Like it or not, there are sponsors out there that think a product reviewer owes it to them to do unethical things in exchange for their services. As a product reviewer, you owe it to yourself and other review sites to not do unethical or illegal things in order to accept a job.
The FTC has created rules and guidelines for us to use and there are many blog sites and services out there that help the product reviewer remain in compliance with the guidelines. If your sponsor is requesting something you know is wrong, it is in your best interest to decline the job or tell the potential client what you can do ethically to work around his requests.
What would be considered an unethical request? Harvesting emails from contest entrants comes to mind very quickly. Spam laws forbid people from being automatically added to someone’s email campaign, although it still happens a lot. Sponsors that ask for a list of names and email addresses from entrants for contact purposes would certainly turn on my radar. There are plenty of ways to have entrants want to be added to a sponsors mailing list. Legitimate ways are actually having a newsletter sign up with a double opt-in. Then they have all the contact they want. Facebook “likes” bring the sponsor all kinds of ability to communicate with the entrants. Using special landing pages from a contest or review site is another way to the sponsor to track usage and to make special promotions for your readers.
As a reviewer, be careful of what you agree to just to get that sponsors business. Being shut down for unethical behavior will be a tarnish on your business and reputation, not on the sponsors business.
Copyright Chris Carroll ~ All Rights Reserved
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