Conflict of Interest
Conflict of Interest: Why I Can’t Link to Your Site
This is really a gray area for me. It’s partly a CYA for myself, but also something that I feel I should ethically avoid doing. Here’s why:
I work for a number of wine brands but I often go out and visit other wineries, taste their wine, and sometimes I write about them. I don’t feel that writing about another winery’s wine or my visit to their winery conflicts with the wines I represent because the experience is unique. They may make the same varietals, but wine is unique. No two winemakers will make the exact same wine even if they use the same grapes from the same block of the same vineyard. The experience of visiting their winery is also unique. When I write about them or their wines, I’m sharing my unique experiences. I’m not endorsing their products, nor am I asking my readers to go out and buy their wines.
Writing about other wine and wineries outside of those I represent, does not represent a conflict of interest to me. A rising tide floats all boats and I believe that writing about wines, whether they’re yours or mine, helps every winery and promotes the wine industry in general.
I also work for a wine accessories brand. They sell all the typical wine gadgets that you would find at most tasting rooms, some that are unique only to them, and also custom cellars. The wine brands I represent also have wine clubs and the company I work for manages and promotes several other wine clubs. Wine accessories and wine clubs are not like wine. Whether I get a Rabbit corkscrew from my company or your company, the experience of using that corkscrew is essentially the same. The idea of a wine club is also not unique, especially if that club represents more than just one brand. If I can get the same product or service from my company that you sell, I feel that is a conflict of interest to link to or promote your products or services, even though this in my personal site.
Let’s be clear, I feel it’s a conflict of interest, not my employer. Simply put, if you were my employer, and I added links or allowed guest postings from a competing company, how would you feel? I know I would feel a bit betrayed and not at all happy that someone working for me is promoting someone else’s products while on my payroll. Ethically, it’s not right, so I choose not to do it. I won’t link to or allow a guest post if you or your company sells or distributes:
- Wine refrigerators
- Custom wine cellars
- Racking systems
- Cooling units
- Wine clubs
- Wine accessories
There is an exception to my own rule. If you are a manufacturer of a product or service that is not represented or sold by any of the brands I work for, I can write about your product or service if you want to send me a sample or invite me to your place to demonstrate. To see if I already represent a similar product or service, visit the IWA website.
Thanks for your understanding.
