Comments on: Can you out-source authenticity? http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity/ Marketing. Social Media. Humanity. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:31:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: MARK W. SCHAEFER http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity/#comment-423 MARK W. SCHAEFER Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:45:25 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity#comment-423 All, thanks for great links and comments. It is so awesome that my post spurred such inspired reactions. <br /><br />@Cliff -- cliff notes probably coming. I think a summary of learnings is in order. All, thanks for great links and comments. It is so awesome that my post spurred such inspired reactions.

@Cliff — cliff notes probably coming. I think a summary of learnings is in order.

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]]> By: Jeff Hurt http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity/#comment-422 Jeff Hurt Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:12:30 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity#comment-422 Wow, I want the cliff notes version of this discussion, plus the recommended guidelines and the tips. Obviously, not a black and white issue for some and everyone has a different perspective. Lots of thoughts, lots of emotion, lots to consider. <br /><br />Could it be that it boils down to how the ghostwriting affects one personally? <br /><br />Whether you’re the ghostwriter or the reader, you’ll have a different opinion about this. <br /><br />Ultimately, it’s about words and their context. Words are used to build trust and destroy, persuade and influence, communicate feelings and beliefs, divide and conqueror, sell and pitch, love and hate. Words are powerful. Words can destroy and offer life. People put a lot of stock into another person’s words and if they discover that those words are not really the true words of the perceived writer, there can be negative consequences. You are known by your words. You are trusted or distrusted by your words. <br /><br />If you don’t have any words to share, and must hire someone to write them, then perhaps there is a bigger issue at hand. If a ghostwriter is giving your concepts and words fresh life, stringing them together attractively, it seems that might be acceptable. As long as the original thoughts are yours.<br /><br />How would a reader feel to discover the words s/he was reading were written by someone else? Depends on the content, it seems. For advertising, ghostwriting is acceptable. For speeches, it’s acceptable. For some autobiographies, it’s acceptable. For some books, it’s acceptable. For some company communication, it’s acceptable. For personal communication including email, tweets and comments on blogs, it seems unacceptable and misleading, especially from the reader’s point of view. Unless the ghostwriter is identified. In my opinion, words disguised as someone else’s show disrespect for the reader and the alleged owner’s lack of self-respect. <br /><br />Two questions I don’t have the answers for: <br />How does the ghostwriting affect one personally? And, what are the consequences to the owner if the ghostwriting if discovered by the audience? Wow, I want the cliff notes version of this discussion, plus the recommended guidelines and the tips. Obviously, not a black and white issue for some and everyone has a different perspective. Lots of thoughts, lots of emotion, lots to consider.

Could it be that it boils down to how the ghostwriting affects one personally?

Whether you’re the ghostwriter or the reader, you’ll have a different opinion about this.

Ultimately, it’s about words and their context. Words are used to build trust and destroy, persuade and influence, communicate feelings and beliefs, divide and conqueror, sell and pitch, love and hate. Words are powerful. Words can destroy and offer life. People put a lot of stock into another person’s words and if they discover that those words are not really the true words of the perceived writer, there can be negative consequences. You are known by your words. You are trusted or distrusted by your words.

If you don’t have any words to share, and must hire someone to write them, then perhaps there is a bigger issue at hand. If a ghostwriter is giving your concepts and words fresh life, stringing them together attractively, it seems that might be acceptable. As long as the original thoughts are yours.

How would a reader feel to discover the words s/he was reading were written by someone else? Depends on the content, it seems. For advertising, ghostwriting is acceptable. For speeches, it’s acceptable. For some autobiographies, it’s acceptable. For some books, it’s acceptable. For some company communication, it’s acceptable. For personal communication including email, tweets and comments on blogs, it seems unacceptable and misleading, especially from the reader’s point of view. Unless the ghostwriter is identified. In my opinion, words disguised as someone else’s show disrespect for the reader and the alleged owner’s lack of self-respect.

Two questions I don’t have the answers for:
How does the ghostwriting affect one personally? And, what are the consequences to the owner if the ghostwriting if discovered by the audience?

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]]> By: Anne Giles Clelland http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity/#comment-421 Anne Giles Clelland Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:19:00 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity#comment-421 After studying your post and the thoughtful, informed comments that followed, I created a “Social Media Authenticity Policy” for my company and its sites. I even had it reviewed by legal counsel. I found the process challenging, the idea of taking a stand both risky and necessary, and clicking “post” ultimately mission-fortifying. I posted about the policy’s creation, then linked to the policy for all to see. Your point, “If this debate is not relevant to you right now, it will be in the near future as the demand for content explodes,” inspired me to choose to make it relevant right now. Thank you for inspiring me to equate online authenticity with the integrity of my company. After studying your post and the thoughtful, informed comments that followed, I created a “Social Media Authenticity Policy” for my company and its sites. I even had it reviewed by legal counsel. I found the process challenging, the idea of taking a stand both risky and necessary, and clicking “post” ultimately mission-fortifying. I posted about the policy’s creation, then linked to the policy for all to see. Your point, “If this debate is not relevant to you right now, it will be in the near future as the demand for content explodes,” inspired me to choose to make it relevant right now. Thank you for inspiring me to equate online authenticity with the integrity of my company.

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]]> By: Steve Dodd http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity/#comment-420 Steve Dodd Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:23:21 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity#comment-420 I know most ppl are no longer following this, but I just saw a very interesting and relevant post about various corporate CEOs and their feelings about blogging that speaks to this very topic, including their legal, corporate & moral responsibilities.<br />Http://bit.ly/2T3C4 I know most ppl are no longer following this, but I just saw a very interesting and relevant post about various corporate CEOs and their feelings about blogging that speaks to this very topic, including their legal, corporate & moral responsibilities.
Http://bit.ly/2T3C4

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]]> By: MARK W. SCHAEFER http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity/#comment-419 MARK W. SCHAEFER Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:00:52 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity#comment-419 @NDG : ) <br /><br />@Dan -- This may be the biggest risk of NOT having a ghost blogger: There is no blog at all. It just won't happen.<br /><br />@steve. Extremely interesting and timely legal perspective. That is a whole new can of worms!<br /><br />@WFH -- Wonderful article, Wintress. Glad to have provided some inspiration! I've added it to the bottom of the post as further reading on the subject. @NDG : )

@Dan — This may be the biggest risk of NOT having a ghost blogger: There is no blog at all. It just won't happen.

@steve. Extremely interesting and timely legal perspective. That is a whole new can of worms!

@WFH — Wonderful article, Wintress. Glad to have provided some inspiration! I've added it to the bottom of the post as further reading on the subject.

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]]> By: The Writers For Hire http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity/#comment-418 The Writers For Hire Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:54:07 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity#comment-418 Hi Mark,<br /><br />Loved you post! Jason Falls just wrote a great one on the same subject(http://www.socialmediaexplorer.com/2009/08/21/the-ethics-of-ghost-blogging/), and you both really inspired me...so I put in my two cents here: www.thewritersforhire.com/blog.<br /><br />The cliff notes: Yes, I think it's fine to ghost blog for clients. The key is making sure that the client doesn't have a hands-off approach to the project, and that the client and ghostwriter are both intimately involved in the ghostwriting process.<br /><br />Let me know what you think! Hi Mark,

Loved you post! Jason Falls just wrote a great one on the same subject(http://www.socialmediaexplorer.com/2009/08/21/the-ethics-of-ghost-blogging/), and you both really inspired me…so I put in my two cents here: http://www.thewritersforhire.com/blog.

The cliff notes: Yes, I think it's fine to ghost blog for clients. The key is making sure that the client doesn't have a hands-off approach to the project, and that the client and ghostwriter are both intimately involved in the ghostwriting process.

Let me know what you think!

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]]> By: Steve Dodd http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity/#comment-417 Steve Dodd Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:30:14 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity#comment-417 Mark, I'm still waiting for a couple of attorneys to chime in here (promised sometime over the weekend), here is a link to a very appropriate document on Social Media legality which will help explain some of the ramifications of this subject.<br /><br />"The business press is filled with discussions of social media, from blogs to Facebook and LinkedIn to Twitter, and how they can move your company ahead. While there are tremendous benefits to social media, there are some risks as well, both legal and otherwise. The risks are all manageable, but only if you recognize and address them ahead of time."<br /><br />http://blogs.zdnet.com/feeds/?p=1449 Mark, I'm still waiting for a couple of attorneys to chime in here (promised sometime over the weekend), here is a link to a very appropriate document on Social Media legality which will help explain some of the ramifications of this subject.

"The business press is filled with discussions of social media, from blogs to Facebook and LinkedIn to Twitter, and how they can move your company ahead. While there are tremendous benefits to social media, there are some risks as well, both legal and otherwise. The risks are all manageable, but only if you recognize and address them ahead of time."

http://blogs.zdnet.com/feeds/?p=1449

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]]> By: Dan McCarthy http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity/#comment-416 Dan McCarthy Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:05:59 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity#comment-416 Ha! We used to say "Don't kill the messenger." Now we don't even know who the messenger is...<br /><br />The issue isn't simply about ethics. It's also about effectiveness. Whether ghost-blogging is either ethical or effective has a lot to do with the end goal of the blog.<br /><br />Like any marketing medium, businesses to forget to ask that question before rushing in.<br /><br />If the goal is to make the CEO more accessible, or even to spark discussion and engage readers, then hiring a middleman probably defeats the purpose.<br /><br />If, however, the strategy is to build credibility and attract traffic to company website, then blog content can simply aim to inform and educate readers about the industry at-large. This "industry blog" model retains plenty of marketing value, and it allows a lot more wriggle room for legitimate delegation to a pro.<br /><br />I think there's an opportunity here for professional ghost-writers to adopt a consultant role, and guide businesses toward blogging models that are authentic, effective and legitimately outsourced Ha! We used to say "Don't kill the messenger." Now we don't even know who the messenger is…

The issue isn't simply about ethics. It's also about effectiveness. Whether ghost-blogging is either ethical or effective has a lot to do with the end goal of the blog.

Like any marketing medium, businesses to forget to ask that question before rushing in.

If the goal is to make the CEO more accessible, or even to spark discussion and engage readers, then hiring a middleman probably defeats the purpose.

If, however, the strategy is to build credibility and attract traffic to company website, then blog content can simply aim to inform and educate readers about the industry at-large. This "industry blog" model retains plenty of marketing value, and it allows a lot more wriggle room for legitimate delegation to a pro.

I think there's an opportunity here for professional ghost-writers to adopt a consultant role, and guide businesses toward blogging models that are authentic, effective and legitimately outsourced

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]]> By: Natasha_D_G http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity/#comment-415 Natasha_D_G Fri, 21 Aug 2009 05:35:57 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity#comment-415 You are always causing a stir on this WWW now aren't you Mark? Well...great dialogue. I'll ask a question or two (devil's advocate) Are ghostwriters any different? Who writes the President's speech? Who writes the company whitepaper? Yeah yeah yeah....I know, tweeting is more of an intimate convo. Soooo in my opinion you can ghost tweet for a Company/business....please don't do it for an individual ---but like lil miss said. ONLY IF YOU NEED THE MONEY! You are always causing a stir on this WWW now aren't you Mark? Well…great dialogue. I'll ask a question or two (devil's advocate) Are ghostwriters any different? Who writes the President's speech? Who writes the company whitepaper? Yeah yeah yeah….I know, tweeting is more of an intimate convo. Soooo in my opinion you can ghost tweet for a Company/business….please don't do it for an individual —but like lil miss said. ONLY IF YOU NEED THE MONEY!

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]]> By: MARK W. SCHAEFER http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity/#comment-414 MARK W. SCHAEFER Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:35:34 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/can-you-out-source-authenticity#comment-414 So much to take in and think about. Special thanks to Danny Brown for taking the time to comment (one of the most intelligent and respected bloggers on the Internet, IMO).<br /><br />The day is winding down and I'm humbled and moved by the wisdom shared here today ... and I'm sure the debate is not over. <br /><br />I think the depth, intelligence and respect of this exchange among my friends and newcomers is one of my proudest blogging moments. What a wonderful tribe we have on {grow}. So much to take in and think about. Special thanks to Danny Brown for taking the time to comment (one of the most intelligent and respected bloggers on the Internet, IMO).

The day is winding down and I'm humbled and moved by the wisdom shared here today … and I'm sure the debate is not over.

I think the depth, intelligence and respect of this exchange among my friends and newcomers is one of my proudest blogging moments. What a wonderful tribe we have on {grow}.

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