The Skirted Roundtable - On the FTC, Bloggers Endorsing products and disclosures

Last week at The Skirted Roundtable, we talked about the new FTC Guidelines for blogger's endorsing products and disclosures of freebies. You can listen to our podcast here.

Here is an interesting article in the New York Times on the subject.  Some bloggers will be publishing their formal policies on the subject, and others are scoffing at the whole thing - after all, how will it be regulated?

I am not sure if I will be publishing a "formal" disclosure policy, but for now I will say that if I post about a product that I've received gratis (whether for review purposes, or as swag at an event) I will always say that I received it gratis. I never write a post for pay unless I clearly state that it's a sponsored post (which I've only done once) or is a post about one of my sponsors, all of whom are clearly showcased over there on the right. I've been asked to do it, and I never will. I'm a capitalist and a firm believer in making money, but I'm also a firm believer in honesty and openness and maintain those convictions here on ::Surroundings::.

So, take a listen to our podcast and let us know your thoughts!



 Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

The Skirted Roundtable - On the FTC, Bloggers Endorsing products and disclosures

Last week at The Skirted Roundtable, we talked about the new FTC Guidelines for blogger's endorsing products and disclosures of freebies. You can listen to our podcast here.

Here is an interesting article in the New York Times on the subject.  Some bloggers will be publishing their formal policies on the subject, and others are scoffing at the whole thing - after all, how will it be regulated?

I am not sure if I will be publishing a "formal" disclosure policy, but for now I will say that if I post about a product that I've received gratis (whether for review purposes, or as swag at an event) I will always say that I received it gratis. I never write a post for pay unless I clearly state that it's a sponsored post (which I've only done once) or is a post about one of my sponsors, all of whom are clearly showcased over there on the right. I've been asked to do it, and I never will. I'm a capitalist and a firm believer in making money, but I'm also a firm believer in honesty and openness and maintain those convictions here on ::Surroundings::.

So, take a listen to our podcast and let us know your thoughts!



 Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

Things I'm working on this week

I continue to work with my virtual decorating client to narrow down the floor plan for the dining area and living room of their Pennsylvania vacation home. This is looking to be the top choice. Next, we will tackle selecting the exact furnishings, color palette, window treatments, etc.

I'm working on my next pair of articles for Diving Caroline. You can click here to read my first four articles on: "Smart Design to accommodate aging in place", "Turning your bath into a Spa", "It's not hard to go green with your bathroom remodel", and "Design Styles: What's the difference". The current articles include selecting color palettes for the kitchen and bath, and creating a budget conscious kitchen makeover.

On the blogging front, I'm going to be working on a piece on decorating an outdoor room here in New England. As I recently said on The Skirted Roundtable, we have about three minutes here in New England where we can be outdoors happily. But, I'll do my best to showcase some beautiful fabrics and products that will work even in our climate!

And, of course, Megan, Joni and I will be holding court again this week at The Skirted Roundtable. It's back to just the three of us. (And thanks again to Patricia Shackelford/Mrs. Blandings and Karen Carroll/Southern Accents Magazine for being recent guests - weren't they great??) In our blogging segment, we're talking about keeping it all going and when to know enough is enough, and what happens when a blogger just disappears. So stay tuned! Meanwhile, please do let me know if you have any specific design related topics you'd like us to chat about.

Did you get your new Facebook vanity name? I am just geek enough (apparently) that at 12:01 a.m. on June 13th, I was up to register: http://www.facebook.com/linda.merrill. I'd love to be your friend!

It's a new week... let's get busy!

Things I'm working on this week

I continue to work with my virtual decorating client to narrow down the floor plan for the dining area and living room of their Pennsylvania vacation home. This is looking to be the top choice. Next, we will tackle selecting the exact furnishings, color palette, window treatments, etc.

I'm working on my next pair of articles for Diving Caroline. You can click here to read my first four articles on: "Smart Design to accommodate aging in place", "Turning your bath into a Spa", "It's not hard to go green with your bathroom remodel", and "Design Styles: What's the difference". The current articles include selecting color palettes for the kitchen and bath, and creating a budget conscious kitchen makeover.

On the blogging front, I'm going to be working on a piece on decorating an outdoor room here in New England. As I recently said on The Skirted Roundtable, we have about three minutes here in New England where we can be outdoors happily. But, I'll do my best to showcase some beautiful fabrics and products that will work even in our climate!

And, of course, Megan, Joni and I will be holding court again this week at The Skirted Roundtable. It's back to just the three of us. (And thanks again to Patricia Shackelford/Mrs. Blandings and Karen Carroll/Southern Accents Magazine for being recent guests - weren't they great??) In our blogging segment, we're talking about keeping it all going and when to know enough is enough, and what happens when a blogger just disappears. So stay tuned! Meanwhile, please do let me know if you have any specific design related topics you'd like us to chat about.

Did you get your new Facebook vanity name? I am just geek enough (apparently) that at 12:01 a.m. on June 13th, I was up to register: http://www.facebook.com/linda.merrill. I'd love to be your friend!

It's a new week... let's get busy!

Join me at The Skirted Roundtable!

So, Joni Webb of Cote de Texas and Megan Arquette of Beach Bungalow 8 and I have been burning the long-distance midnight oil over the last couple of weeks and I am thrilled to share the results of our efforts!

We are producing a series of podcasts where we'll be talking about blogging and interior designer. We're calling our little venture The Skirted Roundtable and hope you'll head on over and hear what we have to say!! And, we want to hear what you have to say too - as we'll be looking for guest hosts and suggestions for topics to be discussed. It's like "The View" for the deco/blogger crowd!

Join us!!

Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

Join me at The Skirted Roundtable!

So, Joni Webb of Cote de Texas and Megan Arquette of Beach Bungalow 8 and I have been burning the long-distance midnight oil over the last couple of weeks and I am thrilled to share the results of our efforts!

We are producing a series of podcasts where we'll be talking about blogging and interior designer. We're calling our little venture The Skirted Roundtable and hope you'll head on over and hear what we have to say!! And, we want to hear what you have to say too - as we'll be looking for guest hosts and suggestions for topics to be discussed. It's like "The View" for the deco/blogger crowd!

Join us!!

Subscribe to ::Surroundings::