Archive for the ‘Associated Content’ Category
Nov 21, 2009 Associated Content
A handful of us participated in AC’s 2nd ever Legal Happy Hour with Darnell and Craig (Associated Content’s Legal Counsel). The hour long discussion covered Associated Content’s move to follow the FTC’s guidelines on paid reviews, testimonials and endorsements. If you are not familiar with these guidelines, the FTC wants to crackdown on paid bloggers and freelancers who get paid to write product reviews. It will also cover samples, free products and any other exchange where a writer basically profits from the review. The guidelines are necessary because some writers will flat out lie and endorse a product for a fee. The FTC will protect consumers from misleading reviews and blatant advertising. The blogger/freelance writer guidelines take effect on December 1, 2009.
Associated Content Contributors who review products/services fall into the category of writers who will be monitored for misleading activities. To protect yourself, you will need to disclose in your review if you have received the item from a company or if you have a material connection to this company/brand. To make things easier, Associated Content is implementing a disclosure badge into the publishing template. Darnell gave us a preview/screenshot but admitted that the final version will be slightly different.
I am not a legal counsel but I’ve done my fair research on the FTC guidelines. My research was required because I occasionally publish reviews on Associated Content and I get paid to blog about products. The guidelines sound scary, but they are really easy to follow. To be compliant all you have to do is provide an honest disclosure.
Associated Content’s legal guy was not concerned about items that we buy and decide to review on our own. The guidelines right now require a disclosure only for sponsored reviews, but these rules could quickly change. I see both the FTC and publishing companies adjusting and re-writing things next year as we all get used to the changes.
I plan to disclose even if a sample was sent to me by a company, I got a sample at a store or an item was purchased by me. I would advise you to do the same. It is better to err on the side of caution and disclose if you purchased the item.
A disclosure can come in a form of two sentences in the first paragraph of your review article;
“I have not been paid to review this product and have no material connection to the company or brand. All opinions of this review are 100% mine.”
Some of us have a lot more question for AC and Craig, but to be honest none of us know how far the FTC will go. I have questions about receipts and keeping documentation of where items came from. I’m also questioning personal vs professional experience reviews. Can an article really be called a review if you have never held the product in your hand?
Paid product reviews are a big business. Some bloggers make a living reviewing free products or getting paid to advertise for companies. I think we need more honesty than guidelines from writers. Disclosures are good and give a little bit of transparency to our readers. Your review can still be objective, fair and without misleading information.
To learn more about Associated Content and their FTC compliance, please read the entire Legal Happy Hour with AC Craig forum thread.
You can get familiar with the new guidelines and why disclosures are necessary by reading FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials.
Associated Content will change their submission guidelines and FAQ soon, but you can read more about their move for compliance at AC’s Official Blog.
Associated Content Contributors will not need to alter their old reviews or articles. This is only for reviews and articles that will be published on or after December 1, 2009.
Oct 2, 2009 Associated Content
AC Twitter Challenge ends October 15, 2009. Remember to write your Twitter Challenge roundup assignment, and tweet your article links with a #bestofac hashtag. Check out my AC Twitter Challenge blog post about the rules and how to use Twitter for this contest.
The main prize is a brand new ASUS Eee PC Netbook Laptop. After my power cord nightmare, I would love a new notebook!
Official rules and guidelines are at AC’s Blog. I’m not done with my Twitter article just yet, but Loki Morgan is on the ball! Her article I Am a Twit when it Comes to Tweets is really funny and had me in tears.
Tags: assignment, Associated Content, blog, challenge, contest, notebook, win
Sep 16, 2009 Associated Content
Associated Content announced its new contest: The Associated Content Twitter Challenge and the grand prize is a brand new ASUS Eee PC Netbook Laptop. Wow! Please, AC, I know you love me and I love you back…. I could seriously use a new laptop! Can I bribe the staff with some cookies?
I am so participating in this contest, AC always give out fun prizes. The last time I won an AC tote bag and notebook/pen set made out of recycled paper. I use my tote bag every day, it’s now become my purse. The Associated Content Twitter Challenge has several requirements:
1. You have to have a Twitter account (it’s free and it can help you promote your work!) and you have to follow @acnews which is the official Twitter account of Associated Content. With your Twitter account, you have to retweet AC’s contest announcements followed by #acsweeps.
Now you might wonder what retweeting and hashtags(#) mean but it’s not that difficult to do. First, you take a look at @acnews tweets and copy the tweet that has contest announcements. Then in your Twitter dashboard you type in the words RT, followed by @acnews and paste AC’s Twitter challenge announcement. After the announcement text is pasted, type in #acsweeps. The hashtag is used for Twitter trends, it will show up on the right hand side of your Twitter dashboard if enough people use it and make AC a popular Twitter topic.
@writingdivas RT @acnews Take the AC Twitter Challenge! http://bit.ly/WN1GH You could win a netbook or other fabulous prizes. #acsweeps
This is the exact retweet that I sent from my Twitter account. Do not forget @acnews part in your retweet, AC will get a notice when for this retweet with the help of @ and that is how your retweet will count as an entry in this contest!
2. You have to use Twitter to promote your own work by tweeting a url to your favorite piece of your own AC content. Again, you are asked to use a hashtag for this entry, #bestofac. You can do this once a week for the duration of the contest. Each link to your article that is tweeted will create an additional entry, giving you better chances of winning! You can also use a different piece of content every week.
Patrick Swayze ‘Dirty Dancing’ Movie Star Dies at 57 @ http://aclnk.com/ar2174763 #bestofac
That is an example of my latest article published on Associated Content, but I added #bestofac as the rules stated. Just copy and paste your article title, followed by the url to the article. Copy and paste your .html url of the published piece, not the url from your browser. It is also the same .html link that is sent in AC’s “You’ve been published!” e-mail.
3. Login to your AssociatedContent account and look under Assignments. There is a “AC Twitter Challenge” that you need to claim. You have to use this assignment and publish a summary of your Twitter challenge experience. Carefully read all the posted requirements inside this assignment! This is what you have to have in your published article:
(1) A link to your profile on Twitter
(2) A list of some of the interesting people you follow
(3) An overview of how you went about promoting your content, and the results of your efforts
The Associated Content Twitter Challenge starts today and ends October 15th, 2009. Everyone who participates will be entered in a sweepstakes, and six lucky prize winners will be randomly selected on October 19th.
If you are participating, please let me know! My Twitter account is writingdivas. Good luck everyone, but I really need a ASUS Eee PC Netbook Laptop!
Tags: articles, Associated Content, challenge, content, contest, free, freelance, page views, promotion, twitter, write, writer, writing
Jul 26, 2009 Associated Content, General
I am still confused about Source or Contributor association, and what Associated Content will refer to us from now on. We should officially be Contributors, but Source is still on some of our AC pages… but!
I checked my Associated Content Contributor Page in Google PR Checker and it is now 4/10! It was 3/10 just about a month ago. Google Page Rank checks several things such as SEO, inbound links, hyperlinks, quality of links, and overall page visits. The formula to better Page Ranks is a secret, but seeing 4/10 thrills me. I have several articles for AC that should be published soon, DS and other projects have been keeping me busy.
There are several ways to check your Google PR for free. I use www.prchecker.info
Check your status and let me know what it is. I hope we all got a healthy Google boost!
Not sure what your Associated Content Page url is? Mine looks like this:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/353907/nina_rotz.html
It would be available either on top of your Contributor (profile) page, or on the right hand side where it says Permalink. Just copy and paste the full url into this PR checker form below:
| Check Page Rank of any web site pages instantly: |
| This free page rank checking tool is powered by Page Rank Checker service |
Jul 3, 2009 Associated Content, Demand Studios, General
I have been busy, which is always a good thing. Demand Studios has been taking up most of my time this week, especially with their queue changes. I really cannot express how great the change at Demand Studios is. I plan to cover this and more Demand Studios tips in the future.
As for Associated Content, I was told yesterday that I won Best of AC Awards in Web Technology! June ‘09 Best of AC Winners also included James Hamel for Automotive category, and Rick Blaine for Summer Travel Guides. I had so many AC writers congratulate me on my Source page, and on Twitter. Thank you everyone and of course big thanks to AC, I am so grateful.
I am about to finish up more Demand Studios articles today, and enjoy this holiday weekend. My husband has several days off and we plan to enjoy ourselves. Kody and I woke up early this morning, so I’ll share with you this snapshot. Happy 4th of July!
Jun 26, 2009 Associated Content, General
In times of shock and sadness writers turn to their words. We serve a purpose; to provide people with information they are seeking. With all the initials reports and confusion about the death of Michael Jackson, the world turned to the internet for the correct information. The world wide web came to a screeching halt with the news that the King of Pop died.
Soon, Michael Jackson funeral plans will be announced and hopefully a public memorial will be held. Hopefully Michael’s fans will have a chance to celebrate his life, and his extraordinary music career.
How will you remember Michael Jackson? What are your memories? Associated Content has been filled with great articles on Michael Jackson and his legacy. Somehow in some way we were all impacted by his music. Here is what we have to say about Michael, and our memories of the King of Pop:
“Associated Content Pays Tribute to Michael Jackson“
The legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson died unexpectedly. Associated Content Sources join in remembering Michael Jackson, and create a lasting tribute.
Tags: Associated Content, memories, michael jackson, tribute
Jun 19, 2009 Article Writing, Associated Content
Writing is often about believing in yourself, and having patience that hard work will pay off. This week, I am celebrating a milestone at Associated Content – 132,000+ views so far on my published articles. While this is not a million views, it is still an achievement to be proud of. Of course, I am so very grateful to everyone who takes time to read my work and to Associated Content who has always helped to promote me as one of their writers. The best part about Associated Content is their awesome community of AC writers, who are so helpful and ready to have your back at any time. I have made some great friends at AC, it’s great to be a part of a community that supports each other and everyone’s work.
Here is a picture of my Associated Content tote bag, and notebook that I recently won as runner up for a “Green Contest”. I’ve been using the bag often, and last night AC made it to a Mets vs Orioles ball game.
Tags: Associated Content, page rank, page views, tote bag
Jun 12, 2009 Associated Content, General
By now we have all heard the tragic news of the Holocaust Museum shooting, a horrible crime that was committed by James von Brunn. I was glued to the television when the news broke, and shocked that von Brunn was a war veteran who fought against the Nazis but somehow ended up being a neo-Nazi worshiper. Stephen Johns lost his life doing his job, while opening the museum door for an elederly man. I hope that Johns is remembered as a hero, and an innocent man who lost his life due to another man’s dillussion.
What shocked me the most is that von Brunn was a Holocaust denier, after fighting in the World War II against the Nazis. How exactly do you deny something that you witnessed? How exactly do you deny a genocide, and millions of innocent lives lost?
I do not keep my childhood a secret, but I prefer to not speak about it. Call it a healing process, call it whatever you wish, but I choose to not have every single day of my life defined by the fact that I survived a war. I feel that years have passed, and although my memories are not gone, I have had enough time to answers many questions. Inquisitive minds ask the same questions, over and over again. I will spare you some time and say that I have seen people die, get shot, blood on the street, have lost relatives, have lost family, have seen too much horror before the age of 11 and everything else you can think or imagine.
Associated Content of course wanted to be on top of this breaking news story, and as always wanted a personal angle on breaking news. An assignment popped up about the Holocaust Museum shooting, that wanted a personal story of a visit, how the shooting story affected us, etc. The article needed to be a reflection about the museum, our memory of it and such. I have always loved AC’s “first-person experience” angle, as you never know what you’ll end up getting.
I submitted my assignment, titled “Shooting at Holocaust Museum: A War Child’s Reflection“. The article took some time, and I even edited out some of the portions that were too emotional to read for me. I could not turn the assignment in the same night, but had to wait until the morning to finish writing it. Call it a way of healing, and a way of releasing a painful moment. I have always said that writing is cheaper than therapy, and hopefully other writers turn to producing work when something tries to get the best of them.
I guess the double edged sword for me is that I wrote something very personal, that many readers found inspiring, and connected to. I’ve found the article linked on several places, including The Wall Street Journal. If I should be celebrating, I’ll apologize for not having a margarita. My intention was not to get publicity, but to heal in my own way.
The tragedy of the shooting still remains, and a family has lost a loved one. We are also left with thoughts of terrorists that are born and raised Americans, yet choose to kill innocent people because they are not of their preferred race. There is no knowing as to what James von Brunn could have done if he was given the chance. It is scary to even imagine how many people could have lost their lives, and even one death is way too many. What is even scarier is that there are people who think like von Brunn, and are now celebrating his horrendous crime. These people, like von Brunn, deny the atrocities of Holocaust happened. People like von Brunn, and von Brunn himself, should burn in hell.
Tags: article, assignment, Associated Content, coverage, news
Jun 8, 2009 Associated Content, Content Promotion
Article promotion is essential to becoming successful on the web, especially if you are writing for Associated Content. A higher page view average can make a monetary difference in upfront payments. Page views also equal good money from AC, because of their monthly page view payments. Some people on AC are making hundreds of dollars a month, just from page views alone.
I am so excited to see a lot of happy writers that commented on my AC article “How to Promote Articles by Submitting RSS Feeds”. I have gotten a lot of feedback both on comments, and on Twitter about how everyone appreciated the information, or have already started using this method. It feels good to help other fellow writers, and I plan to do more articles geared towards helpful tools. It’s all about using the power of technology.
In terms of statistics, I used the same method for my AC articles as well as for my blog. Now AC does not allow me much information as far as statistics, so I’ll use mostly my blog to explain the benefits of RSS feeds. I can tell you that my AC article page views have doubled, and have been consistently higher since I started doing this.
As far as the blog goes, 11 Feeds and 352 Spiders crawled this page for content in May. So far in June; 44 Feeds and 715 Spiders. Visitors on the blog have quadrupled, and many of the web users are coming back. Page views on the blog are in the thousands. Not bad for a website that just got off its feet, and has much more to accomplish.
This promotional method is absolutely free, and as I stated before, the web is moving towards RSS Feeds with more websites offering this option. If you are a fellow writer, check out “How to Promote Articles by Submitting RSS Feeds” and start promoting your work too. Bukisa articles can be promoted this way as well, and I am certain that Examiner, Demand Studios and others can be done this way too. Happy writing!
Tags: advice, article, Associated Content, promotion, writing
May 28, 2009 Associated Content, Web Content
I was looking over my list of article ideas, and thought about writing content targeted towards the local crowd. There are stories and events in every town, no matter how large or small the area may be. We live in a college town, but our community has local events that attract crowds from the East coast. Living close to Gettysburg helps too, considering the rich history and Civil War collectibles.
Someone over at Associated Content must have been reading my mind. I forgot to wear a tinfoil hat, so it’s my fault. AC has launched a “Local Content Drive”, with the main prize being a Sony Cybershot Digital Camera! The sweepstake will run today through June 30, and 14 random winners will be chosen on July 14th.
To enter, you have to publish local content using Associated Content’s “Local” template, found in the publishing system under City&Neighborhood. You can cover local news and events, or post business and restaurant reviews. Tourism, travel guides or community member profiles are also welcome.
I am very interested in publishing local content, as I have heard about positive results from other freelance writers. Last month, I got news that I won “runner up” in Associated Content’s “Green Contest”. The first prize was a Dell laptop, but a runner up prize is appreciated by me. I’ll soon receive an AC tote bag and notebook. I was especially excited about the news, as I had no idea that I was even in a “Green Contest”. Associated Content sometimes holds contests and considers all articles published in the contest time frame and in that specific category.
I did not see the contest announced on AC’s Official Blog, but I did receive the notification through a private message. Official contest rules can be found on AC’s sweepstake’s page.
Tags: advice, articles, Associated Content, contest, writing
