Blogging With Integrity

Susanna, the founder of British Mummy Bloggers, has created a code of ethics for BMB members. You can read her post here.

I am happy to display the badge and subscribe to this code:

"The “British Mummy Bloggers Do It with Integrity” badge stands for blogging with principle. By displaying the badge you agree that you will:

• Make transparent any relationships with products or companies;
• Clearly label advertising, advertorials and/or sponsored posts;
• Always write truthfully about a product or company;
• Observe intellectual property rights."

It's common sense really.

I haven't written a review yet on my blog. The only time I have raved about a product is in my post Designer Dishwasher. I showed photographs of the apron I had bought and mentioned the designer who made it for me. I also stated that she was a friend of mine. You can't get much more transparent than that.

So who is the code aimed at? I read a lot of blogs and some feature reviews. I don't recall a review that was masquerading as something else. I like reading reviews, but I haven't read one that made me want to buy the product. We're all intelligent enough to make up our own minds. In fact, most of the reviews I have read are honest, they contain positives and negatives.

I find it amusing that companies want to send me free stuff. I had no idea mummy bloggers were so influential! I am currently reading a book that I will review. I also have the Carex 'press' pack(!), a brief review will follow when I get a minute. As far as I'm concerned it's all writing practice, but I am discerning as to what I accept. I certainly don't feel like a patsy, selling my blogging soul for a few quids worth of booty.

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Now is probably a good time to mention that I write reviews for the Great Toy Guide. This is a separate activity from my blog, although if it wasn't for blogging, and BMB, I would not have been in a position to participate. So far I have reviewed a couple of toys that we already owned. I have now received a couple of new toys to review. We get to keep them, and that's lovely.

I think the Great Toy Guide is a fantastic website and is a resource that we can all use. Honest toy reviews, written by parents for parents. Have a look if you like :-)

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Finally, huge thanks to a lovely new blogger, Whistlejacket for passing on the Meme award to me. Please visit her blog Babyrambles and say hello.