The term ‘full disclosure’ one we see in articles on a regular basis. The term is meant to be an acknowledgement of possible conflicts of interest. That’s true. But it can also be a backdoor marketing ploy.

Take the following quote from a 2013 article by Ryan Holmes…

For years, robust software tools known as social media management systems have been around to manage and protect companies’ social media assets (Full Disclosure: My company, HootSuite, is one of them).

This use of the full disclosure label seems less an acknowledgement of a conflict of interest and more a full on marketing plug. Particularly when it uses a link to the company.

The context is of how and where the article appears is also important. , Holmes is writing the article as CEO of Hootsuite. His position is presented at the top of the article. It would have seemed much less cynical if he had dropped the full disclosure label and simply wrote – ‘My company, Hootsuite, is one of them.’ With or without the link.

Is there a better way?