Should advance reviewers say they received a free copy?

[A.R.]

I'm sending out advance review copies for my book that's coming out soon, and I'm wondering whether I should encourage reviewers to disclose in their reviews that they received a free copy. These are not professional reviewers, so they might not be aware of any ethical standards that apply. (I don't know either, as it relates to this question.)

ARK

[Lisa]

Professional reviewers and critics are understood to have received free copies, unless they state otherwise. In contrast, reviewers who do not so professionally should always indicate that they received a free review copy. Full disclosure is ethical, and it provides context that explains why a given reviewer read the book s/he has critiqued.

[Zach]

I typically do, though I don't think its really necessary. A lot of people assume that if you give someone something, book money etc, then they feel they're obligated and as such their reviews are given less weight. I review honestly, whether I purchase the book or have it gifted to me, and i think most do as well. As a reader, I also don't discriminate against a review just because someone was given a book. If its paid in a monetary way - cash, gift cards, and such - then I would look at it differently.

In the end the decision is yours and the readers. I don't think it hurts, at least to satisfy those that think it a breach of ethics to not include it.

[Christa]

They must - not only is it an ethical consideration, in the US, FTC rules require the disclosure.

[A.R.]

Zach wrote: "I typically do, though I don't think its really necessary.

Zach -- Thanks. I haven't read anything specific about this, but I did see a model letter an author might send to reviewers, and in the letter the author asks the reviewer to mention receiving a free copy. I don't remember actually seeing that in any review I've read.

ARK

[A.R.]

Christa wrote: "They must - not only is it an ethical consideration, in the US, FTC rules require the disclosure."

Christa -- Thanks for responding. Glad I asked. Now that I look into it further, I see the FTC guidelines you're referring to at http://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/press-releases/ftc-publishes-final-guides-governing-endorsements-testimonials/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf

When I first started reading that, I thought, Well, all of these examples refer to advertising. Aren't consumer reviews posted on social media something different? But then, I saw examples at the end of the document indicating that, yes, these guidelines do apply to social media, even though that is a less formal setting.

In fact, another Q&A from the FTC adds this point:

"But on a personal blog, a social networking page, or in similar media, the reader may not expect the reviewer to have a relationship with the company whose products are mentioned. Disclosure of that relationship helps readers decide how much weight to give the review."

The guidelines still seem to focus on what a *company* does to promote its products, but, in the end, a writer is a small-businessperson.

ARK