Comments on: War of the Words: The Ethics of Ghost Blogging http://blogforprofit.com/blogging-tips/war-of-the-words-the-ethics-of-ghost-blogging/ Using a Blog and Social Media To Promote Your Business Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:46:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: usefularts.us http://blogforprofit.com/blogging-tips/war-of-the-words-the-ethics-of-ghost-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-2895 usefularts.us Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:15:00 +0000 http://blogforprofit.com/?p=3884#comment-2895 Hi Jenni, great topic! I've also been blogging on this, and suggest the key is "if you tell, tell the truth". The difference between an uncredited brief and a blog, is that the blog is signed, as are social media comments. See, this comment is really from me, not an associate with my icon. I'd be glad to have you or anyone with perspective on this to guest blog at http://www.UsefulArts.us. There are lots of reasons for companies and people to get this right, and its hard to tell just where the line of attribution must be drawn. Hi Jenni, great topic!

I’ve also been blogging on this, and suggest the key is “if you tell, tell the truth”. The difference between an uncredited brief and a blog, is that the blog is signed, as are social media comments. See, this comment is really from me, not an associate with my icon.

I’d be glad to have you or anyone with perspective on this to guest blog at http://www.UsefulArts.us. There are lots of reasons for companies and people to get this right, and its hard to tell just where the line of attribution must be drawn.

]]> By: Dave Wieneke http://blogforprofit.com/blogging-tips/war-of-the-words-the-ethics-of-ghost-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-1905 Dave Wieneke Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:15:05 +0000 http://blogforprofit.com/?p=3884#comment-1905 Hi Jenni, great topic!<br><br>I've also been blogging on this, and suggest the key is "if you tell, tell the truth". The difference between an uncredited brief and a blog, is that the blog is signed, as are social media comments. See, this comment is really from me, not an associate with my icon.<br><br>I'd be glad to have you or anyone with perspective on this to guest blog at <a href="http://www.UsefulArts.us" rel="nofollow">http://www.UsefulArts.us</a>. There are lots of reasons for companies and people to get this right, and its hard to tell just where the line of attribution must be drawn. Hi Jenni, great topic!

I've also been blogging on this, and suggest the key is “if you tell, tell the truth”. The difference between an uncredited brief and a blog, is that the blog is signed, as are social media comments. See, this comment is really from me, not an associate with my icon.

I'd be glad to have you or anyone with perspective on this to guest blog at http://www.UsefulArts.us. There are lots of reasons for companies and people to get this right, and its hard to tell just where the line of attribution must be drawn.

]]> By: Kris http://blogforprofit.com/blogging-tips/war-of-the-words-the-ethics-of-ghost-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-1903 Kris Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:58:02 +0000 http://blogforprofit.com/?p=3884#comment-1903 Hmmm, I wouldn't call it porn or even compare a blog post written by someone else the same as Sarah Palin's book. <br><br>Some CEOs don't feel comfortable writing or aren't good writers. As long as they have the final say in what's posted, I think that's what matters most. Hmmm, I wouldn't call it porn or even compare a blog post written by someone else the same as Sarah Palin's book.

Some CEOs don't feel comfortable writing or aren't good writers. As long as they have the final say in what's posted, I think that's what matters most.

]]> By: Zane Safrit http://blogforprofit.com/blogging-tips/war-of-the-words-the-ethics-of-ghost-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-1898 Zane Safrit Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:43:37 +0000 http://blogforprofit.com/?p=3884#comment-1898 Good post. You bring out some very good points. Ethics are like Ed Meese and porn: you know 'em when you see em. And you know it when you don't. <br><br>For fun I created a twitter account for my dog. @auggieauggie. Auggie's awesome. He doesn't type, much less read words. As far as I know he doesn't. Is this unethical? Does my ghostblogging for Auggie diminish the integrity quotient for either? <br><br>Sarah Palin hired a ghostwriter for her book. I'll leave it at that. <br><br>When a CEO blog, clearly identified as a CEO blog, in that CEO's name is written by someone else...someone unidentified, whose role remains a secret...now, THAT...is porn. That's unethical. It's embarassing for all, really. <br><br>When Wal-mart hired some folks to drive across the company and pretend to be amazed at the stories they 'saw' in the parking lots of Wal-mart's 'across our great country....' that was unethical. Funny in a 'you thought no one would notice...that idea passed in the board room' kinda way. But...unethical. I think even Ed Meese would shake his head and say 'yes, that meets the definition' of ...unethical. <br><br>Bottomline, If you're in doubt, ask. If your mother thinks it's unethical, ..don't. If your employees could not explain it without a PR agency, don't. If what you plan to makes you the stuck bird at Thanksgiving...don't. And if you're still in doubt, don't. Good post. You bring out some very good points. Ethics are like Ed Meese and porn: you know 'em when you see em. And you know it when you don't.

For fun I created a twitter account for my dog. @auggieauggie. Auggie's awesome. He doesn't type, much less read words. As far as I know he doesn't. Is this unethical? Does my ghostblogging for Auggie diminish the integrity quotient for either?

Sarah Palin hired a ghostwriter for her book. I'll leave it at that.

When a CEO blog, clearly identified as a CEO blog, in that CEO's name is written by someone else…someone unidentified, whose role remains a secret…now, THAT…is porn. That's unethical. It's embarassing for all, really.

When Wal-mart hired some folks to drive across the company and pretend to be amazed at the stories they 'saw' in the parking lots of Wal-mart's 'across our great country….' that was unethical. Funny in a 'you thought no one would notice…that idea passed in the board room' kinda way. But…unethical. I think even Ed Meese would shake his head and say 'yes, that meets the definition' of …unethical.

Bottomline, If you're in doubt, ask. If your mother thinks it's unethical, ..don't. If your employees could not explain it without a PR agency, don't. If what you plan to makes you the stuck bird at Thanksgiving…don't. And if you're still in doubt, don't.

]]> By: jennibuchanan http://blogforprofit.com/blogging-tips/war-of-the-words-the-ethics-of-ghost-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-1897 jennibuchanan Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:14:15 +0000 http://blogforprofit.com/?p=3884#comment-1897 Great point, T.Marie. I offer this as "blog coaching", but it's basically what you've described here. And in these cases the blog content is definitely authentic; I'm often moved and impressed by what my coaching clients choose to write about. Great point, T.Marie. I offer this as “blog coaching”, but it's basically what you've described here. And in these cases the blog content is definitely authentic; I'm often moved and impressed by what my coaching clients choose to write about.

]]> By: Social Media Tyro » Blog Archive » Why the Legal Profession Needs Us http://blogforprofit.com/blogging-tips/war-of-the-words-the-ethics-of-ghost-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-1893 Social Media Tyro » Blog Archive » Why the Legal Profession Needs Us Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:20:10 +0000 http://blogforprofit.com/?p=3884#comment-1893 [...] into account lawyers’ unique product and position in society. Ghostblogger Jenni Buchanan makes an effort at Blog for Profit but conveniently glosses over her own prime selling point, which happens also to [...] [...] into account lawyers’ unique product and position in society. Ghostblogger Jenni Buchanan makes an effort at Blog for Profit but conveniently glosses over her own prime selling point, which happens also to [...]

]]> By: T.Marie Hilton http://blogforprofit.com/blogging-tips/war-of-the-words-the-ethics-of-ghost-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-1892 T.Marie Hilton Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:47:05 +0000 http://blogforprofit.com/?p=3884#comment-1892 Very timely post. But it doesn't have to be an either/or situation. <br>There is a middle of the road choice for bloggers, I call it shadow blogging. A shadow blogger assists with posting by fleshing out a draft post written by the blog owner. It allows the blog content to still be authentic, but saves the blog owner time. And of course, a shadow blogger could also be used to share information as mentioned here. Very timely post. But it doesn't have to be an either/or situation.
There is a middle of the road choice for bloggers, I call it shadow blogging. A shadow blogger assists with posting by fleshing out a draft post written by the blog owner. It allows the blog content to still be authentic, but saves the blog owner time. And of course, a shadow blogger could also be used to share information as mentioned here.

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://blogforprofit.com/blogging-tips/war-of-the-words-the-ethics-of-ghost-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-1890 uberVU - social comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:59:38 +0000 http://blogforprofit.com/?p=3884#comment-1890 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by BlogManana: From @GrantGriffiths War of the Words: The Ethics of Ghost Blogging http://bit.ly/aNPGlt... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by BlogManana: From @GrantGriffiths War of the Words: The Ethics of Ghost Blogging http://bit.ly/aNPGlt...

]]> By: Ecocandle http://blogforprofit.com/blogging-tips/war-of-the-words-the-ethics-of-ghost-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-1891 Ecocandle Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:40:31 +0000 http://blogforprofit.com/?p=3884#comment-1891 I think that was a great piece. I enjoyed it. The point about the 'purpose' of the blog is a good one. I have been blogging for a month, every day, 800-1000 words. I have one purpose, to entertain. If I get an audible chortle out of a reader, whether I know about it or not, I feel that my work is done. I don't think a ghost writer, or the lesser known Zombie or Werewolf writers, would help me reach my goal. I think that was a great piece. I enjoyed it. The point about the 'purpose' of the blog is a good one. I have been blogging for a month, every day, 800-1000 words. I have one purpose, to entertain. If I get an audible chortle out of a reader, whether I know about it or not, I feel that my work is done. I don't think a ghost writer, or the lesser known Zombie or Werewolf writers, would help me reach my goal.

]]> By: constructionlaw http://blogforprofit.com/blogging-tips/war-of-the-words-the-ethics-of-ghost-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-1889 constructionlaw Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:43:45 +0000 http://blogforprofit.com/?p=3884#comment-1889 I don't necessarily see a problem with "ghost blogging" so long as one does not make others think that it is something it is not. If the only purpose is to make firm announcements, etc., then no problem. However, crossing the line from this to content that looks from the outside like one person is writing his or her personal thoughts when this is not the case leads to trouble. I don't necessarily see a problem with “ghost blogging” so long as one does not make others think that it is something it is not. If the only purpose is to make firm announcements, etc., then no problem. However, crossing the line from this to content that looks from the outside like one person is writing his or her personal thoughts when this is not the case leads to trouble.

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