all – train people interested in business ethics.
I am actually planning to attend this one, on the 30th of October. If anyone is planning it too, please let me know! -
Delete the deleted
Do you sometimes feel like your day is completely unreal? Maybe it’s the rain, maybe it’s the tears…somehow I felt very out of space today….and then while cleaning my Outlook I saw this…
Bizarre, bizarre day…
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Global Voices Advocacy
When my fellow blogger living in Budapest, Jez Wegierski, posted about attending Global Voices summit somehow I didn’t think about checking the organisation behind that event (even though I AM interested in events). I have just come across this very informative and extremely active portal now, and I must say I am well impressed. GlobalVoices is a large portal containing several sub-projects. Apart from the translation sites, I found the Global Voices Advocacy the most interesting one. It not only contains quite adequate data and insights on free speech online but actually suggests a tool to fight for it in those countries where some sites are banned.
Have a look at their 403 checker – it’s a free to download tool helping to track back what sites were banned on one’s pc. Also, some of those are included in the Access Denied Map. This is the type of info you do not find easily, here publicly available. I like when people bravely talk about issues and face the word with facts! Well done!
So, considering some involvement myself, I have contacted them asking about the aim of the site, and got a response from person called Portnoy: ‘The main goal of Lingua and GV is to balance the world’s information flow biased by MSM and with the help of more than 200 volunteers we have to build a citizen media community based on bloggers around the world.
We tackle the 3 obstacles(censorship, digital divide, and language) toward a true global village with Global Voices Advocacy, Rising Voices, and Lingua. You can read more info here’
That is exactly what social media should do, don’t you think? -
Twitter ratio – restrictions?
One of my new twitter contacts mentioned that there is a ‘secret twitter ratio’ causing certain restrictions – but I do not really know what it means? Is Twitter restricting a number of friends or followers? I looked for the info on different blogs writing about Twitter ratio (ratio of our Twitter followers to our friends) but I cannot see this being mentioned:/ Actually, the ratio and its connection to human behavior idea do reflect mine. I agree that some of use Twitter to chat, some to network, some to do it all and to gather knowledge. Here’s my official Twitter ratio:
To quote Scoble, I belong to those who ‘want to learn more’ which perfectly matches my intentions:) I would like to know though if there are any rules connected to the Twitter ratio which might affect my account… -
Social media and traditional communication
I appreciate social media. I love the speed and globalization of all communication tools. I like to make new relationships based on common respect and knowledge or information share. Those are capable of gestures too – one of my closest friends created a blog especially for me to update me on her thoughts after she stopped writing letters – lack of time, I guess. I am honored and read it, comment on it, use it as our private venue, our common table, and cups of coffee, in a way. Still, we do write letters, we store them, read them again and we do appreciate each of them. I will never move away from the magic of a simple letter. Just as I will never move away from reading books and memorizing the best lines…
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Happy Blog Day everyone!
It’s your day, so accept my best wishes! Happy Blog Day everyone!
I am happy to have the chance to mention my current the best 5, so here they are:)1. Chris Brogan – social media guru, whose tips and advice are crucial for my work and my blogging.
2. Blog Till You Drop – Lolly is not only a friendly person but also a very professional blogger – her insights are always valuable!
3. Cementum – It’s amazing to see Rich not only working very hard on his book but also blogging about the process – it must be so hard to be able to look at yourself and be so disciplined! I am impressed!
4. The Girl – I am very impressed by her work as a blogger and writer too. This one is a must!
5. PR Blogger – a good study of the current situation in PR, very helpful!I wonder how those lists change in one year time:)
Happy BD again! -
New rules of marketing
Just as I have finished ‘The New Rules of Marketing & PR‘ written by David Meerman Scott, and was wondering which work-related book should be next I got a Google alert containing a link to this podcast. It’s an interview given by another social media marketing specialist – Andy Sernovitz – whose book on WOM marketing I happen to have on my waiting list. (I am just about to start it now…). Andy’s podcast explains very basics of WOM marketing and to me seems to be quite obvious, but I am happy to see that new type of marketing activities is promoted so wisely!
As for ‘The New Rules of Marketing & PR’ I am once again glad I decided to order a few books related to my current work – they give me insight into both business, as well as the social media. I think it’s crucial to understand how the web and the markets are developing – not only for work but for my own experience too. I find David’s book fascinating and very inspiring. Do read it – you can never tell how a book can change you!:) -
Social media marketing – best practices
Mitch Joel is asking a question about the best social media marketing practices and I must admit it took me a while to decide what is most important in my view…Consistency mentioned on Mitch Joel’s blog is crucial, just as much as ethics of any engagement but I think we need to go back to the basics and ensure we know exactly what we are doing. An agency or any of the team members working on a project related to social media marketing must be well trained and experienced in social media themselves, they should study the audience they aim to target and respect the rules of venues they plan to engage in their activities. The Internet has its own rules and most of them can be understood only by people who actually ARE a part of the blogosphere. My personal experience is very small, but being my own blogging experience (together with the presence in other places, like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc) proved to be crucial in my work. My commitment to respect people I work with and a great amount of research into the theory of social media marketing helped me so much! We must never forget that social media IS real people with the power to speak up and expect – there is no space for traditional marketing! (Here you go – I tried to be brief:/) I also agree with what Chris Brogan wrote: ‘Learn how to listen. Simple, I know. But it’s a best practice. ‘ and I hope to see more bloggers responding to this challenge!
