Profit Disclosing financial interests

[Shawn Gossman]

Should forum owners disclose all financial interests for the forum to all members?

There are many ways to monetize a forum. You have ad networks and selling ads directly. You can do affiliate marketing. You can have premium membership. You might even have a donation drive or two to raise funding.

Money might be used to pay the bills, get new features, or even put profit in the pocket of the admin.

Whether the case may be, do you feel it is ethically responsible for forum owners to disclose all financial activities, amounts earned, and use of such earnings? If yes, why so and what about privacy? If no, why not?

Finally, as forum owners, do any of you disclose any of these things to your members? Why or why not?

 

[Jason]

I don't see why it's anyone's business. I mean, a website isn't a mega-church

Well, I guess it's up to the owner.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I don't see why it's anyone's business. I mean, a website isn't a mega-church

Well, I guess it's up to the owner.

Yeah.

I think it can be helpful for some niches. Like I give forum and blogging advice, so I'll always share my data.

 

[Tracy]

Whether the case may be, do you feel it is ethically responsible for forum owners to disclose all financial activities, amounts earned, and use of such earnings? If yes, why so and what about privacy? If no, why not?

If you are gaining financially from pushing items, then yes that should be pointed out.
I even have a mandatory field in my reviews section on the site to denote whether it was vendor evaluation unit, as frequently those can come with "requirements" attached to an evaluation unit.



As for a detailed income analysis for the site.... nope

 

[Shawn Gossman]

If you are gaining financially from pushing items, then yes that should be pointed out.

At minimum, that should at least be occurring.

Especially affiliate marketing. In many cases, it's the law.